The same report indicates that if for any reason, the economy worsens, it would be signs of a new recession. We all know that our economy is still very weak, and any major shake up can cause us going further down the spiral. We continue hearing of businesses closing down, people loosing jobs, and recent reports of increase in unemployment benefits during the last few months. Not to forget the talks of another wave of mortgage foreclosures, this time on the commercial side of real estate. Which would endanger more banks and cause more economic struggle for us all.

Things are changing drastically around the world we live in. Technology is growing rapidly at record levels. NASA doesn’t have enough time and resources to input all of what we “know” into their database. Wars are continuing almost world-wide. If we consider all the terrorist [or attempted thereof] activity within the borders of the U.S., war is all around us.

Drastic change with all world economies is inevitable. Because of the high level of change experienced in the last decade world-wide, it is probably very difficult to predict long-term futures. But change is good! Fresh ideas have always taken human evolution to the next level. This point in time is no different.

Old economies and ideas are dying, and new ones are taking a lead.

Consider the Publishing Industry, for example. It is almost history. Newspapers, magazines and now finally books are being replaced by the digital age.  Both BORDERS and Barnes & Noble are hurting greatly.  First it was the digital music that hurt the businesses significantly.  Now books are transitioning in the same manner.  The demand for a physical book store is gone.

Cable television is finally being challenged by the beloved Internet.  The internet itself is currently evolving as well.  It seems just yesterday 57K modem was fast and exciting.  How about that 1-gigabit per second download speed available in Chattanooga, Tenn. today?  It took about 15 years to get here, but will probably be more than doubled in the next five years.  That’s how fast our technology is advancing.

As the economy takes a turn of change along with the rest of the world, the emergence of new ideas will assist with the stimulation needed.  We are evolving in every which way!

The “Smart Phones” have become an industry of their own.  The iPhone was a milestone in its birth.  Almost every major manufacturer is producing a mobile phone.  Out of the growth of smart phones that continued getting bigger in more ways than one, the tablet market re-emerged.  There were some early versions of laptops that had rotating screens, becoming a tablet.  But the bulkiness and weight made them inconvenient.  The “Tablet” industry seems to have a chance this time around.  [Again, due to advancement in technology and its availability.]

Then there is Google!  Google seems to want to get into everything that connects us in some way.  Perhaps it is their way to demonstrate that we are one.  Google has developed an operating system for television sets, which will bring watching television to a new level.  Internet is finally fully integrated.  Google is not the first company to attempt this, but their financial success and position as an Internet Know-It-All Leader, is allowing them to mainstream it faster than anybody else.

We are witnessing the births of new industries, as we see the old ones go.  The economy will have a hick-up.  Perhaps this 18-month recession was the hick-up needed to stimulate this change.  Now there is a fork in the road and hopefully our “leaders” take us down the path of success.  Our economic state is fragile.

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!

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.

Rear view cameras, also known as Backup cameras, are a special type of video cameras produced specifically for the purpose of being attached to the rear of a vehicle in order to aid a driver with backing up.  The image which the driver sees is actually flipped horizontally so that the output is a mirror image.  This is needed so that the driver’s perception is correct, otherwise the camera’s right would be on the driver’s left (and vice versa), and it wouldn’t function as intended.  This mirrored image is consistent with the actual mirrors that have existed in vehicles since the 1910′s.

Backup cameras have been around for a while now.  I remember it going back as far as the early 2000′s when rear view cameras became available on production cars.  They were available much earlier as a novelty option or specially installed on large moving vehicles.

Rear View Camera in the Rear VIew Mirror of a Toyota Tacoma

Many people have become accustomed to backup cameras, in recent years, as part of their Navigations (GPS) system installed in their vehicles.  They [backup cameras] have also been available as an aftermarket accessory for a while.  Some manufacturers are now offering it as a standard option on some of their trim lines, such as the Nissan Murano SL and Lexus GX & SC models, just to name a few.  Ford has made it available on 75% of their fleet, including the 2010 Mustang, making it one of the first sports cars offering rear view cameras.  Now there are also rear view cameras with night vision obtainable as an aftermarket accessory.

