Suprablog HQ

Texting on the one hand is amazingly simple and time effective. On the other, they are still limited length-wise and more and more people use “txt shrt-hnd” which to me is just lazy. Instant messaging too has its drawbacks…especially when going mobile. Sadly IM turns into “txt shrt-hnd” because of the allotted length of the messages on cell phones.
Now back in the olden-days there was good old fashioned message boarding, one of my many loves. There is no mobile messaging equivalent…yet. Mobile email almost cuts the mustard but it falls short with the subscription fees which are often mucho expensive. If only there was a mobile device to do all of our communicating with us in what ever form we choose…
In my last post I briefly covered what I want in such a device. I’m kind of talking about a cyber-wallet to carry digital forms of currency, identification and personal effects. It could make calls: local, long distance, and international. It could even do terse messaging, email and collect RSS feeds for its owner. And it wouldn’t work outside range of its owner. All for a flat fee. Sounds nice doesn’t it? I’d call it the mySphere…which runs Supraphere. Could it happen? For sure!

The global mobile economy is something that completely threw me for a loop this past weekend. I was at a three day seminar in Amherst, and in the 5,000+ audience, nearly everyone had a cellphone and was texting or calling or on the web. Thankfully they were not using them during the sessions, but still, that is a lot of money going into the hands of the mobile industry.

How could the mobile market be booming still with the price of milk skyrocketing? Well, in short, it’s just essential to have a phone. It doesn’t really matter if you can afford to eat, you’ll just die without a phone of some sort. I just bought a new UTStarcom TXT8010 from Verizon, and I actually go to bed with it beside me. It’s vital to have a cell, even just for an alarm clock.

My experience at the convention triggered an idea. A grand one.

What if everyone had a cellphone that contained all their information in it like a wallet? And what if all that information was secure by two ways: one, by using Suprasecure cloud computing, and two, by only operating when near the owner of the phone, much like many car keys on new cars are?

Sounds like a dream, no? It soon may become possible.

Now for the sales report. I chose Verizon not only for the fact that I use them, but nearly everyone I know has Verizon too. Word of mouth sales must be a contributing factor in sales as well as the “in” network for texting and calling. Here’s the facts for their wireless sales.

• 87.7 million total customers, up 27.7 percent; 85.2 million retail customers, up 27.8 percent; 1.1 million net customer additions, excluding acquisitions and adjustments, all retail.
• 27.7 percent increase in total revenues; industry-leading retail postpaid churn, 1.01 percent; data revenues up 52.6 percent; 28.8 percent operating income margin and 46.3 percent EBITDA margin on service revenues (non-GAAP).
• Integration of Alltel operations on schedule

I got all that information here. Good stuff that is. As for AT&T, the facts are below.

• 1.4 million net gain in total wireless subscribers to reach 79.6 million, up 6.7 million over the past year
• 1.2 million retail postpaid wireless net adds, the company’s best-ever second-quarter total — up 29.0 percent from results in the year-earlier quarter and up 31.8 percent versus the first quarter of 2009; record low postpaid subscriber churn at 1.09 percent
• More than 2.4 million iPhone activations in the second quarter, reflecting a record-setting iPhone 3GS launch; including iPhone, more than 3.5 million increase in 3G integrated devices in service (handsets with QWERTY or virtual keyboards in addition to voice functionality)

Just thought that was interesting. I have an AT&T cell phone as well, but sadly the LCD screen broke. The warranty is up on it, and the company will not even address the broken screen. Sad to say, I don’t like AT&T.

So there you have it.

Some people have complained that with the management structure and organization of Linux, it’s hard to take a big-picture perspective that a product manager might take, thinking about integrations across and along the entire stack of an operating system. For example, one of the benefits of a “database filesystem” would be that many services and applications of an OS could utilize it, but overcoming a chicken-vs-egg problem across so many different projects within Linux, it’s hard to imagine that anything could get broad enough support quickly enough.

People following suprablog by now should know that Ubuntu is the preferred OS of SupraSphere. Therefore, it’s natural that we would think of integration deep within Ubuntu as if boundaries didn’t exist.

The truth is, SupraSphere has a good chance of becoming a key piece of Ubuntu and the evolving Linux Desktop story. The reason is that it has conceptual attributes that will allow Linux to innovate and leapfrog other approaches. These attributes are these general areas: services-oriented desktop (web os/desktop), end-to-end security, database filesystem, and virtualization.

Running SupraSphere is in fact like running a virtual desktop. It can store all of your files, bookmarks, rss feeds, contacts, and email all in one place, where you can search across them. It has extremely secure messaging and authentication (beyond SSH and SSL even). You can tag across all message types. You can search and view your desktop remotely. It’s the ideal system to fit in with the virtualization trends that are emerging. We already have four distinct and separate user interfaces that all share messaging protocols and the same data store: Eclipse RCP, plain servlet, RAP ajax UI, openlaszlo, and even a prototype XUL interface.

