Hasta La Gadget!

Well, that fast — just a day after the Bluetooth SIG officially announced the new Bluetooth 3.0 specification, Broadcom’s announced that its BCM4325 chip has been certified and is ready to go. As you’d expect from a chip that uses the new high-speed multi-protocol standard, the 4325 does WiFi as well as Bluetooth, with a dash of FM thrown in for good measure. Handshakes all around — now let’s get this thing in some devices, shall we?

Filed under: Wireless

Broadcom’s first Bluetooth 3.0 chip gets certified originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The rumors were true, and today’s the day that the Bluetooth SIG gets official with the latest, greatest version of Bluetooth. Bluetooth 3.0 + HS, as it’ll be called, promises to be markedly faster than prior iterations thanks to the reliance on 802.11, which is the same protocol used by WiFi modules, routers, etc. The new standard obviously catapults Bluetooth into a new dimension; rather than being good for nothing more than sending images from one phone to another or syncing a fitness module to a DAP, v3.0 is nimble enough to handle camcorder-to-HDTV, PC-to-PMP and UMPC-to-printer transfers. In fact, the inclusion of the 802.11 Protocol Adaptation Layer (PAL) provides increased throughput of data transfers “at the approximate rate of 24Mbps.” We had sit-downs with Mike Foley (executive director of the Bluetooth SIG) and Atheros CTO Bill McFarland in order to find out a few more details about plans for the protocol — if you’re eager to hear what they had to say, not to mention see a demonstration of BT 3.0 at work, follow us past the break.

Continue reading Bluetooth 3.0 + HS gets official, adds speed with 802.11

Filed under: Wireless

Bluetooth 3.0 + HS gets official, adds speed with 802.11 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just a month ago, Garmin came clean with the nüvi 1390T as part of its 1300 lineup, and today we’re being formally introduced to the numerical successor. The nüvi 1490T sports a chassis that’s some 25 percent slimmer than most nüvi models and an expansive 5-inch touchscreen. As with other new Garmins, this one also arrives with free lifetime traffic alerts and lane assist with junction view. Other expected amenities are also included, namely multiple-point routing, automatic time zone transition and a speed limit indicator that displays speed limits for most major roads. As insinuated, an integrated traffic receiver comes standard, and there’s even an ecoRoute feature that suggests the most fuel efficient path. Finally, prospective buyers can count on Bluetooth technology for making and receiving handsfree calls, and the support for optional CityXplorer maps makes this suitable for the pedestrian in you, too. Expect it on store shelves everywhere this July for $499.99.

[Via GPS Tracklog]

Filed under: GPS

Garmin intros super sleek 5-inch nüvi 1490T navigator originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 08:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve seen no official word from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, but phonescoop has it that the Bluetooth 3.0 specification is just about ready for prime time. Reportedly, the spec will feature “dramatically increased speeds, allowing for the transfer of large video files, music collections and photo libraries wirelessly within seconds.” BT 3.0 should also include a newfangled ability called Enhanced Power Control (EPC), which will supposedly “reduce the occurrence of disconnects that can be caused by actions such as putting a phone in a pocket, backpack, briefcase or purse.” We’re told to expect a whole boatload of details, along with a list of chip makers already lined up to provide support, on April 21st.

Update: It’s official — April 21st is a go. Head past the break for the official verbiage.

Continue reading Bluetooth 3.0 specification to debut on April 21st

Filed under: Wireless

Bluetooth 3.0 specification to debut on April 21st originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 09:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We didn’t think much of Motorola’s MCU3E (MCUBE) wireless transcoder when it was launched as a prototype late last year, but obviously Moto’s got dreams of seeing this in homes around the world. Showcased at this year’s Cable Show, the rechristened Media Mover is a USB-powered device that not only transcodes media on your DVR, but also broadcasts said media (transfer or streaming) locally or remotely via WiFi or Bluetooth. Dave Zatz reported that the quality was actually pretty stellar, and while the company wasn’t exactly forthcoming when it came to hardware specifics and availability, we don’t suspect it’ll be too long before the company comes right out with those very details. Check the read link for a few more hands-on shots.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Video

Motorola showcases USB-powered Media Mover originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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