Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Iran swapping internet for intranet in August (update)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/10/iran-blocking-access-to-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/10/iran-blocking-access-to-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/10/iran-blocking-access-to-internet/#comments iran google newsThere's dealing with internet comments, and then there's this. According to a statement from Reza Taghipour, the Iranian minister for Information and Communications Technology, Iran will be shutting off access to the world wide in around five months, as it flips the switch on a nationwide "intranet" that'll act like one of the more strict corporate firewalls you may have come in contact with. The reason? It's looking to provide its citizens access to "a clean internet," which is loosely translated into "an internet sans freedom." Instead of providing access to Google, Gmail and Hotmail, users will have to register for an Iran Mail ID -- which "mandates authentic information pertaining to a person's identity, including national ID, address and full name." Evidently, it's all to prevent access to the internet that exists today -- one that "promotes crime, disunity, unhealthy moral content, and atheism" in Taghipour's mind. Crazily enough, he's right about all of that, but it's a small price to pay for access to things like this, no?

Update: Turns out, the original report here was a bit -- shall we say -- sensationalized. According to a breaking update from AFP, Iran has "denied online reports that it plans to cut access to the internet in August and replace it with a national intranet." In truth, Iran does have a plan to implement a "national information network," which is being billed as a "totally closed system that would function like a sort of intranet for the Islamic republic." To date, there's no clarity on whether the aforesaid network will exist alongside the internet or in place of it.

Iran swapping internet for intranet in August (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessblockcontrolfreedomgovernmentintranetiranispprivacyregistrationReza TaghipourRezaTaghipourTue, 10 Apr 2012 00:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Good Technology debuts 'first secure browser' for enterprise Android deployments]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/28/good-technology-debuts-first-secure-browser-for-enterprise-and/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/28/good-technology-debuts-first-secure-browser-for-enterprise-and/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/28/good-technology-debuts-first-secure-browser-for-enterprise-and/#comments Good Technology debuts 'first secure browser' for enterprise Android deployments

Good Technology is touting the latest addition to its Good Mobile Access (GMA) Android software suite, a secure browser. The company's GMA offering gives corporate foot soldiers armed with a smartphone access to secure intranet resources without having to initiate a VPN session -- while simultaneously allowing IT folks to manage mobile ingress. By bringing a browser into the fold, Good's software will allow employees to access databases, resources and collaboration tools without ever having to leave the safe confines of GMA's sandbox. The software maker is targeting outfits with a bring-your-own-device policy in place (and war chests large enough to install the necessary back-end infrastructure). If you're interested in learning more, the full release awaits your review after the break.

Continue reading Good Technology debuts 'first secure browser' for enterprise Android deployments

Good Technology debuts 'first secure browser' for enterprise Android deployments originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AccessAndroidBrowserbusinesscorporateEnterpriseGoodGood Mobile AccessGood TechnologyGoodMobileAccessGoodTechnologyGoogleGoogle PlayGooglePlayinternetMobilemobilepostminismartphonesmartphonesvirtual private networkVirtualPrivateNetworkVPNWebWeb BrowserWebBrowserworld wide webWorldWideWebWed, 28 Mar 2012 11:05:00 EST<![CDATA[BlackBerry phones could get rhythm-to-unlock, like dun-da-da-dun-dun]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/02/blackberry-phones-could-get-rhythm-to-unlock/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/02/blackberry-phones-could-get-rhythm-to-unlock/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/02/blackberry-phones-could-get-rhythm-to-unlock/#comments

Who needs face unlock when you could just tap out a private ditty on your smartphone? Maybe you'd risk giving away your credentials to any vaguely rhythmic phone thief within ten feet, but RIM's engineers have a patent-approved answer to that: Rather than just sensing rhythm, they reckon a phone's accelerometer could also detect the magnitude and location of each tap, which would make it harder for eavesdroppers to mimic. Just don't pick something too syncopated -- not unless you're this guy.

Continue reading BlackBerry phones could get rhythm-to-unlock, like dun-da-da-dun-dun

BlackBerry phones could get rhythm-to-unlock, like dun-da-da-dun-dun originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 07:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accelerometeraccessblackberryBlackBerry PatentBlackberryPatenthandsetM.I.A.mobilepostcrosspasswordpatentphonepinResearch In MotionResearchInMotionrhythmrhythm-to-unlockRIMRIM PatentRimPatentsecurityunlockunlockingUSPTOFri, 02 Mar 2012 07:29:00 EST<![CDATA[OpenWays adds NFC to its Mobile Key for hotels]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/28/openways-adds-nfc-to-its-mobile-key-for-hotels/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/28/openways-adds-nfc-to-its-mobile-key-for-hotels/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/28/openways-adds-nfc-to-its-mobile-key-for-hotels/#comments OpenWays already got the worlds of smartphones and hotel keys more acquainted, now it wants to make them even more intimate. Working with NXP semiconductors, OpenWays has announced it's bringing a little near-field magic to its Mobile Key solution. Now, you can receive your room number direct to your phone, saunter past reception and wave yourself safely past the door. The makers claim that the optimized antennas mean it can work with any phone, carrier and lock system, effectively future-proofing it. So, next time you're off on your travels, best be a little more careful, as this is one room key reception are unlikely to replace should you lose it. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading OpenWays adds NFC to its Mobile Key for hotels

OpenWays adds NFC to its Mobile Key for hotels originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accesshotel keyHotelKeyminipostmobile hotel keyMobileHotelKeynfcnfc hotel keyNfcHotelKeyopenwaysOpenWays Mobile KeyOpenwaysMobileKeyrfidsecuritytravelTue, 28 Feb 2012 15:12:00 EST<![CDATA[RealVNC teams up with Sony to bring Android apps to the dashboard]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/27/realvnc-teams-up-with-sony-to-bring-android-apps-to-the-dashboar/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/27/realvnc-teams-up-with-sony-to-bring-android-apps-to-the-dashboar/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/27/realvnc-teams-up-with-sony-to-bring-android-apps-to-the-dashboar/#comments Sony and RealVNC have announced a partnership that aims to liberate your smartphone's applications and content, bringing the wares to your car's dashboard. Once a VNC-enabled vehicle and Android handset are paired, users can access and manipulate the device's applications, music library and stream web content directly to the car's infotainment system. In order to preserve public safety, and meet "regulatory requirements," the system can detect vehicle velocity and will revoke the proverbial keys to your mobile kingdom while you're in motion. The RealVNC code will be bundled with "all new 2012 Xperia handsets" and the accompanying VNC Automotive software has -- according to the press release, anyway -- "been widely adopted by the automotive industry." What's more, the VNC goodies will allow Sony support specialists to troubleshoot your Xperia handset remotely, should you request such assistance. Mosey on past the break for a look at the full announcement.

Continue reading RealVNC teams up with Sony to bring Android apps to the dashboard

RealVNC teams up with Sony to bring Android apps to the dashboard originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessAndroidappsassistancecarcarsconsoleentertainment systemEntertainmentSysteminfotainmentiPod ConnectIpodConnectmobilepostminiRealRealVNCremoteremote accessremote assistanceRemoteAccessRemoteAssistancesmartphoneSonystreaming audioStreamingAudioVNCVNC AutomotiveVncAutomotiveXperiaXperia PXperia UXperiaPXperiaUMon, 27 Feb 2012 15:46:00 EST<![CDATA[HP India to expand web access with Vayu Internet Device]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/18/hp-india-to-expand-web-access-with-vayu-internet-device/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/18/hp-india-to-expand-web-access-with-vayu-internet-device/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/18/hp-india-to-expand-web-access-with-vayu-internet-device/#comments
The Internet is gradually seeping its way into homes across India, but there are many within the country who remain too poor to actually purchase a PC. Fortunately, HP India has just developed new technology known as the Vayu Internet Device, or VInD, that could dramatically lessen this gap. According to the Times of India, the company's new set top box will essentially allow users to access web content via traditional TVs, using standard remotes, rather than keyboards or mice. All they'd have to do is plug it in, subscribe to an internet service, and turn on their in-home televisions. The idea, of course, is to deepen web penetration across lower-income populations, as well as among the elderly, who may have difficulties manipulating more complex computer equipment. No word yet on when the VInD could hit the market, but the Times of India has a more comprehensive rundown, at the source link below.

