PC or PoC: MR GB Home DVR

When you design and build DVRs for a living one is bound to come home with you. Such is the case with my personal home DVR.

This system was built several years ago specifically to connect several cameras up at my home. It has 3 GB of memory a 1 TB hard drive and an Intel dual core processor. It uses a Hikvision 8 channel capture card running Unisight professional DVR software.

There is no option to run Linux on this particular system as the DVR software is only compatible with Windows. While I can run Windows 7, I choose to run Windows XP. Gigastrand will be developing a DVR software that will run in Linux and be very similar to the software that runs on my home DVR and current Gigastrand Security systems.

At one point this system was connected to a projector. With our cable box connected to the 2nd channel we could display the TV show we were watching plus 5 cameras around it. We can still do this however on a smaller screen it provides some reduction in enjoyment of our show. Additionally the signal is down converted from HD when watching an HD channel. So watching HD television through the DVR is sort of an academic exercise.

One benefit of running the TV through the DVR is that whatever is on the screen is recorded so we can monitor who is watching what on the television and even stream our live TV in low-quality over the Internet.

The DVR also has a couple of video outs so we can connect additional monitors as well as a Blu-ray burner so we can watch Blu-ray movies and burn Blu-ray discs. Also, being Windows we can watch Netflix or Hulu or whatever else we can watch on a PC.

I have loaded XBMC on this DVR however running the DVR software and running XBMC is quite a bit more than this particular system can handle at once. I am not certain if the systems will need to be separate systems or if a few upgrades will solve the issue. For now, the system is unlikely to change very much in the near future.

MR GB

Gigastrand OS: Preliminary development begins this week on 2.0

Gigastrand OS 2.0
This week begins preliminary development of Gigastrand OS 2.0. We will determine the base OS, and have something presentable by the end of the week.

Silent Blog
This blog has been fairly quiet over the last month for a number of reasons. We have been prepping for development, finishing up on several customer projects, and MR GB himself has been going through issues related to an unexpected death in the family.

Fear not, however, things are starting to get back to normal.

Gigastrand Jobs
Gigastrand is hiring for several contract positions. Visit http://www.gigastrand.com/jobs.htm for more information.

April fools?

Just in case you didn't pick up on the queues in the April 1st announcement that Ubuntu was buying the Gigastrand OS, we would like to officially retract that announcement as it is completely made up and patently false. We know because we made it up.

We are, however, looking at possibly basing Gigastrand 2.0 on Kubuntu. This is by no means an official announcement, but just one of the possibilities. We are currently making inroads in development using Debian 7 and KDE.

MR GB

Ubuntu to purchase Gigastrand OS

In a surprising announcement, Ubuntu plans to acquire the Linux distribution Gigastrand OS for an undisclosed amount of money. 

Plans announced today to acquire the fledgling distro were - to say the least - shocking. Founder and CEO of Gigastrand International, Josh Tordsen was happy with the announcement.

"We like what Ubuntu does and are truly pleased with their decision. We see great things for the OS in the future."

Head of new acquisitions for Ubuntu , Mattie Upneme, expressed similar sentiment.

"Gigastrand OS is the leap forward we needed here at Ubuntu. It fits in with Mr. Shuttleworth's vision of a Lino-centric world."

The acquisition is to take place today and expected to have approval by the FTC around this time next year.

AR FL

Gigastrand moves forward with Gigastrand OS 2.0

Gigastrand is committing to Gigastrand OS 2.0 through BETA 1. Release date TBD. The expectation is that BETA 1 will be at least as good as the 1.0 release.

While BETA 1 will closely resemble Gigastrand OS 1.0, Gigastrand OS 2.0 should be a big leap forward. For one, 2.0 will have 32 bit and 64 bit options with many software updates. The base OS will be Debian 7 with KDE.

For development to continue, Gigastrand has to raise money for the development. This is happening with purchases of Gigastrand OS v1.0 products and through sales of other products and services.


In the meantime, it is possible there will be a second minor revision to 1.0 released in the next few months. What form that will take, none of us at Gigastrand really know but there have been ideas from many people on this. Here are a few of the more popular ones:

Gigastrand OS 1.2 "Light": A leaner, cleaner and possibly fit on a CD version of the OS.
Gigastrand OS 1.2 "Hacker Edition": More diagnostic tools for networks and computers.
Gigastrand OS 1.2 "Kiosk": Streamlined interface for touchscreens.
Gigastrand OS 1.2 "Edu Edition": An Education edition of the Gigastrand OS.


MR GB

Gigastrand adds Bitcoin Support to online store.

Gigastrand is accepting Bitcoin once again . After limited success with Mt. Gox tools (now seemingly demised) Gigastrand temporarily suspended Bitcoin transactions. Gigastrand has re-enabled Bitcoin transactions in the online store (gigastrand.biz).

You can choose the Bitpay option in checkout. You may also use Paypal or credit card.

MR GB

PC or PoC: Gimmick Tech

If it isn't broken, don't fix it. This is pretty much the mantra of PC or PoC. 

Recently, a relative of mine has purchased a laptop/tablet convertible. The touchscreen failed inside of a week and she returned it, bought another laptop, and it failed after 3 weeks of an electrical fault.

I owned a convertible laptop with a 10" screen. Loved it. Not because it was a convertible, because it was the smallest laptop I have ever owned and was perfect for field work. It recently died when I tried to upgrade it.

The problem with convertible laptops is that they are gimmicks. When I used my convertible I rarely used it as a tablet. It was nice to fold the screen down and put it away, but when in tablet mode, it didn't magically start running Android. It still ran the OS it ran when I started the computer.

That means, even in tablet mode, it is still a laptop with a touchscreen. A device with a touchscreen is an amazing piece of tech, but a touchscreen is a compromise compared to a proper keyboard and mouse.

The experience of my relative reminds me of why I write this blog. You see, the tech industry - and in particular the computer industry - is obsessed with the next gimmick. Rather than focusing on proven, reliable technology, they push out the next gimmick to sell - ready or not.

Gigastrand has never been about the next gimmick. Our customers want reliable tech that works and works well. That is what we will continue to provide.

MR GB