eLifespaces

Season Greetings from eLifespaces

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 19:24:00 +0000

To you and your families, please receive our best wishes for a peaceful and joyous holiday season.

This is always a jubilant time of the year. Not only is it a time in which we have given thanks for the many blessings in our lives, but it is a season which celebrates the joy within each of us.

Please pray for our brave men and women in uniform. We are grateful for their service to us and our country, and for the support and sacrifice of their families. During these next few weeks, we also hope that you will pause to reflect on the many contributions you have made this year in service of your faith, your family and your community.

Many opportunities are before us, and we look forward to what the New Year has in store. May the peace and goodwill of the season fill every heart and warm every home. Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year ~ f

Babylonian Beatles

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 17:08:00 +0000

Read a very interesting article by Curt Hopkins regarding archaeoacoustics (a/k/a acoustic archaeology), an emerging field of science which seeks to understand how sound influenced a given culture. Even more fascinating is how we too can experience these sounds from the past. For more, Acoustic Archaeology? Meet the Web

Hopkins leaves us with a “take-away” thought, “What does it all mean? … What sounds will our descendants find us to have valued?”

Wireless Impacting Trees

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 22:36:00 +0000

An increasing number of electromagnetic radiation sources (WiFi, mobile phones, etc) could play a role in the deteriorating health of trees finds a Netherlands’ report conducted by Wageningen University and commissioned by the city of Alphen aan den Rijn. Trees were exposed for more than three months to six sources of radiation [frequencies ranging from 2412 to 2472 MHz]. Leaves towards the radiation source during the study period showed a metallic luster appearance, a discoloration of the leaves that appeared to result in the disappearance of the outer cell layer of the leaves. This metallic luster was followed by desiccation and death of a portion of the leaf.

For more insights, please read: Wi-Fi Makes Trees Sick, Study Says - PCWorld Business Center

Fort Sumter to be Energy Self-Sufficient

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 23:56:00 +0000

NOVEMBER 9, 2010 – CHARLESTON, SC -- In a “first-of-its kind” collaboration, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI), the National Park Service, Fort Sumter National Monument, South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA), and the Center for Hydrogen Research (CHR) will work together to deploy a family of technologies that will establish Fort Sumter National Monument as an energy self-sufficient island...
Read more at... http://www.swampfox.ws/2010/11/09/fort-sumter-reassumes-national-focus-after-150-years

TV Cord-Cutters

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 01:39:00 +0000

There's a trend out there - TV Cord-Cutting - and it is gaining momentum every week! Are consumers reducing the amount of time they watch TV in favor of other media like gaming, social networks, or other Internet-based media? And in this trend, are they cancelling their digital TV subscriptions altogether?? When a household bill to the cable company exceeds $150/month - something has to go.

Hordes of articles addressing the phenomenon:

Follow the discussion!

Analog Sunset

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:04:00 +0000

As December 31st approaches, so does the unleashing of the Trojan Horse we allowed into our homes. Our mass acceptance of content in high-definition format was the seduction. But as quickly as “HD” came to the forefront of the electronic age (and into our lives), so too will be the void as content providers start restricting our access to it. In “great conspiracy” deduction, there were a few events this year that led us to believe that the Illuminati, Bilderberg Group, Bohemian Club, Club of Rome, Council on Foreign Relations, Rhodes Trust, Skull and Bones, Trilateral Commission, Freemasons, Elders of Zion, (however you wish to identify the conspirators) were hard at work.

This year multitudes of Avatar fans rushed out to purchase James Cameron’s blockbuster movie, only to be disappointed when their BluRay players would not play the movie. By loading the movie, the owners had inadvertently released a virus that impacted the function of the player. Keep in mind, this is all legal, using such terms as “digital token only” or “image constraint token”, to which the owners have agreed by purchasing the player (and “using” not owning the software that drives the device).

Even more interesting were anomalies that required ALL the devices [i.e. HDTV and AV Surround receivers], if connected with HDMI, to have firmware updates.

Technicians also documented cases where the players were totally disabled, unable to properly function, regardless of disc, until the updates had been performed. Welcome your Trojan Horse!