HP India to expand web access with Vayu Internet Device originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accesseconomicsentertainmenthphp indiaHpIndiaincomeindiainternetinternet accessInternetAccessISPmoneypriceproductresearchset top boxSetTopBoxTVvayu internet deviceVayuInternetDeviceViNDWed, 18 Jan 2012 08:20:00 EST<![CDATA[ViaSat residential satellite broadband internet hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/08/viasat-residential-satellite-broadband-internet-hands-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/08/viasat-residential-satellite-broadband-internet-hands-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/08/viasat-residential-satellite-broadband-internet-hands-on-video/#comments Last Thursday, ViaSat announced pricing for its new home broadband service, which is set to deliver 12 Mbps+ download speeds (3 Mbps+ up) beginning next week for $50 per month. We just dropped by the company's demo home just a few feet from the Engadget trailer at the Las Vegas Convention Center parking lot to try it out, and were quite impressed with the speeds we saw, especially considering that data was passing through the ViaSat-1 satellite thousands of miles above the Earth. We've used other satellite internet services before, and while there's still just over a half-second of latency, bandwidth speeds were significantly faster than what we've experienced with other services in the past.

HD YouTube videos loaded very quickly, after a brief delay, as did Engadget and many other media-rich news websites. We performed a speed test and registered ping speeds of about 600ms, download speeds of about 30 Mbps and upload speeds of about 2 Mbps, but results aren't as accurate as they would be with a land-based connection because of latency and the way packet data is handled. We also placed a VOIP call, and while the delay was noticeable there, it was still usable. Want to see for yourself? Jump past the break as we step through ViaSat's front door to hop online.

Gallery: ViaSat residential satellite broadband internet hands-on

Continue reading ViaSat residential satellite broadband internet hands-on (video)

ViaSat residential satellite broadband internet hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accesshands-onin-flight wifiIn-flightWifiinternetinternet accessInternetAccesska bandka-bandKaBandnorth americaNorthAmericaNRTCrural broadbandRuralBroadbandsatellitesatellite broadbandsatellite internetSatelliteBroadbandSatelliteInternetserviceservice providersServiceProvidersviasatviasat-1videoSun, 08 Jan 2012 15:46:00 EST<![CDATA[ViaSat details home broadband, 12 Mbps service to roll out on the 16th for $50 per month]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/05/viasat-details-home-broadband-12-mbps-service-to-roll-out-on-th/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/05/viasat-details-home-broadband-12-mbps-service-to-roll-out-on-th/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/05/viasat-details-home-broadband-12-mbps-service-to-roll-out-on-th/#comments Earlier this year, ViaSat launched its ViaSat-1, a 140 Gbps capacity satellite positioned over North America. We've already heard about plans to bring Ka-band coverage to the friendly JetBlue skies later this year, but now the new broadband provider has detailed residential availability as well, through the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative. NRTC members will have access to 12 Mbps service packages starting at $50 per month as soon as January 16th, finally bringing high-speed broadband to areas where fiber and cable services are not available. ViaSat may not be rolling out to consumers for another couple weeks, but the provider will be on-site at CES to demo the service in "residential, commercial airline, and satellite newsgathering" scenarios beginning Tuesday, and you better believe we'll be there to test it out.

Continue reading ViaSat details home broadband, 12 Mbps service to roll out on the 16th for $50 per month

ViaSat details home broadband, 12 Mbps service to roll out on the 16th for $50 per month originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessBroadwayin-flight wifiIn-flightWifiinternetinternet accessInternetAccesska bandka-bandKaBandNational Rural Telecommunications CooperativeNationalRuralTelecommunicationsCooperativenorth americaNorthAmericaNRTCrural broadbandRuralBroadbandsatellitesatellite broadbandsatellite internetSatelliteBroadbandSatelliteInternetserviceservice providersServiceProvidersviasatviasat-1Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:59:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T brings free WiFi to eleven NYC parks, untold pigeon ladies]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/04/atandt-brings-free-wifi-to-eleven-nyc-parks-untold-pigeon-ladies/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/04/atandt-brings-free-wifi-to-eleven-nyc-parks-untold-pigeon-ladies/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/04/atandt-brings-free-wifi-to-eleven-nyc-parks-untold-pigeon-ladies/#comments
There was once a time, believe it or not, when New Yorkers would go to public parks to engage in long strolls, unfettered cigarette smoking, and neurotic conversations with Diane Keaton. Recent years, however, have seen a sudden change in this behavior due to a variety of factors -- including AT&T. Yesterday, the provider announced an expansion of its ongoing New York City WiFi initiative, bringing free connectivity to eleven new sites across the five boroughs, including Prospect Park, Tompkins Square Park and Marcus Garvey Park, among others. With these new additions, AT&T inches closer to its stated goal of bathing 26 park locations in WiFi, though the Grand Poobah, Central Park, remains in the dark. As with its earlier rollout, visitors won't need an AT&T account to get online. In fact, they won't need any contract at all -- just a WiFi-enabled device, a cozy bench and bountiful downtime. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading AT&T brings free WiFi to eleven NYC parks, untold pigeon ladies

AT&T brings free WiFi to eleven NYC parks, untold pigeon ladies originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 06:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessATTbloombergbrooklyncarrierexpansionhotspotmanhattanmobilepostcrossnew york cityNewYorkCityNYCparkprospect parkProspectParkwebwifiwirelessFri, 04 Nov 2011 06:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Comcast's Internet Essentials offers $10 internet access to low-income families]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/06/comcasts-internet-essentials-offers-10-internet-access-to-low/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/06/comcasts-internet-essentials-offers-10-internet-access-to-low/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/06/comcasts-internet-essentials-offers-10-internet-access-to-low/#comments Earlier this year, when Comcast bought up NBC Universal, the company made a promise to boost broadband access in underserved communities and, with the launch of its new Internet Essentials service, it looks poised to follow through on that commitment. Originally laid out as the Comcast Broadband Opportunity Program, the plan offers internet access for only $10 a month to families with children who qualify for free lunch programs. Taking its commitment even further, the outfit is offering a $150 voucher for the purchase of a computer, access to free digital literacy training, and a Norton Security Suite. Of course there are a couple of requirements -- one being that you have to have made good on previous Comcast bills -- but we're hoping this will help the old red, white, and blue climb a couple rungs on the broadband adoption ladder. Full details of the ambitious plan await you in the PR after the break.

