Announced early September, the Satellite U925t, a Sony Vaio Duo like ultrabook powered by a Core i5 Ivy Bridge is now making its debut in Japan under the Dynabook series. While Toshiba did not gave any specific price and specification details on this Japanese version of the Satellite U925t is schedule to hit Japanese stores within a few month with identical specs as its North American cousin.
Let’s face it: many free WiFi hotspots are tacked on as bullet point items to get customers into a shop or hotel, without much concern for quality high enough that it keeps visitors coming back. Wicoms is hoping that a strategy to offer free Skype WiFi in Ireland and the UK will reverse that neglect. Instead of leaving stores to go through carrier partnerships or devise their own solutions, the partnership has stores pick up a £49 Wicoms router and commit to either a £10 ($16) monthly rate or prepaid brackets of £49 ($79) for six months and £95 ($153) for a year. The aim isn’t just to provide a more consistent level of performance — the Skype deal also provides a ready-made sign-in process, whether or not visitors have Skype accounts, as well as someone to turn to for help. While temptations exist to go with earlier alternatives, Skype and Wicoms are giving away the router during October to help sweeten the pot, even for those outlets that drop the Skype WiFi solution later on. Let’s hope the hotspots work well enough on the public-facing side; we could all use a few more shelters from low data caps and oversaturated access points.
Filed under: Networking
Free Skype WiFi hits Ireland and the UK through Wicoms, steps up the quality of public hotspots originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 22:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
You might say Dave Zatz just had a happy accident. While he was hunting for the as yet unofficial Logitech Harmony Touch in Best Buy, he discovered the Slingbox 350 and 500 — two more living room gadgets that have yet to receive an official introduction. The placeshifting hubs both look to be major improvements over the aging Slingbox Pro HD and Solo, making 1080p streaming available as long as the connection is up to snuff. Those who spring for the 500 should also get long overdue support for WiFi without having to use a wireless bridge, although they may miss the Pro HD’s ATSC tuner. Outside of the networking, Sling Media is making expansion its upsell angle: the 500 supports USB media sharing and HDMI, while the 350 has to make do with whatever can pipe through its component and composite jacks. Zatz was unfortunately foiled in an attempt to buy one of the new Slingboxes and couldn’t get final pricing, but Best Buy’s suggestion to try again around mid-October hints that we won’t have long to wait for a much-needed upgrade to our remote TV viewing.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Slingbox 350 and 500 show up unannounced in Best Buy, flaunt 1080p and built-in WiFi originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 30 Sep 2012 18:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Networking kingpin Cisco announced on Wednesday that it had acquired ThinkSmart Technologies, a company that analyzes location data by using WiFi technology. ThinkSmart’s tech reviews a network’s infrastructure by evaluating the movement of its users, traffic patterns and hours of operation. The firm then uses these analytics to help companies optimize network and staffing configurations for business operations — a long way of saying that it’s smart enough to tell a company how to better manage information flows through a network. The terms of this deal have yet to be released, but Cisco seems to think this was a smart pick up.
Filed under: Wireless, Networking
Cisco acquires WiFi data firm ThinkSmart Technologies originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Sep 2012 17:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Embracing AirPlay has usually involved a wholesale switch in hardware: years of speaker investment go out the window for the sake of skipping a wire. Onkyo doesn’t have a problem if you bring your own equipment to the fray. Its new DS-A5 docking station brings Apple’s WiFi media streaming to many home stereos, including those of rivals, as long as there’s a wired or 802.11g-capable wireless router to feed the connection. Naturally, there’s perks if you do live in an Onkyo universe — any link using its Remote Interactive cable can both wake the stereo through AirPlay as well as control the dock from a traditional remote. About the only oddities are the vintage composite video output and a 30-pin dock for charging iPads, iPhones and iPods, neither of which will be much help if you live on the cutting edge. Onkyo brings the DS-A5 to American shores in October for $199; that’s a lot to pay for playing songs from the couch, but it’s a sight more affordable than replacing home audio equipment costing multiple times that amount.
Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment
Onkyo DS-A5 grafts AirPlay on to existing home stereos, docks older iOS gear originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 04:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Thermostat makers aren’t exactly known for their rapid update cycles, so we’ve been wondering just when a company as unusual as Nest would try its encore. If a new FCC filing is any indication, Tony Fadell and company aren’t resting on their temperature-controlled laurels. While we don’t know if it’s a thermostat as such, the “home monitoring device” at the US agency sports Nest’s familiar circular shape while tossing in some previously unseen ZigBee wireless — a clue that there’s home automation harmony afoot, either with other Nest units or with third-party devices. It’s also apparent that Nest is keeping WiFi and won’t venture far from its internet-friendly roots. All of the firm’s secrets will be revealed in March, although we’ll side with Zatz Not Funny and leave the possibility of an earlier announcement that helps us lower our heating bills.
Filed under: Household
Nest home monitoring device pops up at the FCC with ZigBee, greater ambitions originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Sep 2012 22:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
The more cynical among us would argue that allowing cellphones in-flight is only a guarantee of an even more unpleasant trip, at least for anyone wanting a distraction-free cabin. There must still be a few optimists: Boeing is promising that future production runs of the 747-8 and 777 will have the necessary support for in-flight cellphone use, live TV and internet access that comes through either headrest screens or WiFi. Aircraft with the upgrade should roll off the production lines before the end of 2013, and they’ll be following a slight change to the 787 later this year that makes the technology support a common option. Some of us may wind up reaching for the earplugs in countries where regulators approve in-air wireless, but there’s definite upsides for all but the biggest curmudgeons — Boeing’s moves could lead to more ubiquitous in-flight WiFi next year, on top of ready-made wireless media streaming due in 2014.
Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation
Boeing 747-8, 777 to join 787 in support for in-flight cellphone use and WiFi, like it or not originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Sep 2012 02:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The new iPhones are here for AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint and at long last, they’ve got 4G LTE. So which iPhone 5 is fastest? And does it make any difference that it supports both 5GHz Wi-Fi in addition to 2.4GHz. There’s pretty definite winner, but more importantly a very clear loser. More »
Schedule for a September 28th launch at 49,800 Yen, the rather expensive ABX-N300 is Onkyo first dedicated Wireless Speaker (AirPlay) for Apple devices, ranging from your iPhone, iPad, iPod and Mac! The ABX-N300 comes with Ethernet, WiFi GB, a nice 10Wx2ch output and a dedicated remote!
Frequent fliers with Delta Airlines will soon have more access to Gogo Internet during their flights. Delta Airlines has announced that it is expanding Gogo Vision across the entire two class fleet and Delta Connection fleet of Gogo equipped aircraft. Gogo Vision is an in-flight video streaming service.
Delta will begin installations in 2012 on its domestic fleet and expects to complete installations to support to Gogo Vision by 2013. Delta Airlines also expects to have a new international Wi-Fi service featuring Gogo Vision completed by the end of 2015. Once Delta completes the new installations, it will have more than 950 aircraft featuring Gogo Wi-Fi connectivity and Gogo Vision.
Delta has also announced that it intends to upgrade its fleet to the next-generation Gogo ATG-4 platform. That upgrade will enhance existing air to ground network and improve user capacity on the aircraft. The Gogo Vision service has an internal server that is stored on the plane, and video is streamed to passengers Wi-Fi enabled devices.
The service will feature both television programs at a per show charge and full-length movies from major Hollywood studios. Individual television episodes will sell for $0.99 with a full-length Hollywood movie costing $3.99. Passengers will be able to sort through titles by genre, length, and search for specific movies or shows and can preview before purchasing.
Delta Airlines to expand Gogo Vision offerings on domestic fleet is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
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