Google Launches Free Wireless Broadband

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600673
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Ashish Kulkarni writes "Google has just announced the launch of Google TiSP (BETA)(TM), a free in-home wireless broadband service that delivers online connectivity via users' plumbing systems. All the dark fibre that google has supposedly laid out is now fully operational! Check out the description of how it works."

Sanitary...

[adamziegler]

For years, data carriers have confronted the "last hundred yards" problem for delivering data from local networks into individual homes.

Hmm... suppose this mean I am still going to get shitty service.

Re:

[sgant]

Now it's LITERALLY a series of "tubes"!

Re:

[adamziegler]

Wow... I got "first post" with my very first registered account post, on the first of April. Think that is a Slashdot first?

April 1st

[bcmm]

Could you mod me up please?

Re:

[kdemetter]

i would if i had mod points .

Re:

[Mateo_LeFou]

At 3:Insightful that's the most overrated comment ever to appear on /.

This could cause a great many plumbing bills...

[Cheerio Boy]

As hackers attempt to hack Google TiSP into their toilets and install Linux on the public "water treatment servers". ;-)

Re:This could cause a great many plumbing bills...

[linguizic]

Once you've got Linux on it it won't be to bad. I don't remember that last time I flushed iptables.

Re:This could cause a great many plumbing bills...

[Cheerio Boy]

Once you've got Linux on it it won't be to bad. I don't remember that last time I flushed iptables.

This could bring a whole new meaning to "buffer overflow exploit". :-)

Re:

[linguizic]

Let's just pray that it's 64 bit buffer.

Re:

[Cheerio Boy]

Let's just pray that it's 64 bit buffer.

As long as it doesn't allow the dreaded "Goatse Xploit" we'll be fine.

Re:

[bhtooefr]

Nah, the Tubgirl exploit would be worse. *shudder*

Re:

[kaboing]

I usually just dump the core.

Re:

[vraddict]

And I fear the day we have to call in the "plumber" to repair the system.. Geek a$$ crack.

Series of tubes

[Akaihiryuu]

See, the internet really *is* a series of tubes, after all! I know this is an April Fools joke, but that just had to be said. Coincidentally enough, the word I have to type to log in to reply to this message was "blockage".

Re:

[Aprile Pazzo]

It is not a joke.

Re:

[Sancho]

Sure it isn't. And Gmail wasn't also "launched" on April 1st.

Re:

[Aprile Pazzo]

Sure it isn't. And Gmail wasn't also "launched" on April 1st.

But MTV was.

Re:

[skoaldipper]

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Al Gore
Al Gore who?
Al gore your blockage from my tubes for a dollar.

Re:

[sublimewb]

...yet another biometric method of user verification.. "logging" in

Re:

[DjRenigade]

That ish is Funny!!!!

We need Digg's ability to mark stories as lame

[ip_freely_2000]

It'll save time.

Re:

[supremebob]

What we REALLY need is the ability to post a story with words "Apple iPhone" in the title! That will be guaranteed a bazillion Slashdottit points no matter how bad the story is :)

Re:

[paulmac84]

Will This do?

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/01/apple_goog le_mobile/ [theregister.co.uk]

Fool me once...

[B5_geek]

One of these days I will realize that going to _any_ website on April 1st is a complete waste of time.
I hope it happens soon.

Re:

[kamapuaa]

In the meantime I hope you and other keep posting that going to website on April 1st is a waste of time. Really I can't enough of it.

I can imagine the busy exciting life you must normally have on Sundays, where you are incredibly productive and can only afford the 10 seconds it takes to read Slashdot articles when you're assured that it will not, in fact, be a waste of time.

Re:

[Akaihiryuu]

It's not a complete waste of time. It gives me something to do while I'm stuck at work today. It's fun speculating the night before what kinds of jokes will be posted on April Fools. I was mainly curious about what Blizzard would put up...except theirs were kind of lame this year. Tinfoil hat that makes you immune to mind control, an announcement for a "new" game called WHOA that shows doctored Warcraft 3 boxes, unedited Warcraft 3 screenshots, and a description that is Warcraft 3 exactly...they could'v

Groan

[ericrost]

Google is trying too hard today.

