Hasta La Gadget!

We’ve just swooped our way through the Fulton Innovation stand here at MWC and found, sat next to the familiar light-up cereal box, a peculiar version of the Verizon LTE network-riding LG Revolution. Thicker than its CES-announced counterpart (by only 1.5mm, if the Fulton reps are to be believed), this Revolution features a Qi wireless charging-compatible back, which happens to go very nicely with a Verizon-branded inductive charging station. You can scope those out in the gallery below. We’re told the back cover that makes this possible will be available as an accessory in the next 30 to 60 days, but the excitement for us was in hearing that Samsung also has an unannounced handset that will feature a similar add-on, which will be landing in the same timespan. While at the stand, we were also shown the back cover of an HTC Thunderbolt — we weren’t told the Thunderbolt will be making like the Revolution and getting its own chunky wireless charging adapter, but don’t be surprised if it does.

Continue reading LG Revolution gets Fulton inductive charging back, HTC and Samsung handsets joining the party soon

LG Revolution gets Fulton inductive charging back, HTC and Samsung handsets joining the party soon originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 15:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We knew the White House was on board with the FCC’s desire to free up an additional 500MHz worth of spectrum over the next decade from private and federal holders, as announced last year, and now Obama has announced the plan to do it. The plan is to incentivize the current spectrum squatters with a share of the revenue gained from auctioning off the spectrum — mostly for mobile broadband use — which only seems fair, and for now it seems those auctions will be voluntary. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg: the plan also includes a $5 billion investment in constructing 4G networks in rural areas (with a goal to reach at least 98 percent of Americans with the service), a $3 billion fund for 4G R&D to help the rollout, and $10.7 billion for a wireless public safety network. The beauty of this plan is that all these proposed costs are offset by the spectrum auction, which is estimated to raise $27.8 billion, of which $9.6 billion will be dedicated to deficit reduction. Oh, and the best news? The government has already found 115MHz worth of Federal spectrum that it can free up by using its other spectrum more efficiently, and has another 95MHz worth in its sights. Hit up the source link to see President Obama’s speech on the subject, which has just begun, or check it out embedded after the break.

Continue reading Obama announces plan to free up 500MHz of spectrum, invest in 4G for rural areas, and build out nationwide public safety network

Obama announces plan to free up 500MHz of spectrum, invest in 4G for rural areas, and build out nationwide public safety network originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The mobile rumor mill has been abuzz about Verizon’s potential move away from unlimited data plans for a long time now, but we’re not putting the rumors to rest. In fact, we’re just fanning the flames — according to the folks at Droid Life, Big Red’s $30 unlimited data plan could be coming to 4G LTE. The site’s sources point out that this might mean $30 plus $15 for 4G data, and that pricing structures are likely to change as the LTE Juggernaut powers ahead. Considering the first Verizon 4G phones haven’t even made it to market yet, unlimited data might be around for sometime to come … then again, it might not — don’t you just love speculation?

Verizon 4G LTE might offer $30 unlimited data plan, if you’re lucky originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 19:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The crazy kitties over at Mad Catz have signed yet another licensing agreement to further sink their claws into the world of gaming peripherals — they’ve just sealed a deal with Microsoft to be the exclusive supplier of Xbox 360 wireless headphones, as well as non-exclusive rights for wired 360 headphones. All products under the agreement will bear the Xbox logo, as well as the signature “T” from Mad Catz’s recently acquired Tritton series, but don’t go out looking for them anytime soon — these cats won’t mark their territory until Christmas 2011.

Continue reading Mad Catz snatches up exclusive rights to Xbox 360 wireless headphones

Mad Catz snatches up exclusive rights to Xbox 360 wireless headphones originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 06:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First they came for our telepresence, and we did not speak because we couldn’t afford them. Then they came for our physical presence, and there was no one left to speak out for us. Yes, Anybots are coming, the self-balancing QB robot available for purchase and shipping now, but at $15,000 we’re thinking not too many of you will be jumping on this bandwagon to start. As we saw in our hands-on in December the self-balancing bots enable you to be somewhere that you aren’t, controlled through a simple web interface and enabling executives to remotely monitor and run over the toes of their peons toiling in the office while said execs sit comfortably at home. There’s some footage of one of the bots in action below, which you’d better watch before one of them captures footage of you maintaining a state of inaction.

Continue reading Self-balancing Anybots QB now shipping, the future of telepresence is now (video)

Self-balancing Anybots QB now shipping, the future of telepresence is now (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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