| Netflix is getting into the content biz, confirms 'House of Cards' will launch in late 2012 Posted: 18 Mar 2011 11:08 AM PDT  The rumors are true, instead of simply offering old content from others, Netflix is jumping back into the content business by licensing David Fincher's upcoming drama House of Cards for Watch Instantly streaming in the US and Canada before it airs anywhere else, or has even been produced. In a blog post, Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos justifies signing up for the series sight unseen by pointing out the popularity of the earlier BBC miniseries on which it is is based among Netflix members and the collective skills of both the director and lead actor Kevin Spacey. However, if you're waiting around for fresh content to pop up on Watch Instantly don't hold your breath, the 26 episode episode run produced by (interestingly, Netflix will neither produce nor own the show) Media Rights Capital isn't due to arrive until late 2012. |
| Samsung Epic 4G, Galaxy Tab and Transform software updates coming March 21st: Froyo and / or Sprint ID in tow Posted: 18 Mar 2011 10:47 AM PDT This one isn't quite completely official just yet, but a helpful tipster has passed along the screenshot above which quite clearly suggests that some software updates are coming to a trio of Sprint's Samsung devices on March 21st. That includes a new and hopefully improved over-the-air upgrade to Android 2.2.1 for the Epic 4G, as well as an Android 2.2 update for the Transform, both of which also include a number of other additions like Flash 10.1 on the Epic and Swype on the Transform. Also not left out of the fun is Sprint's version of the Galaxy Tab, which is getting the Sprint ID update we saw first hand at CES back in January -- it's headed to the Epic and Transform as well. |
| Mosaid gets into WiFi patent game, sues 17 companies including Dell, Canon, Asus, and RIM Posted: 18 Mar 2011 10:19 AM PDT  Whether or not you agree with their tactics, lots of companies are finding it quite lucrative business to spend more time in the courts than in the research labs. CSIRO got some tasty settlements back in 2009, while just a few months ago Wi-LAN received " a significant amount" in a settlement from Intel. Now it's Mosaid's turn, a Kanata, Ontario-based company that bills itself as "one of the world's leading intellectual property (IP) companies, focused on the licensing and development of semiconductor and communications technologies." Indeed it just licensed some of those properties to LG on the 15th, but the very next day it filed suit against a 17 defendants for infringing on six of the company's patents, relating to network discovery, multiplexing, and other wireless techniques. Among those companies is RIM; which has its Torch, Style, Curve, Pearl, Bold, Storm handsets called out; and Asus, which has a long line of motherboards, routers, and other products said to be in jeopardy. As ever it's hard to draw the line between the patent trolls and the legitimately infringed, but that the lawsuit was filed in litigation-friendly Marshall, Texas doesn't leave us with a particularly good feeling. Show full PR text MOSAID Files Wireless Patent Infringement Litigation
OTTAWA, Ontario – March 17, 2011 - MOSAID Technologies Inc. (TSX:MSD) today announced that it has initiated wireless patent infringement litigation against the following companies: AsusTek Computer Inc.; Atheros Communications, Inc.; Canon U.S.A., Inc.; CSR plc; Dell, Inc.; Digi International Inc.; Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.; Intel Corporation; Lexmark International, Inc.; Marvell Semiconductor, Inc.; Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.; Ralink Technology Corporation; Realtek Semiconductor; Research in Motion Corporation; Wasp Barcode Technologies, Ltd.; Wistron Corporation; and Venture Research, Inc. The suit was filed on March 16, 2011 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division.
MOSAID believes that the companies have infringed and continue to infringe MOSAID's patents by making and selling products that comply with or implement the IEEE 802.11 family of communications standards, known as Wi-Fi. The standards-essential patents in suit are MOSAID's U.S. Patent Nos. 5,131,006; 5,151,920; 5,422,887; 5,706,428; 6,563,786 B1; and 6,992,972.
"Since 2008, we have licensed our portfolio of wireless patents and applications to 15 companies that have recognized the value of this intellectual property," said John Lindgren, President and CEO, MOSAID. "We believe that all companies offering products that implement the Wi-Fi standard require a license to our wireless patents."
About MOSAID
MOSAID Technologies Inc. is one of the world's leading intellectual property companies. MOSAID develops semiconductor memory technology and licenses patented intellectual property in the areas of semiconductors and telecommunications systems. MOSAID counts many of the world's largest technology companies among its licensees. Founded in 1975, MOSAID is based in Ottawa, Ontario. For more information, visit www.mosaid.com and the InvestorChannel.mosaid.com.
Forward Looking Information
This document and certain other public documents incorporated by reference in this document, contain forward-looking statements to the extent they relate to MOSAID or its management, including those identified by the expressions "anticipate," "believe," "foresee," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "could," "may," "plan," "will," "would" and similar expressions. Similarly, statements in this document that describe MOSAID's business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals also are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but rather reflect MOSAID's current expectations regarding future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Assumptions made in preparing forward-looking statements and financial guidance include, but are not limited to, the following: MOSAID's continued expansion of its patent portfolio and of its opportunities for future patent licensing revenue as a result of MOSAID's acquisition of patents from third parties and from development of new inventions; DRAM manufacturers continuing to infringe MOSAID's patents; the timing and amount of MOSAID's litigation expenses; MOSAID's ability to sign new patent licensees; current assumptions as to the identification of products that are unlicensed to MOSAID's wireless patents; and the timing and amount of MOSAID's Research & Development expenses.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results include, but are not limited to, the following: MOSAID's ability to negotiate settlements with licensees; legal rulings and/or regulatory investigations, audits or complaints having an adverse impact on the validity, enforceability, royalty rates, potential royalty rates, and strength or breadth of coverage of MOSAID's essential and/or nonessential patents (including, but not limited to, adverse results from litigation or proceedings in patent offices and government regulatory agencies in various countries around the world); judicial, legislative or regulatory changes that impair the ability of patent holders to earn licensing revenues; worldwide economic conditions and demand for technology products; economic, social, and political conditions both globally and in the countries in which MOSAID or patent licensees operate, including conflict, war and, other security risks, health conditions, possible disruptions in transportation networks and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; non-payment or delays in payment by or insolvency of licensees or other debtors; variability in patent licensees' sales of licensed products; failure to maintain and enforce MOSAID's existing patent portfolio, or failure to obtain valuable patents as a result of R&D activities, or failure to acquire valuable patents from third parties; MOSAID's ability to recruit and retain skilled personnel; change in MOSAID's financial position; consolidation of MOSAID's licensees; natural events, such as severe weather and earthquakes in the locations in which MOSAID or patent licensees operate; and changes in the tax rate applicable to MOSAID as the result of changes in the tax law in the jurisdictions in which profits are determined to be earned and taxed, the outcome of tax audits and the ability to realize deferred tax assets.