Continue reading Comcast's Internet Essentials offers $10 internet access to low-income families

Comcast's Internet Essentials offers $10 internet access to low-income families originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Aug 2011 20:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10 broadband10Broadbandaccessaccessibilitybroadbandbroadband accessbroadband adoptionBroadbandAccessBroadbandAdoptionComcastComcast Internet EssentialsComcastInternetEssentialsinternet accessInternet Essentialsinternet service providerInternetAccessInternetEssentialsInternetServiceProviderlow-incomelow-income familiesLow-incomeFamiliesserviceSat, 06 Aug 2011 20:04:00 EST<![CDATA[FCC measures US wireline advertised broadband speeds, fiber dominates cable and DSL]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/fcc-measures-us-wireline-advertised-broadband-speeds-fiber-domi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/fcc-measures-us-wireline-advertised-broadband-speeds-fiber-domi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/fcc-measures-us-wireline-advertised-broadband-speeds-fiber-domi/#comments Ever wonder if the speeds your ISP advertises are actually what you're getting while reloading Engadget all day? The FCC did, and decided to team up with 13 major broadband providers in the US to test how they performed from February to June of this year. Notably, during peak hours the average continuous download speeds of fiber connections were 14 percent faster than advertised, while cable and DSL were slower than claimed by 8 and 18 percent, respectively. Upload speeds also varied, with DSL again dipping the lowest at 95-percent of what's advertised -- might be time to ask your phone-based ISP for a partial refund, no? In addition to sustained speeds, the FCC analyzed consumer connections' latency and the effect of ISP speed boost tech on activities like VoIP, gaming, and video streaming.

In concluding its research, the Commission noted that it should be easy to get tools in users' hands for keeping better tabs on ISP-provided services, without needing to contact customer frustrations relations. The study is chock full of even more graphs and stats, which you'll find by hitting that source link below. Now, if only we could get those speeds on par with our friends across the Atlantic.

Continue reading FCC measures US wireline advertised broadband speeds, fiber dominates cable and DSL

FCC measures US wireline advertised broadband speeds, fiber dominates cable and DSL originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 07:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessbroadband speedbroadband speedsBroadbandSpeedBroadbandSpeedscableconnectivitydatadslFCCfederal communications commissionFederalCommunicationsCommissionfiber opticFiberOpticgovernmentinternetinternet service providerinternet speedinternet speedsInternetServiceProviderInternetSpeedInternetSpeedsispMeasuring American BroadbandMeasuringAmericanBroadbandresearchstatisticsstatsstudyunited statesUnitedStatesusus broadbandusaUsBroadbandwebwirelinewireline broadbandWirelineBroadbandWed, 03 Aug 2011 07:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Fiber puts boots on the ground, begins detail engineering in Kansas Cities]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/28/google-fiber-puts-boots-on-the-ground-begins-detail-engineering/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/28/google-fiber-puts-boots-on-the-ground-begins-detail-engineering/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/28/google-fiber-puts-boots-on-the-ground-begins-detail-engineering/#comments We've come a long way since Google first started taking about launching a fiber-based ISP -- from beta tests, to hopeful communities, to Topeka fools day, to selecting not one, but two Kansas Cities. Now, it's "boots on the ground," time according to the Google Fiber blog: detail engineering starts now. In the coming weeks, Kansas City residents (presumably on both sides of the Kansas / Missouri border) can expect to see El Goog's engineers measuring phone poles, gathering geographical data, and asking hard-hitting questions, like "What is your address?" All this footwork will help Google get a head start on building that sweet, ultra-high-speed gigabit network. Not the most glamorous bit of Google magic we've ever seen, but it's still exciting to hear that preliminary work has begun. Of course, it would be even more exciting if this were coming where we lived.

Google Fiber puts boots on the ground, begins detail engineering in Kansas Cities originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 02:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessfiberfiber for communitiesfiber optic internetFiberForCommunitiesFiberOpticInternetgoogleGOogle fibergoogle fiber bloggoogle fiber for communitiesgoogle ultra high-speed interenetGoogleFiberGoogleFiberBlogGoogleFiberForCommunitiesgooglenetGoogleUltraHigh-speedInterenethigh speedHighSpeedInternetInternet accessInternetAccessispKkansaskansas citykansas city kansaskansas city missouriKansasCityKansasCityKansasKansasCityMissouriThu, 28 Jul 2011 02:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Sonic.net starts trial of 1Gbps fiber-to-the-home internet in California, asks just $70]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/13/sonic-net-starts-trial-of-1gbps-fiber-to-the-home-internet-in-ca/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/13/sonic-net-starts-trial-of-1gbps-fiber-to-the-home-internet-in-ca/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/13/sonic-net-starts-trial-of-1gbps-fiber-to-the-home-internet-in-ca/#comments You'll be forgiven for not being intimately familiar with Californian ISP Sonic.net, though we get the feeling you'll also wish it operated a little closer to your abode by the time you've finished reading this. You see, Sonic has always dabbled in the business of high-speed, low-price internet connectivity, and now it's going for the jugular with a new fiber-to-the-home service, which costs just $69.95 a month, reaches speeds up to 1Gbps, and bundles in two phone lines and unlimited long distance calling. Just for reference, Comcast's "Extreme" 105Mbps connection costs $105 a pop when taken as part of a bundle, whereas Sonic's budget menu option will net you a 100Mbps line for $39.95 (plus a phone line with unlimited calls). Understandably, Sonic's grand plan is starting out small, with a trial in Sebastopol spanning 700 households, but provided the company doesn't go bust by giving people so much for so little, expansion to bigger cities will follow, with San Francisco and Santa Rosa being the prime candidates. And just in case you're questioning Sonic's credentials, Google's chosen the ISP to manage its gigabit fiber network at Stanford University, and who knows ultrafast broadband better than Google?

[Thanks, Roland]

Sonic.net starts trial of 1Gbps fiber-to-the-home internet in California, asks just $70 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 02:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1gbpsaccessbroadbandcaliforniaconnectivityfiberfiber opticfiber to the homefiber-to-the-homeFiberOpticFiberToTheHomeftthgigabitgigabit internetGigabitInternetinternetisppilotsonicsonic.nettrialwebMon, 13 Jun 2011 02:49:00 EST<![CDATA[US funds shadow networks, builds 'internet in a suitcase' for repressed protesters]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/12/us-funds-shadow-networks-builds-internet-in-a-suitcase-for-re/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/12/us-funds-shadow-networks-builds-internet-in-a-suitcase-for-re/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/12/us-funds-shadow-networks-builds-internet-in-a-suitcase-for-re/#comments Whether a repressive government, a buggy DNS server or a little old lady is behind your internet outage, it can't be much fun, but the US government sympathizes with your plight if you're dealing with reason number one. The New York Times reports that the US State Department will have spent upwards of $70 million on "shadow networks" which would allow protesters to communicate even if powers that be pull the traditional plug -- so far, it's spent at least $50 million on a independent cell phone network for Afghanistan, and given a $2 million grant to members of the New America Foundation creating the "internet in a suitcase" pictured above. It's a batch of mesh networking equipment designed to be spirited into a country to set up a private network. Last we'd heard, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had pledged $25 million for just this sort of internet freedom, and the New America Foundation had applied for some of those bucks -- see our more coverage links below -- but it sounds like the money is flowing fast, and in multiple directions now.

