August, 2004 — Tech News and Analysis

Archive for August 2004

AlphaSmart Neo- return of the Tandy 102

Some people just want a portable word processor to carry around with them so they can write whenever they have time. AlphaSmart has just released the Neo which does just that. The Neo is a simple word processor with a monochrome … Read More »

Coming soon Microsoft GPS

Update: The device is available, and on sale. Microsoft, for some odd reason had it buried somewhere on the website. Mark gave us a heads up, so we tip our hat to him. It costs $129 and you can get it off Amazon, Circuit City … Read More »

 
 

DSL will save the Bells?

How is that for a provocative statement? Despite all the posturing and noise about fiber to the home, it is becoming increasingly evident that DSL and copper will dominate the near term future of the Baby Bells. If you stepped back, and looked at the second … Read More »

Triple Play RFP Rumors

My new favorite weblog, Technology Futurist is hinting at some triple play RFP rumors, including a FTH RFP from SBC Communications. The triple play (the bundling of of voice, video and data) is becoming a sine-qua-non piece of the carriers’ strategies (for both telcos and … Read More »

When Mice Attack

Its a rodent attack! Engadget has a long review of Phillipe Starch-designed Microsoft mice. Apparently they like it. Well between the hoopla over that and that cute machine Apple introduced, everyone has overlooked that Anycom just released a brand new portable Bluetooth mouse which … Read More »

Speech recognition on the Sony U-70

I’ve just started experimenting with speech input on the Sony U-70. I ordered a Plantronics DSP100 from Amazon for $45. The DSP100 is a noise canceling USB microphone and headset that is optimized for speech recognition. Installing the DSP100 was as … Read More »

Logitech Laser Mouse

If your standard optical mouse is just not accurate enough, then maybe you need a laser mouse. The Logitech Mx1000 laser mouse is the first mouse using laser technology that I’m aware of and reportedly is better for gaming due to the increased accuracy. … Read More »

iUbi Personal Video Player with WiFi

Found this on PVP For You:Korean iUbi offers a Portable Video Player with wireless access (optional) and touch screen.The iUbi PMP2020 features a 20GB hard-drive and a 3.5 inch TFT color screen. The iUbi also sports a touchscreen for PDA-like operation. It measures 128×26.7x29mm. … Read More »

08/30/2004 Randomly Speaking

WiMAXCon – serendipity Microsoft’s new OS: Shorthorn Geeks love geeks. Circuit City drops Catherine Zeta Jones and T-Mobile in favor of the nerd and Verizon Wireless announces store-within-a-store concept to be launched at all 570 Circuit City locations; these “mini-stores” will be run … Read More »

Cable & Wireles invests $10 million In India

Technology Futurist reports that “British telecom giant Cable & Wireless (NYSE:CWP)announced earlier this week that it will be investing US$10 million to augment its footprint in India. The company has been operating in India since 1995, providing networking and system integration services. The investment … Read More »

Broadband Policy Now

Business Week in an editorial writes, “That’s because the U.S. is becoming something of a broadband backwater, a place where almost no one can do what Kato and millions of other Japanese take for granted. Many Americans may think that the U.S. is making progress … Read More »

Vultures lurking over Adelphia

Adelphia Communications will soon go on the auction block, and will likely attract many buyers, according to this report. Apart from the usual suspects, Comcast and Time Warner, many expect private equity firms such as Providence Equity Partners and Spectrum Equity to get into the … Read More »

More Must Reads

Hidden inside this CNN piece about cell phone company surcharges was a nano-expose of T-Mobile’s most recent quarter. Catherine Zeta Jones’ wily charms were not the only reason Germans were able to attract more customers in the last quarter and perform better than everyone … Read More »

FCC wants the Supreme Court to reverse an appeals court ruling that could lead to heavier regulation of cable companies’ high-speed Internet service, according to Reuters. FCC has asked the federal appeals court to overturn its ruling that labels cable broadband as a telecom service. … Read More »

Recognizing the influence teens have over the purchases that parents make on their behalf, an enterprising company has introduced the Hip-e computer. Sporting customizable color skins, the computer has a decent feature set. A 17″ LCD screen is coupled with a dock … Read More »

When you wake up in the morning and discover that even the Internet is younger than you. Anyway Happy Birthday Internet. Thirty-five years after computer scientists at UCLA linked two bulky computers using a 15-foot gray cable, testing a new way for exchanging data over networks, … Read More »

Sending television signals over copper and fiber – aka IPTV – has become quite popular in Asia, and we have heard a lot about it coming stateside. Bundling that with voice and high-speed internet access is seen as a quick and simple way for phone companies … Read More »

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (subscription required) has an article about how broadband is quickly getting embedded into our lives, and changing how we interact, shop, research and communicate. With tyranny of dial-up over, more than 53 percent americans use broadband for as AJC calls it, “for … Read More »

How fast is really fast? Treo PC? Not possible. WiFi and Bluetooth are not fast enough to deal the crisp video signals etc. Sometimes it is just wishful thinking! Batrelle’s big idea Indians, Taxing the WiFi seeking Yankees Adaptix emerges, and so do software … Read More »

With all the buzz around China and Korea, many tend to overlook that India is turning into one of the hottest telecom markets on the planet. While visiting India I saw many US venture capitalists were out pitching their companies to Indian telecom giants, recognizing that … Read More »

I heard you on the wireless back in Fifty Two Lying awake intent at tuning in on you. If I was young it didn’t stop you coming through. Video killed the radio star. Video killed the radio star. In my mind and in my car, we can’t rewind we’ve gone to … Read More »

