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Satellite posts

Toshiba's new Satellite M500 and U500 mid-tier laptops "shine" in the flesh

by Paul Miller, posted Jun 25th 2009 at 9:24PM

You know, at one point chrome accents and glossy plastics were novel additions to previously staid consumer electronics -- now they make us want to punch a hole in the nearest smarmy LCD display. While HP has tried its best to be the worst offender in its consumer line, Toshiba is really giving it a shot with the M500 and U500 series laptops -- the U500 is pretty outlandish, but at least it offers a ribbed, almost-desirable matte surface of sorts, while the M500 (pictured) makes everything else look tame in comparison, and has the plentiful finger smudges to prove it. Both of the laptops offer chrome trim, overdone speaker grills and light-up accents. The textured trackpads are probably a love it or hate it thing; in fact, most of these "style" choices could be termed as such, but we're sure you've ascertained by now where we stand. Sure, the so-called general consumer apparently eats it up, but the charm is lost on us. On a gentler note, the M505 we looked at was running Windows 7, something we more commonly see being demoed on a touchscreen PC or something otherwise Windows 7 specific. Obviously it's not shipping with that OS yet, but the pining is palpable.

Gallery: Toshiba's new Satellite M500 and U500 mid-tier laptops "shine" in the flesh

Toshiba's still not done, rolls out new Satellite L Series laptops

by Donald Melanson, posted Jun 24th 2009 at 4:34PM

Not sold on Toshiba's new NB205 netbook or one of its many new Satellite laptops announced earlier this week? Don't worry, 'cause Toshiba's just announced four more Satellite models, all of which fall under its budget-minded L Series line. Those include the 14-inch Satellite L510/L515, the 15.6- and 16-inch Satellite L500/L505, and the heavyweight 17.3-inch Satellite L550/L555, each of which pack either AMD Athlon or Turion, or Intel Pentium or Core 2 Duo processors depending on the configuration, along with integrated graphics or ATI's discrete Radeon 3100, a 10-key numeric keypad on the 15.6-inch and larger models, a minimum 2GB of RAM and 250GB hard drive, and Toshiba's trademark "Fusion" finish on the whole lot of 'em. Best of all, starting prices range from a reasonable $550 to $650, and all are apparently available to order right now.

AT&T to go live with TerreStar sat phone services this year

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 24th 2009 at 11:09AM

We've known that TerreStar Networks and AT&T Mobility were in bed together for quite some time, but evidently the honeymoon phase is finally reaching its logical end. Reportedly, the carrier is gearing up to go live with an extension of service that'll involve satellites and a pinch of luck, giving select customers the ability to roam between its GSM network and TerreStar's satellite network. If all goes to plan (we're not holding our breath, for the record), AT&T will begin to resell satellite service and phones soon after the bird is launched some 22,000 miles above North America on July 1st. Once perched, it'll provide coverage across Canada and the US, including the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. There's no definitive word on pricing, but we're hearing that sat phone service will run around $1 per minute while hybrid handsets will go for around $700 (unsubsidized). Pricey, sure, but how else do you plan to phone home on your next visit to the Pitcairn Islands?

New Toshiba Satellite laptops now available Stateside

by Joseph L. Flatley, posted Jun 23rd 2009 at 3:57PM

Remember those new Satellite's Toshiba that dropped in Europe a week or two ago? Seems like they're making the scene Stateside starting today, alongside several of their siblings. As previously noted, the A500 is a 16-inch multimedia machine (starting at $749.99), while the U500 ($849.99) is a 13.3-inch guy more suited to on-the-go computing. Newly announced are the M500/M505 (with 14-inch high-def LED display, starting at $699.99) and the P500/P505 (an 18.4-inch desktop replacement with slot-loading DVD drive, starting at $799.99). All the new Satellites include multimedia command keys, webcam, face recognition software, harmon/kardon speakers and, of course, the world renowned eSATA/USB combo port. And if you're good, we have a couple pics for you. After the break, of course.