US funds shadow networks, builds 'internet in a suitcase' for repressed protesters originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Jun 2011 12:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessblockagecensorshipcircumventClintoncommunicationcommunicationsgovernmentHilary ClintonHilaryClintoninternetNew AmericaNew America FoundationNewAmericaNewAmericaFoundationoutageprotestprotestersprotestorsrepressionstateState DepartmentStateDepartmentUnited StatesUnitedStatesSun, 12 Jun 2011 12:18:00 EST<![CDATA[US lags in broadband adoption and download speeds, still has the best rappers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/21/us-lags-in-broadband-adoption-and-download-speeds-still-has-the/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/21/us-lags-in-broadband-adoption-and-download-speeds-still-has-the/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/21/us-lags-in-broadband-adoption-and-download-speeds-still-has-the/#comments US Ranks #9 U, S, A! We're number nine! Wait, nine? At least according to a recent broadband survey by the FCC, yes. The good ol' US of A ranked ninth (out of the 29 member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) in fixed broadband penetration on a per capita basis, and 12th in terms of pure percentage -- behind the UK, South Korea, Iceland, the Netherlands, and plenty of others. Though, granted, these nations lack the sprawling amber waves of grain that America must traverse with cables. The US also trailed in wireless broadband adoption, ranking ninth yet again, behind the likes of Ireland, Australia and Sweden. Worse still, even those with broadband reported slower connections than folks in other countries. Olympia, Washington had the highest average download speeds of any US city with 21Mbps (New York and Seattle tied for second with 11.7Mbps), but was easily topped by Helsinki, Paris, Berlin, and Seoul (35.8Mbps). Well, at least we beat Slovenia... if only just barely.

US lags in broadband adoption and download speeds, still has the best rappers originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 May 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessbandwidthbroadbandbroadband adoptionbroadband penetrationbroadband speedsBroadbandAdoptionBroadbandPenetrationBroadbandSpeedsdatadownload speedsDownloadSpeedsFCCfiguresgovernmentinternetnumbersoecdonlineOrganization for Economic Co-operation and DevelopmentOrganizationForEconomicCo-operationAndDevelopmentresearchspeedspeedsstatisticsstatssurveyUSUSASat, 21 May 2011 18:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Fujitsu to build 1Gbps fiber optic broadband network in the UK, but needs BT to play fair first]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/13/fujitsu-to-build-1gbps-fiber-optic-broadband-network-in-the-uk/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/13/fujitsu-to-build-1gbps-fiber-optic-broadband-network-in-the-uk/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/13/fujitsu-to-build-1gbps-fiber-optic-broadband-network-in-the-uk/#commentsGood news for anyone feeling left behind by the broadband revolution just because of their post code: Fujitsu has just announced a joint venture to deliver fiber optic connectivity to neglected rural homes in the UK. Built on hardware provided by Cisco and supported by Virgin Media and TalkTalk, this network will focus on channeling fiber directly to the home, which is said to provide symmetrical 1Gbps bandwidth with up to 10Gbps speeds considered possible down the line. Best news of all, perhaps, is that the cabling will be available on a wholesale basis to all ISPs, not just the ones involved in the project, so the UK may finally get a decent taste of what competition in the internet service space feels like. Alas, there's a key line in the press release that notes the new venture is dependent on BT providing "access to its underground ducts and telegraph poles on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms," which it apparently isn't doing at the moment. Ah well, we're sure they'll sort things out like the mature professionals that they are. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Fujitsu to build 1Gbps fiber optic broadband network in the UK, but needs BT to play fair first

Fujitsu to build 1Gbps fiber optic broadband network in the UK, but needs BT to play fair first originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 05:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1gbpsaccessbritainbroadbandbtciscofiberfiber opticfiber opticsfiber to the homeFiberOpticFiberOpticsFiberToTheHomeftthfujitsugigabitinfrastructureinternetonlineplansroadmaprolloutscheduletalktalkukunited kingdomUnitedKingdomvirginvirgin mediaVirginMediawholesaleWed, 13 Apr 2011 05:21:00 EST<![CDATA[PogoPlug Video and Buffalo CloudStor now shipping, streaming your stuff all over the place]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/07/pogoplug-video-and-buffalo-cloudstor-now-shipping-streaming-you/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/07/pogoplug-video-and-buffalo-cloudstor-now-shipping-streaming-you/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/07/pogoplug-video-and-buffalo-cloudstor-now-shipping-streaming-you/#comments Yes, you've seen these guys before, and now the latest PogoPlug offspring are ready to ship. Both PogoPlug Video and its storage-sporting cousin, the Buffalo CloudStor, put their own unique twist on the firm's remote access service. As you might recall, PogoPlug Video, which is now available exclusively from Best Buy for $200, allows you to hook up your external hard drives and share streaming video, music, and images to devices anywhere with internet access. Buffalo's CloudStor, on the other hand, provides the same cloud-based access, with a little something extra. It's the first PogoPlug branded gadget to sport integrated storage, and comes in three iterations, ringing in at $150 for 1TB, $210 for 2TB, and $250 for the 2TB Pro version. Now you can share all your favorite kitten clips, without ever uploading them to YouTube. Isn't that precious?

PogoPlug Video and Buffalo CloudStor now shipping, streaming your stuff all over the place originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 02:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessbuffalobuffalo cloudstorBuffaloCloudstorcloudcloud computingcloud enginecloud enginescloud storageCloudComputingCloudEngineCloudEnginescloudstorCloudStoragedriveengineengineshard driveHardDriveNASnetwork attached storagenetwork driveNetworkAttachedStorageNetworkDrivepogoplugpogoplug videoPogoplugVideoremote accessRemoteAccesssharesharingstreamingstreaming videoStreamingVideovideovideo sharingvideo streamingVideoSharingVideoStreamingThu, 07 Apr 2011 02:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Google's gigabit fiber network to be built in Kansas City, Kansas; people of Topeka reportedly crestfallen]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/googles-gigabit-fiber-network-to-be-built-in-kansas-city-kansa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/googles-gigabit-fiber-network-to-be-built-in-kansas-city-kansa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/googles-gigabit-fiber-network-to-be-built-in-kansas-city-kansa/#comments We were just wondering what Google was doing with that super-fast gigabit network it promised to set up in one lucky city and here's finally a fresh development. The winner has been chosen and it's Kansas City, Kansas. Having the winning community in its own state will be quite the bitter pill for the people of Topeka to swallow, as they actually renamed their town to Google, Kansas, just to try and appease the Mountain View overlords. Hey, we're sure Google knows best! An agreement has now been signed to roll out the fiber goodness in Kansas City, which should result in gigabit service becoming available to locals in 2012. A press event is scheduled for 1PM ET, which will be livestreamed at the YouTube link below, and you can check out the announcement video after the break while you wait.

Update: That livestream is rolling, folks! Google's reps just said "this is the beginning and not the end." Kansas City, Kansas, will be just the first market where this 1Gbps goodness will be installed. Guess there's hope for the rest of us yet.

Continue reading Google's gigabit fiber network to be built in Kansas City, Kansas; people of Topeka reportedly crestfallen

Google's gigabit fiber network to be built in Kansas City, Kansas; people of Topeka reportedly crestfallen originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1gbpsaccessbroadbandbroadband accessBroadbandAccessfastfibergigabitgoogleinternetkansaskansas cityKansasCitynetworknetworkingprojectspeedvideowinnerWed, 30 Mar 2011 12:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Kindle subscription to the New York Times will net you free web access as well]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/29/kindle-subscription-to-the-new-york-times-will-net-you-free-web/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/29/kindle-subscription-to-the-new-york-times-will-net-you-free-web/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/29/kindle-subscription-to-the-new-york-times-will-net-you-free-web/#comments Can't get enough New York Times over your Whispernet? Worry not, dear Kindle reader, for Amazon's on a roll with its announcements today, the latest of which is that a subscription to the NYT on its world-conquering e-reader will also grant users access to the paywall-protected NYTimes.com online portal. No complex rules or conditions, you'll just be one of the insiders who get unfettered access to all the fine old school journalism practiced at Times towers. See Amazon's press release after the break or hit the source link to learn more about the $28-a-month (for international users) subscription.

Update: The sub price is $20 in the USA, the $28 cost we first saw relates to those signing up from the UK and other international markets. Thanks, russke!

