Alan Spicer Marine Telecom All Blogs

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http://www.onenewsnow.com/Blog/Default.aspx?id=404524

* Maybe NBC sees Dead People ... like the movie quote from that movie Sixth Sense (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0167404/quotes) or would rather show commercials about dead people rather than live people? NBC: It's an AD. Run the damn thing! It doesn't reflect on NBC's opinions on the thing, if NBC likes dead people rather than live people - fine! But I think a lot of people should get to see it. You've run anti-kill-yourself-smoking ads ... why not an anti-kill-people-before-they're-born ad?

NBC television has rejected a pro-life advertisement which Catholicvote.org bought for a slot in the Super Bowl because the ad contains a pro-life message. The 30-second ad features ultrasound pictures from a baby in its mother's womb. There is nothing either graphic or political and the word abortion is not even used. In fact, no words are spoken, only graphics that appear on-screen. Yet, the message is extremely powerful. You can view the ad here (see link above.)

That wonderful pro-life Obama commercial you may have seen here recently was supposed to run during the Super Bowl on Sunday. After first accepting it, NBC apparently changed its collective mind, saying it wasn't going to run advocacy ads during the big game.

Brian Burch, President of Fidelis, a Chicago-based Catholic organization responsible for the commercial, says that NBC initially responded positively and he was raising money to pay for it. Watch the commercial below, and imagine the impact it could have had on the millions who watch the Super Bowl.

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Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

Yachts/Marine - Just as on land is transitioning to Digital TV, Distress Alert Epirb's also Change to Digital and a New Frequency

There's a transition going (supposedly in February 2009, but reportedly delayed by the US Government) in Broadcasting of the old Analog Television - that will be used to recover many of the frequencies used by the old analog system for use by other Radio Services and perhaps Internet Access Providers via Wireless. The reason that a lot of frequency spectrum can be recovered is that the Digital Transmissions are more efficient in frequency usage - they can put a lot more signal and thus channels in a much smaller frequency space.

The Coast Guard wants to remind mariners that there is also a digital and frequency shift change on February 1st for Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons. If you are on a yacht, chances are you already know what these are and how important they can be and what regulations there are that require you to have them. So now on with the news...

News Release
Date: January 29, 2009

Contact: Lt. Cmdr. Eric King
(843) 724-7630

Coast Guard reminds mariners of upcoming EPIRB frequency shift

CHARLESTON, S.C., - Similar to the broadcasting world, which is transitioning from analog to digital frequencies, beginning Feb. 1, the Coast Guard will only receive distress alert broadcasts from digital 406-MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons.

The Coast Guard will no longer process analog signals transmitting on 121.5 or 243 MHz.

The Coast Guard urges mariners and aviators to upgrade their onboard analog equipment to include a digital 406-MHz EPIRB.

Advantages of the 406 EPIRB signal include:

* Worldwide coverage

* More reliable position information to withineight square nauticalmiles on non GPS-enabled units and 300 feet on GPS-enabled models

* More stable and sustained signal resulting in faster response

* Digitally encoded data, including latitude and longitude, helps tocurb false alerts,speeds up response timesand conserves tax dollars

* A signal 50 times more powerful, allowing for more accurate search areas and quick resolution of unintentionally activated EPIRBs

GPS-enabled features and water-immersion activation devices in select models further improve chances of a safe, swift rescue. Some have more ecologically compatible batteries as well.

EPIRB owners are required to register their beacons with the 406 MHz Beacon Registration Database online at http://www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov, or by calling 1-888-212-SAVE. Federal law also requires EPIRB owners to update pertinent contact and vessel identification information every two years or when the information changes through the 406 MHz Beacon Registration Database online at http://www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov.

The information provided helps to take the search out of search and rescue by allowing rescuers to quickly gather vital information about missing boaters, their vessel and their location, which results in faster rescues and increased chances of survival in distress situations.

