Logitec makes routers fashionable again with ultraslim LAN-W300N/R

It’s part PS2 Slim, part AspireRevo. And according to Logitec, the LAN-W300N/R is the company’s thinnest 802.11n router ever. Measuring just 7 millimeters thick at its thinnest and 24 millimeters thin at its thickest, this ultra-glossy wireless router packs a pair of inbuilt antennas, four LAN ports, a WAN socket and an AC input. Beyond that, the device seems relatively unmoving, with a ¥9,100 ($95) price tag and a late August release over in Japan.

[Via Akihabara News]

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Logitec makes routers fashionable again with ultraslim LAN-W300N/R originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 08:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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My Tether turns mild-mannered Palm Pres into wild and crazy hotspots

My Tether turns mild-mannered Palm Pres into wild and crazy hotspots
Official application portals like Apple’s App Store and Palm’s App Catalog are the big box retailers of the mobile space: plenty of choices, but to get the really good stuff you have to go elsewhere. Case in point: My Tether, an app that, naturally, allows tethering through a Pre, and does so quite comprehensively. Palm’s savior can be directly attached through USB, but Bluetooth and WiFi are also available, thus delivering the connectivity trifecta. It’s a lot easier to enable than the last option we found, and though the fully-automatic, self-installing version costs $10, there’s a free one if you’re feeling cheap (and know your way around a shell prompt). We’re still waiting to see whether Palm or Sprint will put an end to these 3G hijinks, since the pair are obviously not in favor of them, but right now this particular carrier needs every selling point it can get — even unofficial ones like this.

[Via Palm Infocenter]

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My Tether turns mild-mannered Palm Pres into wild and crazy hotspots originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Hero and Click coming to China under Dopod brand

HTC has been on a global Android-pimping mission with its Hero device, and it looks like Chinese subsidiary Dopod gets the honor of announcing three new handsets for the Middle Kingdom. Unlike others, the Hero retains its WiFi capabilities by playing nice with China’s custom WLAN security protocol and is expected in late August on China Unicom for 5,600 Yuan ($820) along with the few-frills Click for 3,400 Yuan ($500). The carrier has opted to strip Google Maps from the Hero (though it’s still downloadable), and to soften the blow it will likely offer a snazzy red version of the phone. China Mobile will have to settle for an as-yet unspecified TD-SCDMA handset and the already announced Magic, both of which will likely be sporting the OMS flavor of Android. We’re not sure we’d classify the Hero’s price tag as reasonable — but really, can you put a dollar figure on being the first big-name Android release in the world’s largest wireless market?

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HTC Hero and Click coming to China under Dopod brand originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Captain Obvious reports: AT&T sees surge in WiFi use post-iPhone OS 3.0

You know, there’s something to be said about making something easy: people usually take advantage. So seems to be the case with AT&T’s WiFi connections after the release of iPhone OS 3.0, which finally became useful when users could seamlessly connect to one of the thousands of AT&T hotspots around the nation rather than having to stumble through a painfully long process on iPhone OS 2.x. According to an AT&T spokesperson speaking with AppleInsider, the amount of iPhone users linking up with AT&T’s WiFi network tripled in June, and overall, it saw a 41 percent increase in connections compared to the prior quarter. It comes as no surprise to hear that AT&T is working feverishly to expand said network in order to relieve strain from its house of cards-styled 3G network, and while we’d definitely prefer a bit more reliability with the latter, we’ll happily accept more WiFi in the meanwhile.

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Captain Obvious reports: AT&T sees surge in WiFi use post-iPhone OS 3.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 05:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ViewSonic’s VOT120 and VOT121 nettops suck in their guts for the camera

Unsatisfied with only having the tall and slim 130 and 132 nettops, ViewSonic’s newly announced family of hardware also features a pair of even more diminutive options: the VOT120 and 121. Snapped in the wild for your delectation, these machines are small enough to be confused for a well-filled CD wallet and come with WiFi, four USB inputs, gigabit Ethernet and DVI-out. While the 120’s standard netbook spec is nothing to write home about, the 121 does receive a (comparatively) potent 1.4GHz CULV chip and a HDMI output ’round back, making for an intriguing HTPC proposition. Prices in Taiwan are set for $304 and $423 respectively, but feel free to browse past the break for an inquisitive look at these miniature computers.