Continue reading Kindle subscription to the New York Times will net you free web access as well

Kindle subscription to the New York Times will net you free web access as well originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 07:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessamazonamazon kindleAmazonKindlecontente booke bookse readere readerse-booke-bookse-readere-readersereaderinternetkindlekindle editionKindleEditionnew york timesnewspaperNewYorkTimesnytnytimes.comonlinepaywallreadingsubsubscriptionwebwhispernetTue, 29 Mar 2011 07:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Ericsson will let you unlock the bootloader on new Xperia Android phones -- subject to conditions]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/29/sony-ericsson-will-let-you-unlock-bootloader-on-new-xperia-andro/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/29/sony-ericsson-will-let-you-unlock-bootloader-on-new-xperia-andro/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/29/sony-ericsson-will-let-you-unlock-bootloader-on-new-xperia-andro/#comments While one group of Android phone makers is swinging towards locking their hardware down, Sony Ericsson is resolutely headed in the other direction. The Swedo-Japanese consortium has just announced it will provide a secure and legal way for eager Android hackers to gain full control of the bootloader on some of its upcoming 2011 Xperia line of phones. All four models are covered, the Xperia Play, Neo, Pro, and Arc, however you have to make sure you buy a handset that isn't SIM-locked to a carrier and then there are territorial considerations to take into account. Warranties may still be voided by fooling around with your Xperia's software (again, depends on individual handsets and markets) and SE warns gravely of the potential for "physical injuries or material damage" if you freak your Android into overheating or worse. So proceed with caution, but know that Sony Ericsson is by your side*.

* Subject to terms and conditions, repair charges may be incurred, Android upgrades are promised but never guaranteed.

Sony Ericsson will let you unlock the bootloader on new Xperia Android phones -- subject to conditions originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 04:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessandroidboot loaderBootLoaderdevelopersdevelopmentgingerbreadhackhackingoperating systemOperatingSystemossmartphonesony ericssonSonyEricssonunlockunlockingwarrantyxperiaxperia arcxperia neoxperia playXperia ProXperiaArcXperiaNeoXperiaPlayXperiaProTue, 29 Mar 2011 04:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Internet access blocked across much of Libya]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/05/internet-access-blocked-across-much-of-libya/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/05/internet-access-blocked-across-much-of-libya/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/05/internet-access-blocked-across-much-of-libya/#comments It's sort of becoming the "thing to do" when people are revolting: find a way to cut people's access to the internet. This happened across most of Libya yesterday, according to various traffic monitors. Traffic from the country to sites like YouTube and Google nearly disappeared, even though it seems that technically, the servers are still up and running. Unlike the previous actions of the Egyptian government, which took down entire servers, it appears that in this case, some wicked throttling is occurring. While it's not completely clear who is choking the bandwidth, the assumption that it's the Libyan government is probably not an insane one. Hit up the source links for more.

Internet access blocked across much of Libya originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 Mar 2011 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accesscensorshipgaddafigovernmentinternetlibyalibyan governmentLibyanGovernmentprotestprotestsrevolutionthrottlingSat, 05 Mar 2011 13:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Shocker! UK regulator finds average broadband speeds are 'less than half' those advertised]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/shocker-uk-regulator-finds-average-broadband-speeds-are-less-t/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/shocker-uk-regulator-finds-average-broadband-speeds-are-less-t/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/shocker-uk-regulator-finds-average-broadband-speeds-are-less-t/#comments You don't have to go to the lengths of compiling a statistical project to know that advertised and actual broadband speeds are two pretty disparate entities, but it does help. Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, recently took a thorough look at 11 broadband packages, which collectively account for over 90 percent of all British broadband subscriptions, and found that actual download throughput was less than half (only 45 percent) of the advertised "up to" speed. The worst offenders were resellers of BT's ADSL lines, with Orange dipping below 3Mbit on its 8Mbit lines and TalkTalk occasionally offering only 7.5Mbit to users paying for a 24Mbit connection, while Virgin's cable connectivity won out by sticking most loyally to its listed rating. What Ofcom proposes for the future is that all these service providers start offering Typical Speed Ranges that more accurately reflect the bandwidth a potential subscriber would be buying into -- a proposal that might actually have some teeth as the British Advertising Standards Authority is currently in the midst of a review specifically concerned with broadband advertising practices. Transparency in the way we're sold broadband? That'd make a welcome change!

Shocker! UK regulator finds average broadband speeds are 'less than half' those advertised originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 05:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessadvertisingbroadbandcommunicationsconnectivitydatafiguresinternetispnumbersofcomregulatorresearchshockerspeedstatsthroughputtransparencyukunited kingdomUnitedKingdomwatchdogwebWed, 02 Mar 2011 05:42:00 EST<![CDATA[United States gets a National Broadband Map, finds much of its nation doesn't have broadband]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/18/united-states-gets-a-national-broadband-map-finds-much-of-its-n/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/18/united-states-gets-a-national-broadband-map-finds-much-of-its-n/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/18/united-states-gets-a-national-broadband-map-finds-much-of-its-n/#comments The FCC of the Obama administration has been very keen to highlight the fact that many Americans today still aren't riding the information superhighway, a mission of awareness-spreading that was advanced a little more yesterday with the introduction of the National Broadband Map. Mostly the work of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, this $200 million project provides broadband data for thousands of providers with over 25 million searchable records -- all of which can be visualized in map form, categorized by connectivity type, or downloaded in full to your computer. APIs have been made available for anyone interested in remixing / using the NBM elsewhere, while information updates are promised every six months. In terms of the maps' content, we're still seeing unsatisfactorily wide swathes of broadband-free countryside, but we suppose the first step to fixing a problem is admitting you have one.

United States gets a National Broadband Map, finds much of its nation doesn't have broadband originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AccessBroadbandBroadband MapBroadbandMapCommunicationsConnectivityDataDigital DivideDigitalDivideFccFiguresGovernmentInformationInternetMapMappingNationalNational Broadband MapNationalBroadbandMapNtiaNumbersRuralSpeedStateStatisticsStatsTelecommunicationsUnited StatesUnitedStatesUsaWebFri, 18 Feb 2011 08:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Egypt comes back online, has a ton of unread feeds to catch up on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/02/egypt-comes-back-online-has-a-ton-of-unread-feeds-to-catch-up-o/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/02/egypt-comes-back-online-has-a-ton-of-unread-feeds-to-catch-up-o/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/02/egypt-comes-back-online-has-a-ton-of-unread-feeds-to-catch-up-o/#comments Good news for the people of Egypt: internet connectivity has been almost universally restored. Bad news for the people of Egypt: they'll need at least a few weeks to catch up on all the Twitter mentions they've accumulated while being away.

Egypt comes back online, has a ton of unread feeds to catch up on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 08:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessblackoutblockcommunicationcommunicationsconnectionconnectivityegyptgovernmentinternetinternet accessInternetAccessnetonlinerenesysstatewebWed, 02 Feb 2011 08:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Art Project offers gigapixel images of art classics, indoor Street View of museums]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/01/google-art-project-offers-gigapixel-images-of-art-classics-ind/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/01/google-art-project-offers-gigapixel-images-of-art-classics-ind/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/01/google-art-project-offers-gigapixel-images-of-art-classics-ind/#comments Google's been hard at work over the past 18 months on something not many of us have been paying attention to lately: art. Specifically, the search giant has hooked up with 17 art museums around the world to offer tours of their internal galleries, using its familiar Street View tricycles, while also doing high-res images of 1,061 artworks that may be viewed on the newly launched Art Project web portal. Also there, you will find 17 special gigapixel images -- 7,000-megapixel versions of each participating venue's proudest possession. The resulting level of detail is nothing short of astounding and we've got videos of how it's all done after the break.