Except as may be required by applicable law or stock exchange regulation, we undertake no obligation to update publicly or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties affecting MOSAID's business and other factors that could cause MOSAID's financial results to fluctuate are contained in MOSAID's Annual Information Form, under the section entitled "Risk Factors," and in MOSAID's other public filings available online at www.sedar.com. The complete list of companies sued: - AsusTek Computer Inc.
- Atheros Communications, Inc.
- Canon U.S.A., Inc.
- CSR plc
- Dell, Inc.
- Digi International Inc.
- Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
- Intel Corporation
- Lexmark International, Inc.
- Marvell Semiconductor, Inc.
- Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
- Ralink Technology Corporation
- Realtek Semiconductor
- Research in Motion Corporation
- Wasp Barcode Technologies, Ltd.
- Wistron Corporation
- Venture Research, Inc.
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| Super Mario reimagined as a first-person game, conquers the castle of our hearts (video) Posted: 18 Mar 2011 09:47 AM PDT You've seen Super Mario evolve from a modest 2D sprite into a 3D world-exploring superhero mechanic, but have you ever seen life through his eyes? Here's your opportunity, as a fanmade animation treats us to a first-person view of the intrepid Italian's adventures through the familiar World 1-1. There are kill streaks, achievements like "headbanger" and "pole dancer," and some extremely realistic sound effects to set the mood. The priceless video follows after the break.
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| Internet Explorer versions 1 through 9 compared, signs of progress found (video) Posted: 18 Mar 2011 09:24 AM PDT Most sane folks will have greeted the arrival of Internet Explorer 9 with a curious click on a download button or a simple update of the browser they were already using, but that's not enough for everyone. One chap with a taste for the eccentrically geeky decided to take this opportunity to go through a retrospective of every version of IE, going all the way back to Windows 95's first iteration, and to run the Acid compatibility tests to see how they stand up to modern standards. IE1, the ancient, CSS-deprived beast that it is, choked immediately and failed to even display its homepage without an error, but things improved steadily from there until the triumph of iteration 9. See all that glorious progress happening in the space of just a few minutes in the video after the break.
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| The Engadget Show with HP's Jon Rubinstein, next Friday March 25th! Posted: 18 Mar 2011 09:01 AM PDT Attention humans, the Engadget Show is back next Friday, March 25th at 7:00pm with HP's Jon Rubinstein at The Times Center in New York City, and you can win a free trip for two to the taping! Josh will be sitting down the former Palm CEO (current HP Senior VP) to get the inside scoop on everything from the TouchPad, new Pre 3, Veer, the state of WebOS, and much more! Trust us when we say that you won't want to miss it. What's more, our very own Joanna Stern will be demoing the Samsung 9 Series laptop, we'll have the Nintendo 3DS on stage for a live demo, and special guests Nilay Patel and Paul Miller will be joining the roundtable! We'll also have the usual slew of insane giveaways and rocking chiptunes music, as well as some more surprises! Remember, giveaways happen at the live show only, so make the trek and join us at The Times Center in person. We have a new ticketing policy, so if you're coming to the live show, be sure to read about it below. If you're geographically incapable of joining us in New York City, just tune into the stream right here on Engadget and/or read below to find out how to win and free trip to NYC for the taping! The Engadget Show is sponsored by Sprint, and will take place at the Times Center, part of The New York Times Building in the heart of New York City at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues (see map after the break). Tickets are -- as always -- free to anyone who would like to attend, but seating is limited, and tickets will be first come, first served... so get there early! Here's the updated info on our new ticketing policy that you need to know: - There is no admission fee -- tickets are completely free
- The event is all ages
- Ticketing will begin at the Times Center at 2:00PM on Friday, March 25th, doors will open for seating at 6:15PM, and the show begins at 7:00PM
- We now have assigned seating, so the first people to get their tickets -- and the Sprint text-to-win winners (see below) -- will get priority seating. This also means that once you get a ticket, your seat is guaranteed -- you won't have to get back in line to get a good seat.
- Ticketing will continue until all tickets are given away
- You cannot collect tickets for friends or family -- anyone who would like to come must be present to get a ticket
- Seating capacity in the Times Center is about 340, and once we're full, we're full
- The venue is located at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues in New York City (map after the break)
- The show length is around an hour
If you're a member of the media who wishes to attend, please contact us at: engadgetshowmedia [at] engadget [dot] com, and we'll try to accommodate you. All other non-media questions can be sent to: engadgetshow [at] engadget [dot] com. Sprint is also offering 50 guaranteed tickets to The Engadget Show taping to the first 50 entrants who text "ENGADGET" to 467467 or enter online! Standard text messaging rates apply. Click for the Official Rules and see how to enter online. If you live outside of the tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT), you can enter online for a chance to win a trip for two to New York City to attend The Engadget Show. Standard text messaging rates apply. Click here to enter. Subscribe to the Show: [ iTunes] Subscribe to the Show directly in iTunes (M4V). [ Zune] Subscribe to the Show directly in the Zune Marketplace (M4V). [ RSS M4V] Add the Engadget Show feed (M4V) to your RSS aggregator and have it delivered automatically. |
