Virgin America lights up entire fleet with in-flight WiFi

Hold up AirTran — not so fast with those wild claims of in-flight WiFi superiority. If you’ll recall, the aforesaid airline proclaimed that it would soon be the first to have its entire fleet doused with Gogo, but it looks like Virgin America has swept in to claim that title. We should point out just how unfair the challenge is, though: VA has 28 planes as of today, whereas AirTran has 136. At any rate, we’re still thrilled to see airlines duking it out in order to get more WiFi to more fliers, and we fully anticipate that every new aircraft added to Virgin America’s fleet will be lit from day one. Now, if only they’d allow Skype functionality for more than just an Oprah demonstration, we’d really be playing with fire.

[Via Gadling]

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Virgin America lights up entire fleet with in-flight WiFi originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 May 2009 17:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cisco signs on to provide infrastructure, build Linksys WiMAX routers for Clearwire

Clearwire may not be as ubiquitous as you’d like it to be, but it’s taking a huge step forward in hopes of wildly expanding by linking up with Cisco. In essence, the two have joined hands in order to “enhance and expand CLEAR 4G mobile WiMAX services throughout the United States,” with Cisco providing the core infrastructure and Clearwire providing the guidance. Potentially more interesting is the notion that Cisco’s Linksys brand will soon be delivering “new mobile WiMAX devices,” such as routers that will presumably tune to WiFi and WiMAX waves. Specific product details are sorely absent, though Clearwire does reiterate that it’s hoping to have WiMAX service to more than 80 markets across the US by the end of next year.

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Cisco signs on to provide infrastructure, build Linksys WiMAX routers for Clearwire originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 May 2009 08:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Novatel’s MiFi 2200 portable EV-DO router comes to Sprint

What one CDMA carrier can do, another can do better, right? Eh, not quite, but they can stare each other down holding the exact same weapon, just daring each other to make the next move. Just a week after Verizon Wireless launched the MiFi 2200 portable EV-DO router, Sprint has decided to offer up the exact same product for use on its network. The battery-powered box, engineered by Novatel Wireless, enables users to connect up to five WiFi-enabled devices to Sprint’s EV-DO Rev. A network, and it’ll be marketed in stores as the Sprint Mobile Hotspot. According to the carrier, its unit will be the first in the US to support MiFi’s GPS capabilities, allowing users to take advantage of select location and mapping applications. It should be noted, however, that Sprint’s service plans differ quite significantly from those offered up by VZW. The up front cost is the same at $99 after a $50 mail-in rebate (on a two-year agreement), though the only two options for getting it connected are as follows:

  • $59.99 per month mobile broadband only plan (excluding taxes and surcharges)
  • $149.99 per month Simply Everything Plan + Mobile Broadband (phone plus device connectivity — excluding taxes and surcharges)
  • Both plans include up to 5 GB per month and 5 cents per megabyte overage for the MiFi 2200. [Ugh, disgusting.]
  • Available in early June.

[Via phoneArena]

Continue reading Novatel’s MiFi 2200 portable EV-DO router comes to Sprint

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Novatel’s MiFi 2200 portable EV-DO router comes to Sprint originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 May 2009 13:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Proxicast’s Cell-PAK: it’s a portable 3G / WiFi hotspot, but rugged

If you’ve been toying with the idea of buying a bulletproof shell for your CradlePoint portable hotspot, we’re guessing that Proxicast’s Cell-PAK is an entirely better option. Said box, which is described as a rugged, self-powered 3G + WiFi wireless hotspot in a box, was designed to provide “mission-critical wireless communications” in the jungle, on the battlefield or in your backyard. Aside from having its very own battery pack for completely untethered access, the device comes encased in an impact and water-resistant MIL-spec rated chassis, and we’re told that it can accept “any 3G modem from any cellular carrier worldwide.” We’re talking over a dozen hours of wireless access from anywhere that you can retrieve signal, and there’s even an external high-gain antenna to help with that. Now, if only that $1,295 price weren’t so gigantic…

[Via Coolest-Gadgets]

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Proxicast’s Cell-PAK: it’s a portable 3G / WiFi hotspot, but rugged originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 03 May 2009 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Doomsday alert: internet to become an “unreliable toy” in 2012

