Orb – Too Good to be True?

Mike Torres, over at his Torres Talking blog gushes about Orb – a new application that enables media streaming from your home PC to any web-based device – a remote PC, a mobile phone, a PDA, etc.

 

I have to admit, it does sound intriguing, and it’s free (what on earth is the business model of Orb?). I suppose one area of concern is the security issue – what are the points of weakness about the mechanisms used? I think I’ll let others kick the tyres for a little longer on this.

 

The other issue would be about using it to stream to mobile phones. Mike claims that it turns his mobile phone into an iPod on steroids. Well, yes, I would have access to a vast vault of media sitting at home – far more than on an iPod slung around my neck. But, ahem, what are the costs of streaming all that to the mobile phone? I speak as someone who refuses to get a monthly subscription, preferring to pay as I go. So far it’s cost me all of 20 euros for 18 months usage. The phone companies clearly aren’t going to get rich through people like me. They need people like Mike.