Dec 28

Warpias USB Adapter Connects Your PC to Your TV without Wires

Posted in: Today's Chili, TV, usb, Wireless

Warpia - Adapter

If you’re looking for ways to connect your desktop or laptop to your HDTV, you have the option of running a really long video cable from your computer to the back of your set, but depending on the type of TV you have and the type of computer you have, you may be missing the necessary ports to connect the two together. With Warpia’s USB audio/video adapter, you can connect your PC to your TV using a simple USB PC adapter and a display base station that can connect to your computer via VGA or HDMI. 
The set comes in two pieces, a wireless PC adapter that connects to your desktop or laptop via USB 2.0, and the display adapter that receives the audio and video signal from your computer and routes it to your TV. The base station connects to your TV via VGA PC port or HDMI, and supports audio over HDMI or a 3.5mm stereo jack. The solution costs $179.99 and is available now in retail stores and online.
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Dec 28

Lenovo’s wireless Multimedia Remote with Keyboard sneaks out for retail

Posted in: keyboard, lenovo, Today's Chili, Wireless

In an age of advertising hyperbole so gratuitous that every spec tweak or color change is accompanied by a press release, it’s honestly refreshing to watch Lenovo tip-toe interesting new products into retail with nary a peep. Like this palm-sized Multimedia Remote with Keyboard spotted by an Engadget reader inside a Singapore mobile phone shop. Seems this wireless pup (model 57Y6336) has been on sale for about a week across the globe with a $60 MSRP or about $30 after a quick Google for discount coupons. That meager tithe takes home a 2.4GHz keyboard with trackball and USB “nano dongle” for your Windows home theater PC good for about 10-meters of wireless sofa surfing. See it in the wild after the break.

[Thanks, Bryan C.]

Continue reading Lenovo’s wireless Multimedia Remote with Keyboard sneaks out for retail

Lenovo’s wireless Multimedia Remote with Keyboard sneaks out for retail originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 01:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 23

Verizon Announces New LTE Specs

Posted in: 4G, lte, networking, Today's Chili, verizon, Verizon Wireless, Wireless

LTE_4G.jpgVerizon Wireless has updated its LTE specs and released them to developers ahead of the carrier’s 4G rollout beginning next year, according to FierceWireless. The specs cover network access, SMS requirements, and data retry test plans, plus the carrier’s device approval process.

As part of its initial LTE deployment, Verizon is expected to launch USB modems and other connected devices in 25 to 30 markets sometime in the second half of 2010. It’s likely we won’t see LTE-capable smartphones until 2011, the report said.

So far, TeliaSonera is the only 4G provider to have powered up a commercial LTE network. (It’s in Stockholm.) LTE is expected to deliver average real-world data speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps for downloads, and 2 to 5 Mbps for uploads. There’s no word yet on pricing plans or data caps, according to the report.

Industry rifts remain over certain LTE-related specs, such as the transmission of voice and text messages over LTE. Verizon and AT&T are supporting One Voice, while T-Mobile has pledged support for VoLGA (Voice over LTE via Generic Access).

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Dec 21

Elan g! home automation system is heavy on hype, light on details

Posted in: OLED, remote control, RemoteControl, Today's Chili, Wireless

Home automation and multiroom A/V remote controls might still be a relatively niche and nascent segment of the electronics market, but that hasn’t stopped Elan from proclaiming its new g! series to be groundbreaking. Then again, its software includes irrigation controls, so what do we know — maybe the company’s talking literally. Building on the software legacy of HomeLogic, the interface is said to be consistent across all platforms, which include an OLED display as part of the hardware package, as well as iPhone, PC and TV integration for a truly flexible control scheme. In terms of pricing, this is aimed at competing with Control4 setups, and we’re told that a “decent” multiroom system could be had for $5,000. Full details are set to be unveiled on January 1, which should give you enough time to decide if you can continue living with an un-automated pool.

Elan g! home automation system is heavy on hype, light on details originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 07:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 21

Study: Wireless Industry to Rebound in 2010

Posted in: Today's Chili, Wireless

LG_LX290.jpgThings are looking up for the wireless industry: more than half of Americans plan to buy a new cell phone in the next six months, compared to just 24 percent one year ago, according to market research firm TNS.

The survey covered 24,000 consumers across 35 international markets. In the same study, TNS found that consumers will be looking for more features this time around: 29 percent plan to buy a device with a touch screen, while 23 percent want hardware QWERTY keyboards.

A separate report from research firm Chetan Sharma found that mobile data revenue increased 27 percent in the third quarter from a year ago, to $11.4 billion; meanwhile, smartphone sales jumped 12.8 percent during the same period compared to one year ago, even though cell phone sales overall remained flat. (Via MediaPost)

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Dec 16

Canada Gets Fourth National Wireless Carrier

Posted in: Today's Chili, Wireless

WIND_Mobile_Canada.jpg

Up until today, Canada has had three national wireless providers: Telus, Bell, and Rogers. Critics have said that these three carriers aren’t particularly competitive. Back in 2008, Canada’s AWS auction opened the playing field for some new entrants. The first of these to launch is Wind Mobile, a company owned by Canadian firm Globalive and funded in part by the Egypt-based Orascom. Later this year, Dave (davewireless.com) and Videotron will join the party.

Meanwhile, Telus, Bell, and Rogers (naturally) have fought the Wind Mobile launch tooth and nail. At one point, it led to the Canadian government barring the launch, only to be overruled by Industry Canada, another part of the government.