That said, there are of course problems. We don’t even have a .deb or .rpm packaged version of our system. While we have connections within the Eclipse, Mozilla, Sun/Java, and Apache communities, we have little or no exposure within the the Linux ecosystem, especially within the Ubuntu community.

We feel very strongly that if Ubuntu were to embrace the ideas within our project, it would leapfrog it above and beyond any other distribution, and help lead the way to Linux Desktop bliss.

Please help. Now is the time. With Java and Linux becoming closer, with MySQL now a part of Sun, SupraSphere can tie in numerous different communities and projects, and propel the Linux desktop way ahead of the competition.

If you have experience with Linux (especially Ubuntu), Java, or Ajax, please contact us to volunteer your efforts.

Wikipedia is amazing. People explain what things are and how things work, usually in a simplified manner. I looked up cloud computing and got lost in the first sentence. I figured I should rewrite the definitive guide on what on “earth” cloud computing is, in a way even my parents could understand. :) Let’s travel down though the mystery cloud from the top, down, explaining the simple things and going into the complex.

• What Is a/the Cloud?

The Cloud, simply put, is the internet. Check it out here. It Kind of looks like a colorful, wordy cloud, doesn’t it? That’s because when you connect to the internet, you have virtually an infinite number of connections to make, like a cloud has trillions of water droplets stored in it. That map, however is just all of the North American connections. The internet map if the world would look something like a thunderhead, hence my title. :)

• Supercomputing, what?

Simply put, a supercomputer is a really really really fast computer. The current fastest computer in the world is the IBM Roadrunner, which runs at a steady 1.something petaflops. First off, a flops is the FLoating point Operations Per Second. Most computers can’t run at a gigaflop, let alone a petaflop. A Calculator runs at a few flops, and a regular computer is that much faster. Most computers measure speed with Hz or hertz. Hertz is number of cycles per second. The Roadrunner runs at  398131.2Ghz, whereas the average brand-spanking-new computer runs at about 2.33 GHz depending on processor. So, in other words, supercomputing is really fast processors strung together to make a giant uber-fast computer.

• Wait, so what does that have to do with cloud computing?

Be patient my friend, all will be explained. If 1+1=2, then lots of computers connected via the web equals a supercomputer. See, I told you so. Cloud computing is that basic system of running a really fast computer by using lots of computer processors with the internet tying them all together. It’s more complicated than that though.

• So, what, people do this for free?

And so here is a quote of Prof. Ramnath K. Chellappa:

a computing paradigm where the boundaries of computing will be determined by economic rationale rather than technical limits.

Here is the most interesting thing about cloud computing to me…it’s scalable.What does that mean? Well, for one it means that the more “space” you purchase, the faster your personal supercomputer is, in terms of servers. The “space” I am referring to is apportioned my companies such as Amazon, Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft. You buy increments of storage space, and you can add to it. Scalability also referrs to that growth when more money=space is added. Hypothetically there is really no limit to the speed of your cloud server. There also is virtually no downtime for servers either.

• Okay, what can I do with cloud computing?

There are six layers to cloud computing:

1. Clients
2. Services
3. Application
4. Platform
5. Storage
6. Infrastructure

So what does that mean? Examples of each layer in order is:

1. Mobile (Android, iPhone, Windows Mobile)
2. Payments (Amazon Flexible Payments Service, Google Checkout, PayPal)
3. P2P/Volunteer (Bittorrent, BOINC Projects, Skype)
4. Java Web Google Tool Kit (Google App Engine)
5. Database (Amazon SimpleDB, Google App Engine’s BigTabledatastore)
6. Compute (Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud)

Each of the examples are services that cloud computing as a whole offers, thus their ability to impact the economy. Cloud computing effects the economy by selling these services at a much lower price if not free to the general public.  Almost anyone who uses the internet uses one or more of these products. Many of these such as gmail, I use, and love.

At the bottom of the cloud, is you, the user. I hate to rain on your parade, but this guide is over. Don’t use an umbrella, but start cloud computing!

Simply because of netbooks. So many are being released with Linux derivatives Such as Dell’s line-up of Ubuntu Netbooks, as well as Intel’s Moblin, and HP’s Mi. Linux with it’s new ease of use in the netbook arena is being discovered, and I want to jump into it. Linux is slowly becoming mainstream, especially my favorite, Ubuntu, (it sits nicely in our links) along with other derivatives. I’m looking forward to a Suse computer system being released, and hopefully it will come out soon. Here is a quick lineup of software I’m looking for. Now if it came pre-installed, I’d be one happy girl.