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Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

http://www.techspot.com/
Google and partners to expose network meddling
By Jose Vilches, TechSpot.com
Published: January 28, 2009, 6:18 PM EST

[Alan's Note:]
I'm a supporter of Net neutrality... which means we should all get equal access to the Internet. I'm very glad to read this about Google and partners working to expose such meddling in our network connections by Internet Service Providers (ISP's). I think they should also look at incoming port blocking on cellular, satellite, and land-based networks. I've had it up to HERE with the BS I hear about reasons why network TCP/IP Ports (UDP and TCP inbound ports) are blocked. I was forced into Business Class Service on DSL just to get one measely port open, Port 25, in order to run a Mail Server. Even though I was already Fixed (Static IP) which removes the excuse that I might spam and the ISP wouldn't be able to tell that it was me doing it. Well Bellsouth (now AT&T) that's not true - on a fixed IP you wouldn't have that problem and thus that excuse. So thanks (NOT!) for the hassle and added COST! The latest was (an unnamed) Cellular ISP telling me it was for security reasons... that all inbound ports are block on 3G Cellular Internet. There are also usually these ugly AUP (acceptable use policies) that prevent you from running any kind of camera or service/server on your connection (anything other than a pencil sharpener is probably not allowed) - which leaves you just to whatever you connect out to that will work. Even if you were able to initiate out - all of the common incoming ports - other than probably the Reply Connections (established, related to outbound connection request) are probably blocking coming in. But nothing can be accepted coming in alone. That's just plain rediculous. We're at the point of 3.5G moving forward towards 4G... it's time for Ronald Reagan to stand up and say "Tear down these walls!!!!". "Well we're preventing Spam" - the ISP's will say. "Ahem... well that's obviously not working" - Alan Spicer says. We are in the age when people want to provide services, be creative, blogging, social networking, share videos and photos, - people want to Provide Services on their connection. To some extent this is allowed on land-based connections, but it gets "meddled with" as the article tells about. On cellular they're apparently not letting this stuff at all. And I think they should. We just need more people - or a Federal Agency to tell them that they must. People are already replacing traditional telephone service with cellular service. They will begin to replace traditional land-based Internet service with cellular as well. So the cellular networks should allow the same capabilities as the land-based Internet services do. Or at least it should be an option. If certain users (or class of users) wants to have all ports blocked - they should get it. But if other users (or class of users) does not want these things blocked then they should have that option - to not have ports blocked. To say that is a security feature... well I think it's more than that. That's all I'm going to say for now. So off to the article...
[end of Alan's Note]

As promised several months ago, Google and a group of partners have formed the Measurement Lab platform, an open project of distributed servers meant to help researchers gauge just how well an internet connection is working and conversely help customers determine if their ISP is blocking or throttling particular applications.

As part of the plan, Google will provide M-Lab with 36 servers in 12 locations in the U.S. and Europe to run a set of tools which initially include: a network diagnostic tool, which reports the upload and download speeds and also attempts to determine what problems limited these speeds; a tool to detect whether your ISP is performing application-specific shaping; and network and path application diagnosis (NPAD), which diagnoses some of the common problems affecting the last network mile and end-users' systems.

Google insisted that the effort was not just another means to push Net neutrality and said it believes that consumers should have the right to clearly understand the exact nature of the connection they're paying for. To help with that goal, M-Lab says two additional tools should arrive shortly, DiffProbe and Nano. The first will attempt to detect if an ISP is classifying certain kinds of traffic as "low priority" (a technique Comcast began using not long ago), while the latter will attempt to detect if an ISP is degrading the performance of a certain subset of users, apps, or destinations.

---
Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

Alan Spicer Marine Telecom got mentioned in both January and February "The Triton - Nautical News for Captains and Crews" an industry magazine that Alan Spicer loves, and Captains and Crews love as well.

The first time was in section C page 14 (C-14) of January 2009. It starts on C-1 as...

TRITON SURVEY: INTERNET USE
Yachts rely on Web dockside and at sea By Lucy Chabot Reed

* One of the captains surveyed mentioned their Ericsson W25 Cellular Voice and Internet System from Alan Spicer (www.marinetelecom.net.) Whoever that was - Thanks for the mention!!!!

The second time was in section A page 26 (A-26) February 2009. I had written a letter and spoke on the phone with Lucy of the Triton - she wanted to publish my letter in the Letters section in a follow up to the original SURVEY article. I pointed out some discrepancies I had noticed in nomenclature or terminology in descriptions of different types of Cellular and Satellite Internet Communications systems and made other comments. Thanks for posting my letter!!!! (Clarifying Internet Terms.) Here it is:

Clarifying internet terms
I enjoyed your e-survey ["Yachts rely
on Web dockside and at sea," January
2009, page C1]
There were some technical things
that might have been wrong. For
example, Ericsson W25 is a cellular 3G.
Many boats may still be running laptop
card cellular routers using Verizon,
Sprint or AT&T cards. Some might
even be sharing the connection off a
laptop or a desktop PC with a card in it.