| Fujifilm FinePix X100 reviewed: a stunning shooter through and through Posted: 18 Mar 2011 08:40 AM PDT All we really knew about Fujifilm's FinePix X100 was that its looks (and pricetag) could kill, but Photography Blog has discovered that the gorgeous magnesium machine takes fantastic photographs too. You won't actually be able to see any of them at this very moment -- as it seems the website's images are down -- but the publication liberally praised the sharpness and lack of noise afforded by that F2 Fujinon lens, calling the X100 "right up there with the best APS-C sensor cameras on the market" in terms of image quality, and with "the best build quality of any camera that we've ever tested," too. Strong words, to be sure, but the camera's not without its quirks, including an obvious one -- that 23mm lens is fixed to the camera's front. Without a zoom, you'll need to get up close and personal with your subjects to get that perfect shot, and yet it also lacks a mechanical focus ring (it's a focus-by-wire affair here), which can make it difficult to quickly get your bokeh on. The publication remarks that both autofocus and manual focus are fairly slow, there's no manual option at all when recording videos, and focusing macro shots requires switching to a separate mode that switches off the the optical viewfinder. Still, if you weren't sold at first sight, you probably are now. Kiss your tax refund goodbye, folks -- it's been spoken for. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] |
| Vimpelcom moves forward with $6 billion Wind Mobile merger, intends to hurdle regulatory snags Posted: 18 Mar 2011 08:19 AM PDT  If you thought Verizon Wireless and Alltel's marriage underwent a good bit of scrutiny, you'll soon be swearing that Vimpelcom and Wind Mobile are on some sort of global watch list. The Amsterdam-based Vimpelcom has taken a giant leap towards the completion of a $6 billion merger with Wind Telecom, the latter of which has around 117 million subscribers spread across Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Pakistan, North Korea and Canada. If and when the two link hands, the combined effort will be home to a staggering 173 million customers, creating the fifth largest mobile operator by subscriber count. Wind Mobile's head honcho seems more than enthused about the news, and he's hoping that the tie-up will allow prices to sink for just about everyone involved. Claiming feats such as "more access to international cooperation for roaming and long distance services" and the ability to utilize "more leverage and increased scale" to drive down prices, Anthony Lacavera isn't showing any public signs of worry when it comes to regulatory hurdles. In months past, the CRTC took issue with Globalive Wireless -- operator of Wind Mobile -- starting up in Canada, primarily due to the company's largest lender (Orascom) residing outside of the Great White North. As of now, things seem to be sailing right along, but you can bet this marriage won't be formally recognized before a borderline-obnoxious amount of investigating goes down behind the scenes. [Thanks, Kelvin] |
| AT&T tells customers using unauthorized tethering methods to pay up or stop Posted: 18 Mar 2011 07:52 AM PDT  Been using an app like MyWi to enable tethering on your jailbroken iPhone? Then there's a good chance you've already received a message like the one above from AT&T, or perhaps an email like the one after the break. By all accounts, the carrier is now cracking down on all unauthorized tethering, and it's asking folks engaged in such behavior to either pay up for a proper tethering plan or simply stop tethering altogether -- if it doesn't hear anything back for you after sending the message, AT&T says it will automatically enroll you in a DataPro 4GB tethering plan (at a rate of $45 a month). We should note that all the reports we've seen so far are from iPhone users, although that certainly doesn't mean Android users will simply be allowed to slip by unnoticed. Exactly how AT&T is identifying users isn't clear, however, and we could well just be seeing the beginning of a cat and mouse game as folks try to discover workarounds to go undetected. More on this one as we get it.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Dear XXXXXXXX,
We've noticed your service plan may need updating.
Many AT&T customers use their smartphones as a broadband connection for other devices, like laptops, netbooks or other smartphones– a practice commonly known as tethering. Tethering can be an efficient way for our customers to enjoy the benefits of AT&T's mobile broadband network and use more than one device to stay in touch with important people and information. To take advantage of this feature, we require that in addition to a data plan, you also have a tethering plan.
Our records show that you use this capability, but are not subscribed to our tethering plan.
If you would like to continue tethering, please log into
your account online at www.wireless.att.com, or call us
at 1-888-860-6789 Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. CST
or Saturday, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. CST, by March 27, 2011
to sign up for DataPro 4GB for Smartphone Tethering.
Here are details on the plan:
DataPro 4GB for Smartphone Tethering
• $45 per month
(this gives you 4GB in total, combining both your smartphone data plan for $25 and the tethering feature, $20)
• $10 per each additional GB thereafter, added automatically as needed
• Mobile Hotspot capabilities are included for compatible Smartphones
If we don't hear from you, we'll plan to automatically enroll you into DataPro 4GB after March 27, 2011. The new plan – whether you sign up on your own or we automatically enroll you – will replace your current smartphone data plan, including if you are on an unlimited data plan.
If you discontinue tethering, no changes to your current plan will be required.
It's easy to track your usage throughout the month so there are no bill surprises. For example, we send you free text messages when you reach 65, 90, and 100 percent of your plan's threshold. If you would like to monitor your account more closely, go to www.att.com/dataplans to learn about other ways to track your data usage.
As a reminder, our smartphone data plans also include unlimited usage of Wi-Fi at no additional charge. AT&T smartphone customers can use Wi-Fi at home or on-the-go at any one of our more than 23,000 U.S. hotspots already included in your data plan.
Thank you for bringing your account up to date. We appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve your mobile broadband needs.