Linux as an os has become so easy to use and customize, that it should take over the os market. Most Distrobutions are free or very affordable, and some are even “Windows Compliant” whatever that means. I dislike Microsoft, just out of principle, however, XP was a great os. Linux and especially Ubuntu distro was my first foray into the Linux arena. It will forever be in my heart as my first true love. Joking aside, uinx based systems such as Mac and Linux os’s are the wave of the future, especially if Mac comes out with a netbook as well. Systems are much more secure at this point, and creativity-based programs made by users abound on both systems.

With Linux on the horizon, are there any more operating systems in the works poised to capitalize on computing and netbooks? I seriously doubt it.

Today, the IT ministry of China released Green Dam-Youth Escort, a program blocking some sites like pornography and other explicit materials. Programs, either released on CD or preinstalled on new computers are expected to be released starting as early as July 1.

How does this affect the global internet community? According to AP:

Beijing routinely blocks political sites, especially ones it considers socially destabilizing such as sites that challenge the ruling Communist Party, promote democratic reform or advocate independence for Tibet.

Although porn sites are initially targeted, the program could be used to block other Web sites, too, including those based on keywords rather than specific Web addresses, although its developer said users could disable blocking of any site on the list or even uninstall the software completely.

Unfortunately, this may include such sites as Google, and Baidu, both search engines. The Communist Party seeks to protect children while limiting the rights of speech and communication with the world. Is this fair? Law dictates one thing, personal choice dictates others. Freedom of speech should be a global law, in this writer’s opinion.

It seems that, after years of prognostication about video moving to the Internet, such as Mark Cuban’s claiming that HDTV is the new PC, that we might finally be hitting a critical inflection point.

I spoke with my friend the other day, who said he turned in his Comcast DVR in favor of Netflix + Hulu + streamed content. Sure, this is a sample size of one, but as soon as I move into a new place, I’ll give ditching cable a try myself. Since Comcast provides Internet service alongside cable service, that doesn’t necessarily mean that cable is dead, but it does show increasing frustration with cable set top box interfaces.

Cisco owns both Scientific Atlanta and Linksys. I used to work at Cisco, and my impression is that they usually do not produce signficant innovation after they have purchased a company. Products usually either stagnate or receive relatively minor improvements. Cisco basically buys technologies that they can spin into new markets and leverage into existing relationships through their exceptional sales force.

On the other hand, Netgear is doing some interesting things with BitTorrent and video content. Classic issue of hardware manufacturers having an incentive for as much content as possible, content producers perhaps not considered as strongly.

Samsung has partnered with Netflix to make their movie catalogue available on two of their BluRay players.

YouTube seems to be pushing into the living room as well, with a new interface specifically optimized for viewing and navigating YouTube content on Nintendo Wii and Sony PS3.

Of course Hulu is pretty big. However, the movies aren’t that great. The main show I would want to watch is The Office, but the shows lag so far behind it’s frustrating.

I shouldn’t leave out iTunes, but I don’t buy anything on there because of DRM, so I have no idea what’s going on. I did see Boxee being available as a hack for Apple iTV.

So, it seems that video content online is close enough that it’s worth it to try without cable. Cable is just too expensive, the content channels are not nearly “a-la-carte enough”, it’s missing huge vast seas of “long-tail” content, and the interactive guides are poor. Should be a very interesting year in this space when the PC expands its role into that of a super sophisticated, programmable, remote control.

There is an excellent article on the New York Times called The Rise of the Machines, which details just how little anyone seems to understand some of the financial instruments and their vast global interdependencies.

It reminds me first and foremost of the time that I saw Bill Joy speak at the Kennedy School of Government. It was in the midst of the dot com boom, and Bill Joy was singing to quite a different tune. According to Joy, with three main inputs into the future, science and technological progress, broader access to education and the spread of information, and violence, one of them has to change to avoid impending doom. The unabomber was working on retarding the first, no one has ever successfully seriously slowed the second (and do we want to have to obtain a “license” to be educated?), and so the third looks strangely like the most likely to change in the most fundamental way as little as that seems any more possible than altering the first two.

I also read a book called Digital Soul, which was actually much more interesting than I expected. I thought it was going to rehash all of the same issues, but it presented some fairly interesting insights. For example, people often ponder “artificial intelligence”, but in the book, Thomas Georges introduced me to the term “artificial stupidity”, asking what it would even look like. The idea is generally that we assume that a superior intelligence would look a lot like our own, using human intelligence as the benchmark, and how stupidity must be included in human definitions of intelligence. However, we already have computer intelligence that is far, far superior to our own, just different for different purposes. How would we recognize a superior intelligence if it emerged any more than a cow can recognize our intelligence as superior to its own?

Overall, I continue to insist that we need to put money back in the service of humanity. It is the lever that has the most leverage on all three major inputs into the future given how pervasive it is. I found it interesting and completely unsurprising to read that Ithaca, NY, aims to become America’s first Podcar City. Tell me there is no correlation between that type of progressive, big dream thinking, and one of the main types of money that they use.

