greg hughes - dot net
Note that the contents of this site represent my own thoughts and opinions, not those of anyone else - like my employer - or even my dog for that matter. Besides, the dog would post things that make sense. I don't.
 Friday, 09 January 2004
I can't take it anymore! I'm making a run for it - cross your fingers!!!
EDIT: Dunno what I was thinking. 4WD and no traction - sliding everywhere. Must be crazy. Dog thinks so.
Thursday, 08 January 2004
This is almost enough to drive me crazy. I have been snowed or iced in for three straight days. Of course, so have a lot of other people. Now it’s warming up, but it may be some time before roads here are passable. It’s a mess. One big skating rink. Things started to thaw, but with all the snow that was on the ground before the ice started, the end result is a whole lot of really wet, icy snow.
Quite a storm. Portland International Airport closed for two days (so far). Fed Ex cancelled deliveries. Nike’s headquarters closed for the first time. The Jail Blazers cancelled a game. Woo hoooo…
My dog is glad I’ve been home, but I’ve pretty much had enough for this go-round. Cabin fever has started to set in. Unfortunately, the National Weather Service just extended our winter storm warning for the whole night because temperatures are supposed to drop back below freezing. I’m hoping it doesn’t happen.
But, regardless of the temperature tonight, it should warm up considerably tomorrow, and then all we have to worry about is flooding and mud slides. No big deal, right? Ugh…
The guys that work for me have been real troopers. Some have been able to make it into the office and the rest have worked from home like me. I am pretty lucky, really, to have a dedicated crew of employees, And they’re decent people on top of that. Okay, enough of that or it will go to their heads. Can’t have that. 
On top of that, the Blazers continue to SUCK. I mean, come on! Trade Sheed!
Argh!!
Blah, blah blah. 
More cool Microsoft media stuff. I've run Windows Media server systems for the past 4 years. When Windows Server 2003 came along (actually .NET server betas), I got excited for the first time since first working with the technology - the improvements in the 2003 Windows Media Services were huge.
Something equally cool is here: High Definition Windows Media Video. Specially encoded DVDs will allow movie content at resolutions greater than the standard DVD's 480i - Now resolutions up to 1080i will mean really, really great pictures.
“The movies will be available at retail in two-disc DVD sets that contain both the movie in standard definition for playback on any DVD player and a companion DVD disc that contains the entire feature film in high-definition video and 5.1-channel surround sound using WMV HD, for playback on a Windows® XP-based PC.“
This web site has some links to sample content. Big downloads, so use a fat pipe connection.
Some have speculated that Windows XP Media Center Edition was a dead horse (a stance I still don't fully comprehend), but then came the 2004 release, and now comes an announcement that they will be extending the Media Center reach to - get this - other devices, including (glad I bought one!) the XBOX. And hey - the Portable Media Centers have already got me sold. Wow - this is a big announcement, when you think about it.
The Windows Media Center Extender technologies and products were just announced at CES 2004. Arrival slated for later this year. Microsoft has a cool PDF brochure that gives a good picture of what's in store. It looks like you buy a remote and some software for the XBOX (in the case of that product) and off you go. Cool - maybe we can finally make use of that hard drive in there for real. Now if they would just put a web browser in the thing...
The other options - Extender TV's (can you say “Borg?”) and what looks to be an Extender appliance-type device, also look interesting.
One way or another this looks like the way of the future for television and multi-source media use. Whether Microsoft's technology is the defacto standard or not, this is likely indicative of where things are going.
Anyone have a link to Gates' keynote video at CES? I can't find it. That would be cool.
On a related (well, at least similar) note, Snapstream is stepping up their game. Nimble company there. Wow. My TiVo, as much as I love it, could - possibly - become a thing of the past, although they did announce HD support and other cool stuff for later this year.
Thoughts?
I am not sure why, but I feel I have to post this. Golum - hero to white wannabe rapper kids. Argh.
Have a nice day
© Copyright 2012 Greg Hughes 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
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