Insert Coin: Luminode dimmer switch runs on a mesh network, learns to light up our lives (video)

In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you’d like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with “Insert Coin” as the subject line.

Insert Coin Luminode dimmer switch runs on mesh network, learns to light up our lives video

Just a simple light switch, you say? Look closer. Think Automatic’s Luminode dimmer switch hides both a processor and a mesh network connection that lets every switch in the home coordinate with each other. A multi-tap system makes it possible to link multiple lights together without extra wiring or complex programming, but that’s just the start: it’s possible to create “scenes” of predefined lighting levels and, with a USB adapter, hook up to home automation systems (including Think Automatic’s own) that can learn usage habits, track energy consumption or simply let us control the array with our smartphones. The platform uses raw XML to communicate and already talks to GE, Insteon and Stargate hardware — all without requiring a huge grid of buttons or displays.

Development of the Luminode is very nearly done after six-plus years of work in Seattle. The hardware is fundamentally ready and just needs the Kickstarter project to finish its FCC and UL testing along with the obligatory mass production. The hope is to start delivering switches in January as well as integrate more closely with non-lighting elements in the future. Pledge levels are dictated almost exclusively by volume: $130 is what it takes to get a basic two-switch kit, $260 will add the USB adapter along with an extra switch, and successive levels scale all the way up to a 50-switch, $3,000 kit for large homes. Think Automatic has a relatively low $35,000 threshold to meet its Kickstarter funding, but it only has 13 days left to go. If you like the idea of advanced lighting that doesn’t require an advanced appreciation of the user manual to understand, now’s a good time to click the source link and make it happen.

Continue reading Insert Coin: Luminode dimmer switch runs on a mesh network, learns to light up our lives (video)

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Insert Coin: Luminode dimmer switch runs on a mesh network, learns to light up our lives (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Aug 2012 21:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FCC Fridays: August 3, 2012

FCC Fridays August 3, 2012

We here at Engadget tend to spend a lot of way too much time poring over the latest FCC filings, be it on the net or directly on the ol’ Federal Communications Commission’s site. Since we couldn’t possibly (want to) cover all the stuff that goes down there individually, we’ve gathered up an exhaustive listing of every phone and / or tablet getting the stamp of approval over the last week. Enjoy!

Continue reading FCC Fridays: August 3, 2012

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FCC Fridays: August 3, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 20:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pantech P9090 Magnus swings by FCC with AT&T LTE

Pantech P9090 Magnus swings by FCC with AT&T LTE

Despite cranking out plenty of high-end devices in Asia, Pantech has built itself a reputation in the US as a budget OEM — but continues to improve its products regardless. Having already proven its ability to crank out LTE phones on the cheap with the Burst, it appears ready to follow up with another phone on AT&T’s next-gen network, as evidenced by documents released by the FCC this afternoon. This particular handset, dubbed the Magnus on its WiFi certification paperwork, sports quad-band LTE (700 / 850 / 1700 / 1900), a radio combo that’s starting to be quite the trend for AT&T-bound phones recently — likely done to ensure the GSM carrier’s refarming efforts go as smoothly as possible. The federal docs also reveal the presence of NFC (suggesting this will come with Android 4.x included), and Bluetooth certification tells us we can also expect it to offer the 4.0 standard. The paperwork is fuzzy on more details, but we hope its arrival is just around the corner.

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Pantech P9090 Magnus swings by FCC with AT&T LTE originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 17:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T agrees to acquire NextWave for $600 million, gobbles up WCS and AWS spectrum

AT&T agrees to acquire NextWave, gobbles up more spectrum

AT&T’s making no secret of the fact it wants to snatch up as much spectrum as it possibly can, so news of the company’s proposed acquisition of NextWave Wireless doesn’t result in much of a shock. AT&T has agreed to purchase the company — and all of its WCS (Wireless Communication Service) and AWS spectrum licenses and equity along with it — for $25 million, pending FCC approval. If you count $25 million in contingency costs and the outstanding debt the big blue globe has also picked up, however, the total bill climbs to $600 million.

The deal comes shortly after AT&T partnered with Sirius XM to petition the FCC in the hopes that it would allow WCS (2.3GHz) spectrum to be opened up for LTE use — mobile data is currently restricted by the federal body to prevent any interference with satellite radio. The government hasn’t given the green light for this proposal yet (additionally, the NextWave deal isn’t likely to be approved until later this year), but that’s not stopping AT&T from its preparations just in case — it plans to have WCS LTE ready for deployment in three years if everything works out in the carrier’s favor.

Continue reading AT&T agrees to acquire NextWave for $600 million, gobbles up WCS and AWS spectrum

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AT&T agrees to acquire NextWave for $600 million, gobbles up WCS and AWS spectrum originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 10:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lenovo ThinkPad tablet with Windows 8 and Intel Inside stops by the FCC

Lenovo ThinkPad tablet with Windows 8 and Intel Inside stops by the FCC

Bearing a TP00043AWD model number, Lenovo’s Windows 8 ThinkPad tablet has apparently stopped by the FCC for testing, making it the second we’ve seen after ASUS’ Tablet 810 made the rounds. Although there aren’t any glamor shots or specs available, the design shown closely matches the tablet we spent some hands-on time with at Computex in June and a quick zoom in the lower right corner reveals that new Windows logo alongside another one for Intel. When we saw it last the spec list included a 10.1-inch 1366 x 768 display, Intel Clover Trail CPU, 2- and 8MP cameras front and back plus the usual assortment of connectors. Check after the break for a bigger look at the diagram and zoom of the revealing logos, or hit the source link to go through any unsealed documents with a fine toothed comb.

