Connected Home EXPRESS, October 2, 2002

Connected Home EXPRESS—Brought to you by Connected Home Magazine Online, the unique resource to help you tackle home networking, home automation, and much more.
http://www.connectedhomemag.com

THIS ISSUE SPONSORED BY

HomeTech Solutions
http://www.hometech.com

Networking UPDATE Email Newsletter
http://www.winnetmag.com/email
(below GETTING CONNECTED)

SPONSOR: HOMETECH SOLUTIONS

HomeTech.com today offers an even wider selection of home automation products. They have doubled the size of their showroom and warehouse in Cupertino, CA allowing for an expanded inventory, and more helpful demonstration displays. Those of you in or near Silicon Valley might like to visit the newly expanded facility and meet the highly qualified staff ready to help you solve your in-home automation problems. The address is at 10600 South De Anza Boulevard—across from Home Depot in Cupertino. Call (888) 257-4406 for more information. Their website also features a complete catalog and helpful tutorials.
http://www.hometech.com

October 2, 2002—In this issue:

1. GETTING CONNECTED

2. NEWS AND VIEWS

3. ANNOUNCEMENTS

4. QUICK POLL

5. RESOURCES

6. NEW AND IMPROVED

7. CONTACT US

GETTING CONNECTED
By Paul Thurrott, News Editor, [email protected]

Microsoft plans to deliver several products this fall that will give life to the company's promise of the connected home. Microsoft has had a foothold in the consumer market by producing various popular computer and video games and game controllers; home-oriented productivity software such as Microsoft Works; and consumer-based Windows releases such as Windows XP and Windows Me, both of which integrate simple home networking and digital-media functionality into the core OS. But beginning this week, the fruits of the company's most recent efforts in the connected-home arena will appear in stores around the world. The following are some of the products Microsoft has just released or will release in the coming days.

Microsoft Broadband Networking
After years of practically begging network-hardware makers such as D-Link Systems and Linksys to make home networking simpler by integrating Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) technology into their products, Microsoft finally gave up and began working on its own home networking product line—Microsoft Broadband Networking. The company designed its hardware line to make sharing a broadband Internet connection and setting up a wired or wireless home network simple, safe, and secure. To that end, Microsoft Broadband Networking products include wired and wireless base stations—essentially routers with hardware firewalls and 4-port switches—as well as a full line of client networking adapters that come in PC Card, PCI, and USB variants. The company is also selling wired and wireless versions of a kit that includes a base station and one USB adapter.

These products' software sets them apart from the competition. Microsoft bundles the same software installer with each hardware device; the software includes a simple Setup Wizard and a base-station management console. The key phrase here is simplicity: Whether you're replacing a slew of networking hardware, as I did during testing, or starting a home network for the first time, the software will walk you through the task, step by step. And in a rare nicety, each hardware device includes a thick reference book and all the components you need, including Ethernet cables and even a floppy disk for duplicating client setups on multiple PCs.

Best of all, the Microsoft Broadband Networking hardware works with most recent Windows versions, including XP, Windows 2000, Windows Me, Windows 98, and Win98SE. Frankly, I expected only XP support, but bravo to Microsoft for not leaving millions of other users in the lurch.

MSN 8
In late October, Microsoft will debut MSN 8, the latest version of the company's MSN online service. This product will include a revamped version of MSN Explorer that will serve as the MSN Web UI and will integrate with Microsoft Web services and provide smarter email filtering and spam control. MSN 8's interface is attractive, and for people who want dial-up access, the company's service offers similar features and pricing and is less likely to be clogged than AOL's. More important, MSN customers will get free access to certain MSN Web services; users of other ISPs will have to pay extra each month if they want to use those services. And MSN offers high-speed DSL access in many areas, although—curiously—I can't yet get it here, just outside of Boston.

