I have been slovenly
For I have not entered. Alas, I am not as tied to the computator as my brothers. It is there to amuse me when other machines in my life fail to do so.
There are many things I would like to do with this thing, all related to the creation of programs. I used to be pretty good, but, as with everything, I lacked the obsession that makes for the commercially viable hacker. But I do feel that there are several viable ideas floating about in the cranium. For example:
Free Tivo: Currently, one needs to placate one's Tivo machine with a daily call to the Tivo Mothership. There, it downloads info on programming (useful), and subscription information (not useful). Since this is essentially just an appliance, I see no reason why, like any appliance, it can be configured to do what the owner/user wishes, rather than the supplier/subcriptionaire. Think of all the Palm devices used as very cost effective data loggers, of all the hunks of speciallized iron used as doorstops. I bought the damned thing. I should be able to use it as I see fit, just like all the other Linux users out there.
Inexpensive Home Entertainment Networks: One can spend a bundle on a comprehensive home stereo, or. . . . All one really needs to pipe sound thoughout the house is not a sheaf of wires, but a way to coordinate the functions of inexpensive stereos. Now that just about everything can be controlled with IR wireless, why not slave these cheap guys to a coordinated wireless transponder? One would customize a Palm to act as the wireless master remote, and network all the machines with IR jump links. After all the radio station presets are in synch, it's an easy leap to make all the home stereos jump from one remote. A larger hurdle would be to pipe a CD or MP3 feed without the wires. There must be a wi-fi appliance that can simply plug into the tape input/output RCA jacks on the backs of all these devices. Pop a CD in one, slave the rest to that wi-fi feed, and play. Activate a portable hard drive with stored MP3s, and make that the master. The Palms can already transfer data on the IR; no reason they cannot serve as iPod style remote activators to storage. I'm trying to get around the current practice of leaving the home computer running as an entertainment device in favor of more energy efficient devices. A bit obsessive, I know, but that's me.
There are many things I would like to do with this thing, all related to the creation of programs. I used to be pretty good, but, as with everything, I lacked the obsession that makes for the commercially viable hacker. But I do feel that there are several viable ideas floating about in the cranium. For example:
Free Tivo: Currently, one needs to placate one's Tivo machine with a daily call to the Tivo Mothership. There, it downloads info on programming (useful), and subscription information (not useful). Since this is essentially just an appliance, I see no reason why, like any appliance, it can be configured to do what the owner/user wishes, rather than the supplier/subcriptionaire. Think of all the Palm devices used as very cost effective data loggers, of all the hunks of speciallized iron used as doorstops. I bought the damned thing. I should be able to use it as I see fit, just like all the other Linux users out there.
Inexpensive Home Entertainment Networks: One can spend a bundle on a comprehensive home stereo, or. . . . All one really needs to pipe sound thoughout the house is not a sheaf of wires, but a way to coordinate the functions of inexpensive stereos. Now that just about everything can be controlled with IR wireless, why not slave these cheap guys to a coordinated wireless transponder? One would customize a Palm to act as the wireless master remote, and network all the machines with IR jump links. After all the radio station presets are in synch, it's an easy leap to make all the home stereos jump from one remote. A larger hurdle would be to pipe a CD or MP3 feed without the wires. There must be a wi-fi appliance that can simply plug into the tape input/output RCA jacks on the backs of all these devices. Pop a CD in one, slave the rest to that wi-fi feed, and play. Activate a portable hard drive with stored MP3s, and make that the master. The Palms can already transfer data on the IR; no reason they cannot serve as iPod style remote activators to storage. I'm trying to get around the current practice of leaving the home computer running as an entertainment device in favor of more energy efficient devices. A bit obsessive, I know, but that's me.