Thoughts from the Shelf

Back in March The Shelf posted about Sir Tim Berners-Lee and his opinions on a sophisticated user tracking and ad targeting system. The Phorm system mentioned in that post has since been put increasingly under the spot light after it was divulged BT secretly trialled the software on its users in 2007, a move many believe was in fact illegal.

Backed by three leading internet service providers the system is designed to increase the relevance of online advertising by logging all the websites a particular user visits, a move the Foundation for Information Policy Research said infringed user’s privacy rights.

“Users should have to opt in to such a system, not merely be given an opportunity to opt out. Failure to establish a clear and transparent ‘opt-in’ system is likely to render the entire process illegal and open to challenge in UK and European courts.” – The FIPR

It is thought that by serving adverts based on a users browsing history, more relevant adverts will be served than if the advert was served in relation to webpage content.

A petition on the Downing Street website has now seen over 10,000 people sign it. It is to be delivered to the Prime Minister to review the country’s privacy laws.

On Friday the argument developed further when the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said it would monitor a planned BT trial of the service with the FIPR claiming the ICO had simply brushed over doubts of the services legality.

“[Phorm] assure us that their system does not allow the retention of individual profiles of sites visited and adverts presented, and that they hold no personally identifiable information on web users. Indeed, Phorm assert that their system has been designed specifically to allow the appropriate targeting of adverts whilst rigorously protecting the privacy of web users.” – ICO

The FIPR responded by saying “[BT] appear to ignore the fact that they can only legalise their activity by getting express permission not just from their customers, but also from the web hosts whose pages they intercept, and from the third parties who communicate with their customers through web-based email, forums or social-networking sites. We sincerely hope that the Information Commissioner will reconsider what appears to be a green light for lawbreaking.”

Meanwhile an technical analysis of the system by Dr Richard Clayton has reinforced views that the system is in fact illegal.

After reading an article on the future of energy conservation today my views of a little green plant I regarded as nothing more than pond litter were certainly changed. Everyone is familiar with Algae, and probably won’t be surprised to hear its one of the top fifty fastest growing plants in the world. What did surprise me was hearing that the plant is being touted as the “ultimate in renewable energy”.

Surprising still is the notion that harnessing the energy potential of Algae is not a new idea and most energy projects use ponds to grow it. But it is Texas, the US state known more in the past for oil reserves, that is at the forefront of a new idea in how to harness the energy the plant contains.

The reason that Algae is being seen as the solution to renewable energy is that over half of its weight is made up of oil. This means that the the lipid oil can be extracted and used to make biodiesel for vehicles. The fact that the plant is fast growing plant therefore means increased yields.

The problem up until now has been the volume of Algae that can be harvested, as when grown in pond the yield is dependent on the surface area of the pond it is grown in.

“A pond has a limited amount of surface area for solar absorption” - Glen Kertz, president and CEO of Valcent Products

This problem has been circumvented by Valcent, a company that has embarked upon a $5 million joint venture with Canadian alternative energy company Global Green Solutions.

Valcent has developed a closed, vertical system that grows the Algae in rows of moving plastic bags; a patented system called Vertigro.

“By going vertical, you can get a lot more surface area to expose cells to the sunlight. It keeps the algae hanging in the sunlight just long enough to pick up the solar energy they need to produce, to go through photosynthesis” - Glen Kertz, president and CEO of Valcent Products

Valcent has stated that using this method of production it can produce 100,000 gallons of Algae oil annually per acre, compared to 30 gallons from corn and 50 gallons from soybeans.

The US government has researched methods of Algae production in the past, and between 1978 and 1996 the US Department of Energy studied the economic viability of such a system growing Algae in open ponds in California, Hawaii, and in Roswell, New Mexico. The outcome was that such a system could never compete with fossil fuels, a decision taken at a time when the price of oil was $20 barrel.

It seems that Valcent have reopened the research with over twenty patents to protect their ideas, much of which involves experiments to see which type of algae produces which type of fuel. With over 65,000 known algae species it could be that one specimen produces fuel more suited for jet planes than another.

Interesting stuff, but with substantial use of biofuels still 5 to 10 years away I’m sure we will hear plenty more about alternative renewable energy sources in the near future.

In a step to increase wi-fi hotspots to the American public Google were today reported to have approached the US government for permission to you unlicensed TV frequencies known as ‘white noise’ to be used for wi-fi.

The approach from Google was made a week after the Federal Communications Commission completed the nation’s landmark 700 megahertz auction.

Made to industry regulators, Google described proposals for potential access to the unused white space as a “once in a lifetime opportunity”. Google has called the proposals part of a “wi-fi 2.0 age”, an informal, loosely regulated low cost wirelss broadband network that could offer customers “data rates in the gigabits-per-second”.