Windows XP Media Center Edition
Also in late October, Microsoft will launch Windows XP Media Center Edition, which will be included only with a new Hewlett-Packard HP Media Center PC in North America (and a Samsung Electronics model in Korea; other markets will be added next year). The HP-built PC features a metallic-like fascia, a recordable-DVD drive, front-panel access to various smart card memory slots, and a booming six-speaker setup that includes a subwoofer that's bigger than my car. But the Media Center's big draw is its software: Microsoft includes a Media Center application that sits on top of XP and provides a remote control-enabled UI for digital photo and music tasks, DVD movie playback, and digital video recording (DVR) functionality. You can record TV shows, and pause, rewind, and fast-forward live TV, just as you can with TiVo.

The Media Center PC's biggest strengths—and its biggest weaknesses—are tied to its design as a PC for apartment dwellers, college students, and other space-constrained users who might want to use the PC as a complete entertainment center. So you can use a keyboard and mouse with, for instance, Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel, then jump back on the couch, fire up the remote control, and watch a movie. But the underlying Windows system peeks through the Media Center interface too often—sadly, sometimes with a crash, leading to the uncomfortable proposition of rebooting the TV. And if you use the PC solely with a TV set, as I'm doing during testing, the PC desktop looks blurry and warped.

In the end, the Media Center PC will be an interesting solution for the limited market of space-constrained users who need new PCs. But at $1800 or more, the HP Media Center PC isn't a viable alternative for existing PC users who want to add DVR and DVD functionality to their TVs.

Windows Powered Smart Displays
In November, various companies will release Windows Powered Smart Displays, which are 8" to 15" flat-panel displays that feature embedded wireless capabilities and Windows CE .NET (formerly code-named Talisker), Microsoft's new embedded OS. Customers will typically use these small flat panels as secondary PC displays by placing them throughout the home—in the den, on a kitchen counter, or next to the bed—and use them to perform simple tasks such as browsing the Web or listening to music stored on their PCs. Most people will sit at their desks and use their PCs in the typical fashion when required, but the Windows Powered Smart Displays will let them wirelessly access their PCs from anywhere in their homes by using WiFi, the 802.11b wireless standard.

Windows Powered Smart Displays feature stylus input on a touch screen and a pop-up software keyboard for text-based tasks (e.g., filling out a Web form or writing a short email message). Wi-Fi is too slow for video games or movies but should be able to stream music and other audio from the primary PC. But the product's biggest limitation is price: 8" Windows Powered Smart Displays are expected to debut in the $750 range, which is far too expensive for such a small display, especially for consumers. Another problem: Despite being marketed as a home solution, the displays work only with XP Professional Edition, a more expensive Windows version aimed at businesses. If the devices' prices come down quickly enough and Microsoft can figure out a way to make them work with XP Home Edition, the products could become quite popular. I'd love to have smart displays scattered throughout my home, especially if the technology could be built into products such as TV sets or digital photo frames.

Xbox Live
The Xbox gaming system will get a major boost this November when Microsoft releases Xbox Live, the online gaming service that will let gamers compete against other players over broadband Internet connections. Xbox Live even ships with microphones and headsets so that players can speak to each other during games, and if my past experiences in gaming deathmatches are any indication, this feature alone should sell plenty of Xboxes.

Bringing It All Together
OK, so Microsoft is planning to launch a lot of consumer-oriented products. Big deal, right? Not exactly. In the best Microsoft tradition, the company designed many of these products to work together in ways that outweigh the benefits of using them separately. For example, users who sign up for MSN 8 can purchase Microsoft Broadband Networking products at a discount, and Microsoft will then freely support shared Internet connections and home networks, a feature other ISPs don't offer. Xbox users can also tie into the Microsoft Broadband Networking products, thanks to the game console's Ethernet port, and partake in Xbox Live. And because the Media Center PCs are full XP-based PCs, they're compatible with the Microsoft Broadband Networking products and MSN 8; you can even attach a Windows Powered Smart Display to them, although the high-bandwidth Media Center interface won't work over wireless networks. But the combination of Media Center and Windows Powered Smart Displays is still pretty powerful. You can use these products in tandem with a typical TV to get the best of both worlds—Media Center through the TV and PC tasks through the smart display.

