If your Mac Slingplayer stopped working yesterday, go download a new copy which contains an extended expiration date. If you run into any issues after updating, blow away your prefs. In other Mac Slingplayer news, Beta Manager Sharon Rylander tells me GUI enhancements are in the works by some new hires, and an updated public beta will be available in the near future.

Generally speaking, we try pretty hard to stay on topic here at ZNF… But this picture is just too funny and must be shared. Maybe the humidity didn’t agree with their hair, or maybe they just didn’t like Orlando — either way, I shot these out-of-character Maryland cheerleaders at the Champs Sports Bowl over the weekend. Fortunately, the Terrapins won despite this apparent negativity.

Part 3 begins with the coveted eStarling photo frame. (Click here for Part 1 and here for Part 2.)

eStarling Wireless Digital Photo Frame
Paying for the Hype

The $250 eStarling frame has gotten so much good hype, I suppose it’s only karmic-ly justified that everything went to hell when the product finally shipped again this year.

First the bad news — While eStarling shipped its back-ordered frames in time for Christmas, they managed to ship them with the wrong power adapters. (They’re shipping new ones…) Hence the reason we had to set up the frame I bought for my parents within a foot or two of the wireless router. Also, as Gizmodo points out, the resolution ain’t what it should be.

Now the good stuff. When it’s working, the eStarling frame kicks ass. Even with less-than-optimal resolution. I haven’t played with the much-touted, Flickr-feed feature yet, but I’ve had great fun emailing photos to the frame. (You can set up the account to authorize only specific email senders.) Hint: It’s a great gift for grandparents.

Here’s the top of the frame with buttons for the slide-show feature, static display, etc.

And here’s the side of the frame with power and USB ports, and memory card slots.

More photos and detailed coverage here. Someone (maybe eStarling) will certainly come out with something better in the future, but for now, it’s better to have a flawed, wireless photo frame than no wireless photo frame at all.

DigiMemo
Doesn’t Tell You Everything

The DigiMemo purports to allow you to write on a special notepad and then sync your handwritten notes to a PC. (Great gift idea from my dad to my mom…) I’d love to tell you I had a chance to try it out, but unfortunately the product doesn’t come packaged with OCR software. Great. So I get to import my notes, but they’re in the form of an image. Not very helpful.

We also discovered that the DigiMemo does not appear to work on an Apple running Parallels. Yes, my family is that geeky.

And that’s it for the Gadget-Giving Post-Mortem. Happy New Year, Everyone! Here’s to great gadgets in 2007.

According to a letter the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) submitted to the FCC, TiVo is working on an Open Cable Application Platform (OCAP) port. Long term, this seems like an inevitable software engineering initiative if TiVo plans to continue working with the likes of Comcast and Cox.

Multiple guides, multiple VOD applications, switched digital applications, interactive advertising, caller ID, email viewers, on screen subscriptions, and even the TiVo interface are being ported to OCAP.

I’ve got a few questions in to TiVo, Inc on this… Should they choose to respond, I’ll post an update.

UPDATE: I’ve heard back from TiVo who confirms discussions of an OCAP port. This could possibly explain the delay in rolling out Motorola Comcast cable boxes running TiVo software… Though I doubt it: Sounds like the Comcast Moto TiVo is nearly ready to go, whereas OCAP is probably many months away from any sort of widespread rollout.

In conjunction with development deals with Comcast and Cox, TiVo has announced that it is porting its DVR application to non-TiVo hardware, such as Motorola DVRs. This development work is built on a Java-Based pre-cursor middleware to OCAP. Efforts to port the TiVo application to OCAP are subject to ongoing business discussions between TiVo and its cable partners.

By contrast, TiVo has not announced any plans to use OCAP for any standalone boxes, including the TiVo Series3 HD DVR.

DVR software maker Digeo (Moxi) is onboard, and has been developing for the OCAP platform — they don’t have the brand recognition or fervent TiVo fanbase, but they probably have a large head start.

For the uninitiated, OCAP is middleware for cable boxes. The idea is everyone (Cox, Comcast, TWC, etc) runs a common operating system (OCAP) on their hardware and then they build or commission Java software/applications to run on top of it. It’s supposed to save money in the long run and open the door to third party developers, though not everyone buys it. There has also been a proposal that the CableCARD 2.0 spec require OCAP. I had a nice OCAP Q&A with a Motorola exec, if you’re interested in more (potentially biased) info.

If you missed Post-Mortem Part 1, I covered the Christmas gadget insanity in my house with the Wii, Pinnacle PCTV HD Pro Stick and iRecord. Part 2 starts with the Dash.

The Dash
Way to Ruin the Surprise

I should have listened to my own advice. I knew it was a bad idea to buy a cell phone for a present strictly on the basis of having to commit to a service agreement. What I didn’t realize was how impossible it would be to keep a cell phone gift a surprise. It used to be you could buy a phone from T-Mobile without having it attached to an account. Perfect for gift shopping because you just switched the SIM card and activated the account after giving the present to your intended recipient. Now, however, you have to list a T-Mobile account when you buy the phone. I spent quite a while on a call with customer service making sure that everything would be more or less hidden from my husband until after Christmas, despite the fact that I was accessing his mobile account. Everything seemed to be well-arranged, and then the next day hubby got a text message on his current phone.

This is a free message from T-Mobile! Thank you for purchasing a service upgrade from T-Mobile! (i.e. locking you in for 2 more years…) If you didn’t make this purchase, please let us know! Thanks!

Arrgh.

At least the Dash has proven a worthy present if not a surprise one. Maybe a comparison later to the Blackjack?

Squeezebox
Ask and Ye Shall Receive

My new Squeezebox is not yet out of the box, but only because I just arrived back home after the holidays. I have a space cleared and ready for it. It’s nice to get what you wish for.

Stay tuned for Part 3: The eStarling WiFi photo frame and the DigiMemo.

A periodic roundup of relevant news…

• Pay for TiVo Series3 or settle for cable company DVR: Mossberg, WSJ
• XBox up on downloads: Variety
• HD-DVD AACS probably not cracked: Chris Lanier
• Hands on with the Venice Project: GigaOm
• Transfer DirecTV TiVo Lifetime service to Series3 (for $200): Weaknees

As with the recent hacker community replacement for Mac TiVoToGo vaporware, an inspired customer has stepped forward with a solution before the vendor could/would. Andy, over at the Sling Community Forum, has documented how he got the Slingplayer working on Linux. Like other Windows ports, he uses WINE to make it happen… but with a couple of secret ingredients: Windows Media Player 9 and various “Slingplayer Dependencies” which he kindly zipped up for us. Thanks, Andy!