The next event which gives rise to the conspiracy is “sunset analog,” the first in a series of HD signal limitations being enacted at the end of 2010. Analog sunset refers to the AACS (Advanced Access Content System) licensing restrictions placed on the analog video outputs (anything other than HDMI) from BluRay players. Licensed BluRay players produced after 2010 and playing protected content must limit analog video output to standard definitions (480i/576i), and licensed BluRay players produced after 2013 will no longer have analog outputs at all.

Presently, the actions under analog sunset only pertain to BluRay. In fact, the US, FCC regulation 47 CFR 76.1903 prohibits the disabling of analog outputs on cable and satellite set-top boxes. That is until conspiracy event #3 when in May of 2010 the FCC granted approval of an MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) petition to modify this regulation so that analog outputs may be selectively controlled by the program content.

The final conspiracy event (or at least as of the time of this article) is the entertainment industry’s movement away from the physical media content [i.e. DVDs] to streaming and other cloud based access. What better way to excerpt control over the viewing of the content.

With the use of so many acronyms, it is no wonder that we all remain confused: AACS; NTSC; ATSC; HDMI; DVI; DisplayPort; ICT; DOT; 480i; 1080p; and more! What is certain is that the conspiracy will continue as the distribution of entertainment further evolves.

For more interesting articles, read eLifespaces' quarterly newletter, InFocus.

Talk Backwards

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 01:09:00 +0000

“Talk backwards to me” is a favorite expression around our household. The jest of the expression meaning to tell me your purpose in speaking with me – then you may present whatever details you think necessary. This allows me to properly “tune in” and listen to details that are helpful to me in understanding. Even my recorded cell answering message ask the caller to please NOT leave a message, but to call me at my office or send me a txt message. Peer pressure ended that message, and yes – this approach lands me in the “dog house” with my spouse on many occasions.

It was a pleasure to read The New Yorkers article, e-Mail Auto Response, by Martin Marks this morning. ‘Spot on” in capturing how many of us really feel in receiving wordy, brain-dump email correspondence. Great read, please take a moment and visit.

In graduate school, a professor of strategic policy required that you provide case study analyses in 200 words or less, the consequences of non-compliance resulted in a failing mark. Another professor provided the basis for ‘talking backwards’ – write how you speak and let me know what you want in the first sentence; otherwise you fail.

Innovation and The American Dream

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 16:21:00 +0000

Fight for the Great American Comeback

This week, the CEA (Consumer Electronic Association)’s Innovation Movement released a video that expresses the frustrations that so many Americans are feeling, that the economy is not on track and the American Dream is no longer within reach for many hardworking citizens. But it does not have to be this way. Our CEA has ask that we forward this message to all our readers!

It’s time Washington lawmakers take a page from American innovators and entrepreneurs to guide the nation toward a comeback. Americans, with their ingenuity, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, have the ingredients for success; we only need Washington to support an economy where entrepreneurs are free to compete and pursue their dreams.

Our vision is a Washington that:

Spends taxpayer money responsibly and prioritizes cutting the deficit.
Embraces international trade and open markets.
Modernizes visas to allow talented people, wherever they are born, to study and work in America.
Supports a free-market economy where entrepreneurship can flourish.

This video captures the spirit of change and the hope we have for the future. Watch it, share it with your friends, show it to your children, and send it to your congressional representatives. Ask them to join the movement as an outlet to fight for the great American comeback.

Popular Gadget Survey

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 22:31:00 +0000

Pew Research has released a report from its Internet & American Life Project indicating that among all the personal communication devices, the cell phone remains #1 as the "gadget of choice!" This report examines seven key appliances of the information age: cell phones, desktop and laptop computers, MP3 players, game consoles, and tablet computers (including e-book readers).

“When it comes to personal communication devices,” according to the article, Gadget Ownership by Aaron Smith, Pew Internet & American Life Project Research Specialist, "the cell phone remains the "gadget of choice" among Americans in 2010 -- fully 85% of all adults (and three-quarters of teens) now own a mobile phone. Computers are the second-most commonly owned piece of personal technology, as six-in-ten Americans own a desktop computer and half own a laptop. Just under half of all adults own an mp3 player (47%) or console gaming device (42%), while e-book readers and tablet computers are each owned currently by around one-in-twenty adults."