Okay, so first things first — we all know the world’s on track to end in 2012, so it’s not like this really matters. But if, just if it manages to survive (à la Y2K), you can pretty much bank on a mass reversal of culture as we all push aside our netbooks and return to the playground. According to some “research” slated to be fully published “later this year,” PCs and laptops are apt to “operate at a much reduced speed, rendering the internet an unreliable toy” from 2012 onward. The reason? Massive growth in internet demand, which is undoubtedly on pace to crush existing infrastructure that can’t ever be improved upon by anyone, regardless of their market capitalization or determination to expand. It’s noted that the internet itself will somehow survive, but that users will begin to see “brownouts,” which are described as “a combination of temporary freezing and computers being reduced to a slow speed.” Thank heavens for FinallyFast, right?

Psst… the solution to all of this is just past the break.

[Thanks, Colin]

Continue reading Doomsday alert: internet to become an “unreliable toy” in 2012

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Doomsday alert: internet to become an “unreliable toy” in 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZillionTV’s ZBar and ZRemote crash down in FCC’s database

While a nationwide launch of the ad-based ZillionTV streaming service isn’t expected until Q4 of this year, it’s good to see that things are obviously on track. Just today, both the ZBar and ZRemote (shown after the break) — two crucial hardware components to the system — have splashed down in the FCC, giving those who just can’t shove enough set-top-boxes under their television hope that one more is destined for US shelves. Granted, an FCC appearance doesn’t guarantee an immediate market presence, but obviously the beta testing and collaboration with ISPs has been going well.

Read – ZBar filing
Read – ZRemote filing

Continue reading ZillionTV’s ZBar and ZRemote crash down in FCC’s database

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ZillionTV’s ZBar and ZRemote crash down in FCC’s database originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cablevision loves you, will offer $99 101Mbps uncapped internet service

It’s been a rough week or so for Big Cable, but it looks like the East Coast’s Cablevision’s decided to play things a little differently than Comcast and Time Warner: it’s just announced that uncapped 101Mbps DOCSIS 3.0 service will be rolling out on May 11 across its entire service area. The best part? It’ll cost $99 a month, making it faster and cheaper than any other high-speed package we can think of — 50Mbps service from Comcast and Verizon is around $140. Not bad at all — let’s hope the competition picks up on it.

[Via Electronista]

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Cablevision loves you, will offer $99 101Mbps uncapped internet service originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Time Warner Cable to axe DOCSIS 3.0 trials without tiered billing?

If you’re following the Time Warner Cable capping drama (and we know that you are), then you’ll be interested in a short post published on GigaOm today. From the looks of things, TWC isn’t just backing off of the tiered pricing plans that they’d proposed recently — it also looks like they’re fully prepared to take their ball and go home when it comes to DOCSIS 3.0 trials. Originally the broadband provider had been hatching plans to roll out the ultra-fast internet service in San Antonio and Austin, Texas, Greensboro, N.C., and Rochester, NY — but attitudes seem to have changed now that they might not get the new cash infusion that pricey metered usage would provide. In a flurry of tweets from the company’s cocky VP of PR, Alex Dudley, there seems to be an indication that with the consumption based billing (CBB to us industry types), so potentially goes the DOCSIS 3.0 trials. In his own, understanding words — responding to Stacey Higginbotham’s query about whether or not the company will pull the high-speed without tiers:

@gigastacey it was scheduled as part of cbb trial, but we all know how you feel about that.
Frankly, we’re still not sure if the facts on this story are totally straight, since much of it is based on 140 character tweets, which — believe it or not — aren’t that helpful when you need details. We can however, communicate this to Time Warner Cable: you are fools and bastards if you pull this testing because you can’t make your tiered billing work.

Read – TWC to Customers: You Don’t Want Tiers, You Don’t Get Super-fast Broadband
Read – Alex Dudley’s tweet

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Time Warner Cable to axe DOCSIS 3.0 trials without tiered billing? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Screw the Recession: How to Spend Less and Get More

A new tax year has begun which provides a great opportunity to do a little financial spring cleaning. Even in a tough economy, it is possible to spend less without making major sacrifices.

