Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Moving Past the Darkness of the World - ONE
Here ONE discusses the reality of the Darkworkers agenda and how to move past its effects on humanity and remove their power over us.
source : ekbtv.blogspot.com
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Moving Past the Darkness of the World
Storm vs Android vs iPhone
Death Match: Storm vs Android vs iPhone
Posted by Sam Churchill on November 25th, 2008JK OntheRun compares AT&T’s iPhone, T-Mobile’s G1 and Verizon’s Storm.
How do they compare? That’s not really a fair question because at the basest level they are totally different phones that should appeal to different users. What I find the most interesting about this comparison is that all three phones are smartphones that are aimed at the consumer. This is a big change from the not so distant past when smartphones were almost exclusively the domain of the enterprise worker. The phones such as these three have straddled the fence and shown the consumer that the benefits of good smartphones are not restricted to the enterprise.
For me, the iPhone is out because it lacks microSD. The Storm is out because it lacks Wi-Fi. Android has both, plus lots of software and the cheapest service. What’s not to like?
source : dailywireless.org
Vietnam Testing Mobile WiMAX
Vietnam Testing Mobile WiMAX
Posted by Sam Churchill on November 28th, 2008
Motorola announced this week that the company has deployed its first WiMAX trial network for Vietnam Datacommunications Company (VDC), a member company of the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), the largest Internet service provider (ISP) in Vietnam.
The network allows VDC to test next-generation wireless broadband services in major cities of Vietnam, the company said.
The launch of the WiMAX service follows the signing of an agreement between Motorola and VDC to commence a technical and commercial WiMAX trial in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City last year. Under the agreement, Motorola will install WiMAX Diversity Access Points and more than 100 customer premises equipment (CPE) in the nation’s two largest cities.
Motorola WiMAX 802.16e technology allows more people across the country access to faster Internet connections and other advanced telecom services, contributing to the country’s economic growth.
“Vietnam Datacommunications Company gains competitive advantages by being a pioneer in trialing and launching new WiMAX services, which will allow us to capture market opportunities in the next generation wireless broadband space,” Mr. Vu Hoang Lien, CEO, VDC.
Motorola says they now have 24 contracts for commercial WiMAX networks in 19 countries.
source : dailywireless.org
Can telcos live without IPTV
Can Telcos Live Without IPTV?
Posted by Sam Churchill on November 28th, 2008Ofcom’s international communications market report indicates that 15 per cent of UK homes were mobile-only in 2007 - an increase of two per cent on the year before. Ofcom said it expects the worldwide economic downturn, coupled with the rise of mobile broadband that gives people fat pipe access without the need to have a landline, to further depress landline uptake.
Speaking at the Informa Mobile, Broadband & TV Industry Outlook conference in London today, Julian Herbert, principal analyst at Informa, said: “Telcos probably are beginning to think they can’t live without it [IPTV] in the current circumstances.”
Blockbuster on Tuesday launched its own direct-to-TV player, taking on rivals Netflix and Apple TV in time for the holiday shopping season.
The player was built in partnership with 2Wire, a company that provides software and hardware for delivering Web content to home TVs. The 2Wire MediaPoint player makes it possible for Blockbuster subscribers with a high-speed Internet connection to rent videos online and play them on their home TV. To lure customers, Blockbuster is offering the player at no charge for people who rent 25 online Blockbuster movies in advance for $99. After the initial rentals, movies are available for prices starting at $1.99 each.
“The player is simple to use, delivers DVD quality video, and there’s no monthly subscription commitment,” Jim Keyes, chairman and chief executive of Blockbuster, said in a statement.
Console-affiliated media portals such as Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE and Sony’s PlayStation Network will soon become formidable competitors to incumbent PayTV services, says Research and Markets.
Netflix streams movies from the Internet to TV sets with the Netflix Player from Roku and by partnering to offer its streaming service via Xbox.
The LIVE Netflix service on Microsoft’s Xbox leverages broadband-enabled game consoles bypassing cable and satellite TV operators by providing a more immersive, interactive video experience. Samsung has announced that its BD-P2500 and BD-P2550 Blu-ray Players will have access to movies and TV shows via Netflix in HD via a firmware update.
Sling.com has two key properties. The first is a well-stocked video portal to streamable TV content from a plethora of partners, including: Hulu, CBS, Discovery, Warner Bros, Sony, MGM, A&E, etc.
Its Live TV content works with a Slingbox. Traditionally, these devices allow users to use a software client to remotely stream content that originates from their home. You can view it through IE or Firefox under Windows XP and Vista (Mac support is coming) or via mobile phone.