Continue reading Google Art Project offers gigapixel images of art classics, indoor Street View of museums

Google Art Project offers gigapixel images of art classics, indoor Street View of museums originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 06:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessaccess to artAccessToArtartart museumsartistsArtMuseumsartworkbrushworkclassicscollaborationdetaildetaileddetailsgalleriesgigapixelgooglegoogle street viewGoogleStreetViewhigh resolutionhigh-resHighResolutionhistoryindoor street viewIndoorStreetViewinternetmuseumspaintingpaintingsstreet viewStreetViewvideowebTue, 01 Feb 2011 06:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Egypt enters communication blackout with disruption to internet, SMS, and BlackBerry messaging]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/28/egypt-enters-communication-blackout-with-disruption-to-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/28/egypt-enters-communication-blackout-with-disruption-to-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/28/egypt-enters-communication-blackout-with-disruption-to-internet/#comments We don't know what exactly is going on over in Egypt, but the country's government seems to have decided that keeping in touch with the outside world is no longer desirable and has almost completely shut down internet, SMS, and BlackBerry communications. It's not surprising, therefore, that reports are emerging in rather piecemeal form at the moment, though Renesys has hard data showing that almost all routes for exchanging internet traffic with the country have been shut down, with only Noor Group excepted from the block -- a move the internet analytics company theorizes might have been motivated by a desire to keep the Egyptian Stock Exchange online. The reasons for this blackout remain open to speculation and interpretation -- most of which, we remind you, has better destinations than your favorite tech blog -- but its content is clearly an extreme step for any government to take. Check out the links below for further details.

[Image credit: seandenigris.com]

Egypt enters communication blackout with disruption to internet, SMS, and BlackBerry messaging originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 04:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessblackoutblockcommunicationcommunicationsdisconnecteddisconnectiondisruptionegyptgovernmentinternetmessagingoutageprotestprotestsrenesyssmsstatewebFri, 28 Jan 2011 04:44:00 EST<![CDATA[UK and French carriers working on cellular coverage for Channel Tunnel, aim to finish by 2012 Olympics]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/30/uk-and-french-carriers-working-on-cellular-coverage-for-channel/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/30/uk-and-french-carriers-working-on-cellular-coverage-for-channel/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/30/uk-and-french-carriers-working-on-cellular-coverage-for-channel/#comments If you live in a technophile city like Taipei, you'll have been enjoying underground 4G for a long time now, but in London the rule is that you have to bid adieu to your mobile connectivity when diving into a tunnel. The city's Mayor has been active in encouraging (forcing?) the major British carriers to install the necessary equipment to provide coverage on the Tube, and now we're hearing that ambition has stretched beyond the nation's borders as well. The Daily Telegraph reports that Vodafone, O2, Everything Everywhere, and Three from the UK along with Orange, SFR and Bouygues from France have agreed to share the cost of putting together a £20 million ($30.8m) project for making cellular coverage possible while traveling through the 31.4-mile Channel Tunnel between the two countries. The goal is to get things up and running by the Olympics in 2012, though we've no indication as to what speeds those wireless data transfers will reach. Still, having some bars is better than none, right?

UK and French carriers working on cellular coverage for Channel Tunnel, aim to finish by 2012 Olympics originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20122012 olympics2012Olympics3gaccessalcatel-lucentbouyguesBouygues TelecomBouyguesTelecomcarrierschannel tunnelChannelTunnelconnectivitycoverageeurostareverything everywhereEverythingEverywherefrancefrenchinternetlondonlondon olympicsLondonOlympicsnetworkso2olympicsorangesftthreeukunited kingdomUnitedKingdomvodafoneThu, 30 Dec 2010 06:42:00 EST<![CDATA[British government wants all porn filtered out of the web, all fun sucked out of life]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/20/british-government-wants-all-porn-filtered-out-of-the-web-all-f/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/20/british-government-wants-all-porn-filtered-out-of-the-web-all-f/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/20/british-government-wants-all-porn-filtered-out-of-the-web-all-f/#comments You can't be surprised at developments like these when you elect a political party whose very name is Conservative, but it's still rather sad to hear that the current UK government is putting pressure on ISPs to "protect children" by universally blocking access to porn websites. It's not outright censorship, you'll be able to "opt in" and restore your freedom to explore adult content (or anything else that's been inadvertently blocked), though it's all a rather misguided effort in our eyes. Claire Perry, one of the leading voices behind this push, cites stats noting that 60 percent of nine- to 19-year olds have found pornography online, yet she fails to elaborate on what's been so traumatizing or debilitating about the experience -- or why violent content is getting a free pass. We still think good parenting -- say, by using the local controls built into your OS or search engine -- is a much cheaper option than some complex censorship wall, but that won't prevent the Conservatives from pursuing legislation over the next couple of years if broadband providers don't figure out blocking mechanisms of their own. For shame, Britain.

British government wants all porn filtered out of the web, all fun sucked out of life originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 04:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessadultblockbritaincensorcensorshipchildrengovernmentinternetispopt-inpornpornographysexstateukunited kingdomUnitedKingdomwebMon, 20 Dec 2010 04:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Fiber's 1Gbps ISP 'test community' selection delayed until 2011]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/16/google-fibers-1gbps-isp-test-community-selection-delayed-unti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/16/google-fibers-1gbps-isp-test-community-selection-delayed-unti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/16/google-fibers-1gbps-isp-test-community-selection-delayed-unti/#comments
As you can imagine, the call for a community to be the recipient of Google Fiber's 1Gbps network was met by an overwhelming response. Indeed, the response was so great that while the recipient of all that bandwidth was to be announced at the end of this year, it looks like they won't have a decision until early 2011. In the meantime, the project will continue to offer insanely high download speeds to Google's campus and an 850 home beta network in Stanford.

Google Fiber's 1Gbps ISP 'test community' selection delayed until 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 20:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1Gbpsaccessfiberfiber for communitiesFiberForCommunitiesgooglegoogle fibergoogle fiber for communitiesGoogleFiberGoogleFiberForCommunitiesgooglenetInternetInternet accessInternetAccessispstanfordThu, 16 Dec 2010 20:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Google partners with Verizon for free 3G data allowance with every Chrome OS netbook]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/07/google-partners-with-verizon-for-free-3g-data-allowance-with-eve/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/07/google-partners-with-verizon-for-free-3g-data-allowance-with-eve/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/07/google-partners-with-verizon-for-free-3g-data-allowance-with-eve/#comments There you go, folks. Google says it wants you always connected, now it's helping you do it. 100MB of free Verizon data, each month for 24 months, will be yours as a complimentary extra when buying a Chrome OS netbook. $9.99 will give you unlimited access for a single day and there are no contracts to fiddle with. Obviously, and sadly, this is a US-only hookup. If nothing else, this announcement provides some neat context to the joint net neutrality policy that Google and Verizon dished out back in August.