Sincerely,
AT&T |
| Steampunk USB cufflinks are as awesome as they are pricey Posted: 18 Mar 2011 07:27 AM PDT You wouldn't think something classifiable as "wearable storage" would look so darn dapper, but here we are, staring at just about the finest cufflinks we ever did see. Not only are these handmade shirt cuffs beautiful in the most steampunk of ways, they're also pretty useful as each features an 8GB flash storage chip with the utterly ubiquitous USB connector attached. Basically, they're what James Bond would wear if James Bond wore really awesome cufflinks. The general idea behind them might not exactly be original anymore, but we can't really fault the execution here. What we could probably find fault with is our lack of $225 of disposable coin, the price one will have to pay to sport this unique pair of hand-carved, walnut-enclosed memory sticks. [Thanks, Amelia] |
| Flash 10.2 hits Android today, Adobe hopes for viewable 720p playback in a matter of weeks Posted: 18 Mar 2011 07:00 AM PDT Today, Adobe Flash 10.2 will hit the Android Market for devices running Froyo, Gingerbread and Honeycomb, and by now you're probably familiar with what it brings -- increased performance for dual-core smartphones running Android 2.2 and Android 2.3, and the promise of seriously sped-up Flash content and better battery life for Android 3.0 tablets (not to mention Flash, period). Well, we've already spent a full day with the latest build of Flash 10.2 for Android and quizzed the company thoroughly about the release, and there's actually a surprise to be had today, and more coming soon. First off, you don't absolutely need a dual-core phone to take advantage of Flash 10.2 -- Adobe VP Danny Winokur told us, and we confirmed in testing, that there are slight performance improvements on earlier devices too. With our trusty Droid 2's 1Ghz OMAP3 chip, we saw a slight but noticeable boost in framerate when playing a YouTube trailer at 480p, which admittedly only took took that particular video from "unwatchable" to merely "fairly jerky." With the Tegra 2-toting Motorola Xoom, however, 480p videos ran perfectly smooth, even as the tablet had trouble rendering 720p content as anything but a series of images. However, Adobe says even that will change soon, as this beta release doesn't take advantage of full hardware acceleration -- it's actually turned off right now. Though the Tegra 2 is natively decoding video, Adobe told us that hardware rendering and compositing will be added in a subsequent release, and when they are it "will bring 720p playback to a really smooth, enjoyable level." The other work-in-progress is Flash integration into Google's Honeycomb browser, which presently has trouble detecting finger taps when Flash isn't played full screen, but which will -- Adobe hopes -- play exactly the same inside and outside the browser when work on Flash 10.2 is complete. Sounds promising, no? Then why not download it yourself and give it a go? |
| NASA's MESSENGER begins orbit around Mercury, will start beaming back science early next month Posted: 18 Mar 2011 06:41 AM PDT Mercury, the innermost planet of our humble little solar system, is getting itself an orbital friend. The MESSENGER space probe (known as MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging to his nearest and dearest) is concluding a six-year sojourn through the dark void of space with an elliptical orbit around the tiny and otherwise inhospitable planet. Systems are about to get turned on and fully checked next week, before the data-gathering phase kicks off in earnest on April 4th. Science, isn't it beautiful? |
| Motorola Xoom, LG Optimus Pad, Acer Iconia A100, and ASUS Eee Pad get Euro retailer pricing Posted: 18 Mar 2011 06:19 AM PDT The Carphone Warehouse, known under the brand name of Phone House across Europe, has revealed its future pricing for a quartet of Android Honeycomb tablets in the latest version of its device catalog. The 7-inch Acer Iconia A100 scoops the prize for being most affordable with a €349 sticker, while the 10-inch Xoom's €699 price is confirmed and the 8.9-inch Optimus Pad gets its lowest pricing yet, at a still unaffordable €849. The Eee Pad on display here isn't explicitly named, but we suspect it to be the 10.1-inch Transformer, packing a dual-core Tegra 2 and running version 3.0 of Android -- just like all the others in this group. Oddly enough, these are all detailed in the March version of the document, but unless we're sorely mistaken, none of these tablets has yet reached the stage of general availability in Europe. Well, at least it lets us know how much each one will cost when they do eventually hit retail. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] |
| RSA hacked, data exposed that could 'reduce the effectiveness' of SecurID tokens Posted: 18 Mar 2011 05:49 AM PDT If you've ever wondered whether two-factor authentication systems actually boost security, things that spit out pseudorandom numbers you have to enter in addition to a password, the answer is yes, yes they do. But, their effectiveness is of course dependent on the security of the systems that actually generate those funny numbers, and as of this morning those are looking a little less reliable. RSA, the security division of EMC and producer of the SecurID systems used by countless corporations (and the Department of Defense), has been hacked. Yesterday it sent out messages to its clients and posted an open letter stating that it's been the victim of an "advanced" attack that "resulted in certain information being extracted from RSA's systems" -- information "specifically related to RSA's SecurID two-factor authentication products." Yeah, yikes. The company assures that the system hasn't been totally compromised, but the information retrieved "could potentially be used to reduce the effectiveness of a current two-factor authentication implementation as part of a broader attack." RSA is recommending its customers beef up security in other ways, including a suggestion that RSA's customers "enforce strong password and pin policies." Of course, if security admins wanted to rely on those they wouldn't have made everyone carry around SecurID tokens in the first place. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] |
| Renault introduces new 'get you home' guarantee for electric vehicles, but there's a catch Posted: 18 Mar 2011 05:22 AM PDT  European auto-maker Renault wants EV buyers to know that if you run out of juice, it's got your back. Dubbed the "get you home" guarantee, the company will provide you with a loaner while they recharge your dead locomotive's battery. Of course, the offer only stands if it's due to 'uncontrollable circumstances' like inclement weather or unwieldy traffic, so don't just start trying to push that recommended range tough guy. The new policy should give folks without many charging stations or PlugShare participants nearby some added peace of mind. Sure beats having to wait for Enterprise to come pick you up, huh? |
| HTC talks up its Thunderbolt in four minutes of self-congratulatory oratory Posted: 18 Mar 2011 04:57 AM PDT The first LTE smartphone to ever grace Verizon's networks finally got released from captivity yesterday, and its maker HTC has decided to mark the event with a little promo video. You won't find much here that you don't already know about the 4.3-inch Thunderbolt, but you do get to hear from a bunch of HTC's bright lights, including Sense UI designer Drew Bamford, on the motivations behind the company's designs. And hey, there's no harm in seeing that marquee device in the flesh again, is there? |
| Dell Streak 7 gets certified in WiFi-only form, shows up on Amazon for pre-order Posted: 18 Mar 2011 04:30 AM PDT At about $200 on-contract, Dell's Streak 7 is one of the cheaper ways to get yourself into an Android tablet -- or at least into one made by a manufacturer you've actually heard of before. But, that "on-contract" bit means of course the 3G-equipped handheld will be considerably more expensive in the long-run -- or $450 up-front if you skip the contract. Here's one that isn't. Early this AM we got word that a WiFi only version of the tablet had been certified and, now, here it is up on Amazon for pre-order. No release date is available but the price is: $379.99. That's about $70 less than the 3G model and $20 less than the 3G-free Galaxy Tab is expected to retail for. Is that cheap enough to make up for its flaws? That, dear reader, is a question you must answer for yourself. |
| AMD's quad-core Llano APUs pegged for Q3 2011 release, Computex unveiling Posted: 18 Mar 2011 04:06 AM PDT X-bit labs has a (pretty massive) scoop of AMD info to share with us this week, as it has put together the above chart detailing what it expects the company's APU roadmap will look like for the remainder of the year. Published a couple of days ago, this data has now been partially corroborated by the snoops over at DigiTimes, who confirm a couple of the model names and agree that AMD is planning an initial Q3 rollout of five Llano chips, to be followed by even more processors coming in Q4 of 2011. Llano represents AMD's play for the performance crown, coming as it does with dual- or quad-core processing units, DirectX 11-capable Radeon HD 6000-series graphics, and a dual-channel DDR3 memory controller, all bundled up inside the same warm and toasty package. More E-series APUs for power-conscious users are also said to be on the cards, and AMD itself should be making these plans official at Computex in Taipei come early June. It's a bit of a wait, but we've got a feeling it'll be worth it.