Previous TISP Beta Tester

[DrLudicrous]

I've been a beta tester for Google TISP for the last 3 months. Without any reservations, it simply beats the shit out the competition. And it's free! Only caveat- you might have difficulty taking a dump and surfing the net at the same time, unless you have more than one bathroom (I've got 1.5, so no problems).

Re:

[Cheerio Boy]

I've been a beta tester for Google TISP for the last 3 months. Without any reservations, it simply beats the shit out the competition. And it's free! Only caveat- you might have difficulty taking a dump and surfing the net at the same time, unless you have more than one bathroom (I've got 1.5, so no problems).

And I"m sure you've hired support people from the Nation Insurance [youtube.com] call center too... ;-)

Re:

[The-Ixian]

Did you have any problems with the nanobots?

I, unfortunately, did not read the fine print and happened to be dropping the kids off at the pool when my service was hooked up.

On the bright side, my hemroids are a thing of the past.

Enough already!

[mustafap]

stop all this nonsense, or I will be forced to turn the tap off

And the optimist said... (obligatory)

[SpzToid]

Ponies!!! There's just gotta bed pink ponies underneath all that dark fiber.

Re:

[6Yankee]

If you want to bed pink ponies, that's fine - just don't tell the rest of us.

I love it!

[saskboy]

I could sit on the Internet all day now!

And even better, my rural home has a toilet, so it ought to get broadband now! I just hope it's septic tank compatible.

Re:

[turbobrat]

It didn't work for me so I looked in the FAQ and it doesn't work in septic tanks. I got excited and already flushed my fiber optic so now both my cable and the toilet is broken.

Roto-rooter is going to be busy today.

Re:

[Twomby]

Apparently, it is not yet ready for septic tanks : http://www.google.com/tisp/faq.html [google.com]

Can I use TiSP if my home uses a septic system?
Sorry, but no -- TiSP requires the use of a central sewer system to connect your home to the Internet.

Guess you're gonna have to stick with dial-up.

Re:

[saskboy]

"Guess you're gonna have to stick with dial-up."

SHIT!

Pinkdot.org

[lolocaust]

We need to have the pink slashdot theme back, even as an option. OMG ponies!!

Re:

[celardore]

You could always install the Slashdotter extension for FireFox. You could even go wild and set your theme to OMGPonies every single day!

Wireless?

[Guanix]

How does this count as wireless? You have to stick a wire down your toilet...

Re:

[Crudely_Indecent]

You see, fibre isn't wire. Wire is used to conduct electrical currents while fibre transmits light. So, technically, it is wireless....although the presence of fibre makes it appear to be wired because of the similarities in appearance of both.

Ok, it's a stretch......I haven't had my coffee yet.

Re:

[Dragonslicer]

The self-install kit includes a router/wireless access point. The "wireless" part doesn't refer to the connection from your home out, just from your computers to the router. From the FAQ:

Does my net access have to be wireless?

Not necessarily, but our user studies have found that without wireless connectivity, there was considerable "commode congestion" in an average 2.5-person household whose one bathroom typically can provide a comfortable workspace for just one user at a time. We therefore strongly re

PipeRank - Google's New page ranking algorithm

[robotsrule]

Along with the plumbing connection, Google has added a new web page ranking system called PipeRank. Where as Google's original PageRank algorithm worked to boost pages to the top of their search engine results, PipeRank penalizes pages. PipeRank is measured by counting the number of people that flush the toilet while visiting a web site equipped with Google's plumbing based wi-fi system. Using Google Toolbar enabled laptops as they sit perched on the throne, Google has announced that this is their best new weapon in preventing crap on the Internet from affecting their search results.

People will fall for this

[CTYI_Student]

People will fall for this - I mean it. I got my friend to believe this, he was about to "order". He really thought it was true. You should try tricking your friends with google's april fools jokes it is great fun. - Oh no, linux wont run on my toilet!

april fools

[easyEmu]

This is one of the most gross April Fool's jokes ever; like a person is really going to take poops with this wire coming out of their toilet.

Re:

[DaveM753]

Hmmmm...maybe you could subnet through your shower.

No?

Re:

[easyEmu]

:) You may be on to something there!