Get Organized
First things first—gather all of your monthly bills and take stock of your situation. Ask yourself questions like: “Do I need this?”, “Is this the best service provider?” and “How long has it been since I made changes?”

How About that Landline?
If you are really honest with yourself, there are probably several services that you are paying for that don’t produce a good return on their investment. One of the top issues on my list is a landline phone. Obviously there are extenuating circumstances, but fax machines and security systems are often among the excuses people use to hang on to these relics.

For most faxing situations, a scanner and some kind of email or e-fax service will work just fine—we recommend emailing PDFs with embedded signature images where possible.

And, of course, you always have the option of going with VOIP. Vonage offers unlimited local and long distance for $25 a month while unlimited US and Canada Skype accounts start at $3 per month (plus it is also available on cellphones for extra savings). Keep in mind that this price is on top of your current internet connection, so it may be advantageous to investigate bundles.

Take Advantage of Bundles
If you insist on keeping a landline, now is a great time to take advantage of bundled services. As a recent article in the New York Times pointed out, companies like AT&T offer several options for bundling services. Another example is Verizon Fios. If you are fortunate enough to have this option where you live, you can get double and triple freedom bundle packages—the latter combining landline, Fios internet and TV for $95 a month (a $38 savings).

While we are talking about bundles, keep an eye out for upsells. For instance, when I moved recently, I decided to try Road Runner Turbo over their standard service. I found that in my situation, the speed upgrade was barely noticeable and therefore not worth an extra $10 a month—so I dropped it. It’s as simple as that.

Fight For Your Rights
The NYT article also made clear that the tried-and-true art of bitching can sometimes make a world of difference. If you feel you are paying too much, let your voice be heard. And don’t be afraid to threaten a switch to another provider. Often the representatives you are speaking to are empowered to make a deal.

Security Without the Monthly Fee
A lot of people keep landlines just for security systems, and that’s not a bad idea. E911 services from traditional telecoms and VOIP networks automatically tell cops and ambulance services where you live, and where you want to continue to live.

But a lot of security systems can be ripoffs. For one thing, the equipment installation can be riddled with extras. And second, what’s the monthly monitoring fee for? In reality, the monitoring service is just a middleman. So in addition to paying a huge installation fee—a new ADT system can easily cost over $1000 (depending on the deal)— and you pay at least $25 per month on top of what you pay for the landline (GSM add-ons can cost even more).

One way to eliminate the cost of a monitoring service and possibly save some money on installation without compromising security in the house is a home security kit. One suggestion is SecureLinc. It doesn’t require in-home wiring, and it calls up to four numbers when tripped. You still have to keep the landline, but you wouldn’t be paying for monitoring and you still have the option of a GSM modem. Instead of dialing out to a landline, the modem uses a SIM from your wireless carrier. There would be a monthly fee associated with that of course, but it will most likely be cheaper than a monitoring service and maintaining a landline—and you don’t have to worry about the line being cut during a break-in. If all else fails, dogs and guns (maybe even dogs with guns) is always an option.

Going on a TV Diet
Looking at my own bills, it’s pretty obvious that I spend a great deal of money on my DirecTV service. At the moment I’m taking advantage of a 12-month deal at around $50, but after the year is up the price will shoot up to $75 to $80. To be honest, I really only watch a handful of networks and shows consistently.

So would it be traumatic if I gave up that service completely? Probably not. With Bittorrent and the growing availability of my favorite shows streaming legally online, it is conceivable that I could get by without making a huge sacrifice. Engadget contributing editor Ben Drawbaugh has found success in ditching cable for over-the-air TV and Netflix, along with internet-based extras. Four months and counting.

Obviously, this solution isn’t going to work for a total TV addict, but it makes sense for most of us to re-examine our situations to see what might be excessive. I mean, there are often great shows on HBO, but sometimes even HBO can be dry for months at a time, and you can find a lot of their shows online or catch them on DVD/Blu-ray. With all the money you save, you can pay an extra couple of bucks for the Blu-ray bump at Netflix.

Speaking of Netflix, how many movies do you really watch? Is three out at a time too many? If you are not churning and burning these discs, you might be able to get away with a cheaper plan. Even the $9 plan gives you unlimited Watch Instantly, which you should try to take advantage of when possible. (If you are on the $5 plan, for two DVDs per month and up to two hours of Watch Instantly, you may want to drop Netflix altogether, because maybe you need that $5 more than Netflix does.)