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| Bell's Motorola Atrix also has HSUPA disabled, Canadians frown upon 400kbps uploads Posted: 18 Mar 2011 03:34 AM PDT If you happen to reside just north of the American border, you might have heard that Canadian carrier Bell is now offering the Motorola Atrix from $169.95 on a three year commitment, all the way up to $599.95 sans contract. While this groovy smartphone is a welcomed addition for local Android fanatics, the early adopters have learned that -- much like its AT&T counterpart -- it lacks HSUPA. This is confirmed by xda-developers members who see a mere 400kpbs upload speed on their maple syrup-flavored Atrix, which is bad news for YouTube celebrities and the likes on Bell Mobility. Alas, we've yet to hear from the carrier regarding this issue, but let's just hope that the Atrix will be set free before Bell's headquarters gets taken over by furious green robots. [Thanks, Steve and @Shift3r] |
| Ericsson delivers HD voice on CDMA, crystal clear calling coming to a network near you Posted: 18 Mar 2011 02:53 AM PDT Smartphones continue to improve in the "smart" areas: better screens, faster processors, more memory, etc., but there's not been a lot of innovation in the phone aspect of those devices. HD voice technology can change that, but since its introduction in 2009, hi-fi calling was only available on GSM networks... until now. Ericsson has just made the first HD voice call via CDMA -- made possible by a new Enhanced Variable Rate Codec Narrowband-Wideband (EVRC-NW for the awkward acronym-loving crowd). The codec delivers sound in the 50Hz - 7000Hz range, which makes traditional calls limited to the 300Hz - 3400Hz spectrum sound like they're coming from a drive-thru attendant at your local Mickey D's. So far, the tech's limited to the lab, but here's hoping Ericsson lets it roam free to deliver the dulcet tones of our friends and family sooner rather than later. [Thanks, Fdegir] Show full PR text Ericsson makes Industry's First HD voice call on CDMA
Mar 17, 2011
· HD voice technology successfully demonstrated on CDMA technology
· HD voice significantly increases voice quality, intelligibility and decreases listening fatigue in mobile networks
· Enhances the CDMA operator's ability to deliver differentiated voice services and improves the subscriber experience
Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) has successfully completed a CDMA wideband High Definition (HD) voice call using the Enhanced Variable Rate Codec Narrowband-Wideband (EVRC-NW) codec, demonstrating a technical first for the CDMA industry. CDMA HD voice delivers speech in a wider spectral range of 50Hz to 7000Hz, which increases voice quality, intelligibility and decreases listening fatigue, even in environments with high background noise.
Ericsson leads the industry in introducing new technologies with superior voice quality. Ericsson consumer research shows that voice quality provides a key differentiator between operator networks by improving subscriber retention and increasing mobile usage.
"We have demonstrated the first high-definition CDMA voice call in the world over an Ericsson network utilizing the new EVRC-NW 3GPP2 standard codec and ensuring interoperability with existing functionality while easing the rollout of future wideband services." says Surya Bommakanti, Vice President, Product Area Core, BU CDMA Mobile Systems, Ericsson. "This is the starting point of a voice quality revolution that will significantly enhance CDMA networks as we know them today."
The Ericsson CDMA development team in collaboration with Qualcomm Incorporated has reached this important milestone by successfully completing HD voice calls in a lab environment on a CDMA voice network.
Ericsson is continuously enhancing its CDMA product portfolio to bring superior voice capabilities to market for the benefit of CDMA subscribers and operators. |
| T-Mobile G-Slate and G2X dual-core smartphone coming on April 20th? Posted: 18 Mar 2011 02:12 AM PDT LG, you big tease! T-Mobile must be feeling a tinge of regret for hooking up with the Korean hardware manufacturer lately, as TmoNews reports both the G-Slate tablet and a new G2X smartphone (believed to be the US moniker for the Optimus 2X) won't be coming Stateside for at least another month. Neither will be exactly late, mind you, since both feature dual-core Tegra 2 chips and the G-Slate runs Google's freshest Honeycomb software, however a launch date of April 20th does put LG a step behind its direct competitors. Motorola has already rolled out its own Xoom and Atrix alternatives, while Samsung is making noise about its new Galaxy devices, which might well beat LG's wares to the market. Rumor is we'll get an official date out of T-Mobile at CTIA next week, so keep your eyes peeled for that one. |
| Kinect meets a Pufferfish display, produces wonderfully creepy all-seeing eye (video) Posted: 18 Mar 2011 01:17 AM PDT As Kinect hacks go, this one's not going to bowl you over with its technical complexity, but the effect of what it does is quite dramatic. One of Microsoft's sensor-rich, camera-laden Xbox accessories has been repurposed to communicate with a Pufferfish spherical projection display -- via the magic of WPF and openni -- with its motion tracking algorithms serving to control the image on the giant ball. Naturally, the first thing the tweakers behind this mod thought up was a Tolkien-inspired eye that follows people around the room. Sadly, the single Kinect box isn't enough to provide 360-degree coverage, but it's probably just a matter of time until they splice an array of them together and creep us out completely. Video after the break. Update: You asked for the eye of Sauron and now you've got it. Second video added after the break.
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| Evoluce announces 46-inch display with built-in 3D sensors Posted: 18 Mar 2011 12:38 AM PDT We've already seen Evoluce toy around with Kinect hacks and multitouch displays, and it's now inevitably managed to combine the two. The company has just announced its new I-Voluce display, which fuses a standard 46-inch LCD with some integrated "3D depth sensing technology" that's apparently not simply a repurposed Kinect -- exact details on it are light, but it will apparently work from a distance of up to 13 feet, and it relies on Windows 7 for an OS. That's obviously not designed for home use, but Evoluce does see plenty of potential for the displays in public spaces like museums, as well as in office and education environments. For those that prefer a more hands-on approach, Evoluce also has an updated version of its Surface-style multitouch table, the Evoluce Two, which also packs 3D depth sensing technology and can accommodate up to six users simultaneously. Of course, neither exactly come cheap -- look for prices to start at €3,995, or about $5,600. Show full PR text Evoluce Launches New Generation of Gesture Control Displays with Integrated 3D-sensors
The leading provider of advanced natural user software and screens, Evoluce, introduces today a new generation of large format gesture control displays based on integrated 3D-sensing technologies.