The results in their report were based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International between August 9 and September 13, 2010, among a sample of 3,001 adults, age 18 and older. For more information, visit http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1763/americans-and-their-gadgets-technology-devices?src=prc-latest&proj=peoplepress

Look – Jupiter

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 15:11:00 +0000

Armed with my new iPhone app, Star Walk, a spotting scope and Celestron SkyMaster binoculars, the quest was on to view Jupiter in last night’s sky. This past week, the local channel meteorologists have been discussing Jupiter approach with Earth, the closest encounter between the two planets in more than a decade.

According to NASA, Earth-Jupiter encounters happen every 13 months when the Earth laps Jupiter in their race around the sun. But because Earth and Jupiter do not orbit the sun in perfect circles, they are not always the same distance apart when Earth passes by. On Sept. 20th, Jupiter was as much as 75 million km closer than previous encounters and will not be this close again until 2022.

Grab your spouse, your kids, and/or your significant other and go have some fun. Because Jupiter is so close, the planet's disk can be seen in rare detail--and there is a lot to see. For instance, the Great Red Spot, a cyclone twice as wide as Earth, is bumping up against another storm called "Red Spot Jr." Among all denizens of the midnight sky, only the moon itself will be brighter.

CEDIA 2010 EXPO BEGINS

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 17:25:00 +0000

CEDIA 2010 Expo officially got underway Wednesday (9/22) at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. CEDIA Expo is one of the largest tradeshows in the residential electronic systems industry. Highlights of this year’s show include sustainable lifestyles, residential communications, home entertainment, and home health. For more on CEDIA Expo visit http://www.cedia.net/expo/index2010.php

Sex! Hackers! Embellishment! The Inside Story of the Facebook Movie

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:34:00 +0000

Sex! Hackers! Embellishment! The Inside Story of the Facebook Movie

Interesting read... enjoy. ~ f

The Information Dividend

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:33:00 +0000

In the third and final installment of a global study from BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT, formerly known as British Computer Society, their report shows that access to information technology has a “statistically significant, positive impact on life satisfaction”. Which areas benefited most from access? Ranked in order of importance – Family (Home); Leisure; Health; Social Life; and Job.

May 2010 marked the publication of the first report, “The Information Dividend: Can IT Make You 'Happier'?” Building on the first report, “International Information Well-being Index” [published July 2010] looked at 39 countries and compares the level of satisfaction of citizens with their access to and use of information technology.

The reports segregated gender, socioeconomic and even marital demographics. For more on this: http://www.bcs.org/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.35476

Adopt-a-Highway Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:36:00 +0000

[CHARLESTON, SC – 09/11/2010] – Saturday, what better way to spend the morning on this day of remembering? Lifespaces, Inc. and its group of technology contracting companies, eLifespaces and eSecurity, continued its commitment in assisting the South Carolina’s Department of Transportation and the many other fine organizations involved in “Adopt-a-Highway.” Now celebrating its 22nd Anniversary (1988-2010), Adopt-a-Highway has been one of the most successful programs in combating litter along South Carolina highways ever enacted.

Beginning promptly at 8:00AM, individuals from the eLife family began sweeping the two mile stretch of King Street between Mt Pleasant Street and Summerville Avenue. Forty (40) orange bags of trash were collected, not to mention old automobile parts, railroad ties and assorted other disgusting items. Most notable find – an iPhone (the apparent aftermath of the loading iOS4.0 on the 3G device)!

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) provides all of the necessary clean-up supplies such as vests and trash bags, and requires organizations to pick up the clean-up supplies. However, SCDOT picks up the collected litter bags left on the road-side on the Monday after the collection. Groups may also email to Adoptahighway@scdot.org or visit their website at http://www.scdot.org/.