Microsoft's synergy in the home is somewhat inspiring, especially after you've had the chance to use two or more of these products simultaneously. If you're a Windows user who wants to take the next step toward a truly connected home, the company's integrated solutions are worth investigating.

SPONSOR: NETWORKING UPDATE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

NEW! NEWS, TIPS, AND MORE TO KEEP YOUR NETWORK HUMMING
Networking UPDATE brings you the how-to tips and news you need to implement and maintain a rock-solid networking infrastructure. We'll explore interoperability solutions, hardware (including servers, routers, and switches), network architecture, network management, network security, installation technology, network training, and WAN disaster recovery. Subscribe (at no cost!) at:
http://www.winnetmag.com/email

2. NEWS AND VIEWS
(An irreverent look at some of the week's Connected Home news, contributed by Paul Thurrott and Keith Furman)

We've all heard the telecommunications companies' promises about broadband rollout to the masses, but most consumers appear to be ignoring readily available broadband options. According to a study by the Department of Commerce, almost all US families live in areas where at least one high-speed Internet alternative (cable or DSL) is available, but many families see no reason to pay extra for the service. Only 10 percent of US households subscribe to broadband services, even though about half of those households have Internet access at home. In fact, the US broadband adoption rate is far lower than in other countries such as Canada, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan. The government report says that consumers will be willing to shell out the average $50 monthly fee for broadband only if more content (e.g., games, movies, music) becomes available.

Imagine being able to walk up to a soda machine and buy a drink without even taking out your wallet. That dream is becoming close to reality, thanks to new technology from innovative credit card companies. Visa recently introduced a new smart credit card with a radio-frequency chip that lets users conduct wireless transactions at vending machines, subway-fare kiosks, and similar points of sale that include touch pads for PIN entry. The service is already available in South Korea and will be available elsewhere in the near future. Smart cards have gained popularity in Europe, but Americans have been cool to the technology, sort of like the US attitude toward broadband. We're slackers.

To make its products cool with the kids again, Palm is adding two new brands to its hardware catalog. Palm designed the brands—Tungsten and Zire—to broaden the appeal of the company's PDAs, which have recently lagged in the market. The Tungsten brand will target large businesses; Zire will target consumers. Palm is expected to release a Zire device (which is obviously aimed at the Tamagotchi crowd) in the less-than-$100 range this fall. Will it succeed? With a cool name like Zire, how could it fail?

Last week, Microsoft confirmed a gaming-industry rumor that the company has purchased Rare, a well-known British game developer, in an effort to boost the Xbox's software library. Rare, which Nintendo used to partially own, is responsible for gaming hits such as Donkey Kong Country, GoldenEye, and Perfect Dark. The company will develop games exclusively for the Xbox and the Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Nintendo's portable gaming system. Rare is expected to develop titles with characters that appeal to children, a market relatively untouched by the Xbox.

And speaking of the Xbox, Microsoft has also confirmed that to cut costs and thwart intruders the company has changed the video-game console's internal design. The changes, which should be transparent to typical gamers, affect newer Xboxes. To cut costs, Microsoft has replaced key components, such as the DVD drive, with newer and different brands. The company has also modified security flaws in the Xbox's original design that let intruders run pirated games by installing "mod chips." Although Sony doesn't receive the same press that Microsoft does, Sony has also made similar changes to the PlayStation 2 throughout its short lifespan. But, as you know, beating up on Sony isn't as much fun.