Continue reading New Toshiba Satellite laptops now available Stateside

New Toshiba Satellite laptops land in Europe

by Joseph L. Flatley, posted Jun 9th 2009 at 2:54PM

Toshiba's added a couple new Satellite laptops into the mix, with options for both the road warrior and the stay-at-home multimedia user. First, the A500: this guy sports a 16-inch, 16:9 format display (1366 x 768), a TV-tuner for both analog and digital DVB-T programming, Harman Kardon speakers and HDMI ports with REGZA LINK technology. Under the hood, this guy packs an Intel Core 2 Duo, 8GB memory, an ATI Mobility Radeon HD GPU (up to 1GB DDR3 VRAM), and either a 500GB HDD or 64GB SSD. For those of you on the ultra-portable tip, the U500 is a 13.3-inch (16:10 format, 1280 x 800) ultraportable that weighs in at just under 4.5 pounds. With an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 8 GB memory, a hard disk capacity of up to 500GB, and an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570 GPU, this bad boy is available in Brown Luxe, with either chrome or silver accents. Claimed battery life is over 3.5 hours. Both lappies feature a DVD Super Multi drive, wide format HD webcam, multi-touch trackpad, and the usual host of connectivity options (WLAN, Bluetooth 2.1, 5-in-1 media card slot). Both will be available in Europe sometime this July for €699 (approx. $975).

Read - Toshiba Satellite U500 with ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570
Read - Toshiba Satellite A500 by 16 inches

AT&T CruiseCast in-car TV finally launches nationwide

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 2nd 2009 at 5:23PM

Look, we know all about desperate -- those youngsters are cute and all, but any self-respecting parent starts having some seriously evil thoughts about three hours in to any road trip. In a presumed effort to keep you off of the evening news and in good standing with your relatives, AT&T is launching its CruiseCast in-car TV service today. If you'll recall, we knew the in-car satellite TV solution was being tested in various spots, but today marks the first day that the proverbial beta badge has been ripped off. Of course, such a unique offering ain't running anyone cheap, with the initial hardware package totaling $1,299 and the monthly fee ringing up at $28. If those numbers have yet to faze you, hop on past the break for a look at the channel lineup.

Continue reading AT&T CruiseCast in-car TV finally launches nationwide

AT&T slowly begins rollout of CruiseCast in-car satellite TV service

by Donald Melanson, posted May 21st 2009 at 5:37PM

It's a bit off its target pace, but it looks like AT&T is now finally starting to roll out its CruiseCast in-car satellite TV / radio service, however slowly. According to OrbitCast, AT&T is now working with "small groups" of car audio specialists and distributors to get the service into the hands of a "few dozen customers" in order to test the service in advance of the full roll-out, which is now somewhat ambitiously promised for early June. In case you missed the announcement back at CES, the service itself consists of 22 live TV channels and 20 radio stations, plus all the necessary, non-user-installable hardware, which will set you back $1,299 up front and $28 a month thereafter. That obviously doesn't pose much of a threat to basic satellite radio just yet although, as OrbitCast points out, it is actually more affordable than some of the current in-car satellite TV options out there, like KVH's $3,000 DirecTV-based system

Quantum cryptography: now ready for space travel

by Darren Murph, posted May 4th 2009 at 7:37AM

It's been awhile since we've heard of any major advancements in the world of quantum cryptography, but at long last the silence is being broken by a squad of jubilant Austrian physicists. As the story goes, a team from Austria's Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI) managed to send "entangled photons" 90 miles between the Spanish islands of Las Palmas and the Balearics. Calling the ephemeral test successful, the crew has boldly asserted that it's now feasible to send "this kind of unbreakable encrypted communication through space using satellites." Funny -- last we remember, quantum cryptography still had a few kinks to work through here beneath the stratosphere.

BBC breaks down the new DRM rules for Blu-ray recorders

by Richard Lawler, posted Apr 17th 2009 at 4:01PM

The reason Blu-ray recorders have migrated from Japan to the UK recently -- and why you'll likely never see them in the U.S. -- is all about the copyright holders. Danielle Nagler, head of BBC HD, hit the blogs to break down the wheres and hows of the DRM changes associated with bringing FreeSat disc HD DVRs like the Panasonic DMR-BS850 and Humax FOXSAT-HDR to market, basically meaning users are allowed one HD copy of a show, which can be played back on protected devices and connections only (transfer to portable players is planned to the future.) Follow the flow chart for the details, and figure out if it'd be worth it to make your own BD-R DVR backups so easily.