Qwest Communications announced this week that it is bringing back lower promotional pricing for its broadband services, with 1.5 Mbps DSL for $14.99 a month for a year (regularly priced at $39.99 a month) and Qwest Connect Platinum with up to 7 Mbps for $24.99 a month for a year (regularly priced at $49.99 a month) to new customers. Telephony magazine says it is an acknowledgement of two realities: First, that the broadband connection becomes more important to consumers during tough times, and second, that a telco losing a broadband customer may lose that customer for good.
source : dailywireless.org
Gigabyte rolls out first mobile device
Gigabyte Rolls Out First Moblin Device
Posted by Sam Churchill on November 28th, 2008Intel’s open source Moblin platform is beginning to ship on consumer electronics products. The Linux-based platform is designed specifically for mobile Internet devices that use Intel’s Atom processor.
Gigabyte is preparing to release the M528, its first Moblin-based device, next week in Taipei. It has an 800Mhz Atom processor, 4GB internal storage, 512MB of RAM, a 3MP camera, and a 4.8-inch LCD touchscreen that supports a resolution of 800×480. It also has support for WiFi and 3G connectivity.
IDG reports that the product will be available for NT$12,900 (US$386) with a 2-year 3G service contract at Chunghwa stores in Taiwan. The device will face strong competition from Apple’s 3G iPhone, which is also set to launch through Chunghwa next month.
Gigabyte’s M700 features a 7” LED backlight display and an Express Card slot that supports both HSPDA and WiMAX.
source : dailywireless.org
Clearwire & Sprint Deal
Clearwire-Sprint: Done Deal
Posted by Sam Churchill on November 28th, 2008Clearwire and Sprint Nextel announced today that they have completed the transaction to combine their next-generation wireless Internet businesses. With the closing, Sprint contributed all of its 2.5 GHz spectrum and its WiMAX-related assets, including its XOHM business, to Clearwire. In addition, Clearwire has received a $3.2 Billion cash investment from Comcast, Intel, Time Warner Cable, Google and Bright House Networks.
The transaction with Sprint and the new cash investment were completed on the terms originally announced on May 7, 2008. The new company retains the name Clearwire and remains headquartered in Kirkland, Washington. The deal (pdf), announced in May, will provide funding for Sprint and Clearwire to build the network and allow cable providers to offer wireless services to help them compete with rivals AT&T and Verizon. It will use Sprint’s existing broadcast wireless towers and its wired fiber network.
On Monday, December 1, 2008, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time (7 a.m. Pacific Time), Clearwire will hold a conference call for press and industry analysts to share its perspective and provide other details about the new company.
Sprint, which had earlier said they’d spend some $5 billion by 2010 building their WiMAX network across the United States, will now own about 51 percent of the new company. Sprint’s new partners will invest some $3 billion. Clearwire will own about 27 percent. Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Intel, Google and Bright House will get a combined 22 percent.
The partners have put the value of the deal at $12 billion, a figure that includes radio spectrum and equipment provided by Sprint Nextel and Clearwire, and the $3.2 billion invested by the partners.
Clearwire will be the only company allowed to sell 4G access as a standalone service, according to Sprint CTO Berry West. Sprint will essentially access the network as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), selling combined 3G and 4G access plans. Clearwire CEO Ben Wolff told the Seattle Times that, ultimately, the company could “get to 20,000 or 30,000 employees” nationally. Clearwire has about 2,000 employees now, including 350 to 400 at its Kirkland headquarters. Sprint has about 700 in its WiMax unit, including a research and development group in Herndon, Va.
Clearwire’s next rollout is expected to be in Portland, Oregon, early next year, where the company has been testing the system with partner Intel for the last year.
Analysis by Juniper Research indicates up to 12% of the global DSL installed base will be substituted by WiMAX by 2013. The Far East will lead with over one fifth of the 47 million subscribers in 2013.
The combined Mobile WiMAX network is expected to cover 120-140 million people in the U.S. by year-end 2010.
source : dailywireless.org
Monday, November 17, 2008
Proxim : "N" Cheaper Than Wire
Proxim: “N” Cheaper Than Wire
Posted by Sam Churchill on November 17th, 2008Proxim announced today its new ORiNOCO AP-8000 and AP-800 access points for enterprises. The company says they are the industry’s first 802.11n solution to achieve 320Mbps. The AP-800, using one Atheros radio, can use either the 2.4 or 5 GHz band. A two radio AP-8000 can use both bands simultaneously. The access points include three, dual-band MIMO antennas for each radio.