I'm not sure what a "marina wi-fi"
is. If you mean a wi-fi sharing system
(a wi-fi bridge or router), that connects
to a marina (or any wi-fi hotspot) and
shares on the boat. Syrens is also one of
those. By the way, Syrens is no longer
what you think it is. I think I blogged
about it when I learned of it.

There is actually no marine BGAN,
or at least it's not called that. It's
called Fleet broadband, and it's from
Inmarsat, despite who claims to be the
best seller of it. Those other companies
actually only make the antennas and
Thrane-and-Thrane makes the actual
transceiver/router unit.
So it's confusing when you say
Inmarsat when Mini-M, Fleet 33, Fleet
55, Fleet 77, and Fleet Broadband are
all Inmarsat.

Wimax I don't think is really out of
the gate yet. I don't know why captains
would be saying that they want that
when it won't be available anywhere
that they go, unlike wi-fi and cellular
(and satellite) that are. And Wimax will
probably cost money, as expensive as
cellular 3G, if not more expensive on
the monthly rate. I haven't seen any
marine Wimax equipment. I wonder if
there are any marinas offering Wimax. I
would think not, too expensive.

I did work on a yacht, Hayfu II, with
a Fleet Broadband. I was able to add it
into an onboard network arrangement
and switch it in. It connects quite
handily and was reasonably fast. I think
we measured 300kb/s on a speed test
before shutting it off to avoid costs.

I did have one boat, a couple years
back, 110-foot Broward or something,
that wanted to take me on a trip up
north with them because they liked the
idea of having a marine Internet guy
onboard. Most of my customers feel
that way.
Alan Spicer
Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

---
Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

http://www.the-triton.com/

Several megayachts left Antigua's English Harbor and Falmouth Harbor this weekend as a sign of protest at the murder of Capt. Drew Gollan, skipper of the 165-foot Perini Navi S/Y Perseus.

Gollan was shot Jan. 22 walking on the road between the harbors after dinner with his partner and their daughter. High-level government officials met with about 350 members of the yachting and tourism industries the next day, promising an increased police presence in the dimly lit area.

"I told them at the meeting we are not feeling safe, happy or welcome here," said one captain who joined the protest. "We will come back in a week or so and see how it is then and decide at that time if we should stay or not."

Check back for more news on this story as it develops.
http://www.the-triton.com/

---
Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

From: http://www.the-triton.com

A megayacht captain was shot and killed in Antigua about 10:30 last night as he was walking back to a rented seaside home with his wife and young daughter who were visiting. Although more details are not being released this morning, The Triton confirmed the news with several sources in Antigua and Ft. Lauderdale. The Triton will post updates at www.the-triton.com as they become available.

---
Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

The Ericsson W25 - International Travel Capable 3G (GSM, UMTS, HSDPA) Internet and Cellular Voice Router -

Presidential Season Special (not $769.95!) but $700.00 + 50.00 shipping ($750.00 Total [not $819.95!]) Within Florida add $42.00 Sales Tax (Florida Customers Total on E W25 = $792.50 [not $866.15]) Please mention W25-GO-OBAMA-SPECIAL. Sale Starts 01-22-2009 and Ends 02-22-2009.

746 Quad Band+ Marine Cellular antenna also on sale: $145.00 [not $180.00] + shipping. Ask for the whole Marine Kit (radio pigtail, LMR400 low-loss cable, E W25, and Marine Antenna 746. Other antennas available for land vehicle applications or fixed / temporary location applications.

Runs on 10-28vDC or the included 100-240vAC 50/60Hz adaptor - great for yachts and boats, and other mobile and emergency platforms - land fixed line replacement, work sites, trucks and buses, and more.

Very Flexible! Very Unlocked GSM Fast Internet and Voice Terminal! Very Portable for use in multiple vehicles or vessels and at multiple locations. Takes just a GSM/UMTS 3G Sim. Worldwide Data/Internet Travel Plans available from AT&T Wireless to save on crazy roaming charges problems.

