Is anyone else finding they have more Internet-connected devices now? Not gadgets where you can surf the Web, like a smart phone, but gadgets that access the Internet for a dedicated purpose. For example, my Slacker Portable radio has a Wi-Fi connection for refreshing my music stations. My Squeezebox connects to the Net for streaming live music. I’ve seen the idea touted in PowerPoint presentations for years: “Everything will be connected! Everything with have an IP address!” But this is the first time I’ve looked around and seen the prediction coming true in my own gadget life.
The trend doesn’t stop with music players either. Take the new ESPN tvCompass remote, or various widget stations that, admittedly, haven’t gained much traction yet. We’re not seeing the long-fabled Internet-connected toasters yet (at least not in my neighborhood), but more and more IP devices are hitting the market.
I blame the evil telcos for the lack of IP connected devices. They refuse to adopt IPv6, and have squandered huge blocks of addresses.
“The telecom industry is going through “a period of grief” over the end of IPv4, said Tony Hain, IPv6 technical leader for Cisco. “Most people in the world are still in a state of denial” about upgrading to IPv6. “No one will ask for IPv6 until they run out of IPv4 addresses…”
source: http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/041608-sound-the-alarm-ipv6-execs.html
Net Neutrality died on the floor of Congress, because of Consumer apathy and corrupt congressmen, and we are yet to pay the price. But its not too late:
http://www.savetheinternet.com/
Consumer apathy or consumer ignorance?
Interesting point Todd makes.
I don’t know that I want all of my devices living out on the net all on their own, but it could be useful for some.
Home routers seem to bridge the gap, ya gotta have a wireless access point somewhere, right?
The other aspect is that if a device only networks on an internal network, nobody’s gonna make a whole lot of money on that! They need outside access so someone can sell you something that you’ll pay for every month.
To use Dave’s example, a connected toaster shows AdSense ads for your local supermarket’s prices for bread on it’s LED ( “…Wonder bread $1.99 this week only at Von’s… ). A net neutral version of Microsoft’s awful SYNC would combine self diagnosis with AdSense AND location awareness to show you that you need an oil change and the next available place to get one is 4.2 miles away ( Ummm DASH, hello? ).
But all of this assumes IPv6 and the end of the telcos control ( and campaign finance reform too ). Hopeless? Probably, but we long suffering end users can hope.
i’m not gonna lie, i kind of want a chumby…
http://www.chumby.com/
Jon, I would love to play with a chumby too! Too bad they are soo expensive…
Don’t forget the Dash Express GPS. You never got your review together, Dave! I had a road trip with Dash last week and I plan on posting some impressions within the next day or so.
CableLab’s Dave Broberg noted this same trend in IP devices on our blog last month.
Yeah, so about that Dash Express review… I suppose I should clue folks in to where I’ve landed. ;) The computer Gods frowned upon me today and I lost three hours of primetime dealing with a dead laptop LCD. Perhaps I’ll find time to blog my move tomorrow, though I’ll be on the road in Chicago.
Dave, are you with Dash then??? Reading reviews about somewhat lackluster interface and GPS functionality of Express, I guess they DO need your expert help :)
P.S. I want Chumby too, but I don’t care for its looks. I read a post on how it could be transformed to look like a picture frame, but it’s way difficult.