3. ANNOUNCEMENTS
(brought to you by Windows & .NET Magazine and its partners)

Windows & .NET Magazine Network Road Show 2002 is coming this October to New York, Chicago, Denver, and San Francisco! Industry experts Mark Minasi and Paul Thurrott will show you how to shore up your system's security and what desktop security features are planned for Microsoft .NET and beyond. Sponsored by NetIQ, Microsoft, and Trend Micro. Registration is free, but space is limited so sign up now!
http://www.winnetmag.com/seminars/roadshow

Early-bird discount for Windows & .NET Magazine LIVE! expires September 21st! Register now, and you'll also receive access to sessions of concurrently run XML Web Services Connections. Choose from more than 70 sessions and save $1595. Discover why more than half of our attendees choose to attend only LIVE! events, which are chock-full of "been there, done that" knowledge from people who use Microsoft products in the real world. Register now at
https://secure.win2000mag.com/events/windows_register.asp

4. QUICK POLL

The voting has closed in Connected Home Online's nonscientific Quick Poll for the question, "Do you own a film scanner?" Here are the results (+/-2 percent) from the 94 votes:

- 39% Yes- 21% No, but I'm thinking about getting one- 39% No, and I'm not planning to get one

The next Quick Poll question is, "Are you interested in Microsoft's Xbox Live online gaming service?" Go to the Connected Home Online home page and submit your vote for a) Yes, I'll sign up immediately, b) Yes, but I'll wait to sign up, c) No, I'll just use Xbox without the online service, or d) I'm not interested in Xbox at all.
http://www.connectedhomemag.com

5. RESOURCES

(contributed by Paul Thurrott, [email protected])

PC users with smart cell phones, PDAs, and online calendars often have to use two or more programs to synchronize all their personal data, such as scheduling and calendar information, contacts, and tasks. Apple Computer realized that this situation was another market opportunity, so the company began working on iSync, an all-in-one data-synchronization application that's available in beta form this week. If you're using Mac OS X—and have access to a compatible Bluetooth cell phone, Palm OS device, .Mac account, or iPod—iSync is worth checking out.

iSync uses the simple brushed-metal UI that first debuted in QuickTime 5 to synchronize calendar, tasks, and contact information between two or more of these devices and services. The beta is a little rough around the edges (Palm support currently requires the additional installation of Palm's horrible Palm Desktop software, although that situation will eventually change), but the application still works well. And you can even use iSync to synchronize data between two Macintoshes, assuming you have a .Mac service membership. This feature alone is a huge boon to users with multiple Macs because data synchronization is otherwise a painful, manual affair.

You can find the iSync beta on the Apple Web site.
http://www.apple.com/isync

Got a question or tip? Email [email protected]. Please include your full name and email address so that we can contact you.

6. NEW AND IMPROVED
(contributed by Jason Bovberg, [email protected])

Princeton Graphic Systems announced the SENergy 981, a 19" LCD active-matrix Thin Film Transistor (TFT) flat-panel display that features sRGB color-matching modes and Premium MVA Technology. The 4-way adjustable ergonomic digital display provides viewing accuracy. The SENergy 981 costs $1249. For more information about the SENergy 981, contact Princeton Graphic Systems at 800-747-6249 or on the Web.
http://www.princetongraphics.com

SONICblue announced a monthly service option for all new ReplayTV purchases. The new service fee will be $9.95 per month, an alternative to the existing one-time $250 service fee at ReplayTV unit activation. Customers must pay one of these service fees for each ReplayTV unit purchased. Current pricing for the ReplayTV 4500 series is $399.99 for ReplayTV 4504 (as many as 40 hours of recording capacity), $549.99 for ReplayTV 4508 (as many as 80 hours), $999.99 for ReplayTV 4516 (as many as 160 hours), and $1399.99 for ReplayTV 4532 (as many as 320 hours). All ReplayTV 4500 models are compatible with cable, satellite, and antenna programming feeds. For more information about the ReplayTV 4500 series, contact SONICblue at 877-737-5298 or on the Web.
http://www.sonicblue.com

7. CONTACT US
Here's how to reach us with your comments and questions:

This email newsletter is brought to you by Windows & .NET Magazine, the leading publication for Windows professionals who want to learn more and perform better. Subscribe today.
http://www.winnetmag.com/sub.cfm?code=wswi201x1z