Which would be better? A one trillion dollar bailout of wacky financial instruments that no one understands (merely perpetuating and prolonging this deaf, dumb, and blind system of things…if we do that at least we should teach “it” to read), or a global supersonic maglev subway system allowing anyone to get anywhere in the world in under three hours? The latter could probably even be accomplished for less than that, but we the humans have no choice in the matter. The only way to prove otherwise is to just do it.

What does the currency crisis have to do with technology, the overall theme of this blog?

My original inspiration for SupraSphere was based on the work of Bernard Lietaer, particularly his book The Future of Money, where he describes a new communication medium that will allow experimenting with different types of money, allowing the most capable models to bubble to the top. I thought it would be fun to try and build such a thing.

Fast forward seven years. I just yesterday ran into the CIO of the first hedge fund where SupraSphere was installed in December 2002, where it has been running ever since. It manages all of their trading workflow, functioning as an extension of their order management system, and further serves as a repository for all their news. He expressed gratitude for how great the product is and that his organization “grew up around it”.

Meanwhile, the markets are seemingly experiencing total global chaos, with Black Swans everywhere. I read that Iceland might be going bankrupt. I’m not exactly sure what means for a whole country technically to go bankrupt.

I read another report about Brazil and Argentina banding together to create a bilateral exchange that would bypass dollars altogether. Could the Amero Conspiracy be somewhat real after all. According to Vicente Fox, it’s real, but will be “long term, very long term”.

Another one of my contacts is one of the foremost experts on Islamic finance in the world. Interestingly, Islamic banking seems to be rather insulated from the crisis thus far. I will follow up with him and see what his latest thoughts are.

Then there’s the question/idea of a global currency currency standard. Here a representative from China suggests, “The world urgently needs to create a diversified currency and financial system and fair and just financial order that is not dependent on the United States.” I’m not sure if it would be gold/silver-backed, based on one of Lietaer’s suggestions, or something else entirely.

Personally, I’m in favor of a currency based on art and music, ideas and innovation. While SupraSphere is not quite to the point where it can model such a currency, it has many ingredients to help bring such an idea about.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted, but not too much has changed in the overall IT landscape. Cloud computing has become such a buzzword that it’s hard to know what it is anymore, and I still have deep reservations about the whole model with respect to privacy, security, and flexibility down the road.

In any case, iPhone 2.0 software and its 3G hardware counterpart have been released. Apple’s AppStore seems to be well executed, but they’re getting some very strong pushback on how controlled and arbitrary the approval process is for apps. It still doesn’t have cut/copy/paste, and I still don’t think the typing is great even if it’s good enough.

Google Android has officially entered the scene with the G1 handset. I don’t like T-Mobile so I probably won’t run one until its released on different hardware and carriers, but it’s a very interesting platform and one that has much more depth than the iPhone. Here’s a great article about where Google might be going with it. It’s a lot like Microsoft’s WinCE strategy, but in theory more open. Microsoft has shown openness in supporting a large ecosystem of hardware manufacturers and across carriers, and time will tell if Google takes it one step further by opening the underlying mobile platform on top of it. They have the first part (openness of the platform), but will need to execute on the second (multiple devices) and the third (multiple carriers), to be seen as offering a significantly different alternative to the other players.

Google’s Chrome browser isn’t that innovative other than its javascript performance, but it could be a very interesting piece of the puzzle when combined with Android. Google Gears, Google Gadgets, seamlessly running between Chrome and Android would be killer. Imagine developing Android apps and deploying seamlessly either to Chrome or Android, especially since Android will support Chrome. It’s a heck of a better proposition than having to create a native Blackberry or iPhone application, and it could be that Google pulls off what Apple was hoping to do in the first place by suggesting that developers target the browser as opposed to the native device itself.

In any case, I found the announcement that VISA will support Android a particularly interesting one. Why could they not have done this for the Blackberry a long time ago? The iPhone seems more like a consumer gadget, so it’s possible that Google will move into the “serious” device category even if it’s questionable if that will include the enterprise.

I am no fan of Exchange, but there’s a lot of inertia there, and as tempted as I am by gMail and Google Apps even for the enterprise, the thought that one day all of my or my company’s email in theory could just disappear randomly, is a total non-starter. At least with on-premises solutions I can know, for certain, that my email is physically somewhere and there is 0% chance that I will lose it all. Having been told by the head of Google’s Enterprise App division that they will never, ever, support appliances or virtual appliances, sticking with the multi-tenant model in every case, I can’t consider them a serious contender in the enterprise.

That leads to the other question about the openness of Android. I will begin to tinker with the SDK soon, and it will be interesting to see how clearly it can be de-coupled from Google’s network and services. It’s not just about concern about privacy and all that, but also a question of whether it’s both a level playing field and an open canvas for anything that I could possibly dream up.