There is just so much to talk about when it comes to Waterford Landing Apartments, that one post is not enough to run a bus over the management company of this community.  But I wish to share some of the most recent experiences.

On Fourth of July, this nation’s Independence Day, residents were having a party in one of the apartments on the third floor [which is the top floor].  At some point throughout the night, 7 people were reported to be hanging out on the balcony.  Rumors are that there might have been as many as 9 individuals.  At that point, as the story goes, the balcony collapsed, sending everyone to the ground.  One dead, two in critical condition, two seriously hurt, one or two with broken bones, and a rumor of two leaving the scene.

What a tragedy!  To leave this world due to lack of maintenance of the place one calls Home.  This ain’t no Sweet Home Alabama!  This is beyond any excuses.  The city reports that they approve all new construction, but once a building is certified, it is up to the management company to maintain it, without any checks or balances from the city – until it is too late.

I can also attest to the condition of the stair cases going up and down to the apartments.  The majority of the wood used is 15+ years, as old as the buildings.  It has never been treated with anything to withstand the elements.  Boards are flopping and being held by an average of 10 nails, if not more – but still not enough.  An accident waiting to happen?  I grasp myself going up and down on daily bases.

Notices were posted on all apartments, approximately two weeks after the incident [on 4th of July], warning residents not to use their balconies due to their hazardous condition.  Why the long wait before people were warned?  The collapsed structure was blocked off [and still is], with ply wood panels, and surrounded by yellow caution tape.  A Hoover PD officer is on duty watching the site 24-hours.  That’s gotta cost the local tax payers thousands of dollars.  Believe it or not, the posted officer does not deter crime, but that is a separate post.

Approximately three weeks after the 4th of July even, another set of balconies collapse.  At a different building within Waterford Landing.  Inspections were not even completed.  At this point, multiple buildings have lost balconies, one person has died, multiple families scarred for life – and the management company has not done much but give [so far] empty promises.

As of August 28th, almost two months after the tragic event, no work is evident of any kind.  A couple of weeks ago I witnessed a crew of three working on the facia of a building, but staying away from the balconies.  The management company was quoted in a news story done by local ABC News crew that repairs were going to happen immediately.  Does that word [immediately] mean something different besides right away or now, here in Alabama?

A huge lawsuit is under way towards Engel Residential Management company by those directly effected.  I expect this could possibly leading to the enactment of ordinances and/or perhaps new laws locally or state-wide.  It all depends on how far the lawsuit can go and how deep of packets Engel Residential has.

Pictures to come.

Imagine doing a search right onto your TV for your favorite TV show.  Instead of browsing through hundreds of channels on a cable or satellite box, you get the results of all possibilities on a single page, including where to watch instantly on the web.  Google TV will be a platform that will be on top of current cable or satellite service.  It will allow for the replacement of one’s current Guide and use Google to search via all channels generating a summary.

Google’s Chrome Browser will also be included, and it will be running Flash 10.1.  This will provide total web access via a TV set.

Initial release of Google TV will run on Android 2.1.  It will not support Android Market until an Over The Air (OTA) update is released in 2011 to a higher Android version.  Perhaps at that time they would jump over the Android 2.2 Froyo, currently in beginning release stages, and upgrade to the then latest version [rumored being Android 3.0].

Being that Google TV is Android based, potentially it will run Android applications currently available on the Android Market.  Applications that require actual phone hardware will, of course, not work.  Playing games on your TV – not a new concept to say the least.  Just another way Android market has potential to grow, given that current game selection leaves an unsatisfactory feeling.  It’s been a long time rumor that Google was foreseen to enter the Gamers arena.  I believe that rumor came about the same time as Apple was rumored to be headed that way, putting both giants head to head with the Xbox 360 and PS3, besides each other.

Three major networks have already developed relationship with Google to provide content.  Sony, Logitech and Intel are all partners in the development of Google TV.  Dish Network also has involvement, but it’s not clear if they are the box developer or will integrate Google TV with their services  [or both].

People of Lava, a Swedish company is currently in production of Scandinavia, a line of TV sets operating on Android 1.5, delivered with a wireless keyboard and mouse, made out of natural materials.  It will be able to upgrade to a new Android version and the sets are due to be released later in 2010.  The rest of the Google TV products are to be available in time for the holiday shopping season.

Running internet content is nothing new.  Many have attempted but not one shining star.  Apple TV is limiting although has potential.  Apple also has the potential of joining the gaming industry.  Boxee is too new and not a main stream open source platform [compared to Android].  Some other similar services such as Plex, are either too advanced for the average user, are underfunded, or do not deliver.  It will be interesting to see which way Google TV heads.  Either succeed with the Television media, or transform into the Gaming industry.

What are the possibilities that
Google builds a TV set,
operating on Android software
with Motion and Voice recognition,
merging our Television
with our Computer
and our Gaming Console
into one.

Heard it here first!

Calling all Ivan Dimovs, contact me if you have interest in seeing something like a social www.IvanDimov.com exist.  It can have a blog, posts, family trees, history, whatever you (we) decide and want.

