Back to business for AEBL

Opportunity and motivation has allowed us to re-focus on the AEBL toolkit.

For those who are not familiar with AEBL, it began and remains a mobile media toolkit.  It began as a framework of software running on a raspberry pi, but is also intended to integrate with other platforms and depending on the hardware, can be utilized in many different environments.

A key intention and ideology was far beyond a digital sign and media player.  The goal is to be able to provide alternative methods of sharing content, learning, collaborating, and even conducting business.

It is with these extensions that we are once again actively building out the product line, usability, and extensibility of AEBL.

Stay tuned as we get moving again and we will once again be posting relevant and hopefully interesting information and opinions, as well as updates on the AEBL project.

Startups, meritocracy, and tribes

Well, isn't that a curious mix of subjects.  What do these things have to do with AEBL?

As many may already know, AEBL is a technology toolkit or framework which allows people to access and share information.

The act of sharing information is, simply stated, a form of communication.  That communication can serve any number of functions, whether it be for commerce, education, or collaborative innovation.  It is the latter, that this post is ultimately referring to.

Most tools that we get and use, are built with a specific, obvious function.  A hammer, a word processor, or a car.  What they don't easily represent, is an idea.  Or more specifically, innovation.  AEBL is more of an idea or innovation tool, and so is difficult to express, as it relies on the imagination of the potential user, rather than the developers telling the user how to use it or what it does.

So in this post, I will provide another idea of what AEBL was built for, and how it can empower a user, as well as how AEBL represents and supports community building.

Liberty, Anarchy, and AEBL = freedom

This may be one of the most dangerous posts I have ever made, in my life.  In some ways, I have nothing to loose.  In other ways, I could loose more than I could have imagined I'd be willing to risk.

Do I care that I might be set with a label, perhaps even shunned?  Sure.  Yet to live in today's world, to function, do business, and otherwise interact with others, every step we take is wrought with societal land mines.

So to set out right from the top, the label of apologist, the reality, at least for most people, is that the path to their future does appear to require complying to social norms.  So like most others, I walk that fine line of what I believe and what I think is expected of me, to survive.  And sometimes (well, to really succeed), stepping off that line, really is OK.

AEBL update for beginning of 2015

It has been a while since we've posted an update.

As with the previous post, there continues to be a lot going on, so we'll keep this post limited to the new AEBL Virtual Machine and AEBL blades.

The AEBL Virtual Machine is a stand alone AEBL appliance that runs on a host computer, in order to take advantage of certain AEBL features, without having to dedicate another hardware device.

A blade is a plug in module which adds to the functionality of an AEBL appliance or Virtual Machine, allowing it to perform many additional features that enhance the mobile media experience, and even may delve away from media in some cases.

Sept. 2014 end AEBL update

Well, a lot has been going on in the AEBL world.

It's hard to even remember what has been happening, let alone where to begin.

There have been a significant number of enhancement tests for AEBL, so let's start with mentioning that we've moved our primary project page and we have now made direct access available to the AEBL image for those who would like to try it out or actually use it in a real world application.

AEBL: the Internet of Things and Emergency Broadcast Service

Funny how, sometimes it is easy to have a thought, yet not so easy to share that same thought.

I think about how the world can be a big, scary place.  At its core, life is about survival of the species, by way of survival of collective individuals.  I think that's where hoarding, secrets, and intellectual property stems from.

But it is by stepping up and out of our comfort zones, which allows for truly valuable, disruptive innovation.

As a very good friend and mentor verily (yes, I used the word verily) impressed upon me, dream big, plan long term, and state your intentions for all to know.  This is how powerful and lasting transformations happen.

With that, I'm here to talk about the Internet of Things, Emergency Broadcast Service(s), and how these relate to AEBL and its future, among other new happenings at the fort.

AEBL ready to go! Get yours, today!

AEBL is now officially released!

First, the disclaimer:  The AEBL device and software is considered beta for legal reasons and therefore carries no implicit nor implied guarantees, whatsoever, regardless of legal jurisdiction, anywhere and everywhere on earth, or otherwise within the universe, with or without a support contract.

OK, here's the thing...  We are now completely satisfied and confident that the AEBL appliance works, as intended, for this first, official public release.  With the most recent updates, and almost 1 year of bench and field testing, the system is very stable, as intended.

If you don't want to read the rest of this article, and just want one, scroll to the bottom of this article to find out how to acquire the device.

As described in the original post on this blog, AEBL is a multi media device for proper copyright personal media consumption and presentation.  (We are not responsible for the content you use with the device.)  For as little as CAD$100 or less (or more; prices vary depending on geographical location), it is probably one of the most capable, least expensive media devices in its category.

The device is fully network aware and autonomous.  It self configures upon first boot (this requires a functioning internet connection) and once completed, begins initial playback and presents itself to a network that it is connected to.  Once the device has performed it's first setup and content added to it, it is completely autonomous.  Configuration can be done over a network, so long as an appropriate computer or technology device (with a current or capable OS) is connected to it, even without a network router or switch!

AEBL is a "technology platform".  As such, it has many current uses and will provide even more functionality and use, as it is further developed. or is discovered by users.

Currently, as intended, AEBL works very well as an audio and video media playback device, with or without an internet connection.  What this means is, with audio and/or video content placed on the device (let's repeat: we do not condone use of media of which a user does not have proper copyright), and a proper audio and/or video connection (ie. standard 3.5mm stereo audio jack and/or video component/RCA or HDMI cable), whether in a car, home or lake or RV A/V system, even at the office or in a Kiosk or temporary installation, the device plays back the content from the system.

Current, known uses for the device might be:  listening to your music in your car, watching movies or listening to music on your home A/V system, watching movies in your vehicle (complying with local laws) with a proper a/v connection, as an audio or video kiosk, and as a digital sign system and even as a personal media player, with a portable (proper) power source, and headphones or portable speakers.  We have connected the device to a personal FM transmitter and listened to playback from the device on remote, detached radio systems.  The device can also be used as a digital picture frame.  Anywhere you can imagine using a digital A/V system.

The device uses < 5V < 1200mA and therefore can be powered by any USB equivalent, compliant and capable power source, including the USB connection on a TV set, a portable, USB battery pack, or even, potentially, an appropriate rated solar power source.

How is AEBL different than the media playback devices you already have?  Well, at the very core, the device plays back on legacy A/V, with the use of RCA cables.  Second, while the file format is specific, any content that is file format compliant (mp3 / mp4) can be played back by the system.  Also, the device is made specifically to be hands free.  It serves a very specific purpose, to play back content.  As such, if it has content and is powered on and connected to an audio or video receiver, it WILL work, with no further interaction.  And finally, we are continuing to work on developing further capabilities to the device, some (such as wifi capable) are already available and others enhancements are close to being released.  As we update the capabilities, the device will be updated accordingly, so long as it is connected to a functional internet connection, from time to time.  The device also has channel capabilities, which means that if you are subscribed to a channel and connect AEBL to a functional internet connection, you will receive your audio or video channel content, as it is updated.

Examples of commercial channels are the wssn.ca and the IHDN.ca network:



So that's it.  While we talk about future development, everything we've discussed in this article speaks to capabilities already available and working on the AEBL system.

If you would like to find out how to get with...  [ahem] acquire your own AEBL device, please contact us by email @ aeblmobile@gmail.com or on our twitter account @aeblm2 .