Please see: http://www.marinetelecom.net/Ericsson_W25/

---
Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

[Alans Note:]
I wonder how the 3G High Speed Cellular Internet Networks performed there in Washington, D.C. during the crowds of the inauguration? A lot of times at big events I have heard people from the yachthing community report that cellular Internet connections slowed to a crawl. It's interesting with the technology being discussed in the industry about Micro, Femto and Pico cell systems being used, that cellular companies deployed temporary cell towers (and other steps) to prevent their networks from crashing from the congestion caused by heavy traffic with lots more people than normal in an area.
[end of Alans Note:]

Wireless Networks Cope With High Volume Of Calls During Obama Inauguration

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7013781999

January 21, 2009 1:57 a.m. EST

Windsor Genova - AHN News Writer
Washington, D.C. (AHN) - The wireless networks of four major U.S. cellular carriers handled calls of millions of people who flocked to Washington, D.C. for President Barack Obama's inauguration on Tuesday.

Only difficulty in calling people within the D.C. area and delayed arrival of text messages were the complaints of mobile phone users as temporary cell-phone towers deployed in the capital by Verizon Wireless, AT&T Wireless, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile helped prevent networks from getting too congested and crashing. The carriers also redirected call traffic to less-congested towers to lessen the strain on their networks.

Wireless service was disrupted four hours before Obama's swearing-in but the networks restored it within one hour.

AT&T and T-Mobile said they handled three to five times the normal volume of calls. But Mark Siegel, AT&T Mobility spokesman, said their network performed well on inauguration day.

"Even in the most crowded spectator areas nearest the inauguration stands at the U.S. Capitol, the vast majority of calls" went through "on the first attempt," Verizon Wireless spokeswoman Debra Lewis said, according to Msnbc.com.

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Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

Presidential Inauguration - Watch it Live (Hulu) Here

http://www.marinetelecom.net/wordpress/

or at our main site: http://www.marinetelecom.net/

* Thanks to: http://www.hulu.com/

---
Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

Yachting Industry (on LinkedIn)
This article was submitted on January 19, 2009 at 06:11 AM PST
By
john Hermanson, Independent Maritime (Yachting)Professional in Kuwait.

From: Boat International Media | January 19, 2009

World Superyacht Awards 2009 Moves from Venice to London! Boat International Media are delighted to announce that the fourth annual World Superyacht Awards will take place at London's historic Guildhall on Saturday 16th May 2009. Read more at Boat International Media »

http://archives.subscribermail.com/msg/112db41f4c9947b481ade5ce4695fe78.htm

See also: http://www.worldsuperyachtawards.com/

Boat International Media, the superyacht industry's leading global media group, is proud to present the fourth annual World Superyacht Awards, which takes place on May 16th, 2009 at London's historic Guildhall.

The World Superyacht Awards are designed to recognise the talents of the naval architects, designers, builders and ultimately, the visions of the owners who bring together the teams that work to create these master pieces of modern design and manufacture.

Over four hundred distinguished guests will gather in May to witness the presentation of the highly coveted Neptune Awards - the 'Oscars' of the superyacht world - during a glamorous gala evening attended by an elite guest list of superyacht owners and leading industry professionals.

January 16th, 2009

WORLD SUPERYACHT AWARDS 2009 MOVES TO LONDON

Boat International Media are delighted to announce that the fourth annual World Superyacht Awards will take place at London's historic Guildhall on Saturday 16th May 2009.

Situated in the heart of the City of London, this medieval building has been the epicentre of England's commercial life for more than 800 years. The current building dates back to 1411, but the site was already in use from Anglo-Saxon times as a meeting place for the city's guilds and livery companies.

The Awards ceremony will take place in the vaulted splendour of the Great Hall of Guildhall. Through the ages, countless royal and state visitors have been entertained within these five-foot thick 15th Century walls. The walls record the names and arms of every Lord Mayor and the Monarchs they served, dating back to the very first Lord Mayor of London Henry Fitz Ailwyn in 1189 during the reign of King Richard I.

The Hall also displays the funereal honours the City has granted to leading British political and military leaders: most notably the Duke of Wellington, Admiral Lord Nelson and Sir Winston Churchill.

The champagne reception and after party will be held in the Guildhall Crypts, offering the unique opportunity to socialize with an elite guest list of owners and leading industry professionals in the history-soaked atmosphere of the largest medieval crypts in London. The East Crypt predates even the Great Hall, having been built in the time of Edward the Confessor before the Norman Conquest (1042). The low vaulted ceilings are embossed with the coats of arms of the city and its foremost citizens, while the stained glass windows commemorate Geoffrey Chaucer, William Caxton, Sir Thomas More, Sir Christopher Wren and Samuel Pepys.