White space describes the unused frequency blocks that lie between regulated television channel broadcasts on analogue airwaves. There has been an argument for some time that these parts unused spectrum could be assembled to support a new high speed wireless service.

“The vast majority of viable spectrum in this country simply goes unused, or else is grossly underutilised. Unlike other natural resources, there is no benefit to allowing this spectrum to lie fallow, ” - Google’s Richard Whitt

It has very much been the case that existing broadcasters have been opposed to such moves amid fears that use of this white space would interfere with the quality of existing television programming. However, with the development of several spectrum sensing technologies designed to prevent signals interfering with each other Google is pushing the authorities in the US to reconsider.

Microsoft has had an embarrassing failure with such moves last year when its prototype broke during FCC testing. It later was said to have worked adequately with a repaired version of the technology.

Of course expanding wi-fi capability will have major implications for mobile search and if the FCC accepts the request and Google wins airwaves, devices supporting the technology could be out as early as next year. Let mobile monetization commence.

Following a post on The Shelf about the BBC’s new free on demand TV service being delivered through iPlayer in January, the BBC has today announced that a version of its iPlayer on demand service will be available for both the Apple iPhone and iPod touch.

Marking the first time the BBC’s on demand service will be available of portable media devices, the iPhone and iPod touch will stream shows from the iPlayer website over wi-fi networks.

“We started with iPhone because it is the device most optimised for high quality video currently available.” - Anthony Rose wrote on the BBC blog

Currently the iPlayer software is available in two versions, one which will download content from the BBC archive to a Windows PC, the other a streaming service available to all users over the internet.

The iPlayer version used for both the iPhone and iPod touch will allow streaming over a wi-fi connection, however the EDGE mobile network that the iPhone utilises is to slow to support a video streaming service.

Wi-fi firm The Cloud has recently secured a contract to provide all the BBC’s online services for free in 7,500 wi-fi hotspots across the country.

With news that the battle for a standard high definition format is over, for the first time since 2000 when both Sony and Toshiba began experimenting with blue lasers and optical discs, we are have an industry standard format.

The emergence of the high definition battle in 2000 was primarily down to technological advancements in blue lasers. With a shorter wavelength than red lasers which are used in standard DVD, less space is needed to record each bit of data with blue lasers, therefore enabling more information to be stored onto a DVD size disc.

As a result this extra space made high definition recording commercially viable, and such a standard format was required. This gave birth to both HD DVD and Blu-ray, with both formats engaging in an eight year battle to become the industry standard high definition format.

Backed by two of the worlds leading electronics manufacturers, each format had its advantages as discussed previously on The Shelf in numerous technology posts, but throughout the duration of the stand off there has no doubt been only one looser, the consumer.

The Format War
In 2000 Sony first unveiled its Blu-ray technology followed by the developed of Ultra Density Optical (UDO), a blue laser optical disc format that was proposed to replace magneto-optical discs.

In 2002 Toshiba then released its own high definition offering in HD DVD, resulting in two different high definition formats, resembling the video format war of VHS and Betamax.

In 2003 Sony released its first Blu-ray disc recorder in Japan, although this initial offering lacked support for pre-recorded movies making this an expensive first step to next generation video.

In 2004 Toshiba followed suit with the launch of its first HD DVD player which came inclusive of backwards compatibility to DVD, but by this time Mitsubishi, Dell and Hewlett-Packard had all already thrown their support behind Sony’s format.

Also in 2004 Sony announced plans to include its Blu-ray DVD player in its upcoming PS3, whilst Disney also publicly backed the format. At this time Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, HBO and New Line Cinema had all announced support for HD DVD.

In 2005 Sony then saw its support from Hewlett-Packard regress as the firm retracts exclusivity agreements and decided to back both formats. As talks of a joint single format inevitably got nowhere, consumers grow increasingly frustrated with the two rival formats.

Growing increasingly frustrated Paramount then later followed Hewlett-Packard in pledging support to both formats giving consumers the choice.

In 2006 Microsoft entered the frame announcing that a HD DVD add on drive would be released for the Xbox to compete with Sony’s built in Blu-ray player in the PS3, whilst and another exclusive Blu-ray agreement was altered when LG also started manufacturing a HD DVD drive.

At this point both players are commercially available; HD DVD in the form of the HD-XA1 and Sony’s Blu-ray PS3 games console is also launched.

In an effort to end the format war in 2007 LG release a duel player whilst Warner Bros releases a prototype disc which holds both HD DVD and Blu-ray layers compatible with each player.

Later that year both Paramount and DreamWorks grant exclusivity to HD DVD, whilst Sony says it will use Blu-ray Discs in all high-def video recorders in Japan.

In November 2007 Toshiba then drops the price of its HD DVD player under the magic $200 mark, as at the same time Sony begins selling a lower cost version of the PlayStation 3.