And one more service

[Movi]

I actually RTFA and noticed that you have to install the Google Toolbar for it to work. This probably means sooner or later i will have to view Google ShitAds for the service to work. Also, it doesnt run on Linux (Linus doesn't accept binary-poop in the kernel) or on a Mac (Macs are too clean shiny and the Google ShitAds just slide off. Those that don't take shitload of work to scrub off)

Blatant rip-off

[netbuzz]

I'm sorry, bit TiSP is a blatant rip-off of DSL technology that I introducted about a decade ago:
http://www.networkworld.com/community/?q=node/1324 0 [networkworld.com]

Damn...

[Brad1138]

I'm on septic

Installing procedure

[hack slash]

I take it this is a bog standard installation procedure?

Effects on Avian Carriers

[slashbob22]

Google TiSP sounds amazing. I am curious though as to the impact on RFC 1149 [ietf.org] - A Standard for the Transmission of IP Datagrams on Avian Carriers.

I realize that these pigeons could travel down the tubes, but this could create severe blockages of their own. The only benefit I can see is that the pigeon would die in a gaseous environment which could signal a pending DoS attack - or depending how far the infrastructure a Distributed DoS (DDoS) attack.

Groggy on a Sunday morning...

[Brad1138]

Just woke up, a bit groggy, and I see free wireless broadband! I am stuck with crappy (no pun intended) satellite [wildblue.com] broadband and was very exited about an alternative. Oh well will keep waiting for Clearwire [clearwire.com].

No Mac/Linux Support

[frankmu]

Those bastards! No mac or linux support as usual.

Oatmeal

[tinrobot]

If you eat oatmeal the day before, you'll have all the dark fiber you'll need.

Does this use TP/IP networking?

[colin_s_guthrie]

I wonder if I can run VoTP applications?

Now I get it -

[schlumff]

That's why they bought YouTube !

BMG Inspired?

[strredwolf]

I heard that the Blue Man Group was the first to examine the built-in network of modern plumbing. It looks like Google was intrested in building apon the idea.

Yes, the system has gone interactive

[ShinmaWa]

Here's the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E9MZli4qeU [youtube.com]

On Google's own YouTube, no less!

do not believe anything you read today

[gelfling]

April 1

Obligatory Remark

[avirrey]

Brings new meaning to the phrase, "You have got to be sh*tting me!"

~A
X's and O's for all of my foes.

Talk about a shitty service....

[yokem_55]

I'd hate to find out what happens when you try to upload too much....

love the faq

[farker haiku]

Why is TiSP in beta?
When things go wrong with TiSP, they go very, very wrong. Let's leave it at that.

Priceless.

Don't forget about GMail Paper

[neuro.slug]

Wireless internet is great and all, but GMail Paper [google.com] promises to revolutionize the way we store email.

Hmmm, trunking?

[ddusza]

Ok, so since my place has two toilets (data interfaces), does this mean I can use a Cisco 72xx or higher series router to double my throughput with trunking? Hmmmm, must start looking on eBay.... Does it reboot the connection when the data interface is flushed?

the only place to do -

[lyberth]

This is the only right place to do a core dump.

It's the little details!

[Chalex]

From the FAQ: "Google TiSP ensures reliable throughput through the power of fiber, which has been proven through extensive research to effectively facilitate consistent data flow with minimal latency."

Brilliant!

Doesn't work with septic tanks?

[ElvisGump]

Why is Google anti-septic?

water modem

[C0vardeAn0nim0]

http://br.geocities.com/francasite/waternet_index . html [geocities.com] (site is in portuguese)

the "water modem" is already an old joke here in the tropics (the website was created in november 2001).

some of the seling points:

- sharing internet connection was possible, as long as every PC had access to a faucet;
- optional "waterwall" to protect your computer
- WaterNet(tm) pressure gauge

and more. it came with 2.000 liters/month (256 kbps), 6.000 liter/month (768 kbps) and 12.000 liters month (1.5 Mbps).

i laughed my ass of th

SWEEET

[treak007]

I've been waiting for Google to do this for forever!

System Requirements?

[EvilSurfinCow]

Dang. No support for WindowsPP. Kind of a shitty deal. Guess I'm out of luck.

The technology behind Google's great results

[mv3r!ck]

The newly introduced Google Tisp Beta must be one that use similar technologies like Google's patented PigeonRank(TM).http://www.google.com/technology/pi geonrank.html [google.com]

Btw: Happy Fool's Day.

