Phil Windley's Technometria

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March 08, 2004

Stopping Spyware

Utah passed a "spyware" bill this latest session. An article at c|net talks about Utah's efforts and those of other states to battle this latest threat to consumers and businesses. I wasn't a big fan of the law, although I lauded its intentions, simply because I'm unsure how effective it can be. I hate legislation that makes people feel good, but is basically useless. Another concern is that legislation regulating a technology is inevitably too broad and nets things that are not its intended target. The Feds have gotten into the act as well although its difficult to imagine how how Orrin Hatch is going destroy the computers of pirates if he can't install spyware. Maybe there will be an exception for the RIAA and MPAA? On a more practical note, doxdesk.com has a great list of spyware programs and anti-spyware programs for kicking them off your computer. Good defense for anyone who runs computers used by kids.

02:59 PM | Recommend This | Print This

Bluetooth in Your Clothing

The Hub snowboarding jacket from O'Neill with intergrated Bluetooth and a fabric keyboard on the arm.

Have you ever been listening to music on your iPod while you're snowboarding and had an important call come in? You don't really want to stop to pull out your earbuds, stick in your bluetooth headset, just to see who's calling. Now with this new snowboarding jacket, called The Hub, you don't have to. Just touch the fabric keyboard on the sleeve and your phone call will be routed to your headset via Bluetooth.

O'Neill and German's Infineon Technologies collaborated on a wired interactive Jacket. Functions such as ãmobile telephony by Bluetoothä and ãMP3 playerä are integrated into the sportswear. Woven into THE HUB snowboard jacket are electrically conductive fabric tracks which connect the chip module to a fabric keyboard and built-in speakers in the helmet. The chip module contains a full-featured MP3 player and a Bluetooth module via which the snowboarder can control a mobile phone. If the snowboarder wants to make a phone call, the stereo system acts as the headset. The microphone is integrated in the collar of the jacket.

From I4U News - Infineon Bluetooth Snowboard Jacket
Referenced Mon Mar 08 2004 10:04:56 GMT-0700

Truth be told, I'm not a snowboarder, but this scenario isn't limited to snowboarding. This jacket is just a hands-free setup for the mobile crowd. Pretty cool.

10:12 AM | Recommend This | Print This

Competing, Complemetary Standards to Fight Spam

Having reported recently on my own travails with the Anti-Spam infrastructure, such as it is, I found this InfoWorld article on some emerging Anti-Spam standards interesting.

09:51 AM | Recommend This | Print This

I'll Trade You a T226 for a T68i

I got a postcard in the mail over the weekend that ATTWS was sending me a new Sony Ericsson T226 phone to replace my T68i. A quick comparison showed that the 226 doesn't have Bluetooth, a calendar, voice activated dialing, or worldwide bands. The first is the reason I won't switch and the last is the reason ATTWS wants me to. Seems that ATTWS has overlayed their 900/1800 MHz network with 850 MHz and that provides better coverage. There's no doubt they need that and I'd love to have a phone that takes advantage of it, but it will have to have Bluetooth. There's some discussion of all of this over at Howard Forums.

07:16 AM | Recommend This | Print This