Receive the latest information about the Windows and .NET topics of your choice. Subscribe to our other FREE email newsletters.
http://www.winnetmag.net/email

Connected Home EXPRESS—Brought to you by Connected Home Magazine Online, the unique resource to help you tackle home networking, home automation, and much more.
http://www.connectedhomemag.com

THIS ISSUE SPONSORED BY

HomeTech Solutions
http://www.hometech.com

Networking UPDATE Email Newsletter
http://www.winnetmag.com/email
(below GETTING CONNECTED)

SPONSOR: HOMETECH SOLUTIONS

HomeTech.com today offers an even wider selection of home automation products. They have doubled the size of their showroom and warehouse in Cupertino, CA allowing for an expanded inventory, and more helpful demonstration displays. Those of you in or near Silicon Valley might like to visit the newly expanded facility and meet the highly qualified staff ready to help you solve your in-home automation problems. The address is at 10600 South De Anza Boulevard—across from Home Depot in Cupertino. Call (888) 257-4406 for more information. Their website also features a complete catalog and helpful tutorials.
http://www.hometech.com

October 2, 2002—In this issue:

1. GETTING CONNECTED

2. NEWS AND VIEWS

3. ANNOUNCEMENTS

4. QUICK POLL

5. RESOURCES

6. NEW AND IMPROVED

7. CONTACT US

GETTING CONNECTED
By Paul Thurrott, News Editor, [email protected]

Microsoft plans to deliver several products this fall that will give life to the company's promise of the connected home. Microsoft has had a foothold in the consumer market by producing various popular computer and video games and game controllers; home-oriented productivity software such as Microsoft Works; and consumer-based Windows releases such as Windows XP and Windows Me, both of which integrate simple home networking and digital-media functionality into the core OS. But beginning this week, the fruits of the company's most recent efforts in the connected-home arena will appear in stores around the world. The following are some of the products Microsoft has just released or will release in the coming days.

Microsoft Broadband Networking
After years of practically begging network-hardware makers such as D-Link Systems and Linksys to make home networking simpler by integrating Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) technology into their products, Microsoft finally gave up and began working on its own home networking product line—Microsoft Broadband Networking. The company designed its hardware line to make sharing a broadband Internet connection and setting up a wired or wireless home network simple, safe, and secure. To that end, Microsoft Broadband Networking products include wired and wireless base stations—essentially routers with hardware firewalls and 4-port switches—as well as a full line of client networking adapters that come in PC Card, PCI, and USB variants. The company is also selling wired and wireless versions of a kit that includes a base station and one USB adapter.

These products' software sets them apart from the competition. Microsoft bundles the same software installer with each hardware device; the software includes a simple Setup Wizard and a base-station management console. The key phrase here is simplicity: Whether you're replacing a slew of networking hardware, as I did during testing, or starting a home network for the first time, the software will walk you through the task, step by step. And in a rare nicety, each hardware device includes a thick reference book and all the components you need, including Ethernet cables and even a floppy disk for duplicating client setups on multiple PCs.

Best of all, the Microsoft Broadband Networking hardware works with most recent Windows versions, including XP, Windows 2000, Windows Me, Windows 98, and Win98SE. Frankly, I expected only XP support, but bravo to Microsoft for not leaving millions of other users in the lurch.

MSN 8
In late October, Microsoft will debut MSN 8, the latest version of the company's MSN online service. This product will include a revamped version of MSN Explorer that will serve as the MSN Web UI and will integrate with Microsoft Web services and provide smarter email filtering and spam control. MSN 8's interface is attractive, and for people who want dial-up access, the company's service offers similar features and pricing and is less likely to be clogged than AOL's. More important, MSN customers will get free access to certain MSN Web services; users of other ISPs will have to pay extra each month if they want to use those services. And MSN offers high-speed DSL access in many areas, although—curiously—I can't yet get it here, just outside of Boston.