2010 Mustang

Recently (in the past couple of years), a new option became available.  Rear view camera in the rear view mirror.  This feature is amazing.  Makes the rear view mirror that much more assisting to the driver.  The display is available anywhere from 2 inches to about 6 inches, depending on if it is factory installed or aftermarket.  This feature allows the driver to monitor both, the rear view mirror, and the blind spot behind the vehicle, at the same time.  Backup camera in the rearview mirror is also a more affordable version of the technology, making it accessible to a wider range of the masses.  Although, an aftermarket mirror with a built in LCD and a rear view camera can cost as much as $500, depending on the size and additional features.

This advancement in safety goes hand-in-hand with features such as the BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System),

BLIS® Digital Camera

currently found on a number of makes, such as Volvo and Ford.  The BLIS® is a digital camera-based monitoring system that keeps an ‘eye’ on the blind areas on the side of vehicles and warns the driver with a light on the appropriate side.

The rear view camera in the rear view mirror is now becoming a new standard for the already well known option.  This advancement can be seen on a number of vehicle makes installed by manufacturers including Ford, Chevrolet and Toyota.

Rear View Camera in the Rear View Mirror of a Ford

Driving a vehicle has become very dangerous, especially when distractions are introduced, such as eating and drinking, talking on the phone, texting, applying make-up, and other activities that should not be performed while on the road.  It is challenging to change a person’s habits.  In order to address some of these concerns, vehicle manufacturers are introducing new options in order to assist the drivers with being safer on the roads.  Other options are being advanced with technology and lowering costs.  The rear view camera in the rear view mirror and the Blind Spot Information System are some of those advancements that will help make the roads safer for all of us.

Very close by, in the Dominican Republic, quakes seem to be a weekly occurrence.  The last earthquake there was actually today, January 16th, 2010, at a magnitude of 3.4 on the Richter Scale.  The frequency in the Dominican Republic can probably be based on the fact that there is a subduction zone located underneath the country.  (USGS )

Of course everyone looks upon this as a natural disaster that cannot be predicted, no the less avoided.

What if we consider for a moment another alternative.

We know that our advancement in technology has caused humans to disregard the long term affects on the planet’s life, by the consistent pollution caused by industries that provide us the technology we so desire.  Yes, we are attempting to address this in our current age, however, one may say it’s a bit too late.  Also, if we consider the bureaucracies preventing anything to be handled in a timely manner, we may never be able to clean up our mess.  (There are other options, but that is a different subject matter.)

How about the direct effects of underground nuclear testing?  It is happening around the globe since the first underground nuclear test on November 29th, 1951.  The major powers of our planet are all involved, including the United States, Russia, China, North Korea, France, and the United Kingdom, just to name a few.  (wikipedia.org)

The image below shows how an actual test occurs.  It only makes sense that this can directly influence the platonic plates which we live upon.

Underground nuclear test of the North Korean type

Drunvalo Melchizedek, a Vietnam veteran, author and spiritual teacher, with a BS in Physics and Mathematics, explains how the tremendous energy unleashed by such testing just rips apart tectonic plates, adding that the entire planet is on “Red Alert” as a result of this.  ”Also, according to Adam Trombley, we may be only a few bombs away from shattering the planet itself.  The Indian Ocean has fallen more than twenty feet in some areas as a result of this testing.” (Frissell, Bob 46)  Just look at the following video that shows real underground nuclear tests and the results they display.  It’s no rocket science for one to conclude that all these testings are greatly affecting the plates on which our land resides upon.

Underground Nuclear Weapon Test

If we are all muppets with a master, we will listen to what our governments are telling us.  They would report that such tests are controlled.  They would tell us that these testings have no affect on our earth.  But they are also the same people that prevent any drastic measures to be taken to clean up our pollution.  They are also the same people that control our lives in a number of aspects.  They are also the same people that control the prosperity of every individual with their main focus being themselves – using the best for the country as an excuse.  They are also the same people that have been lying to all of us about the existence of other life outside of our planet, which of course is in the process of changing.

It is time that all of us wake up and realize that what we are told by authorities is not always in our best interest.  There are greater truths out there which are being withheld from us.  But our consciousness grows and every day more people start realizing who we are and what our “leaders” are really up to.  Technology is not always a good thing, just ask the Grays.