The I-VOLUCE offers gesture control on a brilliant Full HD LCD 46" screen up to a distance of 4m. The integrated 3D depth-sensing technology in combination with the intelligent gesture control software WIN&I unleashes exciting possibilities for a multitude of applications.
Windows 7 and thousands of applications can be controlled by gestures in the air. The 3D-sensing software WIN&I 1.0 detects hand movements of users in front of the display.
The Evoluce TWO 46" delivers true multitouch and gesture control on a Full HD horizontal LCD. MIM 3.0 multitouch software allows finger input detection up to 6 users simultaneously.
The slim display-design enables large interactive installations in many areas like office, retail, digital signage, exhibitions, gaming, museums, medical applications and education. With a depth of 18.5 cm the unit is easily integrated into horizontal spaces or may be used as a stand-alone table.
The I-VOLUCE and Evoluce TWO are now available. Net prices starting at EURO 3,995.00 and EURO 4,995.00.
"Direct and intuitive interfaces will change the way we interact with the PC and consumer electronics in everyday life." says Wolfgang Herfurtner, CEO of Evoluce AG. "Users will enjoy the great design and the amazing possibilities of fascinating interaction!" |
| Sprint announces Overdrive Pro 3G / 4G mobile hotspot router, available on March 20th Posted: 17 Mar 2011 11:03 PM PDT Road warriors riding the Sprint WiMAX truck will be pleased to know that there's a new mobile hotspot device in the house. Dubbed the Overdrive Pro 3G / 4G, users can now simultaneously connect up to eight devices -- as opposed to just five previously -- to the mobile web via this little 802.11n router from Sierra Wireless. Better yet, Sprint has halved the price for this new model to $49.99 after a $50 rebate with a two year $50 service agreement, yet you still get the usual goodies like microSD expansion and built-in GPS support to boot. You can pick one up at Sprint stores starting on March 20th, but of course, the previous Overdrive is probably sufficient for most humble uses, anyway. [Thanks, r0fl] Show full PR text Overdrive™ Pro 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless, Exclusively from Sprint, Delivers 4G Speeds to Millions of Wi-Fi Enabled Devices
Available March 20, Sprint's 19th announced 4G-capable device is the next generation of the popular Overdrive mobile hotspot, with an increased number of shared users from five to eight, and a 45 percent larger LCD screen
March 17, 2011 04:17 PM Eastern Daylight Time
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. and VANCOUVER, Canada--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Sprint (NYSE:S) and Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ:SWIR) (TSX:SW) today announced upcoming availability of Overdrive™ Pro 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless. As the second generation of the popular Overdrive device, Overdrive Pro allows users to connect up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices simultaneously – including laptops, tablets, eReaders, gaming devices, cameras and even smartphones from other carriers – through a single connection (via Wi-Fi) to a 4G network offering download speeds up to 10 times faster than today's 3G service.
Overdrive Pro creates a connection between the Sprint 4G network and virtually all of the hundreds of millions of Wi-Fi-enabled electronics devices owned by or available to customers today. Beginning on March 20, customers will be able to purchase Overdrive Pro 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot exclusively from Sprint for $49.99 (excluding taxes) after a $50 mail-in-rebate with a two-year service agreement. Customers can purchase the device and sign up for 3G/4G plans at select Sprint retail stores, through business sales, Web (www.sprint.com) and Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1).
"There are endless possibilities for how our customers can take advantage of the easy wireless connection to Sprint 4G through this small device," said Fared Adib, vice president-Product Development, Sprint. "Teams can travel and share access on-the-go, families can be connected in one household with tablets, game consoles and televisions, and shuttle buses can provide Internet access to their customers while en route to a destination. With Overdrive Pro, customers no longer have to look for mobile hotspots because they always have one with them."
With Overdrive Pro 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot, the benefits to consumers and businesses are endless:
* Stream a favorite TV show or movie from Hulu™ or Netflix® to your Netbook or tablet while simultaneously surfing the Web in another room
* Wirelessly connect an Xbox 360 and game real-time with someone located across the country
* Move pictures wirelessly from a camera to a digital picture frame and surf the Web on a laptop while streaming Pandora®
* Work remotely anywhere in a 4G coverage area (or virtually anywhere with 3G) and easily connect a laptop, smartphone, tablet or wireless phone through a single connection
* Teams that are travelling can share Internet access with each other at hotels, airports and conference centers
* Taxis, limos and shuttle buses can provide Internet access for customer use while en route to their destination
* Healthcare teams can rely on an easy, reliable, power-up-and-go solution to use in Emergency Response Team (ERT) Go Kits, or while treating patients bedside
* Engineering, construction and insurance teams can instantly upload data, pictures of sites, accidents and images remotely
* Reporters first on the scene of a breaking story can share access to upload stories and photos while at the scene, without missing a beat.
Overdrive Pro offers several enhancements over its predecessor, Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot, focused on performance and usability, including a 35 percent improvement in power-up and power-down times. Overdrive Pro's integrated LCD screen, which provides valuable information like signal strength, battery life, and number of devices connected, is 45 percent larger than the previous version for a wider viewing angle, while the device itself is smaller for easier portability. The LCD display has also been made even more informative, with detailed connection and device information available through additional screens that can be accessed by double-pressing the power button.
Overdrive Pro 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless requires activation on a Sprint 3G/4G Mobile Broadband Plan starting as low as $49.99 per month.2 Device can be used on both the Sprint 3G and 4G networks. This flexibility allows customers to enjoy 4G performance in any of the 71 Sprint 4G markets or to use Sprint's reliable, nationwide 3G network.
"Overdrive Pro, combined with the power of Sprint's 4G network, is a valuable tool for both consumers and business users looking for the best way to stay connected on the go," said Dan Schieler, senior vice president and general manager, Mobile Computing for Sierra Wireless. "It's remarkably easy to get up and running, and with support for eight Wi-Fi connections and a range of up to 150 feet, it's equally useful to a remote work team sending reports and presentations back to the office as it is to a varsity team posting highlights from their winning game."
Overdrive Pro 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless offers an easy way to keep all of your Wi-Fi-enabled devices connected, even when you're on the move:
* Connects up to up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices
* Provides all the information you need to connect and monitor your connection through a simple user interface with integrated LCD screen
* Offers up to 150 foot range for Wi-Fi connections, providing flexibility in device placement and freedom of movement for users
* Supports 802.11n for wider compatibility with new Wi-Fi devices
* Shared microSD storage, GPS support and location-based services available to all connected devices
* Integrated security out-of-the-box requires no additional setup and provides peace of mind when working in public areas.
