I read on Engadget today about Autonet Mobile, and how GM will be rolling it out as an option this year on seven Chevy models — the Equinox, Traverse, Silverado, Tahoe, Suburban, Avalanche and Express.  This is the first time I’ve heard of it. I checked the Autonet Mobile online, and it promises you Wi-Fi in the car. You have to pay to get the wireless router installed in your vehicle, and pay a monthly fee (starting at $29), but it’s Wi-Fi. 

Wondering how they were providing Internet on the go, I looked into it more, and now I’m less impressed. It’s just a service using 3G and 2.5G cellular service.  You don’t use a Verizon or AT&T — Autonet Mobile is your Internet service provider. Cellular service?  Besides basic Internet web surfing or chatting, you definitely would be inhibited by the 3G or 2.5G bandwidth. 

Over the 3G network, download speeds average from 400kps-800kps. Upload ranges from 128kps-300kps.  When not on 3G the average download is 120kps-200kps and 50kps-100kps for upload.

Are they kidding? Don’t try to watch a movie!.  Also, I hope the data throughput isn’t be shared by multiple passengers in the car. 

A happy announcement — as of Monday afternoon, we had our cable tv and hi-speed internet back.  Cause for celebration? Yes.  Could it have been fixed sooner?  You betcha.  Let me explain.

Last Thursday, a Comcast technician was supposedly dispatched to our house to check the lines outside to find out what happened to our service, assuming something happened to the connections outside.  Lo and behold that night, we still have no tv or internet.  All the Comcast Live Chat rep can tell me from the details in the service record is that the technician noted that our lines were damaged.  Okay, but did they do anything to fix it?  No info.

So we waited for our service appointment until Monday. I got to the office super early, so that I could leave at 2pm to get home for the appointment.  Just before 3pm, I arrive home to find the Comcast van in our parking spot, and the technician snoozing in the van. I wake him up, and he tells me that he fixed the problem already.  Turns out, the cables outside our house were damaged, so he fixed them.

Uh……….

I told him that we had someone out here last Thursday who reported that.  Why wasn’t it fixed then?  Get this: this technician tells me that he doesn’t know, and “maybe he was a moron.”  We go inside, and verify that our service has been installed.  Can you believe that we could have been fine last Thursday, and I wouldn’t have had to jump through hoops on Monday for a job I didn’t have to be home for?

Unbelievable.

I downloaded and installed Media Mall’s PlayOn Digital Media Server software for my PC.  It’s a neat little media server that runs on your PC, and allows you to stream internet video from your PC to your PS3, Xbox 360, and other devices that support DLNA.  You can stream video from YouTube, Hulu, CBS, Netflix, CNN, ESPN, and they added Amazon’s VOD service last week.

It was extremely easy to set up.  Downloaded and installed on my PC, inputted the IDs and passwords for some accounts like Netflix, and the PS3 picked up my PC right away.  I haven’t tried everything out, but the quality is standard definition, which for the moment is completely fine by me.  I’m curious how it looks on HDTV, but I suppose if you have a decent TV, it’s going to upscale for you. As long as your PC fits the minimum specs, and you use ethernet or 802.11g or higher, you should be set.

PlayOn Media Server on PS3

I think Hulu is especially groovy.  I thought it was good before when it was just SNL reruns and Family Guy.  Now you can even watch old time 80’s shows like Airwolf and The Facts of Life.  I just watched the pilot episode of Airworlf for fun while blogging! The PlayOn software costs you a one-time $39.99 if you choose to keep it after the 14-day trial, but it’s a done deal for me. Who wouldn’t want to curl up on the couch and watch Alf again?

Before I forget…. thanks, Anil!