The two radio ORiNOCO AP-8000 ($999) and single radio ORiNOCO AP-800 ($799) use less power than competitors, which also require more controllers to feed that power. Proxim provides standardized 48 Volt 802.3af (POE). Proxim says their 20dB 802.11n radio, combined with MIMO, can double the range of 5GHz installations. With added range and throughput, Proxims says their ORiNOCO 802.11n line will cost half of today’s 802.11a/b/g networks when deployed to achieve the same capacity.
Proxim says it’s more cost/effective than stringing Ethernet cable. The lower cost, higher throughput, standardized 48V POE, and ability to work with fewer controllers makes that possible. Proxim also says it also provides substantially higher throughput than typical 10/100 wired LANs. A single radio AP can provide up to 170Mbps while the dual radio can deliver up to 320Mbps.
Proxim’s ORiNOCO AP-8000 and AP-800 dual-radio and single-radio APs feature several industry firsts:
- First 802.11n solution to achieve greater than 300Mbps throughput performance, with dual-radio throughput rates of 320Mbps
- First 802.11n solution to work within the 802.3af (POE) power requirements in both single- and dual-radio 3×3 MIMO 11n configurations, eliminating the cost and hassle of additional wires and power injectors to each AP
- First solution to support Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) globally in all 5GHz bands, which eliminates the worry of network interoperability and interference and provides 10 times the number of 2.4GHz channels
- First solution to support both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz on each 802.11N radio, providing the flexibility for deployment in various environments
- First 802.11n solution that utilizes the same mounting hardware as existing Proxim 802.11a/b/g APs, greatly simplifying upgrades
Other specs include:
- 802.11n draft 2.0, 802.11a, 802.b, 802.g
- 5.15GHz - 5.85GHz; 2.4GHz - 2.483GHz
- 20MHz and 40MHz for 802.11n; 20MHz for 802.11a/b/g
- Auto-sensing 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet
- Antenna: 6 Dual-Band reverse SMA connector – 3dBi
- Full 5GHz certification world-wide: 5.15GHz – 5.85GHz with DFS
- Transmit Power: 802.11n: 19.5dBm, 802.11a: 17dBm, 802.11bg: 16.5dBm
The ProximVision ES network management system provides rapid network deployment and mobile configuration — providing a complete view of the wireless network and comprehensive device configuration. Proxim’s ORiNOCO AP-8000 (dual-radio) and AP-800 (single-radio) products are available immediately for $1,099 and $799 respectively.
source : dailywireless.org
One Laptop GoGo 2.0
One Laptop: GoGo 2.0
Posted by Sam Churchill on November 17th, 2008The nonprofit One Laptop Per Child is launching an advertising campaign that seeks to sharply increase their penetration, reports the NY Times. Television time, billboard space and magazine pages are being donated by media companies, including the News Corporation, CBS and Time Warner.
About 500,000 OLPC laptops are being used in 31 countries, including Afghanistan, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Lebanon, Peru, Rwanda and Uruguay. But the cost of the laptops, at less than $200 each, has been prohibitively high for many countries, and the number of laptops distributed has fallen short of early projections.
An additional 500,000 of these XO laptops are in transit or being built, and should be in use by early next year, said Nicholas Negroponte, chairman of the education and computing project. Last year’s GIGO promotion ended up placing more than 185,000 laptops in developing countries, and according to reports, doing $2 million worth of transactions a day.
The goal, says Negroponte, is to greatly increasing the donation program, “Give a Laptop. Get a Laptop. Change the World.” For $399, a person can donate an XO laptop and also receive one. Or donors can simply donate $199, to give a child a laptop, at www.amazon.com/xo.
The advertising time is donated, and the spots are expected to start conversations. One spot is an uplifting vision of a 7-year-old girl in a South African township, sitting in a dark room, her face lighted only by the laptop’s glow. “With education, we will solve our own problems,” she says.
The XO laptop has a 7.5″ convertible screen, a 433 MHz processor, 256 MB DRAM, 1 GB flash memory, 802.11b/g/s, SD slot, and a built-in webcam and microphone. The operating system is the much-lauded GNU/Linux-based OS called Sugar.
The XO helped give birth to the netbook category, says Wired. When manufacturers such as Asus saw that there was consumer interest in inexpensive, ultraportable laptops, they ran with the idea. The result has been a phenomenal success.
Four million Eee PCs have been sold to date and the company plans to sell 5 million Eee PCs by the end of 2008. Asus expects to sell 10 million Eee’s in 2009.