Windows XP Media Center Edition
Also in late October, Microsoft will launch Windows XP Media Center Edition, which will be included only with a new Hewlett-Packard HP Media Center PC in North America (and a Samsung Electronics model in Korea; other markets will be added next year). The HP-built PC features a metallic-like fascia, a recordable-DVD drive, front-panel access to various smart card memory slots, and a booming six-speaker setup that includes a subwoofer that's bigger than my car. But the Media Center's big draw is its software: Microsoft includes a Media Center application that sits on top of XP and provides a remote control-enabled UI for digital photo and music tasks, DVD movie playback, and digital video recording (DVR) functionality. You can record TV shows, and pause, rewind, and fast-forward live TV, just as you can with TiVo.

The Media Center PC's biggest strengths—and its biggest weaknesses—are tied to its design as a PC for apartment dwellers, college students, and other space-constrained users who might want to use the PC as a complete entertainment center. So you can use a keyboard and mouse with, for instance, Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel, then jump back on the couch, fire up the remote control, and watch a movie. But the underlying Windows system peeks through the Media Center interface too often—sadly, sometimes with a crash, leading to the uncomfortable proposition of rebooting the TV. And if you use the PC solely with a TV set, as I'm doing during testing, the PC desktop looks blurry and warped.

In the end, the Media Center PC will be an interesting solution for the limited market of space-constrained users who need new PCs. But at $1800 or more, the HP Media Center PC isn't a viable alternative for existing PC users who want to add DVR and DVD functionality to their TVs.

Windows Powered Smart Displays
In November, various companies will release Windows Powered Smart Displays, which are 8" to 15" flat-panel displays that feature embedded wireless capabilities and Windows CE .NET (formerly code-named Talisker), Microsoft's new embedded OS. Customers will typically use these small flat panels as secondary PC displays by placing them throughout the home—in the den, on a kitchen counter, or next to the bed—and use them to perform simple tasks such as browsing the Web or listening to music stored on their PCs. Most people will sit at their desks and use their PCs in the typical fashion when required, but the Windows Powered Smart Displays will let them wirelessly access their PCs from anywhere in their homes by using WiFi, the 802.11b wireless standard.

Windows Powered Smart Displays feature stylus input on a touch screen and a pop-up software keyboard for text-based tasks (e.g., filling out a Web form or writing a short email message). Wi-Fi is too slow for video games or movies but should be able to stream music and other audio from the primary PC. But the product's biggest limitation is price: 8" Windows Powered Smart Displays are expected to debut in the $750 range, which is far too expensive for such a small display, especially for consumers. Another problem: Despite being marketed as a home solution, the displays work only with XP Professional Edition, a more expensive Windows version aimed at businesses. If the devices' prices come down quickly enough and Microsoft can figure out a way to make them work with XP Home Edition, the products could become quite popular. I'd love to have smart displays scattered throughout my home, especially if the technology could be built into products such as TV sets or digital photo frames.

Xbox Live
The Xbox gaming system will get a major boost this November when Microsoft releases Xbox Live, the online gaming service that will let gamers compete against other players over broadband Internet connections. Xbox Live even ships with microphones and headsets so that players can speak to each other during games, and if my past experiences in gaming deathmatches are any indication, this feature alone should sell plenty of Xboxes.

Bringing It All Together
OK, so Microsoft is planning to launch a lot of consumer-oriented products. Big deal, right? Not exactly. In the best Microsoft tradition, the company designed many of these products to work together in ways that outweigh the benefits of using them separately. For example, users who sign up for MSN 8 can purchase Microsoft Broadband Networking products at a discount, and Microsoft will then freely support shared Internet connections and home networks, a feature other ISPs don't offer. Xbox users can also tie into the Microsoft Broadband Networking products, thanks to the game console's Ethernet port, and partake in Xbox Live. And because the Media Center PCs are full XP-based PCs, they're compatible with the Microsoft Broadband Networking products and MSN 8; you can even attach a Windows Powered Smart Display to them, although the high-bandwidth Media Center interface won't work over wireless networks. But the combination of Media Center and Windows Powered Smart Displays is still pretty powerful. You can use these products in tandem with a typical TV to get the best of both worlds—Media Center through the TV and PC tasks through the smart display.