Project Teaspoon

[Slipgrid]

Project Teaspoon [blogspot.com]

The only good thing about April fools day

[night_flyer]

this year is it falls on a Sunday... Im off to do some yard work

TiSP Version 2.0 Design Announced

[jrmcdaniel]

Version 2.0 will further extend the wireless networking ability of TiSP Version 1.0 to rural areas. The problem with rural areas is that they are not served by sewer systems but usually by septic systems. Version 2.0 will allow the use of septic drain fields in the ground as high directional antennas for interconnecting nodes to extend the TiSP networking up to 5.34567 miles from another TiSP node and allow for coverage of vast areas currently not covered by any existing wireless or wired networks.

VIdeo

[TwoPerfect]

Lol I made a video about this... :P Google's April Fools 2007 [youtube.com] If you check out Gmail, they also made a prank there.

Don't laugh, this could be doable

[davidwr]

I didn't read the presumably fictitious Google plan, but acoustic bit-transmission through plumbing pipes is very doable.

Ditto data transmission by varying the pressure of the water, but that would be a lot more complicated. Note that fluid-pressure-based control/signaling systems have been used in certain industries for decades.

600673

[DaveM753]

Took me all day, but that's GOOGLE, upside down. Ahhh...I love the new Slashdottit! Ratings System.

Please tell me I'm not like the last person on Earth to notice that. :-\

Pink Floyd Connection?

[PHAEDRU5]

13,000 channels of shit on the TV to choose from?

Wally beat them to it

[More_Cowbell]

Not sure if he got a patent though...

http://pag.csail.mit.edu/~adonovan/dilbert/show.ph p?day=8&month=9&year=2003 [mit.edu]

Re:Fooling yourself

[Ticklemonster]

For just once, I'd like to see the higher brain function kick in and see people run with a gag. Surely there's enough people here at /. that can come up with enough technobabble to really play along with even the most obvious prank and run with it. What a great brain workout it would be to try to come up with enough total hogwash to support some of the gags people come up with on A1.

It takes one brain cell to post that it's a prank, but it takes a host to try and perpetuate the bullshit. And in the spirit of A1, would that not be more fun anyway?

So um yeah, I wonder how they deal with harmonics on long runs of pipe, eh?

Re:

[saboola]

Thanks!

Re:

[Burnin' Bush]

I have just developed a Unix device, using Signetics' "Write Only Memory" chips, which not only collects unwanted bits, but also actually flushes them down the toilet. Simply "pipe" unwanted data to "\dev\toilet" eg: > more foo.txt | toilet. Also, for Mac & PC users, it comes with a more appropriate icon to replace the Trashcan icon - it's the new "Toilet" icon, and with it you can flush those no-longer-needed files down the drain! We are currently in alpha test, and users should beware of one sm

Re:

[nacturation]

I have just developed a Unix device, using Signetics' "Write Only Memory" chips, which not only collects unwanted bits, but also actually flushes them down the toilet. Simply "pipe" unwanted data to "\dev\toilet" eg: > more foo.txt | toilet.

If it's a unix device, why are you running it from a DOS prompt? And what does C:\dev\toilet do anyways? I guess you also have to do manual flow control if you need to use the "more" command. Hopefully verison 2 will run under unix and have auto flow control, eg:

% mv foo.txt /dev/toilet

Re:

[fbjon]

And what about security? Anyone could hijack someone else's sewage pipe to capture the flow traffic. Perhaps you could discourage such practices by sending packets with a particularly evil bit set.

Also, their logo is cool: TiSP [google.com]

Re:

[Ticklemonster]

Yes,{BL}Ticklemonster in the scale. Thanks for the words! (now I have to wonder... this being an A 1 thread and all...)

Ubuntu totally kicks for me. Only two things keeping me in XP, uscripting (which can be done in linux, and I have it all sorted out, I'm just too lazy to take that dive), and archiving DVDs is too touch and go in linux for me.

Re:

[Peyna]

Gmail being announced on April 1st was a coincidence more than anything, and it was much more believeable and not written as an obvious joke like this and other Google April Fool's jokes.

Re:

[Rakishi]

Google free internet already exists, granted only in Mountain View but it is free wireless that covers almost the whole place.

Re:

[kasperd]

Do you remember 2 years ago, April 1st, 2004.

No, I can't say I remember that. I do however remember April 1st 2004 three years ago.

Re:

[aaronoaxaca]

Man so many april fools jokes online today they aren't even funny, just time consuming...bahhh!