The low-cost PC market (including notebooks and desktops) is expected to reach annual shipment totals of 10 million units in 2008, according to Jerry Shen, president of Asustek (right).
The CPUs adopted by these 10 million units includes Intel’s Atom and Celeron M, and VIA Technologies’ C7-M. The Atom will account for seven million units, while the other three million will be shared by Celeron M and C7-M processors, noted Shen.
Summary of global Netbook sales
- Europe: 2.7 million sales.
- US, CN, AU, HK, JP: 1.9 million sales.
- CN, TW, SN, ID: 0.57 millions sales.
- Rest of the world (3.9 billion people): 0.15 millions sales.
Asus has unveiled its latest smartphone, which, it claimed, is the “fastest business PDA phone in the world”. The Asus P565 has an 800MHz Marvell processor with a USB port, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and an integrated SiRFStar GPS chip. A launch date or price for the Asus P565 hasn’t been stated yet.
source : dailywireless.org
Boingo Get Ferry-Fi
Boingo Gets Ferry-Fi, Feeney Does WES
Posted by Sam Churchill on November 17th, 2008Boingo Wireless announced today that it has acquired the Wi-Fi networks for the Washington State Ferries from Parsons Transportation Group, and will be providing Wi-Fi access to the daily commuters. Boingo will be adding 11 Washington State Ferries terminals and 15 Ferries to complement its owned and operated airport network.
Washington State Ferries operates the largest ferry fleet in the United States with 28 ferries traversing the Puget Sound and its inland waterways, carrying more than 26 million passengers to 20 different ports of call.
The Ferries Wi-Fi network will be moving to a Boingo-branded start page, where commuters and tourists will be able to purchase Boingo AsYouGo day passes for $7.95, as well as Boingo Unlimited for $21.95 per month. Boingo Unlimited is a monthly service that provides Wi-Fi access throughout the Americas and can be used at any Boingo location.
For current subscribers to the Washington State Ferries Wi-Fi, the monthly subscription will be a decrease in price from $29.95, and will now include the ability to connect to any hotspot in the Boingo Roaming Network. WiFiNetNews has additional background.
Construction is finished for the first commuter rail line in Oregon. The Washington County Commuter Rail will carry passengers between Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin and Wilsonville when the line opens in February, 2008. The self-propelled diesel trains, which delayed the opening, will travel 14.7-miles between Beaverton and Wilsonville — with free Wi-Fi.
The Westside Commuter Rail will use a ruggedized mobile router system called the Cira (Cellular Internet Routing Appliance) designed by Eugene, Oregon-based Feeney Wireless. It uses EVDO for the backhaul. Everything is working as promised, reports the company.
The CIRA mobile router has been battle tested in New York City taxicabs. Creative Mobile Technologies (CMT) provides New York City taxicabs with credit and debit card processing, media and advertising content, text messaging, interactive passengers maps, GPS and electronic trip sheets. Today, CMT is the nation’s leading provider of total taxi technology solutions across the United States. and
Emergency medical vehicles can also use the Cira box to communicate to wifi enabled portable emergency equipment, such as EKG, blood pressure, etc., so first responders can transmit real time patient data to the hospital in transit.
Outfitting a bus with wireless capability costs about $1,000 to $2,000, reports USA Today.
Here are some transit agencies in the United States adopting Wi-Fi.
- The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority added it to its 45-mile rail line between Worchester and Boston in January. Deputy Chief of Staff Kris Erickson said it’s “probably the most well-received enhancement that we’ve ever done.”
- New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced an agreement last September to wire the city’s 277 subway stations in the next six years. The first should be wired in two years.
- Seattle’s King County says wiring and installation on each bus cost $1,000, according to Mike Berman of the county’s Metro Transit Division.
- Microsoft’s free Connector, a regional bus system for employees, which launched in September, will add new routes and double capacity to 4,600 seats a day.
- The Utah Transit Authority began offering Internet service on 60 of its buses in January.
- San Francisco Transit Authority unveiled the “Connected Bus in February.
- BART’s entire 103-mile rail system is likely to get unwired by WiFi Rail which is also in talks with other large urban commuter rail systems, including those in Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta and Los Angeles.