Microsoft's synergy in the home is somewhat inspiring, especially after you've had the chance to use two or more of these products simultaneously. If you're a Windows user who wants to take the next step toward a truly connected home, the company's integrated solutions are worth investigating.

SPONSOR: NETWORKING UPDATE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

NEW! NEWS, TIPS, AND MORE TO KEEP YOUR NETWORK HUMMING
Networking UPDATE brings you the how-to tips and news you need to implement and maintain a rock-solid networking infrastructure. We'll explore interoperability solutions, hardware (including servers, routers, and switches), network architecture, network management, network security, installation technology, network training, and WAN disaster recovery. Subscribe (at no cost!) at:
http://www.winnetmag.com/email

2. NEWS AND VIEWS
(An irreverent look at some of the week's Connected Home news, contributed by Paul Thurrott and Keith Furman)

We've all heard the telecommunications companies' promises about broadband rollout to the masses, but most consumers appear to be ignoring readily available broadband options. According to a study by the Department of Commerce, almost all US families live in areas where at least one high-speed Internet alternative (cable or DSL) is available, but many families see no reason to pay extra for the service. Only 10 percent of US households subscribe to broadband services, even though about half of those households have Internet access at home. In fact, the US broadband adoption rate is far lower than in other countries such as Canada, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan. The government report says that consumers will be willing to shell out the average $50 monthly fee for broadband only if more content (e.g., games, movies, music) becomes available.

Imagine being able to walk up to a soda machine and buy a drink without even taking out your wallet. That dream is becoming close to reality, thanks to new technology from innovative credit card companies. Visa recently introduced a new smart credit card with a radio-frequency chip that lets users conduct wireless transactions at vending machines, subway-fare kiosks, and similar points of sale that include touch pads for PIN entry. The service is already available in South Korea and will be available elsewhere in the near future. Smart cards have gained popularity in Europe, but Americans have been cool to the technology, sort of like the US attitude toward broadband. We're slackers.

To make its products cool with the kids again, Palm is adding two new brands to its hardware catalog. Palm designed the brands—Tungsten and Zire—to broaden the appeal of the company's PDAs, which have recently lagged in the market. The Tungsten brand will target large businesses; Zire will target consumers. Palm is expected to release a Zire device (which is obviously aimed at the Tamagotchi crowd) in the less-than-$100 range this fall. Will it succeed? With a cool name like Zire, how could it fail?

Last week, Microsoft confirmed a gaming-industry rumor that the company has purchased Rare, a well-known British game developer, in an effort to boost the Xbox's software library. Rare, which Nintendo used to partially own, is responsible for gaming hits such as Donkey Kong Country, GoldenEye, and Perfect Dark. The company will develop games exclusively for the Xbox and the Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Nintendo's portable gaming system. Rare is expected to develop titles with characters that appeal to children, a market relatively untouched by the Xbox.

And speaking of the Xbox, Microsoft has also confirmed that to cut costs and thwart intruders the company has changed the video-game console's internal design. The changes, which should be transparent to typical gamers, affect newer Xboxes. To cut costs, Microsoft has replaced key components, such as the DVD drive, with newer and different brands. The company has also modified security flaws in the Xbox's original design that let intruders run pirated games by installing "mod chips." Although Sony doesn't receive the same press that Microsoft does, Sony has also made similar changes to the PlayStation 2 throughout its short lifespan. But, as you know, beating up on Sony isn't as much fun.