The question is, will Wind Mobile provide the shake-up that Canada’s wireless industry desperately needs? It looks shaky. Wind Mobile is only launching in Calgary and Toronto for now, with several store locations and kiosks, and spotty network coverage everywhere else (see map, pictured). Boy Genius Report has an excellent write-up of plan details and pricing for a BlackBerry 9700 on Wind Mobile. Stay tuned for more developments.

Sascha Segan contributed to this report.

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Dec 15

Dissatisfied ATT Customers Plan Network Attack

Posted in: att, Humor, Today's Chili, Wireless

noservice

Some AT&T customers are taking Fake Steve (who is, in reality, Newsweek’s Dan Lyons pretending to be Steve Jobs) seriously. The satirical blogger on Monday encouraged his readers to take part of Operation Chokehold — a plan to overload the AT&T network with ruthless, bandwidth-sucking activities.

On Friday, December 18, at noon Pacific time, we will attempt to overwhelm the AT&T data network and bring it to its knees. The goal is to have every iPhone user (or as many as we can) turn on a data intensive app and run that app for one solid hour. Send the message to AT&T that we are sick of their substandard network and sick of their abusive comments. The idea is we’ll create a digital flash mob. We’re calling it in Operation Chokehold. Join us and speak truth to power!

Fake Steve’s post was in response to statements made last week by AT&T executive Ralph de la Vega, who said 3 percent of smartphones were using 40 percent of the bandwidth of its network capacity. He added that the company would find ways to persuade heavy users to reduce activity and that the company could impose caps on data usage, which would put an end to our all-you-can-eat data plans.

Of course, everything on that blog should be considered a joke. However, Cult of Mac’s Leander Kahney notes that comments on Twitter, forums and Facebook suggest people are actually planning to participate in Operation Chokehold.

AT&T has provided an official response, dismissing the act an irresponsible media stunt.

“We understand that Fakesteve.net is primarily a satirical forum, but there is nothing amusing about advocating that customers attempt to deliberately degrade service on a network that provides critical communications services for more than 80 million customers,” a spokesman said in a statement. “We know that the vast majority of customers will see this action for what it is: an irresponsible and pointless scheme to draw attention to a blog.”

AT&T doubts that the protest will have much of an effect on the network, as the number of participants may be diminutive. So far the Facebook page for Operation Chokehold has about 300 members.

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Photo: alexkingorg/Flickr


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Dec 14

JVC intros cord-free TH-BA3 and TH-BS7 soundbar audio systems

Posted in: audio, sound, speaker, speakers, Today's Chili, Wireless

JVC’s never been much on using wires to hook up its home theater systems, and for those not looking for mind-blowing 7.1 surround, these soon-available wireless soundbar setups might just satisfy your aural cravings without forcing you to run ungodly lengths of cabling around your den. The TS-BA3 ($549.95) is a dual wireless soundbar system that consists of a 280-watt amplifier, 5.1-channel surround rig (including a soundbar, wireless subwoofer and wireless rear speaker kit) and built-in surround decoding. You’ll also find a single analog input, two optical digital inputs and support for Dolby Digital, DTS and Dolby ProLogic II surround signals. The TH-BS7 ($599.95) is engineered to mount alongside flat-panel HDTVs, with a 1.4-inch tall, ultrathin soundbar, an even slimmer wall-mountable amplifier / control unit and a wireless subwoofer. This one’s packing 180-watts of teeth-rattling oomph and promises 4.1 sound with minimal consumption of floor space. Hop on past the break for the full release and detailed specifications.

Gallery: JVC intros cord-free TH-BA3 and TH-BS7 soundbar audio systems

Continue reading JVC intros cord-free TH-BA3 and TH-BS7 soundbar audio systems

JVC intros cord-free TH-BA3 and TH-BS7 soundbar audio systems originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 14

TeliaSonera Launches 4G LTE Network in Stockholm

Posted in: lte, Today's Chili, Verizon Wireless, Wireless

TeliaSonera_4G.jpgSwedish cell phone carrier TeliaSonera has powered up what it calls the world’s first commercial Long Term Evolution (LTE) 4G network in Stockholm, accessible via Samsung cellular USB modems.

The Ericsson-supplied network supposedly can run up to 100 Mbps when maxed out, though real-world speeds will be nowhere near that number.

Last month, several major telecoms around the world–including TeliaSonera, Orange, AT&T, Telefonica, Verizon, and others–finally agreed on a standard for voice and SMS communication over LTE 4G networks, in an effort to ensure that they’re used for more than just faster Web browsing and other data services.

Verizon is still expected to be first out of the gate with LTE in the U.S. sometime in the second half of 2010.

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Dec 14

TeliaSonera launches world’s first LTE network, awaits phones eagerly

Posted in: 4G, ericsson, lte, mobile broadband, MobileBroadband, samsung, Today's Chili, Wireless

TeliaSonera has today flicked on the green light for its LTE networks in Stockholm and Oslo, officially starting the countdown for LTE-enabled phones. For the moment, keen mobile webstronauts will only be able to hook up their laptop or other USB-equipped device via the Samsung-provided 4G modem, but 100Mbps download speeds on the world’s first commercial LTE network are still nothing to sniff at. This rollout is in fact slightly ahead of schedule, and the other major cities in Sweden and Norway are likely to soon get treated similarly well, while TeliaSonera makes a point to mention it has a license to do similar damage to Finland’s 3G operators. The US might not be too far behind, either, given that the modem in use in Scandinavia recently cleared the FCC. Now if only we had phones that could ride these massive waves we’d be all set.

TeliaSonera launches world’s first LTE network, awaits phones eagerly originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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