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SlingPlayer Redux

On May 12th of last year, I made a pretty scathing post against AT&T for not letting SlingPlayer stream over their 3G network. Well, it took just over 8 months, but AT&T has finally relented.

Today, SlingPlayer for the iPhone updated to version 1.2, which allows streaming over 3G.

That’s a step in the right direction.

WWDC Predictions

➤ iPhone

1. iPhone 3GS:
   ➊ New hardware. Faster CPU, at least twice the RAM. 16/32 GB sizes. Same price point as current 3G.
   ➋ Magnetometer.
   ➌ Higher resolution rear camera with video support.
   ➍ Matte back.
   ➎ No chrome bezel.
   ➏ No front facing camera.
   ➐ No AM/FM tuner or transmitter.
2. Budget iPhone, based on the current 3G. Possibly 4/8 GB sizes. $99/$149 price point.
3. Ability to background at least one user selected application on new hardware.
4. Tethering for a ridiculous sum. (AT&T)
5. iPhone OS 3.0 and new hardware drops July 10th, 2009.

➤ Snow Leopard

1. Will be the last version of Mac OS X to support PPC.
2. Introducing new unified UI: Marble.
3. $49 Upgrade.
4. Ships beginning of September.

➤ Tablet

1. This is in development but not quite ready yet.
2. It will have built in EVDO. (Verizon)
3. Steve will introduce this at a special media event later this month or at the beginning of July.

➤ tv

(This is my wild card prediction.)

1. New hardware based on the iPhone.
2. New App Store and SDK for developing Apple TV Apps.
3. Full 1080p playback.

Installing Windows 7 x64 on a Mac Pro (Late 2006)

If you’re trying to install the 64-bit version of Windows 7 on a first generation Mac Pro, you’re probably getting the following error when booting from the install DVD:

       1.
       2.
Select CD-ROM Boot Type :

I spent two days trying to get around this error before finally coming up with a solution. To be honest, I’m not entirely sure what’s causing the problem. Windows 7 x86 boots just fine, so it has to be something in the x64 version’s boot loader. Nearest I can figure, it’s a conflict with Apple’s legacy BIOS module and Microsoft’s EFI fallback code.

People had the same problem with Windows Vista x64 as well. The Windows 7 installer is basically just a renamed Vista installer, so hopefully they’ll fix this before release.

◊ Required Items

• Windows AIK for Windows 7 RC
• Windows 7 RC
• VMWare Fusion or Parallels Desktop for Mac

◊ Conventions

• C:\ ‣ Primary drive in the VM.
• D:\ ‣ Optical drive in the VM.
• Installation ISO ‣ Windows 7 x64 ISO (7100.0.090421-1700_x64fre_client_en-us_retail_ultimate-grc1culxfrer_en_dvd.ISO)
• WAIK ISO ‣ Windows AIK for Windows 7 ISO (KB3AIK_EN.ISO)
• <Username> ‣ The name you gave Windows 7 during the installation. In my case, I picked Timothy, since that’s my name. Just use your first name, as we’ll have to type this in a command prompt later and it’s easier to do without spaces.

◊ Instructions

1. Create a new VM in VMWare or Parallels. Choose Vista 64-bit as the type. Deselect Easy Install. The rest of the defaults are fine. When prompted for installation media, select the installation ISO.
2. Proceed with the Windows 7 installation as normal. Don’t worry about any settings as we’ll only be using this VM to create a new, bootable ISO.
3. Once Windows 7 has installed, proceed with the installation of the VMWare or Parallels Tools. Reboot when prompted.
4. At this point, Windows 7 should be up and running. Select the WAIK ISO as your new CD/DVD media. If AutoRun doesn’t prompt you, go ahead and run setup from that disc. Install the Windows Automated Installer Kit Tools.
5. Once the installation is complete, go ahead and choose the installation ISO as your CD/DVD media again. Ignore any AutoRun prompts.
6. Open up a command prompt and type the following:
   

   cd "C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\amd64"

7. Now we’ll create a new ISO! Type the following:
   

   oscdimg -n -m -h -e -bd:\boot\etfsboot.com d: "c:\Users\<Username>\Desktop\Windows_7.iso"

8. If everything went smoothly, it should now be writing a new ISO to the Windows 7 desktop.
   
9. Once that’s complete, go ahead and drag the new ISO from the Windows 7 Desktop to the Mac OS X Desktop.
   
10. That’s it! Go ahead and use Disc Utility under Mac OS X to burn this new ISO and procede to install Windows via Boot Camp like normal.
    

◊ Drivers

• Windows 7 came with drivers for everything except my Apple Bluetooth Module. That said—somehow—my bluetooth keyboard still worked straight away, even without true Bluetooth drivers installed.
  
  I’d hold off from installing the Boot Camp drivers at this point, if you can help it.

Today, SlingPlayer for the iPhone was released—with one little caveat:

“Slingbox, which would use large amounts of wireless network capacity, could create congestion and potentially prevent other customers from using the network. The application does not run on our 3G wireless network. Applications like this, which redirect a TV signal to a personal computer, are specifically prohibited under our terms of service. We consider smartphones like the iPhone to be personal computers in that they have the same hardware and software attributes as PCs.

That said, we don’t restrict users from going to a Web site that lets them view videos. But what our terms and conditions prohibit is the transferring, or slinging, of a TV signal to their personal computer or smartphone.

The Slingbox application for the iPhone runs on WiFi. That’s good news for AT&T’s iPhone 3G customers, who get free WiFi access at our 20,000 owned and operated hot spots in the U.S., including Starbucks, McDonalds, Barnes & Noble, hotels, and airports. AT&T is the industry leader in WiFi.”
— AT&T

So, streaming video is okay, so long as it’s not TV…

Realistically, how many iPhone owners also own Slingboxes? I’d say 1% or less. Now, how many iPhone owners watch YouTube videos on their phone? I’d say the majority of them.

Considering they allow SlingPlayer for their BlackBerry and Windows Mobile phones; isn’t AT&T being more than a little hypocritical here?

I pay $30 a month for—what they call—unlimited data usage. How is this in any way, shape or form unlimited?

Hey internet providers, I’ve got some advice for you:

YOU ARE A DUMB PIPE. SHUT THE FUCK UP AND PROVIDE US INTERNET WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS.

NO THROTTLING. NO TRAFFIC SHAPING. NO CAPS. NO TIERS.

With what we pay each month for internet access, they have no excuses as to why their networks are in such piss-poor shape. None.