Continue reading ViewSonic’s VOT120 and VOT121 nettops suck in their guts for the camera

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ViewSonic’s VOT120 and VOT121 nettops suck in their guts for the camera originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Barnes & Noble switches to free WiFi, just the thing for your e-book reader

Barnes & Noble and AT&T already went ahead and offered free WiFi to iPhone users (and everyone else, albeit inadvertently) last year, and it’s now finally gone and given up on those pesky subscription fees altogether. As the pair of companies jointly announced today, that new and welcome change is now already in place at all Barnes & Noble stores in the US that offer WiFi, and the bookstore is not-at-all-coincidentally taking advantage of the opportunity to promote its recently launched eBookstore, to say nothing of its forthcoming e-book reader. Last we heard, they still have actual books and stuff there, too.

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Barnes & Noble switches to free WiFi, just the thing for your e-book reader originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Withings Connected Body Scale remembers what you’d rather forget

More often the object of dread than fascination, the humble bathroom scale has been given a makeover by Withings, which has injected the Connected Body Scale with WiFi and an online progress tracking system not too dissimilar from that used by Nike+. This sleek metallic device is accurate to 100 grams — oh yes, it’s metric, like it should be — and conducts a body mass analysis that can tell you the uncomfortable truth, should you care to know it. Accessing progress data can be done via a free iPhone app or the company’s website, which is also the best place to plop down the €129 ($184) entry fee. And don’t tell us you’re not interested, somebody is buying up all those Wii Fit boards and it sure as hell isn’t us. Video after the break.

Update: Withings tells us that pound measurements are also available for you eccentric old schoolers, and September should see a US release as well, so good news all around.

[Via Chip Chick]

Continue reading Withings Connected Body Scale remembers what you’d rather forget

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Withings Connected Body Scale remembers what you’d rather forget originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Novatel Wireless launches MiFi 2372 with North American-loving, 3G WiFi goodness

Novatel’s just announced its North American-friendly MiFi 2372 router with GPRS / EDGE / UMTS / HSPA. The Mifi 2372 will offer 7.2Mbps HSDPA sharing for up to five connections via WiFi. If you recall, the European, 900/1900/2100MHz version launched back in June, so we’re happy to see it make its way to our shores at long last. The 2372 also boasts a GPS receiver and microSD card slot, and while there’s no word on pricing or definite date of availability, we can assume it’ll be offered on subsidy from AT&T and Rogers, and we hope that happens soon. The full PR is after the break.

Continue reading Novatel Wireless launches MiFi 2372 with North American-loving, 3G WiFi goodness

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Novatel Wireless launches MiFi 2372 with North American-loving, 3G WiFi goodness originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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hField Technologies intros revamped Wi-Fire long-range WiFi adapter

Evidently hField Technologies has a good thing going with this inelegant Wi-Fire thingamajig, as it has just followed up versions one and two with the latest and greatest third iteration. The revamped Wi-Fire, which is more formally known as the HFWFG200, is said to be some 40 percent smaller and 30 percent lighter than the previous incarnation, yet it promises to maintain a solid WiFi signal while up to 1,000 feet away from the source. In one of those classic “two steps forward, three leaps back” moments, the company has added in support for Linux and OS X-based systems, though the device only works with 802.11b/g devices. In other words, you won’t see 802.11n speeds out of this thing, and you’ll still get looked at funny with it affixed atop your laptop’s display. If you’re willing to swap dignity for connectivity, you can get one headed your way today for $59.

[Via HotHardware]

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hField Technologies intros revamped Wi-Fire long-range WiFi adapter originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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802.11n finalization just a formality, interoperability to be preserved

C’mon, say it with us: “phew!” Considering that just about everyone has been shipping “802.11n” wireless kit since draft 2.0 was put into play two summers ago, we couldn’t be more relieved to see the Wi-Fi Alliance confirm that it won’t change the baseline requirements of its 802.11n certification program when the format gets certified this September. Just as we’d heard, the WiFi standard will leave its stagnant draft status and sashay into the wondrous realm of officialdom in merely two months, with the updated test program to “preserve interoperability with more than 600 Wi-Fi certified 802.11n draft 2.0 products released since June 2007, while adding testing for some optional features now included in the standard.” Good thing, too — can you imagine the uproar if your forthcoming 802.11n dongle wouldn’t play nice with that draft-N router you snagged last June?

[Via Electronista]

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802.11n finalization just a formality, interoperability to be preserved originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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