Hasta La Gadget!

For a purportedly doomed manufacturer of magnetic storage, Seagate sure is spinning some interesting ideas these days — last year, we got modular, upgradable cables, and now the company’s testing external hard drives that don’t need pesky wires to function. According to filings, the Seagate GoFlex Satellite not only plays the network-attached-storage card with built-in 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, it’s also got a 3.7V battery inside its case… making the product’s name somewhat apt, don’t you think? According to a leaked description, Seagate’s also planning a companion iOS app called “GoFlex Media” to let your iDevices stream content directly from the device. Mind you, none of that means you won’t be able to dock with your Satellite the old-fashioned way — FCC docs also mention a USB 3.0 cable that delivers data and power simultaneously.

FCC reveals Seagate GoFlex Satellite, a WiFi-capable battery-powered external hard drive originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 May 2011 13:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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At last, here’s a sign of Lenovo’s Android tablet making its way out of the fertile land of China. While there’s no direct mention in this FCC application, the speakers at the bottom suggest that this slate — dubbed IdeaPad Tablet K1 and made by Compal — is a variant of the China-only LePad as opposed to the shinier U1 Hybrid (which is more likely to be the Skylight slate, anyway). Also bear in mind that Lenovo’s already confirmed a global June launch for the LePad, so the timing of this document is just right. Of course, the only question left is will we be seeing some Honeycomb love here instead of Froyo? And should we not bother with this hefty 10-incher and just wait for Lenovo’s slimmer offering a few months later? We’ll see what the price tag says.

Lenovo’s LePad going global with IdeaPad Tablet K1 moniker? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 23:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Last month, a device (model number HSTNH-F30CN) that we surmised to be a Pre 3 hit the FCC rocking AT&T band GSM radios. Now, its brother HSTNH-F30CV is seeking federal approval to ride CDMA (850 / 1900 MHz), UMTS (900 / 2100 MHz), and GSM (850 / 900 / 1800 / 2100 MHz) wireless waves. With that “V” tagged on the end of the model moniker and its Verizon-friendly innards, it sure looks like the Pre 3 will be the next handset to wear a checkmark on its front. Additionally, those world wide bands tell us that a webOS device will soon be joining the Androids and Blackberrys in Big Red’s rather limited lineup of global handsets. Skeptical about our smartphone Spidey Sense? Hit the source link and see for yourself, Sherlock.

Another Pre 3 at the FCC, coming to Verizon for you and me? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 May 2011 23:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Science! It’s the heady stuff that keeps the looneys in check and our feet planted on the earth. Back it up with a powerful CTIA lobbying effort and science can even move San Francisco policy. The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that The City’s law requiring cellphone retailers to label each device’s SAR level as tested by the FCC has been put on indefinite hold, with a watered-down version likely taking its place. Surely, this is yet another example of big business and government colluding to the detriment of man? Not really, not this time. As Joel Moskowitz, director at the IC Berkeley Center for Family and Community Health, and even the FCC will tell you, the SAR value is a poor measurement of radiation intake for consumers:

“The specific absorption rate isn’t a very useful measure because it’s the peak reading on a variety of tests conducted on cell phones to measure their radiation, but doesn’t indicate the average amount of radiation a user would generally be exposed to. You could buy a lower SAR phone, but on average it could produce more radiation than a higher SAR phone.”

Although changes to the law have not yet been formally introduced, they’ll likely result in retailers handing out “tip sheets” to customers that explain how to minimize radiation exposure from their new handsets. Ok, you win this time, reason, but we can still debate image artifacting on certain long-form birth certificates… to the choppa!

San Francisco backs away from cellphone radiation law, will distribute common sense instead originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 May 2011 06:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ever wondered what it feels like to tear down a $58,000 professional video camera? Well, unless you’re as minted as Peter Jackson or James Cameron, chances are you’ll never get close to a RED EPIC-M (without breaking the law) to find out. That said, you may get some insight from this fresh batch of disassembly shots, courtesy of the FCC. Sure, there aren’t any jewels or unicorns hidden inside this powerful 5K imager, but you’ll get plenty of close-up shots of its delicate circuitry — it’s actually pretty impressive how much the hand-machined chassis holds. Head over to Wireless Goodness to admire the full glory, but make sure you don’t dribble over your keyboard.

FCC gives the RED EPIC-M its teardown treatment, so you don’t have to originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 May 2011 12:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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