3. ANNOUNCEMENTS
(brought to you by Windows & .NET Magazine and its partners)

Windows & .NET Magazine Network Road Show 2002 is coming this October to New York, Chicago, Denver, and San Francisco! Industry experts Mark Minasi and Paul Thurrott will show you how to shore up your system's security and what desktop security features are planned for Microsoft .NET and beyond. Sponsored by NetIQ, Microsoft, and Trend Micro. Registration is free, but space is limited so sign up now!
http://www.winnetmag.com/seminars/roadshow

Early-bird discount for Windows & .NET Magazine LIVE! expires September 21st! Register now, and you'll also receive access to sessions of concurrently run XML Web Services Connections. Choose from more than 70 sessions and save $1595. Discover why more than half of our attendees choose to attend only LIVE! events, which are chock-full of "been there, done that" knowledge from people who use Microsoft products in the real world. Register now at
https://secure.win2000mag.com/events/windows_register.asp

4. QUICK POLL

The voting has closed in Connected Home Online's nonscientific Quick Poll for the question, "Do you own a film scanner?" Here are the results (+/-2 percent) from the 94 votes:

- 39% Yes- 21% No, but I'm thinking about getting one- 39% No, and I'm not planning to get one

The next Quick Poll question is, "Are you interested in Microsoft's Xbox Live online gaming service?" Go to the Connected Home Online home page and submit your vote for a) Yes, I'll sign up immediately, b) Yes, but I'll wait to sign up, c) No, I'll just use Xbox without the online service, or d) I'm not interested in Xbox at all.
http://www.connectedhomemag.com

5. RESOURCES

(contributed by Paul Thurrott, [email protected])

PC users with smart cell phones, PDAs, and online calendars often have to use two or more programs to synchronize all their personal data, such as scheduling and calendar information, contacts, and tasks. Apple Computer realized that this situation was another market opportunity, so the company began working on iSync, an all-in-one data-synchronization application that's available in beta form this week. If you're using Mac OS X—and have access to a compatible Bluetooth cell phone, Palm OS device, .Mac account, or iPod—iSync is worth checking out.

iSync uses the simple brushed-metal UI that first debuted in QuickTime 5 to synchronize calendar, tasks, and contact information between two or more of these devices and services. The beta is a little rough around the edges (Palm support currently requires the additional installation of Palm's horrible Palm Desktop software, although that situation will eventually change), but the application still works well. And you can even use iSync to synchronize data between two Macintoshes, assuming you have a .Mac service membership. This feature alone is a huge boon to users with multiple Macs because data synchronization is otherwise a painful, manual affair.

You can find the iSync beta on the Apple Web site.
http://www.apple.com/isync

Got a question or tip? Email [email protected]. Please include your full name and email address so that we can contact you.

6. NEW AND IMPROVED
(contributed by Jason Bovberg, [email protected])

Princeton Graphic Systems announced the SENergy 981, a 19" LCD active-matrix Thin Film Transistor (TFT) flat-panel display that features sRGB color-matching modes and Premium MVA Technology. The 4-way adjustable ergonomic digital display provides viewing accuracy. The SENergy 981 costs $1249. For more information about the SENergy 981, contact Princeton Graphic Systems at 800-747-6249 or on the Web.
http://www.princetongraphics.com

SONICblue announced a monthly service option for all new ReplayTV purchases. The new service fee will be $9.95 per month, an alternative to the existing one-time $250 service fee at ReplayTV unit activation. Customers must pay one of these service fees for each ReplayTV unit purchased. Current pricing for the ReplayTV 4500 series is $399.99 for ReplayTV 4504 (as many as 40 hours of recording capacity), $549.99 for ReplayTV 4508 (as many as 80 hours), $999.99 for ReplayTV 4516 (as many as 160 hours), and $1399.99 for ReplayTV 4532 (as many as 320 hours). All ReplayTV 4500 models are compatible with cable, satellite, and antenna programming feeds. For more information about the ReplayTV 4500 series, contact SONICblue at 877-737-5298 or on the Web.
http://www.sonicblue.com

7. CONTACT US
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