Dust Off Your Service Plans
Like most of us, you have probably been sitting on a cellphone or TV plan for years now. If you think your provider will alert you when there is a money-saving change you could benefit from, think again. Many years ago I was on a Sprint plan where night minutes started at 9pm. Sometime later, the plan changed to 7pm. Since I make most of my calls in the evening hours, that change had a big effect on my minutes usage. If I had not done a check at the end of the year, I would have never known. Make sure to check the offerings of your provider and the offerings of competitors to make sure you are getting the deal that fits your needs best.

Go Green
Last but certainly not least we arrive at the energy bill. There is no doubt that energy bills can be one of the biggest monthly expenses. Obviously, elaborate solar arrays are out of the reach for many individuals, but there are plenty of simple, affordable eco-upgrades that will pay for themselves sooner rather than later:

Ditch the incandescent bulbs. You already know that you should change out those energy sucking incandescent lights for CFLs or LEDs. Seriously, a 60W CFL that only uses 13W of power is a no-brainer. Over the life of that single bulb you might save $40 or $50 in energy costs. It is more expensive up front, but you can bounce into any Walmart and get a decent deal. Besides, how many incandescents will you buy over the course of a CFLs seven year life span?

Buy Energy Star appliances. Again, there is a premium for Energy star devices up front, but these devices use 10% to 50% less energy or water than their traditional counterparts. You will more than make up for that in energy cost savings in a short amount of time.

Kill the electricity vampires. You may not know it, but many of your gadgets constantly suck standby power even when they are “off.” On the lower end, power strips like the Ecostrip and the Visible Energy UFO help to control this problem. If you are looking for a more elaborate solution, a company like Greenswitch can quickly re-wire the outlets in your home—designating each one as green or standard as needed. If you want to turn off all of the gadgets in your home using standby power, it is as easy as flicking a single switch. A solution like this could potentially save 8-10% of your energy costs and pay for itself in a year or two.

Get an efficient water heater. There are several options here, but spending the extra cash on something like a tankless water heater could result in a savings of up to 50% on your hot water bills (depending on your usage) because it doesn’t store and heat water when it’s not needed. It costs significantly more than a traditional heater, but there are usually tax credits that help to subsidize the cost. This goes for other green upgrades as well. Green incentives in your state can be found at DSIRE.

Go low-flow: Replacing your current shower heads with low-flow versions can reduce your water consumption in the shower by as much as 50%. They cost about as much as regular shower heads, and despite consumption rates between .5 and 2.5 gallons per minute, they can still deliver great water pressure. You can also go low-flow with your toilets and use about half as much water per flush for a price that is comparable to a standard version.

Get or make a rain barrel. Seriously, we waste far too much water irrigating our lawns. Even if you’re not a greenie, there’s money to be saved. At the very least you can make a simple rain barrel for less than $40 or buy one for $50-$100 (depending on capacity).

In the end, saving money on your bills is about being proactive and taking action when necessary. Ideally, going through your monthly expenses should be part of a yearly self-audit. It also pays to investigate the financial viability of eco-friendly options because many basic upgrades will start paying off right away.

Prof. Dealzmodo is a regular section dedicated to helping budget-minded consumers learn how to shop smarter and get the best deals on their favorite gadgets. If you have any topics you would like to see covered, send your idea to tips@gizmodo.com, with “Professor Dealzmodo” in the subject line. [Image via Utilityweek]

Public rage stalls Time Warner trials of consumption-based internet

Time Warner’s new data capping broadband scheme was never expected to win any popularity contests, and the details of its plans are so frustrating, that this probably should not come as a surprise. Regardless, it looks like the company’s plan to further roll out testing of the consumption-based billing method has been foiled, or at least stalled, because it couldn’t find enough customers to participate in the testing. TWC had planned to test in several locations, including San Antonio and Austin, Texas, but the response has apparently been so negative, and there were so many complaints, that the company has “delayed” the trials until October. So… maybe if we keep moaning about it the plan will be abandoned altogether? Here’s to hoping, anyway.

[Via The Register]

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Public rage stalls Time Warner trials of consumption-based internet originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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