Hasta La Gadget!

Asus does seem as though they have a new range of tablets being prepared for the masses, where these will be called the MeMO Pad. Well, a couple of MeMO Pads have already picked up the nod of approval from the FCC, which is a sign that these tablets would eventually arrive at all good consumer electronic stores in the US. The larger MeMO Pad of the two will carry the model number K001, where it boasts of a screen which will measure around 10” diagonally, as you can see above. The very same FCC reports also point toward dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, accompanied by a built-in camera.

As for the other MeMO Pad, it will be smaller at 7” in size with the model number K0W, while it does not seem to come with any camera at all. It must be noted that Asus rolled out their first MeMO Pad earlier this year, but both the K001 and K0W did not make the cut – not until now, that is. Pricing and availability details remain to be seen so stay tuned! It would be interesting to know whether either one of these two will be able to make a name for themselves in the highly competitive tablet market.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Asus PadFone 2 Gets Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Update, T-Mobile Poised To Launch ‘GoSmart Mobile’ Prepaid Brand Next Year,

It’s tempting to think of ASUS’ Eee Pad MeMo line as a distant memory, and not entirely without merit — the ME370T was quickly subsumed into the Google family as the Nexus 7, while the ME171 has played second fiddle to the Transformer Pad line. There might be a revival underway soon, if you believe the FCC. The agency has approved two ASUS tablets, the MSQK001 and MSQK0W, with both tentatively rebranded as MeMo Pads. Unfortunately, that’s about all we know; other than the slabs carrying WiFi networking, there’s no clear giveaways in the relevant filings. We consequently can’t tell whether any of them is the rumored ME172V or something truly undiscovered. As long as these aren’t retreads of existing models, they still sustain ASUS’ plans for a low-cost tablet line under its own name.

Filed under: Tablets, ASUS

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Source: FCC (1), (2)

The Federal Aviation Association (FAA) has been reconsidering their ban on the use of electronics during flights for a while now with no real progress, but the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is stepping in to urge the FAA to chill out on their strict no-gadget policy during takeoff and landing.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski write a letter to acting administrator of the FAA, Michael Huerta, calling on the administration to “enable greater use of tablets, e-readers, and other portable devices” during flights. In the letter, Genachowski also said that he would be willing to work with the FAA, airlines, and manufacturers to make his proposal a reality.

Genachowski’s reasoning is something that all passengers can agree with. He says that “mobile devices are increasingly interwoven in our daily lives. They empower people to stay informed and connected with friends and family, and they enable both large and small businesses to be more productive and efficient, helping drive economic growth and boost U.S. competitiveness.” We certainly can’t argue with him on that, but the reason behind the electronics ban during flights is much deeper than what’s on the cover.

While you can still technically use electronics once the aircraft hits cruising altitude, usually you’re required to keep them in airplane mode unless the airline offers WiFi. However, it’s always been a strict rule that all electronics are supposed to be completely turned off during landing and takeoff. Hopefully the letter from Genachowski will help the FAA aim in the right direction.

[via The Hill]

Image via Flickr

FCC tells FAA to relax on strict gadget rules during flights is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The big four wireless carriers, Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile, have reached an agreement to enable text-to-911 service in 2014. The agreement has been shipped off to the FCC, which will discuss the matter on December 12. While the agreement won’t bring the ability to text emergency services to all wireless users by 2014, it will give the service a large boost in that direction.

We reported back in May that Verizon was looking at allowing consumers to text 911, something that pleased both the FCC and consumers. Now the big four, in partnership with the NENA 911 Association and the Association for Public Safety Communications Officials International, are seeking to make this a reality over the next year.

NENA’s President Barbara Jaeger offered this statement. “As the public becomes more mobile and embraces new methods for communicating, 9-1-1 has to be ready to answer non-voice requests for assistance. This historic agreement demonstrates the shared commitment of parties to serve the evolving needs of citizens in the digital age.”

The platform needed to enable text-to-911 will be launched in May 2014, with a bounce-back service for those who try to text emergency services in an unsupported area implemented by June 30th of the 2013. The service will allow the deaf and mute to get emergency help, as well as those in a situation where it is dangerous to speak. However, it is being stressed that placing a voice call is still the ideal way to get emergency help and should be used when possible.

Four big carriers plan to roll out text-to-911 by 2014 is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Back in August, we wrote to you the Federal Aviation Administration’s plan to review its rules regarding the use of electronics devices such as tablets and smartphones during flights. In a move to influence the FAA’s decision for good, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is calling on the FAA to “enable greater use of tablets, e-readers, and other portable devices” during flights. According to The Hill, Genachowski sent a letter to FAA acting administrator Michael Huerta earlier today, promising that the FCC is willing to help the FAA and airlines companies in reviewing their policies.

“This review comes at a time of tremendous innovation, as mobile devices are increasingly interwoven in our daily lives,” writes Genachowski. “They empower people to stay informed and connected with friends and family, and they enable both large and small businesses to be more productive and efficient, helping drive economic growth and boost U.S. competitiveness.” The FAA has declined to comment on the report. The FCC’s intervention will either make or break the FAA’s decision to allow the use of electronic devices during flights.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Rumor: The Nexus 10 Will Have a 2560×1600 Screen, Polycom New Solutions: RealPresence CloudAxis, New User Interface, RealPresence Desktop 2.0, Virtual Edge Executive Desktop,