- Cincinnati started its three-month wireless pilot program in March on a single route.
source : dailywireless.org
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Firemachines Slyc
Firemachines' Slyc: a lot less for a lot more
Introducing Firemachines' Slyc: this diminutive desktop is not the smallest we've ever seen -- and regardless of what they say in their product literature, it's hardly a bargain when compared to the Mac mini and other similarly sized desktops. It boasts a Core 2 Duo processor and is available in two flavors. For $999.99 you can expect 2.20GHz, 2GB memory, 200GB storage, and DVD +/- RW; but if you're looking to save a hundred bucks, you can scale back to 2GHz, 1GB memory, 120GB storage and DVD-ROM / CD-RW. The 3-year warranty will run you $129.99 -- which will be worthless if Firemachines isn't around in three years. What do you think? Looking for a machine that reminds you of your old, second generation Genesis? If so, go ahead and hit the read link -- just don't say we didn't warn you.
source : engadget.com
Canonical bringing Ubuntu to ARM devices
Canonical bringing Ubuntu to ARM-powered devices
source : engadget.com
Intel Core i7 CPU
Intel Core i7 CPUs reappear on NewEgg
source : engadget.com
Tectoy Zeebo 3G gaming console
More details of Tectoy's Zeebo 3G gaming console emerge
We recently caught wind of the Zeebo, a new 3G network-based gaming console that's supposedly launching soon in Brazil. Details were pretty hard to come by initially, but now we've gotten some more solid information on the upstart system. It turns out that manufacturer Tectoy is partnering up with cellular carrier Claro, whose 3G network will enable the system to have a constant, free-of-charge connection -- and Qualcomm, which holds a 43 percent ownership in the company. As far as specs are concerned, the Zeebo will apparently run on a BREW-based OS and house an ARM CPU running at 528MHz, with a Qualcomm Adreno 130 graphics core (?), 1GB NAND flash memory, 160MB RAM, 128MB DDR SDRAM and 32MB stacked DDR SDRAM. Marketed to the "growing middle class" of developing countries, the Zeebo will launch in Brazil, where its developers say the downloadable-content format should help combat rampant piracy. The cost of the system is expected to be 599BRL (about $264) with games costing between 7-30BRL (around $3-13). Hit the read links for more details.
source : engadget.com
Peek wants input
Peek wants your input on hacks / tweaks to make e-mail handheld better
source : engadget.com
XM Gets Sirius
XM Gets Sirius
Posted by Sam Churchill on November 12th, 2008
XM Satellite Radio today announced a new lineup with 170 channels from the merger of both XM and SIRIUS. They mixed in new channels and shows with some of the old. Here’s the new line up.
Same deal with Sirius. It will include more than 130 channels of premier music, sports, news and entertainment from both SIRIUS and XM. Sirius added 11 new channels to their lineup with dozens of new shows and on-air personalities.
The new lineup went live on 11/12/08. The new channels are available online. All subscribers with SIRIUS Everything or SIRIUS Everything Plus packages have complimentary access to SIRIUS Internet Radio. If you do not have one of these packages, you can purchase an online-only SIRIUS Internet Radio subscription for $12.95 per month.
You can also add Premium XM channels to your SIRIUS subscription for a few dollars more per month.
Since XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio use different satellites with incompatible technology, current satellite radio receivers cannot receive both satellites. Newer radios are expected to receive both. Orbicast covers the beat.
While XM operates from geosyncronous space, Sirius operates in an elliptical orbit (perigee of 23975 km and apogee of 46983 km), inclined at 63.4 degrees.
Satellite radio uses the 2.3 GHz S band for Digital Audio Radio (DARS) in North America and generally shares the 1.4 GHz L band with local Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) stations elsewhere. Local repeaters enable signals to be available even if the view of the satellite is blocked, for example, by skyscrapers.
Sirius uses 12.5 MHz of the S band between 2320 and 2332.5 MHz. XM uses 12.5 MHz between 2332.5 to 2345.0 MHz. Presently, music is compressed to 44 kbps; voice, 20 kbps; and 16 kbps for low quality audio such as traffic and weather.
XM uses terrestrial repeaters to fill in coverage and better reach inside cars and buildings, a sore point with local broadcasters who say their 2000 watt repeaters have popped up everywhere and unfairly compete with “free” radio.
Satellite radio companies say combining resources will reduce duplication and save everyone money. They claim that competition from terrestrial HD Radio (via IBiquity), iPods, Wi-Fi streaming radio, mobile television (via MediaFLO, ICO’s Mobile Media or Dish Network’s 700 MHz DVB-SH service), cell phones and Mobile WiMAX (featuring both unicasting and broadcasting) will effectively prevent monopoly pricing.