* External antenna ports, to be used with the separately sold docking station, coming soon
As the first national wireless carrier to test, launch and market 4G technology, Sprint made history by launching 4G in Baltimore in September 2008. Sprint currently offers 4G service in 71 markets in 28 states. For more information, visit www.sprint.com/4G. |
| WebM components for IE9 bring further video compatibility to Windows, end to codec conflict? Posted: 17 Mar 2011 09:47 PM PDT We've been reporting on the drama over Google's WebM ever since Microsoft compared the video format to Esperanto earlier this year, but despite a war of words, Google and Microsoft seem to be playing nice as of late. What originally appeared to be a mere WebM plug-in for IE9, has turned out to be a full set of components for the Microsoft Media Foundation (MF) API, which means even more compatibility within Windows. Because the components are installed directly to the operating system, you'll be able to watch WebM videos in other programs that support MF, such as Windows Media Player 12 for Windows 7. We suppose this could be the signal for some sort of a truce over disputed video formats, but, really, what's the fun in that? |
| Porsche gives 911 GT3 R hybrid more power, less weight -- swears it wasn't fat or anything Posted: 17 Mar 2011 08:23 PM PDT There are two ways to make a car go faster, add power or subtract weight, and Porsche has done a little bit of both to its new 911 GT3 R hybrid racer in preparation for this year's Nürburgring 24-hour race. Porsche took last year's version, put it on a 50kg diet, and bumped the output of each of the car's two KERS-powered front-wheel electric motors by 21hp (giving drivers 202 'lectric horses and 480 of the ICE variety for a pavement-melting 682hp total). The boys from Stuttgart hope the Jenny Craig routine will improve performance, fuel economy, and the car's chances of winning the endurance event in June. The hybrid-drive technology -- originally sourced from Williams' F1 cars -- made an appearance in the firm's 918 RSR hybrid and is largely unchanged from the 2010 model. Unfortunately, this is a racing-only situation, what with the KERS flywheel riding shotgun, but we're sure one of the hundreds of other technologically-inclined 911 variants will sate your need for speed. |
| T-Mobile demos new Sidekick opening mechanism, promises mobile hotspot and tethering support Posted: 17 Mar 2011 07:06 PM PDT So what do you think of the first touchscreen Sidekick? A desperate attempt to keep an archaic brand alive with unrelated hardware or a modern retelling of a successful retail story? Either way, T-Mobile's keeping the popular name alive, albeit with an Android 2.2 foundation and Samsung-built guts. The new slider mechanism, which replaces the popular 180-degree swivel that was the hallmark of Sidekick devices, has now been treated to a neat video demo, where it's assured upwards thrust gives us cause to be cautiously optimistic. Phone Scoop has also received confirmation that Android's built-in mobile hotspot and USB tethering functions will be supported on the new device, along with MicroSD memory expansion -- 1GB of storage on board will be supplemented with a 2GB card in the box -- WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS. Video follows after the break. [Thanks, Brandon and Timothy]
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| Visualized: Smart Cover magnets can turn your Apple tablet into a FridgePad Posted: 17 Mar 2011 06:07 PM PDT Has the iPad 2 not proven its versatility to you yet? Well, buy one of those " don't call it a case" Smart Covers that Apple launched with it and you'll be able to turn your new dual-core slate into a bona fide FridgePad. Just add fridge. |
| Paramount Pictures, BitTorrent team up to distribute feature film (video) Posted: 17 Mar 2011 05:26 PM PDT  In case you haven't heard, there are websites out there that will let you download movies and software using a little something called the BitTorrent protocol. And while the majority of cinematic fare available is of a non- DMCA-approved nature, filmmakers and organizations are increasingly turning to torrent sites to get the word out. For instance, in 2009 a filmmaker named Hanna Sköld worked with the folks at The Pirate Bay to distribute her film Nasty Old People. And indeed, there seem to be as many zany ways to get your work out to audiences these days as there are filmmakers. One scheme that recently piqued our interest was concocted by the folks at Distracted Media. The Australian company is crowdsourcing its latest production, The Tunnel (not to be confused with Chunnel: 32 Miles of Danger) by selling individual frames for a buck a pop. Of course, "owning" a frame gives you nothing more than the opportunity to say that you helped an indie filmmaker out, but it's a worthwhile cause. And at 135,000 frames that's a lot of dollars! When the film is done, it will be distributed via BitTorrent for free -- alongside an actual DVD release by Paramount Pictures which, when you think about how reluctant Hollywood has been to embrace the internet, is pretty wild. Check out the (NSFW) trailer after the break, and then hit the links below for more info. Tunnel should make its premiere this May. |
| Creeper, the first computer virus, is 40 years young today Posted: 17 Mar 2011 04:34 PM PDT Forty years ago today is considered by many to be the birthday of the first computer virus. Of course, in the early 1970s they weren't called computer viruses, but that doesn't make Bob Thomas's handiwork any less special. Creeper (named after a character in the old Scooby Doo cartoons) spread from BBN Technologies' DEC PDP-10 through Arpanet, displaying the message: "I'm the creeper, catch me if you can!" and messing with people's printers. One notable difference between this and the majority of viruses was the fact that it it deleted old versions as it replicated itself. Incidentally, that would make 2011 the fortieth anniversary of the first antivirus software: called, appropriately enough, Reaper. |
| GM extends OnStar smartphone control to 14 more vehicles Posted: 17 Mar 2011 03:49 PM PDT Once solely slated for the Chevy Volt, the OnStar MyLink smartphone app has gained considerable ground -- last July, GM expanded the iPhone and Android remote domination over your horn, door locks, and real-time data to every 2011 automobile, and now it's reaching back through time to activate fourteen vehicles from 2010. As you'd expect, that's mostly a smattering of SUVs and crossovers like the Cadillac Escalade, Buick Enclave, GMC Yukon and Chevy Avalanche, though the Impala will also get the goods, and if you live in the lap of low-end luxury, you may be able to listen to Facebook updates on your 2010 Cadillac DTS or Buick Lucerne. Find the full list of compatible vehicles at our source link. |
| 3D fog projection display brings purple bunnies to life, just in time to lay chocolate eggs (video) Posted: 17 Mar 2011 03:03 PM PDT Fog projectors have been around for ages, but projecting a 2D image onto a wavy field of 3D smoke doesn't exactly result in the most immersive experience ever. This system from a team at Osaka University is different, relying on three pico projectors all focused on a single column of steam that, as far as we can tell, is dropped down through a slew of multicolored drinking straws. Each projector has a slightly different perspective of the violet hare in question and, as you move about, the fog acts like a parallax barrier, only showing one angle at a time. With a few more projectors and a whole lot more fog the could be even greater. The bunnies, they would be majestic. |