An international hub for both business and entertaining, London is a cosmopolitan city making it the perfect location for the World Superyacht Awards 2009. London's five airports and central location on the world's flight paths will allow easier travel for our guests from all sides of the globe as well as the many superyacht owners based in the city.

Tony Harris, CEO of Boat International Media:

"In response to the positive feedback we have received from superyacht owners, we have chosen 2009 as the year to move the event to a new city. By bringing the World Superyacht Awards to the magnificent Guildhall, a larger venue in the centre of the city of London, many more of the owners and teams responsible for all the nominated superyachts will be able to join us at the gala awards ceremony to celebrate the best builds of 2008.

Tables at last year's event sold out in record time and we were inundated with applications to attend this most prestigious occasion - the 'Oscars' of the superyacht world.

Table applications for the World Superyacht Awards 2009 are now open.

Priority will be given to superyacht owners and nominees and will then be allocated on a first come first-served basis so please be sure to apply early to avoid disappointment.

---
Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

Alan Spicer Marine Telecom - sales, installation, and consulting / support for Marine / Yacht Internet Access Systems and Onboard Wired and Wireless Networking of Computers, Printers, and other networkable devices. Multiple systems supported with switching to the most cost-effective system at the current vessel location. Knowledgeable on satellite airtime and Internet Costs, Cellular Roaming Costs and Ways to Cut The Bill!

Savings on Voice communications with Internet Telephone a.k.a. Voice-Over-IP. Voice - Fax - Data / Internet Service.

Navigation Computer, Communications Computer, Desktops, Laptops, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Mac OS X, Linux, Unix systems and software are all supported. Network Attached Storage (Networked Hard Disk Drives with open and password protecting file sharing) and more.

Existing systems discovered and explained for new captains / owners / crews - Systems Documented with operation instructions and diagram drawings of what's installed. Improvements and Cost Saving changes to gear and network provided on Site Survey.

AIS and other Marine Electronics - please inquire. Sailmail HF/MF Radio Email worldwide - Pactor PTCiiUSB modems - Icom Marine SSB Radio Kits and Modems for Sailmail Service. Please ask, I'm a Ham Radio (Amateur Radio) Operator and have 1 customer installed for Sailmail and have been maintaining it for a few years.

Satellite TV and Entertainment Systems - I work with an expert on Marine Electronics and Sat TV / Entertainment Systems on yachts.

---
Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

Alan Spicer Marine Telecom provides Laptop and Desktop Computer Services for Yachts. Service and Repair, Replacements, Blue Screen Errors, Windows Re-Installation, Navigation Software and Charts, NMEA and Serial Data connections, Computer Networking Wired and Wireless, Printer and Fax, Network Storage (Network Hard Drive Storage.)

If you think I can be of help... call me. I pick up and deliver from marinas and yards or wherever you are docked at.

---
Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

Icom MXA-5000 AIS Receiver - Automatic Identification System (both Class A and Class B AIS, Dual channel simultaneous receive capability.) PDF Doc: Here Bigger Picture: Here $650.00 + Shipping and Handling. (Florida Tax will apply within Florida) Installation available in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area. Uses existing VHF Marine Radio antenna.

Advanced Collision Avoidance With Real-time Vessel Traffic Information

Also available Sailmail - Pactor Modems (and Radio Kits) and installation. Get email via SSB MF/HF Radio for $250.00 per year. Icom IC-M802 Radio recommended. Pactor PTCIIusb modem recommended.

---
Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

Alans Note:

Obviously this is a parady on real live current news about Apple Computer. But you couldn't make this sh*t up, really!

So I came up with the title:

Apple doesn't like Clones, but it looks like they need to clone Steve Jobs.

* You've already seen my blog entry on the PC World article regarding the Mac Cloner company court battle. Now you hear that CEO Steve Jobs of Apple Computer may go on extended leave of absence for medical reasons. And... there seems to be concern about a transition of power. But not only executive power, but brain power and other capabilities that only Steve Jobs may have.

So they might need to ummmm, like, download his brain to an iPod or an ummm, like, an iBrain or... something (?) Or they'll need to clone him, no? But if they do this ummmm his, like, Operating Person or Operating System [or something] (the stuff from his brain is copyrighted right?) would have to be run only on Apple Hardware! So would the clone actually be a clone? or an Apple Original Hardware?

