Hasta La Gadget!

Unlocked 3G modems aren’t something you see everyday. Sure, Zoom has been hawking the dongles for some time, but they’re primarily of the tri-band variety — Nova Media’s iCON 461 does those one better by going quad-band and throwing in GPS for good measure. The globe-trotting “3G surfstick” supports 7.2Mbps HSPA on the 850, 900,1900, and 2100 bands (that would include AT&T here in the ol’ US of A) and can handle EDGE at 850, 900, 1800, and 1900MHz (hello, T-Mo). In addition to a slot for your GSM SIM there’s also a place to stick a microSD card, in case you need someplace to store that leaked copy of David Comes to Life. The iCON 461 comes in two versions: Mac-compatible with launch2net Premium for €179 (about $248), and Windows-friendly with uCan Connect for €149 (roughly $215).

Nova Media’s iCON 461 USB modem is unlocked for globe-trotting commitmentphobes originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 15:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Kick to Pick iPhone app lets your baby choose a name from among thousands with just one swift in utero kick.

A web of rumor and suggestion has been spun in recent weeks about a new tablet-oriented version of Windows. But when major players like Acer start moanin’ and complainin’ about how they’re going to make hardware to run the new OS, that’s when you know something has to be afoot. According to Bloomberg, Acer CEO J. T. Wang spoke up at Computex to berate Microsoft for being too restrictive in what processors it will permit to carry its new baby, saying it is “really controlling the whole thing, the whole process.” And he wasn’t just speaking for Acer either, because he added that chip suppliers and PC makers “all feel it’s very troublesome.” It begs the question, if Steve Ballmer is borrowing Apple’s approach and becoming a control freak, why doesn’t he just go whole hog and build a Microsoft Tablet from start to finish?

[Thanks, Tiago]

Acer says Microsoft is too ‘controlling’ of Windows tablets, restrictions ‘troublesome’ originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 15:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TDK’s 2.4-inch QVGA organic EL display is see-through. Why would you want that?

Well, the Pentagon is finally fed up with hackers picking on its buddies and foreign intelligence taking shots at its computer systems, and has decided that such cyber attacks can constitute an act of war. Of course, the powers that be won’t be bombing you for simply sending them some spyware, but attempts to sabotage US infrastructure (power grids, public transit, and the like) may be met with heavy artillery. It’s unclear how our government will identify the origin of an attack or decide when it’s serious enough to start shooting, but Uncle Sam is looking to its allies to help create a consensus answer for those questions. The retaliatory revelation is a part of the Pentagon’s new cyber strategy that’ll be made public in June — so saboteurs beware, your next internet incursion might get you an ICBM in your backyard.

Pentagon says cyber attacks are acts of war: send us a worm, get a missile in return? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 14:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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