Continue reading Lenovo ThinkPad tablet with Windows 8 and Intel Inside stops by the FCC

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Lenovo ThinkPad tablet with Windows 8 and Intel Inside stops by the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 00:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon no longer allowed to block tethering apps

This week Verizon has found itself under the legal gun for blocking tethering apps on Android and iOS devices, with the FCC fining them on top of it all for $1.25 million USD. This case appears to be forcing Verizon to adhere to Net Neutrality rules on its 700 MHz spectrum, thusly resulting in the company having to rescind its standing policy of blocking wireless tethering without an additional fee to its smart devices. The spectrum under investigation in this case is used to operate Verizon’s 4G LTE network.

This investigation states that it was unlawful for Verizon to request Google to remove applications in the Google Play store (up until recently the Android Market) that would otherwise allow users to access free tethering. Verizon has a $20 “tethering fee” per month for otherwise free internet access (with normal data fees applying) for non-Verizon devices. This means that you’d still be paying for the data you’re using, but Verizon wouldn’t get its extra $20 USD a month for your right to do so.

The FCC spoke on how rules for this spectrum, C Block of 700 MHz spectrum, say that offering service includes that Verizon “shall note deny, limit, or restrict the ability of their customers to use devices and applications of their choice on the licensee’s C Block network.” The first questioning Verizon had on this situation took place back when Verizon still offered unlimited data plans.

While the settlement Verizon faces today does not rule on 3G data, 4G LTE users will be able to use tethering apps without question forevermore. Unlimited data plan customers have not been included in the ruling at the moment it seems. The ruling does, however, say that Verizon must make a $1.25 million dollar payment to the Treasury and that they must notify (and they already have, apparently) Google that they no longer object to the tethering apps offered throughout the Google Play app store.

[via FCC]


Verizon no longer allowed to block tethering apps is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


FCC fines Verizon $1.25M for blocking tethering apps


The FCC(Federal Communications Commission) has just released a statement saying that Verizon will pay $1.25 million as a settlement after they revealed that Verizon had been unlawfully blocking tethering apps. If you’re unfamiliar with tethering apps, they allow a user to create a wireless network using their smartphone and its connection to their cellular network. Some apps are free ,while others may carry a price, but most carriers have been attempting to get rid of these apps so that customers will pay a premium for the carrier’s own tethering plan.
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By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Samsung SCH-i200 Jasper arrives at the FCC, receives Verizon LTE support, HTC Droid Incredible 4G visits the FCC,

FCC Tells Verizon It Can’t Force You To Pay $20 For Tethering Anymore [Verizon]

The FCC and Verizon put an ongoing dispute to rest today when the carrier agreed to allow is customers to use tethering apps with its data plans. You’re damn right! Until now, Verizon worked with Google to block tethering apps from being downloaded to Android devices from Google Play. The company instead demanded that customers who wanted to tether pay a $20 per month fee—including users who had a capped data plans. Turns out this isn’t just asinine, it violates an FCC regulation. You see, Verizon owns a special segment of spectrum at 700 MHz. The purchase came with a rule: Verizon had “to allow customers to freely use the devices and applications of their choosing.” But Verizon turned around and broke the rule anyway. To help set things right, Verizon also accepted a $1.25 million fine. Booya Verizon. Booya. [FCC via GigaOm via Ars Technica] More »

Verizon to stop blocking tethering apps, settles with FCC for $1.25 million

Verizon to stop blocking tethering apps, settles with FCC for $1.25

In May of last year, our free ride came to an end. US carriers started blocking third party tethering apps in the Android Market. Not long after, the built in feature was turned off on most phones. Our fortune may be reversing, however. The FCC has ruled that Verizon violated the rules governing the C Block of LTE spectrum by preventing consumers from using any application of their choice. The end result: Big Red will have to open up its airwaves and allow customers to circumvent its $20 a month tethering plan using apps from the Play store — so long as you’re on a “usage-based pricing plan.” Though it’s not explicitly stated, we assume that means those of you lucky enough to be grandfathered in to the unlimited data plans are left out. In addition to unblocking apps such as PdaNet and Barnacle, Verizon must pay a $1.25 million settlement to put an end to the investigation. For a few more details of the plan put in place to ensure compliance with the ruling, check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading Verizon to stop blocking tethering apps, settles with FCC for $1.25 million

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Verizon to stop blocking tethering apps, settles with FCC for $1.25 million originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 15:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Xperia advance hits the FCC

A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet, and a smartphone by any other name would just be…er, as smart? I am not quite sure, but if you do follow what Sony Mobile offers closely ever since they broke off from the Sony Ericsson partnership, here we are with their latest candidate to go through the hallowed halls of the FCC – the Sony Xperia advance. It is also known as the ST27a if model numbers are your thing, while those living in North American would have realized that it has already undergone the FCC’s rigorous testing procedures under the guise of the Sony Xperia go.

The Sony Xperia go did hit several markets already, but Sony Mobile has largely remained silent as to when the Xperia advance will arrive Stateside as well as in Canada. One thing’s for sure – to see it pass through the FCC would probably be a pretty good indicator as to the actual release date. Those who are thinking or mulling over their decision as to whether to purchase a new handset from Sony, you might want to consider the Sony Xperia advance.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Sony Xperia Neo L arrives at the FCC, Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Visits The FCC,