P.S. Hey! The iBrain was my idea. An iPod-like device that can be used to store a backup of human brain intelligence content. Just because I (or anybody?) don't know how to make one (yet?) - doesn't mean I can't cash in on the licensing rights. Right?

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Critics Question Apple Succession Plans

January 14, 2009: 09:20 PM ET

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200901142120DOWJONESDJONLINE000966_FORTUNE5.htm

SAN FRANCISCO -(Dow Jones)- Apple Inc. (AAPL) now has the rare chance to conduct a test-run of its succession plans for the day when Chief Executive Steve Jobs no longer can run the company.

But so far, shareholders and corporate succession experts don't care for what's happening.

Because of his extraordinary role at the company, Apple already faces big challenges should it have to replace a tech icon like Jobs, who announced Wednesday he's taking a leave of absence from Apple until the summer to battle a hormone imbalance that's more complex than believed just a week ago.

Yet Apple's handling of the situation so far hasn't won many admirers. Some Apple watchers are already raising questions about what's really behind the jarring swing in sentiment about the nature of Jobs' treatment in such a short period of time. Last week, Jobs, who is a pancreatic cancer survivor, told Apple employees he was undergoing simple treatment, and he will stay on the job. A week later, Jobs disclosed that his treatments are now much more complex than expected, and require he take an extended leave of absence.

(more at the link)

---
Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

Alans Note: In my personal opinion - I think that if Apple doesn't want it's Mac OS X to end up on whatever people want to put it on, then they shouldn't sell it as seperate items from Apple Hardware. I purchased a copy of Mac OS X Tiger ... and it's being used to adorn a shelf here in my office. That's pretty much what it does these days. Is Apple going to sue me for keeping a copy on a shelf and not using it on Apple Hardware? I originally bought it to learn about Mac OS X - to be able to support a few customers of mine who had Apple Macbooks and Apple Desktops. I ran it, albeit very slow performance, on something called PearPC - an Apple Hardware simulator done in software. Grant it this was before the Apple Intel evolution, but is Apple going to sue me because I don't have an Apple hardware to go along with my Apple Software that I legitemately purchased? Maybe Apple should give a refund to everyone that has purchased a copy of Apple Mac OS X that doesn't currently have Apple Hardware. It looks like Apple should have stayed the heck off the Intel PC architecture. If you wanted to be a PC, ok now you're a PC. Welcome to the club! Hello I'm a Mac ... And I'm a PC. Nope! You're both a PC.

...that's all... on to the article...
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Mac Cloner Says It Bought OS From Apple
http://www.pcworld.com:80/article/157031/article.html?tk=nl_dnxnws

The Mac clone maker being sued by Apple Inc. because it installs Mac OS X on generic Intel-based systems said it bought copies of the operating system from Apple itself, court documents show.

In papers filed with a San Francisco federal court last week, Psystar Corp. repeated its argument that Apple has abused copyright laws by tying the Mac operating system to Apple hardware. The filing came in response to an Apple motion asking U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup, who tossed out Psystar's original antitrust allegations against Apple last November, to also throw out the Florida company's revamped countersuit.

"Apple contends that because Psystar is 'distributing computers with Apple's copyrighted software loaded on them' that 'Apple is within its rights in asserting copyright infringement'," said Psystar in the papers filed Jan. 7. "Apple's assertion that Psystar cannot distribute computers with Apple software (and that a purchaser could not use the same) would run roughshod over 17 U.S.C.," Psystar added, referring to the section of U.S. law that pertains to copyright.

(more at the link)

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Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

United to launch Wi-Fi on some cross-country flights
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/011409-united-to-launch-wi-fi-on.html?netht=rn_011409&nladname=011409dailynewspmal

United Airlines Wednesday said it will begin offering in-flight Wi-Fi service to customers on some flights between New York and California in the second half of the year.

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Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

Privacy flaw haunts Apple Safari RSS reader
http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=2377&tag=nl.e550

There's a major privacy problem with the RSS reader built into Apple's Safari browser.

According to an alert from Brian Mastenbrook, there is a serious Safari vulnerability that allows a malicious web site to read files on a user's hard drive without user intervention.

Mastenbrook warns:

This can be used to gain access to sensitive information stored on the user's computer, such as emails, passwords, or cookies that could be used to gain access to the user's accounts on some web sites. The vulnerability has been acknowledged by Apple. All users of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard who have not changed their feed reader application preference from the system default are affected, regardless of whether they use any RSS feeds or use a different web browser (such as Firefox). Users of previous versions of Mac OS X are not affected.