| New York Times reveals labyrinthine subscription plans, Canadian readers already hitting paywall Posted: 17 Mar 2011 02:11 PM PDT We knew it was coming, and now The New York Times has followed through on its promise to erect a paywall for online content, which means no more free news -- kind of. Starting today in Canada and March 28th in the US, NYTimes.com will ask visitors reading more than 20 articles per month to pay for their info fix. The new plan offers monthly subscriptions of $15 with a smartphone app, $20 with tablet app, or $35 for complete digital access -- subscribers with a physical subscription will be granted a full pass, except on e-readers. Further convoluting the pay structure, entry from sites like Twitter and Facebook won't face the same restrictions, and access via Google is set at five free visits per day. Other news sources, including The Wall Street Journal, have already started charging for online content in the face of declining ad revenue, but this is certainly one of the most elaborate systems we've seen so far. The subscription plan was unleashed in Canada today, allowing the paper to iron out any kinks before hitting the US, which means you've got just under two weeks to hit NYTimes.com completely free -- after that, prepare to be confused. |
| Toshiba and Hitachi LCD plants damaged, will shut down for a month Posted: 17 Mar 2011 01:39 PM PDT You can't have a 9.0 magnitude earthquake without breaking a few factories, particularly ones that produce fragile liquid crystal screens, and this week Toshiba, Hitachi and Panasonic are each reporting damages that have forced them to close LCD production facilities affected by the tsunami and quake. Panasonic isn't sure when its plant in Chiba prefecture might resume carving up the glass sandwiches, telling Bloomberg that "there has been some damage, though not a fire or a collapse," but both Hitachi and Toshiba will reportedly halt some assembly lines for around a month to deal with damages. It's probably still too soon to talk about panel shortages -- though they seem likely soon -- but we'll let you know how things progress. |
| Motorola Xoom WiFi now available for pre-order Posted: 17 Mar 2011 01:05 PM PDT Motorola didn't say when pre-orders for the WiFi-only Xoom would be available when it finally announced the device yesterday, but some retailers have now stepped in and answered that question. You can currently pre-order the device from Amazon, Staples and Costco, with other participating retailers presumably set to follow shortly. In case you missed the news, the Xoom WiFi will run you $599 for the one and only 32GB version, and it will be available on March 27th. Staples will apparently be shipping them out on March 25th to ensure you get it on launch day (if you pre-order before March 23rd), while Costco says it will only begin shipping on April 1st -- it's throwing in a free gel case to make up for it, though. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] |
| Lynx augmented reality stunt drops scantly clad angels on terrestrial travelers (video) Posted: 17 Mar 2011 12:19 PM PDT It isn't exactly a spring chicken, nor is it particularly new to the advertising game -- Best Buy utilized the stuff back in 2009 to push electronics -- but a new ad campaign from manly body spray purveyor Lynx (Axe in the US) is making augmented reality nearly unavoidable. Created by BBH, a global ad agency, the video below shows travelers at London's Victoria train station staring up at a giant screen to find themselves greeted by a skimpily attired fallen angel. The stunt, launched on March 6, drew a lot of attention from passersby, and in more than one instance elicited some pretty, well, bold behavior. Up until now, augmented reality has mostly been a play thing of the geek set -- even previous advertisements enlisting such tactics required a decent amount of work from the audience -- but if these fallen angels are any sign, we could all be traversing a more unreal world very soon. [Thanks, Ben] |
| FastMac U-Socket review Posted: 17 Mar 2011 11:40 AM PDT FastMac's U-Socket may have veered perilously closer to vaporware territory after what seemed like an endless series of delays, but it finally started shipping out back in January to those patient enough to hang onto their pre-order, and we recently got our hands on one to see if it was really worth the wait. The short of it is that it does indeed work as promised once you get it installed, although that process may not be quite as painless as you're expecting. Read on for our full review. Contrary to outward appearances, the complete unit is actually quite a bit bigger than a standard power outlet, and it requires at least a 16-cubic-inch electrical box to accommodate it. That meant we had to swap out our smaller electrical box for a larger one, which may or may not be an easy thing for you to do (it wasn't for us). Once in place, however, the U-Socket looks unassuming and gets the job done. The two USB 3.0-compliant ports have 12W of total charging power and are rated at 2.4A, which means it will charge a single power-hungry device like an iPad at full speed just fine, but slow things down if you plug two in at the same time (two lower power devices will charge just fine at the same time). You can also obviously have things plugged into the two power outlets while your USB devices are charging. Those concerned about potential extra charges on their power bills also don't have anything to worry about, as the U-Socket is designed to cut off power to the USB ports when nothing is plugged into them -- something FastMac says will actually save you up to $25 a year in reduced energy costs, though that's admittedly tough to verify. Of course, there are a few inherent downsides to a USB port-equipped power outlet, the most obvious being a lack of flexibility. Unless you're actually installing a new outlet, you'll likely be using it to replace one of your current outlets, which might not be in the most convenient location for charging your various devices. At $22.95, it's also one of the most expensive power outlets you're likely to find, and makes installing a bunch of them throughout your house quite a pricey proposition. One other more minor drawback is that you obviously can't just go to the hardware store and buy a replacement faceplate if you happen to break yours. FastMac will sell you a replacement for $2.99, though, and it's even promising various colors and styles including wood and metal. A separate, more stylish "Decora" model is also now available to order for $25.95. Unfortunately, while the U-Socket is now actually shipping, it's still not quite as readily available as we'd like. FastMac says it is "still catching up to the demand," and it's now listing a four to six week delay for orders on its website. The company cites its rigorous testing procedure as a partial reason for the delays, and says that it's trying to ramp up production while still maintaining strict quality control. Despite those few drawbacks, however, the U-Socket is unquestionably a unique device, and an idea whose time has certainly come. We just hope that the both the size of the price tag and the device itself shrink a bit as it becomes more common. |
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