Google partners with Verizon for free 3G data allowance with every Chrome OS netbook originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3gaccessbreaking newsBreakingNewsbroadbandchromechrome osChromeOscomplimentarydatafreefreebiegoogleinternetlaptopnetbookverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwwirelessTue, 07 Dec 2010 14:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Federal Wi-Net bill proposes a femtocell and WiFi hotspot in every federal building]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/06/federal-wi-net-bill-proposes-a-femtocell-and-wifi-hotspot-in-eve/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/06/federal-wi-net-bill-proposes-a-femtocell-and-wifi-hotspot-in-eve/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/06/federal-wi-net-bill-proposes-a-femtocell-and-wifi-hotspot-in-eve/#comments Here's one way to fix the spectrum crunch: set up wireless base stations and WiFi hotspots in every single one of the 9,000 buildings currently owned and operated by the US General Services Administration. That idea, along with the proposal that such installations be made mandatory in all future federal structures, was put before the US Senate this Friday. It's argued that installing femtocells at those locations would improve reception indoors, lighten network loads in busy areas, and expand accessibility for more rural locales. Ubiquitous WiFi routers, on the other hand, hardly require any justification beyond "common sense," but you should be aware that the Federal Wi-Net bill also asks for a $15 million budget for the performance of retrofitting and future installs. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Federal Wi-Net bill proposes a femtocell and WiFi hotspot in every federal building

Federal Wi-Net bill proposes a femtocell and WiFi hotspot in every federal building originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 01:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessactbillbroadbandfederalfederal wi-net actFederalWi-netActfemtocellfemtocellsGeneral Services AdministrationGeneralServicesAdministrationgsahotspotinternetlawlegallegislationreceptionrulesenateususawifiwirelessMon, 06 Dec 2010 01:26:00 EST<![CDATA[FCC looking into Comcast / Netflix blocking threat, Level 3 responds as analysts chime in]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/30/fcc-looking-into-comcast-netflix-blocking-threat-level-3-resp/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/30/fcc-looking-into-comcast-netflix-blocking-threat-level-3-resp/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/30/fcc-looking-into-comcast-netflix-blocking-threat-level-3-resp/#comments News that Comcast had threatened to block internet backbone Level 3, which is one of the companies delivering Watch Instantly streams, sent shockwaves through the industry yesterday. Net neutrality advocates geared up for battle, Comcast insisted it was only enforcing the same arrangements other networks abide by while Roger Ebert and the rest of us fretted over Netflix access. Today, Level 3 issued a response to Comcast, claiming it is "distracting from the fundamental issue" which is free use of all content on the internet for its customers. Meanwhile, Multichannel News points out industry analysts say Level 3's claims of traffic discrimination "appear unfounded" while VideoNuze editor Will Richmond supposes Level 3 may have "bid too aggressively for the Netflix business and is now trying to recover." Most damaging to Level 3's argument are its own words from a dispute where it sought financial compensation from Cogent for using too much of its network's bandwidth:
"For example, Cogent was sending far more traffic to the Level 3 network than Level 3 was sending to Cogent's network. It is important to keep in mind that traffic received by Level 3 in a peering relationship must be moved across Level 3's network at considerable expense. Simply put, this means that, without paying, Cogent was using far more of Level 3's network, far more of the time, than the reverse. Following our review, we decided that it was unfair for us to be subsidizing Cogent's business."
Beyond analyst opinions and posturing the question of whether or not Comcast has the power to set pricing for access to its network, creating the toll road Level 3 is accusing it of being, is still at issue. That will certainly come into play at the FCC, where chairman Julius Genachowski mentioned at today's meeting that the agency is looking into Level 3's claims at the same time it continues to review the joining of Comcast and NBC. As far as your Netflix streams? Safe for now, though the company isn't commenting, Level 3 isn't the only provider it relies on for access and how any deal it might reach with Comcast could affect the service is still unclear.

Update: Comcast has issued its own salvo of PR, including a video meant to breakdown exactly what internet peering is and what it wants to charge Level 3 for, 10 of its own facts about what it is, and is not doing, and a copy of the letter it's sent to the FCC about the issue. You can them all out in full after the break.

Continue reading FCC looking into Comcast / Netflix blocking threat, Level 3 responds as analysts chime in

FCC looking into Comcast / Netflix blocking threat, Level 3 responds as analysts chime in originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessbandwidthcogentCogent CommunicationsCogentCommunicationsComcastfccGenachowskiinternet videoInternetVideoJulius GenachowskiJuliusGenachowskilevel 3Level3net neutralitynetflixNetNeutralitypeeringtrafficwatch instantlyWatchInstantlyTue, 30 Nov 2010 15:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Hylas 1 satellite blasting off today, will rain down broadband from above]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/26/hylas-1-satellite-blasting-off-today-will-rain-down-broadband-f/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/26/hylas-1-satellite-blasting-off-today-will-rain-down-broadband-f/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/26/hylas-1-satellite-blasting-off-today-will-rain-down-broadband-f/#comments Europe's about to catapult a new satellite up into orbit today, this one with the stated goal of providing broadband internet access to people in the areas hardest to reach by terrestrial connectivity means. UK startup Avanti Communications is the official name responsible for the Hylas 1, which is a funny mix of private and public investment: it's a commercial venture, yet the British state has contributed £40 million ($63m) to its development and European Space Agency tech will be used to get that 2.6-ton antenna up beyond the planet's atmosphere. Ultimately, though, the goal's a good one -- up to 10Mbps connections will be on offer, with plans for further satellites already on the books, which should serve to expand internet accessibility in parts of Africa and Asia as well. The next Hylas tin can will be leaving terra firma in 15 months, provided there no unknown unknowns pop up during that time to get in its way.

Hylas 1 satellite blasting off today, will rain down broadband from above originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10mbpsaccessantrixariane 5Ariane5arianespaceavantiavanti communicationsAvantiCommunicationsbroadbandcommercialconnectivityeads astriumEadsAstriumesaeueuropeeuropean space agencyEuropeanSpaceAgencyhylashylas 1Hylas1internetorbitsatellitesatellite broadbandSatelliteBroadbandspaceukunited kingdomUnitedKingdomwebFri, 26 Nov 2010 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tim Berners-Lee entreats us to keep the net neutral, standards open, and speech free]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/22/tim-berners-lee-entreats-us-to-keep-the-net-neutral-standards-o/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/22/tim-berners-lee-entreats-us-to-keep-the-net-neutral-standards-o/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/22/tim-berners-lee-entreats-us-to-keep-the-net-neutral-standards-o/#comments We've always thought pretty highly of this Tim Berners-Lee fella, and now we've got a whole essay penned by him to show you why that is. In a six-page treatise on the current state of the web, Tim discusses why universality of access is so important to our freedom of speech and other democratic liberties, why open standards will always prevail over closed ecosystems (with a special critique of Apple's iTunes and concordant appification of the web), and also why it's necessary to distinguish between the web and the internet. Oh, and he also manages to squeeze in one of the most succinct explanations of net neutrality and its growing importance in our massively interconnected world. Hit the source for the full shot of enlightenment.

[Image courtesy of Paul Clarke]

Tim Berners-Lee entreats us to keep the net neutral, standards open, and speech free originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 05:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessappsdemocracydemocraticessayfree speechfreedom of speechFreedomOfSpeechFreeSpeechhtml5informationinterconnectedinternetinventornetnet neutralityNetNeutralityneutralityopenopen standardsopen webopennessOpenStandardsOpenWebprinciplesTim Berners-LeeTimBerners-leeuniversaluniversalitywebweb appsWebAppswwwMon, 22 Nov 2010 05:28:00 EST<![CDATA[App Review: NetFront Life Browser for Android]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/15/app-review-netfront-life-browser-for-android/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/15/app-review-netfront-life-browser-for-android/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/15/app-review-netfront-life-browser-for-android/#comments This is no photoshop -- it really is an Android browser that lets you tilt web pages, but there's more than meets the eye. The folks at Access have just launched this free NetFront Life Browser, which packs a few interesting features that caught our attention. Let's hold hands and walk through them together. Upon launching the app for the first time, we were taken to a "unified navigation" landing page that consists of two sections: the top half displays live thumbnails of opened windows, and swiping left or right gives you a smooth 3D transition between them; whereas the bottom half shows you stacks of pages à la Apple Time Machine for history, bookmarks, and scrapbooks. Speaking of which, the scrapbook feature is also one of the main -- and probably the funnest -- highlights here: this is where you can store virtual cut-outs using the scissors tool at the bottom right of the browser, thus creating pictorial bookmarks. If you want to mark something specific on a page, then you can use the checkmarking tool -- located right next to the scissors -- to do so, but bear in mind that the marks will disappear if you close the page's window (so it's fine as long as you keep it in the background).