(more at the link...)

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Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

Paris Hilton's official web site serving malware
http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=2383&tag=nl.e550

The official web site of Paris Hilton (parishilton.com) has been embedded with a malicious iFrame, automatically exposing visitors to client-side vulnerabilities and banker malware, according to researchers from ScanSafe. Upon closer analysis, it appears that the site has been infected on the 8th of January, Thursday, becoming the very latest legitimate site whose use of outdated web application software led to its exploitation.

Moreover, just like we've seen in previous related attacks, Hilton's site compromise is a part of bigger malware campaign affecting several thousand sites, and is not being exclusively targeted.

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Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

* ASMT Note: I woke up today to my desktop, which runs 24/7, having the screen saver... meaning it had rebooted without my interacting with it. That usually means UPDATES were done AUTOMATICALLY. And although this isn't Patch Wednesday, yesterday was probably the famous Patch Tuesday.

So everyone that can... ought to connect onto the Internet (if you're not already on) and see if your computers are taking updates. My customers - let me know if you need help determining if your Windows boxes are getting automatic updates or not.

For those that don't know, SMB is part of the protocols that provide Windows File and Printer Sharing. Chances are you have this enabled. Chances are you use this to some extent. You may not have it open to the Internet ... but that fact may not be enough to protect you. Get Your Updates!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Server_Message_Block

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Alan Spicer
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Get your updates!
MS Patch Tuesday: 3 critical SMB vulnerabilities
http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=2372&tag=nl.e550

Microsoft today shipped a solitary bulletin with patches for at least three documented security flaws in the Microsoft Server Message Block ( SMB ) Protocol.

The three vulnerabilities, rated "critical" on Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, exposes Windows users to remote code execution attacks, Microsoft said in its MS09-001 bulletin. The company warns:

"An attacker who successfully exploited these vulnerabilities could install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights."

Only two of the three vulnerabilities affect Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.

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Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

Alan Spicer Marine Telecom...

Quotes WiFi and Cellular Systems for a yacht in Fort Lauderdale, Florida as well as consults on the possible installation of Inmarsat BGAN Marine / Fleet Broadband on the vessel.

Alan Spicer also renews a few yearly Consulting and Support Agreements and continues to provide excellent consulting, support, and installation services for the sail and motor yacht community.

Thank You again to all of my customers who have used my services and have continued to support my business.

---
Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

USTelecom DailyLead
http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/oklognmYyByWAUCibTgnuaCA?format=standard

Blockbuster today is expected to announce that it will serve up its inventory of films and TV shows via a wide array of digital platforms, including the Internet, mobile phones, Web-connected TVs and Blu-ray players. "We want it to be ubiquitous," said Kevin Lewis, senior vice president of digital entertainment for Blockbuster, which is in a competitive battle with Netflix. The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) (1/14) , The Hollywood Reporter (1/14)

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Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

USTelecom DailyLead
http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/oklognmYyByWAPCibTgnVGtt?format=standard

TV makers boot up integrated Web applications
The year of the Internet-enabled TV set was ushered in last week, according to this report. Television manufacturers such as Samsung, Sony, LG and Vizio are touting the latest ways they are integrating Web elements such as Netflix, Yahoo! widgets, MySpace and more. The New York Times/ReadWriteWeb (1/13)

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Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

USTelecom DailyLead
http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/oklognmYyByWACCibTgnKydb?format=standard

Industry watchers are trying to read the tea leaves on the future direction of the FCC under Julius Genachowski, President-elect Barack Obama's choice to head the commission. Genachowski, who served as counsel for former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt, is expected to support Obama's stated Web traffic management viewpoint. The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) (1/14) , BusinessWeek (1/13)

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Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

USTelecom DailyLead
http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/oklognmYyByWAxCibTgnjCxB?format=standard

France Telecom CEO: No mergers in this economy
(also an LES operator for Inmarsat Satellite... know to yachts for Fleet 33, 55, and 77 systems)

The poor economic climate will make it "impossible" to pursue large-scale mergers and acquisitions in the short term, France Telecom CEO Didier Lombard said today. "I don't know when the windows will reopen and then, at that point, the landscape will have changed and the analysis will be different," he told reporters when asked about the telecom's interest in re-pursuing Nordic operator TeliaSonera. The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones Newswires (subscription required) (1/14)