Contact me via email or post to my blog below.

Looking forward to any and all ideas and suggestions.

The Boxee Box by D-Link

Instead of having to surf the net via a web browser, and go from site to site, searching for video content, Boxee makes it possible to find it all in one place, using a remote control, from the comfort of your couch.  Not only that, but Boxee takes it to the next step by allowing the user to also access all of their media content, not only from a local source, such as a hard drive, media server, or a computer, but also from any other source on-line, such as Picasa and Facebook, where a user has personal content.  Simply put, Boxee is an internet media platform for your television set.

The way it works is simple!  One simply downloads the Boxee software from www.Boxee.tv onto any computer, and voila, the world wide web is the limit!  Of course how the computer is connect to the TV set will defer, and there are a number of options available.  This post by Jason Cypret covers the currently available options and their costs.  D-Link is currently working on a release of The Boxee Box, which will make it even that much easier and amazing.  The Boxee Box will be released sometime in the second half of 2010.  The Boxee team is currently in the testing stages of the Boxee Box.  Keep in mind that Boxee is still in beta testing, and the Boxee team’s main focus is improving functionality.  It can only get better!

The Boxee Home Screen - Providing Access to All Media

The Boxee Music section provides access to all music user has available on their computer.  Even media downloaded from iTunes can be accessed via Boxee and enjoyed on a TV screen.

The Boxee Music Screen - Providing Access to Users' Music Files

The TV Show Library is one of my favorite features on Boxee.  It allows the user to search for any show ever made.  If it is available somewhere on the internet, Boxee will find it and allow user to stream it on their TV.  If multiple sources are avaialbe, Boxee will provide a recommendation of which source is better, but offer all options to user.  For example, the show Glee can be streamed from Fox or from Hulu.

The Boxee TV Show Library Screen - Providing Access to All TV Shows Available on the Internet

The Boxee Applications give users access to hundreds of media related applications.  Have a Facebook account?  One can access pictures of their personal and friends’ Facebook pages.  Netflix members can also enjoy the instant play option from Netflix, right through Boxee, although currently the quality gets a bit distorted.  Of course, not to forget YouTube and Google Videos, both also available as an application on Boxee.  These are just to name a few of the hundreds of applications available.  Even The Guild, an internet show series about a group of gamers, is available as an application.  Need music?  We are all familiar with Pandora radio.  Boxee allows streaming of Pandora radio right on your TV sets!  There are just so many possibilities!

The Boxee platform is open source.  This is great because it allows anyone with content to develop their own application and submit it to Boxee for approval.  Once approved, that application will become available to all users.  This reminds me of the Android market.  Look how far that has come in a short period of time.  All of this is very exciting to see where the future takes Boxee.  I can bet money that it will soon be a topic that many people are discussing.

The Boxee Applications Screen - Providing Access to Hundreds of Applications with Internet Media Content of Some Sort

Another great option available on Boxee is to add any content user surfs upon, while browsing the internet, to their Boxee queue.  This is executed by simply allowing Boxee to put a little button right on the browser’s link bar that reads “Add to Boxee,” and whenever media content of interest is found, one simply clicks the button and that content will be found in the Boxee queue.  This is useful when one doesn’t want to take that particular moment in time and view the media, but would like to quickly and easily find it at a later time.

MacBook Pro TV Connection

I am very glad to have Boxee available to me.  I urge everyone to try it!  For those that feel they are not savvy enough to be able to set this up, no worries.  It is as simple as it sounds.  I used my MacBook Pro and connected a couple of cables, one of video and one for audio.  The MacBook Pro requires a Mini Display Port to DVI adaptor, after which I connected a DVI to HDMI cable that runs right to the back of the TV.  Then I used a stereo connection kit, which is a cable that plugs into the headphones outlet on the MacBook Pro, while the other end splits into two RCA [left and right] jacks that I plugged right into my stereo receiver.  This connection basically expands my desktop to include my television display.  It allows for high definition.  It also works with gaming, giving me a large monitor to play on.  The money invested for this connection was about $95, and well worth it.

Boxee Remote on Android

Need a remote control for your Boxee?  Nothing is simpler.  Currently both the iPhone and Android Phones have an application that turns that phone into a remote for Boxee.  The phone must be connected to the same wi-fi network as the computer running Boxee, in order for it to work.  When the Boxee Box is released, a really nice remote control will be available that also has a qwerty key board on the back of it.

As stated earlier, Boxee is still in the beta stages.  Even so, it works extremely well.  Currently there is no charge for any of the services available on Boxee.  With Hulu currently planing a subscription service, things may change in the future.  I can see that the quality of media only improves on Boxee in the future.  With that said, I would be willing to subscribe to Boxee for a reasonable fee – especially if that includes access to Hulu without an additional subscription.  Although, there is nothing like a free service that provides so much.  However, all business are there to make profits, and Boxee needs revenue from somewhere [besides the Boxee Box when it is released], in order to keep improving.  I will support them with their decisions – unless a better alternative becomes available.