Gallery: App Review: NetFront Life Browser for Android

Continue reading App Review: NetFront Life Browser for Android

App Review: NetFront Life Browser for Android originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 18:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessandroidandroid 2.1android 2.2android appAndroid2.1Android2.2AndroidAppappapp reviewAppReviewbrowserlife browserLifeBrowsernetfrontnetfront life browserNetfrontLifeBrowserreviewsoftwarevideoMon, 15 Nov 2010 18:38:00 EST<![CDATA[President Obama signs bill to give disabled better access to technology]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/08/president-obama-signs-bill-to-give-disabled-better-access-to-tec/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/08/president-obama-signs-bill-to-give-disabled-better-access-to-tec/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/08/president-obama-signs-bill-to-give-disabled-better-access-to-tec/#comments
Now this is something we can all get behind. Today, President Obama signed a bill pledging to see that the blind and deaf get better access to cellphones, the internet, and other technologies which are a necessity of life in the modern era. Joined by a group of lawmakers and Stevie Wonder, the president signed into law the bill which promises guaranteed access for 25 million blind or visually impaired and 38 million deaf or hearing impaired people living in the United States. New federal guidelines resulting from the bill include requiring improved user interfaces on smartphones, providing audible descriptions of television programming, captioning online programming, making telephone equipment compatible with hearing aids, and adding buttons to remote controls to provide quick access to closed captioning. The bill, S. 3304, should bring down the cost of these technologies for people who need them significantly.

President Obama signs bill to give disabled better access to technology originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 20:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessbarack obamaBarackObamablindcellphonesclosed captioningClosedCaptioningdeaflaeslawlegislationobamapresident obamaPresidentObamaS. 3304S.3304smartphonestechnologyuser interfaceUserInterfaceFri, 08 Oct 2010 20:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft licenses dozens of patents from Access and Acacia, including some Palm inventions]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/08/microsoft-licenses-dozens-of-patents-from-access-and-acacia-in/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/08/microsoft-licenses-dozens-of-patents-from-access-and-acacia-in/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/08/microsoft-licenses-dozens-of-patents-from-access-and-acacia-in/#comments
Complete details on the deal are still a bit light, but it's just been revealed today that Microsoft has licensed a total of 74 patents from Acacia Research Corp. and Access Co. Ltd, some of which come from PalmSource, the software company spun off from Palm Inc. in 2003. While Microsoft itself isn't saying much on the matter beyond the usual formalities, Acacia CEO Paul Ryan says that the patents licensed by Microsoft are "foundational" in the smartphone market and, as The Wall Street Journal reports, they apparently include some of the very same patents that Acacia has sued other companies over, including Apple, RIM, Samsung and Motorola -- those specific patents concern things like email synchronization and "providing phone capabilities from personal computer devices." Guess that's one potential patent lawsuit you can mark off your list.

Microsoft licenses dozens of patents from Access and Acacia, including some Palm inventions originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acaciaaccesslicensedlicensingmicrosoftpalmpalm osPalmOspalmsourcepatentpatentsFri, 08 Oct 2010 13:28:00 EST<![CDATA[FCC outlines new 'third way' internet regulatory plan, will split access from content]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/fcc-outlines-new-third-way-internet-regulatory-plan-will-spli/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/fcc-outlines-new-third-way-internet-regulatory-plan-will-spli/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/fcc-outlines-new-third-way-internet-regulatory-plan-will-spli/#comments
The FCC's plan to rework how it regulates the internet just got a lot more solid today, as the agency officially announced its "third way" approach to classifying broadband services and opened it up for public comment. We've broken the entire thing down for you -- we're not kidding when we say this will affect how the internet works for all of us in the future, so grab a snack and head past the break for the whole story.

Continue reading FCC outlines new 'third way' internet regulatory plan, will split access from content

FCC outlines new 'third way' internet regulatory plan, will split access from content originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 May 2010 13:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessaustin schlickAustinSchlickbroadbandbroadband policyBroadbandPolicyfccinternet accessInternetAccessispJulius GenachowskiJuliusGenachowskinet neutralityNetNeutralitytelecommunications serviceTelecommunicationsServiceThu, 06 May 2010 13:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Google receives 'more than 1,100 community responses' for gigabit fiber network]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/28/google-receives-more-than-1-100-community-responses-for-gigabi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/28/google-receives-more-than-1-100-community-responses-for-gigabi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/28/google-receives-more-than-1-100-community-responses-for-gigabi/#comments Ever wondered what it looks like when the entire nation wants a piece of Google? Well, we've already seen some crazy action in a few cities, but here's a bigger picture -- a map showing the vast lot of locations that have signed up for Google's experimental 1Gbps fiber network service. What's more, the number of community submissions almost doubled between 10am and the 5pm deadline, resulting "more than 1,100 community responses and more than 194,000 responses from individuals." Yep, that sure is a lot of paperwork to go through, but Google reckons it'll have a location or two picked "by the end of the year." Meanwhile, let's hope that these Googletown-wannabes will churn out enough nutso videos to keep us entertained.

Google receives 'more than 1,100 community responses' for gigabit fiber network originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Mar 2010 15:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1gbpsaccessfiberfiber for communitiesFiberForCommunitiesgbpsgigabitgooglegoogle fiber for communitiesGoogleFiberForCommunitiesgooglenetInternetInternet accessInternetAccessispSun, 28 Mar 2010 15:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Google's 1Gbps broadband offer brings out the crazy in municipal officers around the States (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/22/googles-1gbps-broadband-offer-brings-out-the-crazy-in-municipal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/22/googles-1gbps-broadband-offer-brings-out-the-crazy-in-municipal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/22/googles-1gbps-broadband-offer-brings-out-the-crazy-in-municipal/#comments You'll be aware by now that Google's cooking up an experimental high speed broadband network, which is currently in the process of collecting applications and nominations from interested communities. Given the limited coverage planned -- anywhere between 50,000 and 500,000 people -- there's understandably a lot of competition to get your small town on Google's radar, and city officials all around the USA have been doing their utmost to grab some publicity for their locale. Duluth mayor Don Ness can be seen above taking a dip in Minnesota's icy Lake Superior (with his unfortunate underling Richard Brown taking a fish to the face), while others have held parades, danced, invented a "Google Fiber" flavor of ice cream, and even swam with sharks for the sake of that precious fiber. Duluth, however, is the only place officially endorsed by a senator, and you can see Al Franken promote the city's virtues on video after the break.

[Thanks, b3ast]

Update: We've now also got video of the actual dip in the water, slide past the break to see it [Thanks, TheLostSwede].

Continue reading Google's 1Gbps broadband offer brings out the crazy in municipal officers around the States (video)

Google's 1Gbps broadband offer brings out the crazy in municipal officers around the States (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 06:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1gbpsaccessal frankenAlFrankenbroadbandbroadband accessBroadbandAccesscity mayorsCityMayorsduluthfiberfiber to the homeFiberToTheHomegoogleinfrastructureinternetinternet accessInternetAccessmayormayorsminnesotanetworknetworkingpublicitypublicity stuntPublicityStuntstuntMon, 22 Mar 2010 06:14:00 EST