Falling LCD Prices

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:24:00 +0000

News from overseas forecast falling LCD prices due to a variety of global factors including too much supply in a slower-than-expected European and U.S. economic recovery. LCDs are used in many of today’s electronics, ranging from computers and PDA to high-definition television sets.

When first signs of economic recovery were seen, LCD manufacturers increased [43% to $16 billion] capital spending, putting LCD-panel production in overdrive. When matched with a weak consumer spending world-wide for electronics, excess panel supply as retail inventories rise began (and will continue) forcing prices down. The weaker-than-usual prices are starting to hit margins of LCD makers, including LG Display Co., AU Optronics Corp., Samsung Electronics Co. and Sharp Corp.
Highlights cited by Nikkei.com:

Taiwanese LCD companies' factory-utilization rates are down to about 80% to 85% currently, while Korean LCD makers' utilization rate is around 90% to 95%;
LCD TV retail inventories stood at six to nine weeks on average in July, which is on the high side;
Sharp, maker of panels as well as Aquos-brand LCD TVs, said it expects LCD panel prices to continue to fall as it sees uncertainty in the market;
Samsung had forecast that its average selling LCD panel prices are likely to remain flat in the third quarter compared to the second quarter, but there is potential for a high-single-digit percentage decline for various models, following a midsingle digit percentage increase in average selling prices in the second quarter.

Bottom line… lower panel prices on LCDs may hurt the manufacturers, but they are good news for set makers looking to lower overall component costs. If prices fall sharply, set makers are able to transfer the lower costs to consumers. And this is the basis for forecasting falling prices on LCD televisions.

Light Polution

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 19:49:00 +0000

Until this weekend, the term “light pollution” was predominately unknown to our group of students and parents on a Labor Day weekend science field trip to learn about Loggerhead turtles. As we explored Botany Island under the supervision of noted wildlife biologist, Meg Hoyle, she explained the nesting habits of these reptiles – and more importantly the instinctive signals that lights triggers in their species.

Loggerhead sea turtles are one of only seven sea turtle species in the world and listed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as a threatened species. Loggerheads are the South Carolina state reptile and a species that nests along our beaches. From May until August, the females crawl ashore (a cycle that occurs every other year) to deposit their eggs. Hatching occurs about 60 days after nesting. During this time, artificial light causes specific behavioral patterns in both mother and hatchlings that are detrimental to survival.

Since the 1980s, the U.S. National Park Service Night Sky Team has determined that almost every park that it surveyed has noticeable light pollution (defined as any adverse effect of artificial light including sky glow, glare, light trespass, light clutter, decreased and visibility at night – not to address the energy waste implications).

What are things that we can do to help:

Use lighting control systems, timers, occupancy sensors, or other controls to extinguish lighting when it is not needed
Engage the services of lighting design professionals to assess objectives
Choose better light fixtures and lamps that direct light to the needed areas
Better training for commercial building and property managers
Replace “older” fixtures with newer, efficient models

To learn more, visit http://www.ltlonline.org or contact Meg Hoyle with Learning through Loggerheads at their facilities on Edisto Island, SC.

NASA's Family Album

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:05:00 +0000

Want to stroll down “Memory Lane” [or the Memory Lane of your parents and grandparents]? Images of more than half a century of NASA history have been posted on website Flickr, http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasacommons. Topics encompassing Launch/Takeoff; Building NASA; namesakes; and more can be viewed! As the shuttle missions come to their evolution, the folks at NASA promise more of these family album pictures.

Airplane, Pyramid, or Ponzi

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:29:00 +0000

Enjoying the company of some old friends, last night was my first introduction terms such as “personal residual income,” “overriding residuals,” “balanced compensation,” and more. A notable celebrity (on the pre-recorded DVD program that led off the meeting) said to act now, professing the importance of “personal marketing.” According to the executive team trainer (the leader of our meeting), the time is right to get your piece of the revenues of the electronic age.
Sign up and you can receive commissions from the cell phones, telephone, Internet access, security, video conferencing – even power bills of those whom you sign up! And if they sign up folks, you get a commission from those! It is all a part of the overriding residual and balanced compensation that enable early retirement.