A WiFi table radio, for under $200 could be the best deal. I bought a Grace table radio for my 90 year old mother. She loves it. It works great and has no monthly charges. You can select from over 10,000 streaming stations. It uses your WiFi connection. No computer required.
source : dailywireless.org
Digital Angel Sells VeriChip Stake
Digital Angel Sells VeriChip Stake
Posted by Sam Churchill on November 13th, 2008Digital Angel, a leader in animal RFID and emergency identification solutions, announced today that it has entered into a set of agreements to sell its approximately 45% stake in VeriChip for about $1.57 million in cash.
Digital Angel sold all of its VeriChip stock, approximately 5.4 million shares, to R&R Consulting Partners, a company controlled by Scott Silverman. Further details of the transactions are set forth in the Company’s Form 8-K filing.
According to Joseph Grillo, Chief Executive Officer of Digital Angel, “The completion of these transactions represents a major milestone for Digital Angel, enabling us to monetize our VeriChip holdings and to entirely divest ourselves of participation in a development stage business that, we believe, was going to require substantial investment to achieve success. We remain committed to our two core businesses, Animal ID and Emergency ID, and we look forward to devoting all of our resources towards the growth of those businesses.”
Digital Angel (wikipedia) makes pet RFID products using its patented, FDA-approved implantable microchip for livestock identification and tracking using visual and RFID ear tags as well as and GPS search and rescue gear for use on aircraft, ships and boats, and by adventure enthusiasts.
VeriChip (wikipedia) developed the world’s first and only patented, FDA-cleared, human-implantable RFID microchip. Destron Fearing initially developed the technology for the VeriChip.
Destron Fearing, a subsidiary of Applied Digital Solutions, developed the human-implantable RFID microchip. It’s about twice the length of a grain of rice, and is typically implanted above the triceps area of an individual’s right arm. Once scanned at the proper frequency, the VeriChip responds with a unique 16 digit number which could be then linked with information about the user held on a database for identity verification, medical records access and other uses.
Contactless smart cards communicate with card readers through RFID induction. These cards require only close proximity to an antenna to complete a transaction. They are often used on mass transit systems, where smart cards can be used without even removing them from a wallet.
In related news, Fujitsu has announced a mobile medical companion, the touchscreen ESPRIMO MA Tablet PC. Fanless, and capable of being entirely sterilized, the ESPRIMO MA has a 10.4-inch display, integrated UMTS 3G and WiFi n, together with barcode and RFID readers.
It uses an Intel Atom processor and has a hot-swap battery bay capable of offering full-day power. As well as the data encryption, there’s also a physical lock which can fix the tablet into its docking station. An integrated digital camera, RFID transponder and Bluetooth round out the specs.
Intel says it’s commited to medical technology with embedded hardware building blocks and an extensive software base. Their Intel Health Guide is a care management tool designed for health care professionals who manage patients with chronic conditions.
In January, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the “final rule” on REAL ID Act, describing the requirements and procedures for transforming state ID cards into REAL IDs with embedded RFID chips (realnightmare.org).
As far back as 2003, CASPIAN (Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering) — along with the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the American Civil Liberties Union, and 40 other leading privacy and civil liberties advocates and organizations have condemned the tracking of human beings with RFID as inappropriate. Industry trades include: RFID News, RFID Journal and RFID.org.
source : dailywireless.org
Cybersecurity & Climate Change
| Press Release | ||||||||
| International Telecommunication Union For immediate release |
|
Cybersecurity and Climate Change: ITU Secretary-General’s Declaration
ITU Council High-level segment concludes
Geneva, 14 November 2008 — The 63rd Session of ITU Council opened with a High-Level Segment, 12−13 November 2008. The meeting was inaugurated by two Heads of State, H.E. Mr Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, and H.E. Mr Blaise Compaoré, President of Burkina Faso, as well as by United Nations Secretary-General Mr Ban Ki-moon via video message. It was attended by some 400 participants, 21 Ministers, Ambassadors and heads of regulatory organizations and UN agencies. The High-Level Segment concluded on 13 November 2008 with the following Declaration by ITU Secretary-General, Dr Hamadoun Touré:
"Cybersecurity is one of the most important challenges of our time. The rapid growth of ICT networks has enabled opportunists to exploit online vulnerabilities and attack countries’ critical infrastructure. Spam is a constant and growing problem that threatens to stretch the capacity of the Internet to transport data to the fullest, while phishing and malware affect computer systems around the globe. The costs associated with cyberthreats and cyber-attacks are real and significant – not only in terms of lost revenue, breaches of sensitive data, cyber-attacks and network outages but also in terms of lives ruined by identity theft, debts run up on plundered credit cards or the online exploitation of children. Our very trust in the online world is at stake — jeopardizing the future of the information society, which is in danger from these growing cyberthreats.
