Wow. I just listened to the Engadget podcast from December 29th and flipped out when I heard about this one. Orb Networks is a new service that allows you get access too your media from any device connected to the internet. Basically, you run some software on your computer that creates a web interface composed of all of the TV shows, Music files, Photos, and videos. From any other internet enabled device, you can connect to your personal page and have the service stream that media back to you. So if you have your computer Tivo the latest episode of the Daily show, you can watch it on your cell phone while on the bus. Who needs an iPod when you can listen to 80 gb worth of music through your PDA? Every photo you’ve ever taken is equally accessible. Now tell me the truth, just how cool is that?

According to the Engadget guy, it worked pretty darn well from him. He watched some TV by using GPRS on his cell phone and said it worked pretty darn well. Definitely watchable. Mac compatible, Windows compatible, sounds like it would be watchable from Linux as well. There’s a pretty decent list of cell phones and PDA’s they’ve tried it out on as well. I love the fact that since it’s all streaming, you don’t need to worry about disk space or preloading media before you leave the house.

Here’s the catch though: for right now at least, the host computer has to be running Windows Media Center on it. And since you can’t buy the OS in a box, you have to buy a home theater PC with it preinstalled. Bummer, eh? I’d be upgrading a computer as we speak if I could use my own hardware. Why does Microsoft make my life so complicated?

• The joys of the media center
• Cell phones and internet can be used to cheat.
• Try a new phone on for size.
• A modern version of X marks the spot
• What can you do with a cell phone in the classroom?

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