In 2008 the long running battle to find an industry standard format concluded. In January Warner Bros. announced that it will stop offering its movies on HD DVD amidst news that Blu-ray sales are out performing those of its rival.

Later that month Toshiba reduced the cost of its HD DVD players to $150 followed two weeks later by NetFlix and BestBuy announcing they will phase out HD DVD, and four days later by Walmart making the same announcement.

On February 19th Toshiba formally announced that it will phase out production of HD DVD players and recorders by the end of March 2008, surrendering the field in a long running battle with Sony’s Blu-ray.

So why was the eventual winner Blu-ray?
With all the weight of major Hollywood studios behind it Blu-ray did seal the majority of releases in its format by 2008, whether exclusive of not, but with the increasing debate about DRM software many believe it was the presence of a digital lock on movies called BD+, a far more sophisticated and resilient digital rights management system than that offered by HD DVD that secured studio backing.

“The adoption of BD+ as part of the Blu-ray disc specification was a key factor in our decision to publish on the format.” “This added layer of content protection gives Blu-ray yet another distinct competitive advantage.” Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment executive Mike Dunn

Both Blu-ray and HD DVD formats used an anti-copying system called AACS, which has already been cracked; but Blu-ray employs BD+ as an extra layer of protection. BD+ is optional, not all Blu-ray discs use it, and has not yet been compromised, despite claims to the contrary.

Many also believe that the death of Blu-ray was more of a suicide than a death, and on Tuesday it was a Blu-ray bigwig who was the latest person to lay such a claim.

Not down to technical standards or studio support, it is claimed that Toshiba’s decision to offer sale price on HD DVD hardware in November 2007 sealed the formats fate.

“I guess what sealed Toshiba’s fate was its $99 pricing on Black Friday [in the US]. That pricing must have discouraged every manufacturer from entering the HD DVD player market.” - Masayuki Kozuka, a planner for Panasonic’s

“I believe Chinese manufacturers’ entry to the US market was [the] HD DVD supporters’ last hope. Given the market price at $99, however, it became impossible for any other manufacturer but Toshiba to enter the market.” - Masayuki Kozuka, a planner for Panasonic’s

What ever claims are made about Blu-rays triumph the reason for its success is no doubt a culmination of a few of them. Blu-ray does have enhanced DRM management, has tackled interactivity issues where HD DVD was initially superior, and Toshiba no doubt did devalue there own product in trying to get market share, where as Sony created an established customer base with the inclusion of Blu-ray in its PS3 consoles.

One thing is for sure however, those who rushed out and bought a HD DVD player for nearly £450 when first released will be undoubtedly disappointed about Toshiba’s pull-out.

I read an article today which demonstrated the latest development in gaming technology, a device which allows gamers to interact with virtual worlds using only their thoughts and emotions. The technology is called a neuro-headset and interprets the interaction of neutrons in the brain, and is due to go on sale in the latter part of 2008.

In the past year gamers have already seen the Nintendo Wii expand the market for gamers with the introduction of a motion control interface, but the neuro-headset is an even bigger leap forward, the prospect of which is sure to get gamers foaming in anticipation of its release.

Designed by Emotive, the neuro-headset is able to identify over 30 different emotions, expressions and actions.

“It picks up electrical activity from the brain and sends wireless signals to a computer” said Emotiv’s president Tan Le.

In this technology Emotiv has successfully created a brain computer interface, a technology with the capability of reading electrical impulses and translating them into commands that a computer game can interpret.

Beyond the gaming industry and the idea of controlling characters in virtual environments through only brain activity, many are excited about the wide range of applications a technology such as this could have.

Brain computer interface based technology will no doubt play an important component in the future 3D internet as well as the future of virtual communication, and as the technology develops it may well be possible to shape music and atmosphere around the emotions of the individual users across a platform of different media.

With limited news released, The Shelf will be sure to follow this story up as it unfolds.

Plans of a joint pilot project between mobile operators Orange and T-Mobile have been announced that will provide a multi-channel TV service to mobile users in the west London area in late 2008.

The pilot service will be broadcast using NextWave Wireless UMTS MBMS based TDtv solution, meaning a mobile handset with TDtv technology will be required. Equipped handsets will be able to receive up to 24 channels of high resolution TV as well as 10 digital radio stations.

The pilot scheme will demonstrate how the cost of providing high quality mass market mobile TV and multimedia broadcast services can be significantly when mobile operators share widely-available unpaired 3G spectrum and a standards-based TDtv broadcast network.

Such unpaired 3G spectrums are available in over 50 other countries, and so will demonstrate an innovative model that can be easily replicated. It also hopes to prove there is a demand from mobile customers for such services.

The channels that are expected to be included in the line up are thought to include the most popular broadcast channels in the UK.