ITU has taken a leading role in promoting cybersecurity and trying to combat the growing tidal wave of cyberthreats. On the occasion of the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2007, ITU launched the Global Cybersecurity Agenda. A High-Level Experts Group (HLEG) has spent the last year reviewing the issues and developing proposals for long-term strategies to promote cybersecurity, an achievement honoured with the award of the ITU Silver Medal to the Chair of the HLEG, Chief Judge Stein Schjolberg.
The GCA is now moving into its operational phase and ITU is undertaking a vital partnership in conjunction with IMPACT — the International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber-Threats — hosted by the Government of Malaysia, which will put a global early warning system at the disposal of all Member States. The Child Online Protection (COP) initiative is a vitally important project that will protect one of the most vulnerable groups online by providing valuable guidance on safe online behaviour, in conjunction with other UN agencies and partners. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon yesterday welcomed ITU’s COP initiative and urged all States to support it. ITU Member States stand united in their determination to combat the growing menace of cybercrime and the risks posed by new and emerging cyberthreats.
Climate change is another profound challenge that is at work, transforming the face of the world. Whatever the underlying cause, at current rates of extinction, scientists predict that two-thirds of all bird, mammal, butterfly, and plant species will be extinct by the end of this century. Not only the species, but the very survival of the world we live in and the planet itself, is now in jeopardy. Climate change is a global challenge that the world simply cannot afford to lose — not just for our sake, but for the sake of our children.
ITU is mainstreaming this major issue into its regular work programme. ITU is undertaking important work on how ICTs can help prevent and avert climate change. There is a strong role for ITU in standards for energy efficiency of the ICT equipment on which our digital economy depends. ITU has always taken the lead in setting high standards for telecommunications and ICTs, and this is another key area in which ITU can make a real difference.
The Resolution passed recently at the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) in Johannesburg encourages ITU Member States to work towards reductions in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions arising from the use of ICTs, in line with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. ITU aims to achieve climate neutrality for its operations within three years, and ITU is at the forefront of this progress compared with many other international organizations.
In the global effort to combat climate change, ITU is continuing to help developing countries to mitigate the effects of climate change, including the use of emergency telecommunications and alerting systems for disaster relief. ITU, in collaboration with its membership, is identifying the necessary radio-frequency spectrum for climate monitoring and disaster prediction, detection and relief, including a promising cooperation with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in the field of remote-sensing applications.
ITU will continue to join efforts in the context of the UN system, in order to "deliver as one" with a principal focus on ICTs and climate change. In 2000, UN Members adopted the Millennium Declaration as a renewed commitment to human development, including the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). However, climate change impacts will tend to offset progress being made to meet the MDGs by 2015, so it is crucial to empower developing countries by facilitating their access to the ICTs needed for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
It is widely acknowledged that the issue of climate change is rapidly emerging as a global concern, which needs a global response. The High-Level Segment underlined that Member States are committed to combating climate change: ITU remains committed to combating climate change. ITU’s work is in line with the needs and priorities of our Member States in the vital importance of taking action to combat climate change."
For more information, please contact:
Sanjay AcharyaChief, Media Relations and Public Information
ITU
Tel: +41 22 730 5046
Mobile: +41 79 249 4861
E-mail: sanjay.acharya@itu.int
source : itu.int
Qualcomm our UMB Standard
Qualcomm: Our UMB Standard? Furgetaboutit.
Posted by Sam Churchill on November 13th, 2008Qualcomm, has thrown in the towel on the “4G” standards battle and stopped developing their variant called Ultra Mobile Broadband (wikipedia).
The wireless chip maker will instead put its resources into Long Term Evolution, which some of its major customers, such as Verizon Wireless, have backed.
Chairman Irwin Jacobs told an annual analysts’ meeting on Thursday that there are no plans to undertake “a large layoff across the company” as he expects a modest market recovery in the second half of 2009.
While LTE, WiMAX (and UMB) are often called “4G”, the ITU has not officially santioned “4G” yet. The ITU’s “4G” technology, to be developed around the year 2010, is planned to be capable of supporting up to 100 Mbps (mobile) and 1Gbps (fixed) and could be widely deployed around the year 2015.
UMB could have provided CDMA operators a continuity path that LTE and WiMAX couldn’t provide. But UMB would have required new networks and new handsets when most of the world was going with UMTS-based LTE (or WiMAX). Qualcomm was the odd man out.