Before the “gathering,” a friend offered an informal “litmus” test to judge whether I was in the midst of cult bearing ‘pyramiders’:

The endorsement of a wealthy investor
Unshakeable faith and irrefutable evidence
The "associate" who makes thousands per week in his spare time
All training and promotional materials provided for free
No up front large investment
No inventory to carry
Weekly “shindigs” for support
Easy to use web site
Does your spouse desire the ‘good life’
Don't you want to retire early and live the life you have always dreamed about?

Sure enough – the introduction of our successful real estate celebrity, magazine articles aplenty, spotlights on television, involvement of local CPAs & surgeons, weekly meetings at an area hotel, investment of less than $500, sold out regional, national and international meetings for the several months, good life within reach with monthly income upwards of $3K/$7K/or even $25K! And to top it all off – our executive team leader retired only a few months ago to pursue this full time.

According to the Security & Exchange Commission (http://www.sec.gov/answers/pyramid.htm), a pyramid scheme is a non-sustainable business model that involves promising participants payment primarily for enrolling other people into the organization, rather than from any real investment or sale of products or services to the public. Sure does skirt on the edge.

My bottom line, too many variables not addressed. They couldn’t address internet speed or bandwidth because it currently wasn’t available in our area. They suggested keeping your current ISP (Internet Service Provider) but sign up for other services and when available you could get this, too. Lastly, if there is so much money available for everyone to get a cut of everyone else’s bills, at some point the cards will fall. I think I’ll stick with the organizations who actually provide the service rather than those who are reselling them.

Irritating Cost Cutting

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:18:00 +0000

In these economic times, cutting costs to keep prices constant is essential to survival – unless of course you diminish quality or product substance. In today’s Wall Street Journal mention is made of Toshiba Corp procuring components for its digital gadgetry from China and South Korea versus Japan will save the company in excess of $11 billion over the next three years. Cost efficiency like these are crucial, particularly in newly emerging markets, if Japanese electronics makers are to compete against Asian rivals. But I must draw the line when it comes to the recent cost cutting measures at my local Krispy Kreme.

Inserted as Exhibit A – a picture of my most recent purchase of a “Hot’n Now” dozen, depicting the largest donut hole ever seen in Krispie Kreme history.

Well… I guess it is for our own good; health, waist line, etc. Sure does make me sad that cost cutting has hit us so severely.

AppleTiVO-4K

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:01:00 +0000

Much ado about computing, iPhones, and iPads, but nothing has been heard of late from our strategic powerhouse partners, Apple, regarding HDTV and home entertainment. Touted as a “hobby,” AppleTV may soon find itself the center of attention should rumors of next generation high definition resolution and cloud computing have any substance.

There are four forces at play – 1) Apple promoting the next generation video format “4K” (video resolution of 4096x2160) making BluRay quality look archaic; 2) cloud computing (a $1 billion investment by Apple for the famous data center, “Lala,” in North Carolina) and future home of ‘Keychest’; 3) speculation that Apple may included TiVO’s DVR technology in the next iteration of the Apple TV; and 4) finally in the spirit of “plug and play” merge this new AppleTV into a large 4K LED display and offer an iPad remote control and Bluetooth keyboard support. Why not even include in a built-in camera with FaceTime or Skype functions!

Apple, long known (and self touted http://www.apple.com/why-mac/) for quality, may be planning its entry into the HDTV market on the high-end. You certainly don’t need to splurge on a system in the Mac’s price range to be a happy customer. But with electronics, as with most things in life, you generally get what you pay for.

Electronic Use in Vehicles

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:01:00 +0000

Using electronics while driving should be done safely and legally. In today’s briefings, there was an interesting article issued by www.DigitalTips.org which maps out laws state by state so you can reach your destination safely and easily. GPS, On-Star, cellular phones, and others can help you in an emergency. However, it's important to use electronics safely while driving and follow the law.

In S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-4440 (2007) the Law states: No television viewer, screen or other means of visually receiving a television broadcast can be located in the field of view of the operator of the vehicle. Penalties are $100 or be imprisoned for not more than 30 days. Learn about your home state and those neighboring states around you.