Orange and T-Mobile are two of the operators that currently have mobile TV offerings in the UK, but that is currently restricted to low resolution streamed content.

“The results from the technical trial of TDtv in Bristol last year were extremely encouraging, and this joint pilot of the service in London is an excellent opportunity for us to properly explore the great potential available to our customers from the technology,” said Orange’s product and innovation director, Paul Jevons, on Tuesday.

Last week on The Shelf we posted about the HD DVD and Blu-ray format, and how the format backed by Sony has now cemented deals ensuring 70% of Hollywood productions are released in Blu-ray. But for Blu-ray consumer’s trouble could be in store before the war is even declared over.

Owners of Blu-ray players have found that for there troubles of supporting the format and purchasing the next generation DVD player early on, they could be frozen out of future developments in the technology because the players are not upgradeable.

The Blu-ray format has recently rolled out a series of new developments, including a picture in picture feature, but the majority of players that have been sold to date do not have the necessary hardware to offer such features.

Some of the discs that are currently being released in the format are coming with notices that some users made have to upgrade the software in their machine, adding confusion to an already divided market place.

The issues raised by the development of new features have come about as the Sony format tries to compete with the interactivity of HD DVD, the one specialised area the format has failed to convince in.

As a result of these unplanned developments manufacturing specifications do not support the new features, all machines built prior to November 2007 are billed as profile 1.0, where as the new features require a profile 1.1 machine. In 2008 profile 2.0 will also be released called BD Live, which will support internet downloads of related content.

The only Blu-ray player which can upgraded to use all the features is Sony’s PlayStation 3, because it comes with the right hardware built-in and online access.

This week Blu-ray technology took a major step towards winning the format war when Warner Bros. announced that it will start to exclusively release its products on Blu-ray disks from June 1st this year.

Coupled with the announcement of exclusive backing from one of Holloywood’s major studios, a further dent was put in rival format HD DVD’s plans to become the industry standard format when both Paramont and Dreamworks studios altered their existing contracts with HD DVD makers to allow them to terminate their partnership if rival Warner Bros. supported Blu-ray.

After Microsoft and Intel gave their backing to HD DVD, and a host of European studios making the format their preferred choice, HD DVD had a larger catalogue of films and looked to be the favourite to come out as the dominant format. Since then however Walt Disney, 20th Century Fox, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and now Warner have already fixed their choice on Blu-ray, bringing 70% of Holloywood productions to Blu-ray discs.

About 60 percent of Warner’s sales of U.S. high-definition discs were Blu-ray titles and the other 40 percent were HD DVS, said Kevin Tsujihara, president of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group.

Outside the U.S., the divide was far wider, with Warner’s Blu-ray discs outselling titles in HD DVD in Britain and Japan, among other markets, Tsujihara said.

Warner Bros., owned by Time Warner Inc., was the only remaining studio releasing high-definition DVDs in both formats.

“The window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger,” Warner Bros. chairman and Chief Executive Barry Meyer said in a statement.

In yet another blow to HD DVD, Microsoft has also retracted the exclusivity of to plans to make an HD DVD add on for its Xbox consoles by considering including Blu-ray technology within the consoles themselves. The rival Sony’s PlayStation 3 console already uses the Blu-ray technology.

Concluding The Shelf’s five part series featuring technology that could make it big it 2008 The Shelf examines mobile VOIP.

VoIP is a Voice Over Internet Protocol service that enables users to make voice calls across the internet. VoIP involves sending voice information in digital form in discrete packets rather than by using the traditional circuit-committed protocols of the public switched telephone network (PSTN). The major advantage of VoIP is that by using the internet telephony users can avoid the charges existing telephone networks already have in place.

In addition to IP, VoIP uses the real-time protocol (RTP) to help ensure that packets get delivered in a timely way.

VoIP has already taken of in a huge way with the help of increasing numbers of domestic broadband connections, and users are already seeing the savings VoIP can provide, especially with international calling. Big names like BT are now even incorporating VoIP calling into their broadband and call packages.

With savings already being made in the home through VoIP, challenging existing domestic telephone networks, it is only a matter of time until VoIP services trickle into mobile phone networks too. Thanks to the increasing number of handsets fitted with 3G this look a certain development in 2008.

All that is technically required for mobile VoIP is a 3G speed mobile data service, a technology is readily available in handsets currently on the market. The next stumbling block is preventing mobile networks from prohibiting VoIP mobile communication, after all they want to protect their revenue stream. The only additional hold up for mobile VoIP after this is the requirement for a soft client on the mobile handset that a customer wishes to use. Skype is one example, and recently teamed up with 3 to release the first VoIP handset.

The catch here is the VoIP calls still have to travel over a mobile network, (unless made through wireless hot-spots or the like) so whether this remains true VoIP is a question the pessimists among us may like to ask. Truephone is a good example here.