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Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

USTelecom DailyLead
http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/oklognmYyByWAtCibTgnHIOx?format=standard

Nortel Networks filed for bankruptcy protection in a U.S. court today, with assets and debt totaling more than $1 billion. Observers say Nortel, which has tried in vain since September to shed some of its business units, will probably be broken up and sold to rivals such as Nokia Siemens Networks, Ericsson, Cisco Systems and Huawei Technologies. Bloomberg (1/14) , The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (1/14)

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Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

USTelecom DailyLead
http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/oklognmYyByWAzCibTgnFSPd?format=standard

Verizon: Bloomberg Report Wrong About VoIP Transition

Paula Bernier
01/13/2009
A spokesman for Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) today told xchange that the Bloomberg News report, which was picked up by the Los Angeles Times, saying that the telco plans to retire its copper plant and move completely to VoIP within seven years, is off base.

"We kind of wish this story would just go away," said Jim Smith, director of media relations for Verizon Telecom, of the piece quoting Verizon CMO John Stratton, with whom a Bloomberg reporter spoke at last week's Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Smith added that a public relations person from the wireless side of Verizon was present at the interview.

When asked whether Verizon in fact expects to go all-VoIP within seven years, as stated in the Bloomberg piece, Smith said while the company is introducing VoIP as part of its FiOS bundle, that doesn't mean it's going exclusively VoIP. "Why would anybody move to VoIP in seven years?" he added.

Traditional Phone Network Endures
Posted by Eric Rabe in Voice-VoIP on January 13, 2009, 04:02 PM EST

There's been a bit of online buzz about remarks attributed to Verizon Chief Marking Officer John Stratton in a Bloomberg interview (carried in the LA Times) at last week's Consumer Electronics Show. The story says that Verizon plans to "do away with traditional phone lines within seven years as it moves to carry all calls over the Internet."

Here's the background.

First, neither John nor anyone else here thinks that the traditional, circuit-switched phone network will be a thing of the past in seven years. What's often called the public switched telephone network (PSTN) is the world's most reliable, high quality, landline voice communications system. The Verizon traditional phone system will serve customers for a long time to come.

John's point was, and there's not a lot of new news here, that we see that voice can and is becoming an application called VoIP on broadband networks.

VoIP is a logical platform for any company wanting to break into the voice services business, and hundreds of companies have seized on this technology to do so, including every major cable TV company. However, the quality of VoIP voice calls and the reliability of VoIP networks are in no way superior to the quality and reliability provided by the Verizon PSTN network. In short, there is no logical reason for a company like Verizon, with a terrific voice network already in place, to dismantle that network and replace it with VoIP.

At the same time, Verizon is the foremost provider of broadband networks in the USA and a leader in providing broadband around the world. We operate much of the Internet backbone, besides providing wired broadband to 8.5 million American consumers and businesses in the Northeast, and parts of the Northwest, South and Western U.S.

It is clear to us that some parts of the market are moving to VoIP. So the right move for Verizon and our customers is to support transition to VoIP as we have already for many business customers and as we will do as consumer customers evolve to VoIP. You'll see us offer new VoIP products for FiOS in the future, and over time we'll do the same for customers served by other wireline and wireless technologies. This is a logical evolution that we understand and will support.

But don't expect the landline circuit-switched network to magically blink out in seven years. For many customers, the traditional phone network may be the best solution for years to come.

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Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245

Happy New Year to everyone! 2009 will rule! I think we've got a lot of exciting changes and things that will happen with the new year. Hang in there with us and with the U.S. economy. We'll surely have a turn around for everyone. I wish all the motor and sail yacht community the best in 2009 - we've weathered a bit of tough year 2008 and we'll no doubt make changes and improvements for a much much better year 2009.

Please have a look at changes to the following ASMT page -

http://www.marinetelecom.net/yacht-pictures.html

and have a look a this blog as well as the new blog (simulcast) on -

http://www.marinetelecom.net/wordpress

* I definately appreciate all of the existing and new friendships and customers in the sail and motor yacht world - and the chances I've had to provide equipment and services to all of you. Please keep in touch and call me in 2009.

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Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
http://www.alanspicermarinetelecom.com
communications (at) marinetelecom.net
communications (at) alanspicermarinetelecom.com
a_spicer (at) bellsouth.net
+1 954-683-3426 +1 954-977-5245