Qualcomm wants to increase business from existing cell phone makers such as Sony Ericsson, as well as sell chips to market leader Nokia after ending their legal battles with a technology licensing agreement.
The company is also looking for growth beyond cell phones with its Snapdragon chips, aimed at consumer electronics such as pocket computers or low-power laptops. Qualcomm expects the first devices in the first half of 2009. The dual-CPU QSD8672 solution, with two highly integrated computing processors running at speeds of up to 1.5GHz, is designed to enable new classes of wirelessly connected computing and pocketable computing devices.
Qualcomm’s Kayak PC alternative hopes to leverage the widespread availability of 3G wireless to developing markets where wired Internet access has been difficult. It will combine the Opera browser, Qualcomm’s wireless chipsets and may also be powered by their Snapdragon CPU.
As for its Mediaflo business, Qualcomm plans to expand it beyond the United States, reports Reuters. Chief Operating Officer Len Lauer said Qualcomm could look to buy airwaves in markets such as India. Lauer was Chief Operating Officer of Sprint Nextel from August 2005 to December 2006.
The WiMax camp (backed by the IEEE) and the LTE camp (backed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project - 3GPP) are now prepping their candidates — 802.16m and LTE-Advanced, respectively, for an international “4G” standard that’s beyond WiMAX and LTE. The REAL “4G” standard will be called IMT-Advanced and deliver up to 100 Mbps (mobile) and 1Gbps (fixed).
Key features of ´IMT-Advanced´ include:
- a high degree of commonality of functionality worldwide
- compatibility of services within IMT and with fixed networks
- capability of interworking with other radio access systems
- high quality mobile services
- user equipment suitable for worldwide use
- user-friendly applications, services and equipment
- worldwide roaming capability
- enhanced peak data rates (100 Mbit/s for high and 1 Gbit/s for low mobility).
IMT-Advanced calls for very wide channel widths. The technology needs 40MHz and preferably up to 100MHz channel allocations, says Unstrung. Requirements of that kind are completely new territory for the cellular industry.
The ITU’s proposed IMT-Advanced standard is the brass ring — an opportunity for WiMax and LTE to merge into one integrated ITU “4G” standard. But opinions vary about the likelihood of the two camps blending their rival technologies.
Ron Resnick, the president and chairman of the WiMAX Forum, is unequivocal; “They are not going to harmonize,” he said flatly.
source : dailywireless.org
Google Voice Recognition
Google Voice Recognition on iPhone
Posted by Sam Churchill on November 14th, 2008Google has created an app for the iPhone that will give the handset advanced voice recognition, reports John Markoff from the NY Times. Users of the free application, which Apple is expected to make available as soon as Friday through its iTunes store, can place the phone to their ear and ask virtually any question, like “Where’s the nearest Starbucks?”
It works by recording a soundbite, uploading it to Google’s servers, which will crunch the data and return an answer “within seconds on a fast wireless network”. The company plans to eventually make it available for phones other than the iPhone.
Both Yahoo and Microsoft already offer voice services for cellphones, explains the NY Times. Microsoft’s Tellme service returns information in specific categories like directions, maps and movies. Yahoo’s oneSearch with Voice is more flexible but does not appear to be as accurate as Google’s offering. Yahoo uses Vlingo for the the voice recognition and processing, reports C/Net.
Excuse Me Services offers Say Where, the first iPhone application for voice-entry to popular websites for mapping, business search, and reviews while their Say Who app lets you make calls by speaking any contact name or phone number.
Adobe added voice recognition technology developed by Autonomy, a British firm, to its Soundbooth and Creative Suite 4 software, allowing it to generate transcripts of video and audio recordings with a high degree of accuracy.
Intel’s CTO, Justin Rattner, says raw speed won’t be enough. “I once asked our speech recognition team if there was any direct relationship between machine computing speed and recognition accuracy and after a long pause, they said – because they knew I was not going to be happy with the answer – no.” He asked why: “Our recognition performance is limited by our algorithmic understanding, not by our instruction speed. We can give you the wrong answer much faster, but we can’t give you the right answer much faster.”
In other news, PhoneFusion says Android users will soon be able to see their voicemail as opposed to only hearing it. The phone-side software is currently available for Windows Mobile 5 or 6 and iPhone. AppAppeal and Android Guys review a variety of mobile apps found on Apple’s App Store and Google’s Android Market.
Here are Gizmodo’s 20 Essential iPhone Apps.
source : dailywireless.org
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