Single-chip 802.11n Provides 200 Mbps
Broadcom announced today a new addition to its Intensi-fi line: the groundbreaking BCM4322, not only the smallest and most cost-effective 802.11n solution available now, but also the first to enable Wi-Fi products to achieve over 200 Mbps of actual wireless throughput.
This chip combines all the elements of a wireless LAN subsystem on a single silicon die, which means that manufacturing costs will greatly decrease, thereby driving down the price of common 802.11n products. It also means that other electronic devices like TVs, cameras, set-top boxes, even dishwashers, if you're so inclined, can be cheaply equipped with WLAN functions.
Frontline Wireless Claims 700 MHz Auction 'in Jeopardy,' May Not Bid
The maverick network service provider run by former Netscape CEO Jim Barksdale, and that was largely responsible for convincing the US Federal Communications Commission to impose new and innovative rules for bidders on certain blocks of the 700 MHz UHF spectrum, is now saying it may not be able to bid after all. In a formal complaint to the FCC filed Monday, lawyers for Frontline Wireless accused the FCC of "getting it wrong" by having set the asking price of the choicest blocks in the auction too high.
"The Commission established soaring objectives for the newly freed-up, prime 700 MHz spectrum," Frontline's attorneys wrote. "It properly understood that the availability of this spectrum has presented a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address nation-critical communications issues, the resolution of which is long overdue and pressing. In its August 10, 2007 Order the Commission saw that these ambitious goals were realizable and envisioned largely appropriate paths to their attainment. But then, unaccountably, the Commission made implementation decisions in its Order that put these goals in jeopardy. On reconsideration the Commission should expeditiously bring the means, which the Order at times got very wrong, into alignment with its ends, which the Order largely got right."
DigitalLife 2007: Thursday's Images from the Show Floor
UPDATE 6:46 pm ET September 27, 2007 - It's being called second only to CES as the most important consumer electronics show in America. BetaNews' Ed Oswald is on the floor of DigitalLife 2007 in New York City, and he's sending back fresh photos as the show goes on. See Palm's Treo Centro 500v, HP's and VoodooPC's Blackbird 002, and the big push for HD DVD.
Check back with BetaNews throughout the day for more sights and specs from the East Coast's largest electronics gala.
DigitalLife 2007: iRobot Unveils New Robots
iRobot used the backdrop of Digital Life to unveil its redesigned floor vacuuming robot as well as a new robot to clean your gutters, and one that can take your place when you're away.
AT DIGITAL LIFE CEO Colin Angle told attendees of a Thursday afternoon keynote at Digital Life 2007 that the robots were part of the company's vision of the "iRobot home." While some may see the robots as superfluous and even in some cases a little scary, the speech shows the ever increasing reach of robotics into our daily lives. See the slideshow for more.
DigitalLife 2007: Improved Nokia N95 Ships Today
The award-winning Nokia N95, launched last April, received a number of upgrades today geared toward improving the North American user's experience.
In addition to its built-in 5 Mp camera, music player capability, and personal navigator, the newly endowed N95 adds support for North American High Speed Download Packet Access (HSDPA) networks, more memory, and a new battery with extended life, and a feature Nokia is calling Assisted GPS.
DigitalLife 2007: Friendster Announces Fan Profiles
Taking a page from MySpace, Friendster announced that it was launching Fan Profiles, a feature that allows artists and celebrities to connect with their fans through a variety of methods.
Some 40 different entity types will be supported, including actors, athletes, bands, DJs, events, journalists, musicians, politicians, TV shows, web sites, among others.
DigitalLife 2007: Gateway One Unveiled Today
Gateway announced at DigitalLife today its first all-in-one desktop computer, The Gateway One. It could reflect the brand's developing approach toward clutter-free desktop designs very much like Apple's iMac.
Citing market research and reports, Gateway says this unit will function well as the entertainment hub in a digital household, and is especially suited to the consumer who uses his computer itself as his entertainment center. Wireless peripherals, invisible speakers, and most importantly, the CPU and flat screen monitor combo are all present in one sleek package.
Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Patent Case on Use of Intel Chips
While the US Congress continues debate on new patent reform legislation that would likely limit the amount that aggrieved parties could receive in infringement suits, the Supreme Court has agreed with a Justice Dept. request to hear a critical case. Its outcome, one way or the other, may not only impact technology patent law but also how manufacturers mix Intel and AMD parts, and also how - believe it or not - how digital music stores sell MP3 tracks.
The case was originally brought by LG Electronics, which manufactures a part for use in Intel-based communications equipment. LG holds a US patent on that part, which was expressly designed to be used with Intel chips; and Intel sells those chips under license from LG. One of Intel's customers is Quanta, a Taiwan-based computer manufacturer and the original defendant in this case. It assembles systems for Hewlett-Packard, among others.
Slight Bright Spot for Vonage: Partial Remand in Verizon Case
It may be extremely slim comfort for VoIP services provider Vonage in the wake of yesterday's total loss in the patent infringement suit brought against it by Sprint Nextel, but Vonage will take it nonetheless: A federal appeals court upheld today only two of the three patent infringement decisions in last March's case brought on by Verizon, remanding the third to a lower court for retrial.
This afternoon, Vonage accepted the good news like a team down six touchdowns in the fourth quarter that has just kicked a field goal from the 48. In a statement this afternoon, the company said it has already implemented a workaround for the other two patents, so service should not be affected. It did not refer to yesterday's statement, which said Vonage would plan to implement workarounds for the Sprint Nextel methodologies.
HD DVD and Blu-ray: Toward an Endgame
In a recent survey of HDTV owners by NPD Group, a full 73% were satisfied with the picture quality provided by upconverted DVDs for them to become too interested in a high-definition disc player of either format. Other figures are equally shocking, suggesting that the high-def format war may already be over. BetaNews spoke at length with the NPD report's lead analyst, Ross Rubin.
If there were just one universally embraced format for high-definition video discs, it would most likely have been introduced just over two years ago, probably at the $1,200 price point. By the spring of 2006, the budget-priced versions would have appeared at around $699.
Apple Could Be Planning Return to PDA Market
With the iPhone and iPod Touch out the door, Apple is apparently reviving an effort to develop a successor to the Newton, the device that helped spur the PDA market.
The device uses the multi-touch technology that both devices currently feature, as well an an embedded version of Mac OS X Leopard. According to AppleInsider, the project has been underway for the past year and a half, spurred by development of the iPhone and iPod Touch.
Two New Sidekicks for T-Mobile
T-Mobile's growing line of Sidekicks now includes the LX and the Slide, produced by Sharp and Motorola respectively, to be made available in coming weeks.
Sharp's LX claims to be slimmer than the Sidekick 3, though spec sheets reveal they share the .9" thickness when closed. Its weight, however, has been knocked down from the previous 7 ounces to a much more manageable 5.7. LX has a 3-inch WQVGA display that is thinner and mounted on an improved swivel joint. Its entire outer edge can be set to glow at varying colors and speeds as a status indicator. Beginning October 17th for existing customers, the LX will be available for $299 USD and a 2-year contract commitment.
Virgin Concentrates on Mobile Service
Following the recent announcement that it will be terminating its online music store. Virgin announced yesterday that it will turn its mobile phone business public with an IPO.
Virgin Mobile is a joint venture between Virgin Group and Sprint Nextel Corp that has been providing a pay-as-you-go service since 2002. The service is generally geared toward a younger consumer group, and has seen decreased competition recently with the bankruptcy of Amp'd Mobile announced in the beginning of June.
Core CTO: Highly Exploitable AIM Bug Could Lead to System Hijack
In an interview this morning from Buenos Aires with BetaNews, Core Security Chief Technology Officer Iván Arce described a scenario whereby a malicious user could be able to trigger AOL's Instant Messenger into launching Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7 Web browser, and then send it commands that enable that user to wrest full remote control of the AIM user's system.
"The problem here, I think, is not with implementation," Arce told BetaNews. "It's the way this was designed from the start. It wasn't designed thinking about potential malicious inbound messages, so the mechanisms for filtering were not put in the right place."
Steve Case Looks to Revolutionize Money
After attempting to shake up the healthcare industry, AOL co-founder Steve Case is now looking to do the same to online payments.
The new venture is called Revolution Money and allows users to transfer money at no charge, as well offers a credit card for business that has lower fees for the money they get charged to accept it.
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