Jeers Rating for HP8500

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:59:00 +0000

Purchased only six months ago, our customer reports the HP8500 "All-in-One" printer is inoperable. Providing assistance to our customer in procuring a “return authorization” was met with a host of red tape. After several days of “finger pointing” between distribution and manufacturer, we got a hold of a customer service contact line and provided the data for our customer to contact HP support. Today, the customer sent me an email which read, “Finally – A$$ H@!& INDIA DUDE - is sending a new printer…”

“Finally - A$$ H@!& INDIA DUDE - is sending a new printer - will be delivered to your office by August 6th. Did trouble-shooting over phone with me - tried to tell me that something I did (like constant paper jams, putting ink cartridges in wrong, etc.) caused it - told him we never even had a paper jam - he said if the same thing happens on the new one he sends that HP will assume that it is us, not the printer. I told him it was more than likely a defect in the product - he said this printer has worked for years... - i said - "you mean to tell me that there have never been any 'carriage jam' problems with this printer?" Blah, Blah, Blah...He is sending me a new printer - let me know as soon as it comes in – we’ll have to send the old one back within 3 days of receipt - a return postage for FedEx will be on the side of the box. Thanks for your help.”

HP left quite an impression with our customer.

Library of Congress Impacts the Digital World

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:43:00 +0000

Among the newest six classes of works (COW) additions which provide exceptions to copyright law, the Librarian of Congress said yesterday that it was legal to circumvent a phone’s controls to allow use of “lawfully obtained” software (COW 2) and to which service provider (COW3) you could connect.

Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington, released the following statement:
“Section 1201(a)(1) of the copyright law requires that every three years I am to determine whether there are any classes of works that will be subject to exemptions from the statute’s prohibition against circumvention of technology that effectively controls access to a copyrighted work…
This is the fourth time that I have made such a determination. Today I have designated six classes of works. Persons who circumvent access controls in order to engage in non-infringing uses of works in these six classes will not be subject to the statutory prohibition against circumvention…
The six classes of works are [paraphrased for brevity]:
(1) Short portions of motion pictures on DVDs for the purpose of criticism or comment,
(2) Computer programs that enable wireless telephone handsets to execute lawfully obtained software applications,
(3) Computer programs enabling wireless telephone handsets to connect to a wireless telecommunications network,
(4) Video games access circumvention for the sole purpose of good faith testing for, investigating, or correcting security flaws or vulnerabilities,
(5) Computer programs protected by dongles are obsolete.
(6) Literary works that prevent read-aloud function or text into a specialized format.
The purpose of the proceeding is to determine whether current technologies that control access to copyrighted works are diminishing the ability of individuals to use works in lawful, noninfringing ways…”

For more, visit the Library of Congress at http://www.loc.gov/

TechHome Ratings

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:53:00 +0000

Which level is right for my house? According to the Consumer Electronic Association (CEA), TechHome-rated infrastructure in a home is only as useful as the products, data and applications attached to it. This is especially true for those homeowners now experiencing the limitations of Cat5 as video signals begin to hog bandwidth across the household networks.

Your home's digital network capabilities will depend on how robust your technology infrastructure is. But how much infrastructure is too much, and how little is too little? That's where the three TechHome Rating System (THRS) levels -- bronze, gold and platinum -- come into play. They remove the complexity from structured wiring and instead focus on what you can do and what you can enjoy at each level.

Find out about the capabilities of each TechHome level to determine your TechHome rating and then work with your electronics-systems contractor to connect and integrate the audio, video and networking equipment that will be used. Visit www.DigitalTips.org to learn how you can get started with simple upgrades.

Duly Warned About iOS4 in a 3G World

noreply@blogger.com (eLifespaces) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:58:00 +0000

Duly warned NOT to load iOS 4.0 on my 3G iPhone, Bill Read posted the following on FB which is “spot on.” Give it a view!

Watch

Now I feel compeled to go purchase the new iPhone 4. I guess this would be similar to loading Snow Leopard on my Apple Cube or Windows XP on a 386 (for those who remember).