AOL is finally getting its VoIP act together, and is about to start beta testing its VoIP services, powered by Level 3. A poster on DSLReports forum posted this introductory email: “Thanks and congratulations! You have been successfully registered as an AOL VoIP Trial Enabled … Read More »

Last week’s Vonage received $105 million in funding, and elicited a huge reaction from the blogsphere. I have put together a small post on who said what. Alistair: had hoped that a comment that the company was cash flow positive before customer acquisition cost might … Read More »

The mobile virtual network operator concept has taken it on the chin in recent days because of some hiccups in the pending initial offerings of Metro PCS, and Virgin Mobile. But that might be temporary. Yesterday, Bouygues Telecom, a French mobile company teamed up with Vivendi/Universal … Read More »

LaCie released a 40 GB mobile hard drive that plugs into any computer’s USB port. What makes this newsworthy is the $219 device comes with Mandrakelinux 10.0 preinstalled on it. Simply plug this drive into any computer and you have an instant Linux system … Read More »

From the “why didn’t anyone think of this before” category, Canon has announced a USB number keypad for laptop users that’s also a full calculator. The HS-120TKH also sports a 2 port USB 2.0 hub adding even more functionality for the user. … Read More »

Archos has announced the Gmini400 music and video player that sports a 2.2 inch color LCD screen, a 20 GB hard drive, CF Type I slot, a TV out port, and a USB 2.0 interface.The Gmini400 will play videos: MPEG-4 SP with MP3 … Read More »

In case you missed it Research in Motion announced a couple of weeks ago that BlackBerry connectivity will be enabled in the upcoming Motorola Mpx and MPx220 mobile devices.Through RIM’s BlackBerry Connectâ„¢ licensing program, the Motorola MPx and MPx220 will be able to connect … Read More »

No, not a disgusting topic but a way to make those iPod earbuds you have sound a lot better. Griffin EarJams are covers that snap onto your iPod earbuds that convert them into in-ear headphones. The resultant bass is deeper and with … Read More »

The latest issue of Business 2.0 has a story by me and Matt on the LCD oversupply and its impact on say cell phones. I have been following the business closely, and was intrigued to get an update via a Merrill Lynch report. According to … Read More »

Looks like Verizon is dipping its toes in the fixed wireless waters. The experiment is happening in Grundy, Va. Verizon said the opportunity seemed perfect to try a small fixed wireless pilot using Alvarion BreezeAccess VL gear. Verizon will use unlicensed spectrum at … Read More »

Anan points to a post about Verizon Wireless 1xEV-DO antenna that works in Manhattan. He picked up some clues on agent Robert Kim’s according to Robert’s latest Weblog posting. Robert writes, “when you go to the Triborough area and get over a Gig/Sec reception… … Read More »

SBC and Sprint announced a Wi-Fi roaming agreement, which covers 2,300 SBC “hot spots” and five for Sprint. This is the latest of many deals which at the very least provide coverage, for corporate users. As one analyst says, Wi-Fi is a nice buzz-word, but … Read More »

Earlier this month I recommended the Motorola V710 to my boss, only to find later that the bluetooth was really only for hooking up a headset or perhaps use in-car handsfree system. Well that was a career ending move. What I find most offensive about this … Read More »

Honda just announced a scooter that runs on fuel cell technology called the Honda FC Stack. The scooter power plant is based on a 125cc engine with the fuel cell stack in the middle of the vehicle. No word on when they … Read More »

Cellphones can make you impotent. They can cause cancer, and now you might not believe it but they can cause some serious damage to your hearing. Jon reports that some technical snafus can cause hearing damage for users of Siemens handsets. We had heard that … Read More »

Some swedes are living the mega-broadband future, according to this Reuters’ article. One of them is Rainer Kinnunen, a 31-year-old student who has a 10-megabit per second people into his house. He buys the service from Bredbandsbolaget, which offers a 100 megabits per second monthly … Read More »

By now, I am sure most must have read the Page One story in The Wall Street Journal on VoIP, and its effect on the telecom business. A few months ago when I wrote, Telecom’s Continuing Death Spiral, I knew it would take a few … Read More »

Update: Treo 650 pictures: Engadget has some skinny and exclusive details on the next Treo, aka Treo 650. >> After months of denial, the T-Mobile customers can now get their hands on once quite cool and trendy Treo 600. “Based on the popularity of … Read More »

The hubbub around Technorati story caught me by surprise this week to stay the least. After all like all reporters I pick up the phone, and dail-for-news. Basically following tips with legwork. Sometimes it pans out, and most of the time I strike out. Still, … Read More »

Dave Burstein of DSL Prime argues that when FCC chairman Michael Powell leaves his current gig, it would make sense for someone with industry experience to head up the agency. Hmm! Interesting idea, and even more interesting names he has proposed, though some of … Read More »

Jeffrey Citron, the maverick founder of Vonage, might be taking a page out of his online trading playbook again and using it to manage and run the fast growing, cash guzzling VoIP service provider. Bill Burnham, who used to track online trading business as an analyst … Read More »

If you need a tiny 2.2 GB hard drive that has a USB 2.0 connector and needs no batteries or power cord then the I/O Magic GigaBank 2.2 may be what you need. The standard USB connector folds down into the unit for transport … Read More »

That is the rallying cry coming out of Intel’s headquarters. They might be getting their rear-end smacked by guys like Fujitsu, but Intel is putting a portion of its cash reserves on making WiMAX happen. This morning they announced that they were putting a lot … Read More »

After being comatose for nearly two months, VoIPDaily.com has been revived, thanks to some magical new cures and hard work. Actually the recent barrage of VoIP related news, and some gentle persuasion from a guy who has become a great friend, I have reactivated … Read More »

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