[Via Pocket-Lint]

Toshiba's Satellite Pro S300-EZ2521 is as bland as they come

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 8th 2009 at 8:27AM

Ready for one more excuse to snooze through hump day? Here you go. Toshiba's Satellite Pro S300-EZ2521, obviously the latest in its growing S300 line, is about as perfectly average as a 15.4-inch laptop can be. We're talking a 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 3GB of DDR2 RAM, a 250GB (5400RPM) hard drive, SuperMulti DVD burner, WXGA resolution panel, GMA 4500MHD graphics, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and a built-in webcam. Furthermore, the actual enclosure just screams "Designed For Office Cubes," and while we don't have confirmation just yet, we'd wager that the 40 metric tons of bloatware would further substantiate that claim. There's no mention of a price, but those in the market for a strictly-business machine should find it shipping any day now.

Broadband stimulus plan comes to life, rural teens 'psyched'

by Joseph L. Flatley, posted Mar 12th 2009 at 6:41PM

The broadband stimulus project is moving forwards in the manner most familiar to our federal bureaucracy: meetings. Lots and lots of meetings. The inaugural soiree was recently held at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's swank Washington, D.C. headquarters, and included bon mots such as this one by acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps: "Where's the policy for broadband? Where's the action? Where's the beef?" Ouch. Among the first items of business, the group must figure out exactly which connectivity solution to back, with several companies weighing in -- most of 'em (including Spaceway and Wild Blue) going the pure broadband route, while an outfit called AlphaStar has a hybrid satellite / terrestrial service (where the satellite backbone connects to homes over terrestrial wireless systems). Also to be debated is the wisdom of privately owned vs. municipally owned wireless broadband. Either way, we sure hope that our nation's unwired get some help soon -- why should Boxxy have all the fun?

US and Russian satellites collide in 'unprecedented' accident

by Thomas Ricker, posted Feb 12th 2009 at 1:33AM

A US Iridium satellite has hit a defunct Russian satellite in an unprecedented space collision. The crash occurred some 790km (491 miles) over Siberia on Tuesday, according to NASA, and produced a "massive" cloud of debris. About 600 pieces are being tracked from the debris field in hopes of understanding the risk they present to other satellites and the international space station. The Russian craft was identified as the 950kg (2,094 pound) Cosmos 2251, a communications relay station launched in 1993 and believed to have been non-operational for the last 10 years or so. The Iridium telecommunications satellite was estimated to weigh about 560kg (1,234 pounds). Unsurprisingly, its loss is expected to have "minimal impact on Iridium's service," according to a statement made by the company. When asked who was at fault, NASA responded dryly:

"They ran into each other. Nothing has the right of way up there. We don't have an air traffic controller in space. There is no universal way of knowing what's coming in your direction."

Gulp.

Toshiba packs NB100, A350 with 3G and ships them off to EMEA

by Ross Miller, posted Feb 10th 2009 at 7:51AM

Toshiba has announced that its Satellite A350 and NB100 would soon be finding their way into Europe, Middle East, and African (EMEA) markets with an added bonus: HSPA technology. We've got precisely nada on the price tag for these iterations, however, which normally retail for around $800 and $500 without 3G. If you're on the lookout for a laptop with some extra portability, both models are expected to hit retail channels first quarter of this year.

[Via Notebook Italia]

Intelsat retires Marisat-F2 satellite after 32 years of service

by Donald Melanson, posted Nov 3rd 2008 at 11:53PM

The Marisat-F2 satellite may not have garnered quite the fame of other mission-defying spacefarers like the Mars Opportunity rover (it even seems to have been a bit camera shy), but it's earned it's own little place in the history books nonetheless, with it stretching its original five-year design life to a hefty 32 years of service. That apparently made it the oldest commercial communications satellite still actively operating in space but, sadly, that streak has now come to an end, with Intelsat announcing that it has decommissioned the satellite and is using its remaining bit of fuel to raise it to "disposal altitude" in order to keep it out of the way of other satellites. Originally built by Hughes Aircraft in 1976, the 700-pound satellite had been primarily serving ships at sea and scientists at the South Pole, who were using it for internet access in more recent years, since it had actually proven to be more capable than the two other more recent satellites serving the area.

DirecTV DVR software update hits the stage again, now with slightly less fail

by Richard Lawler, posted Oct 21st 2008 at 9:37PM

That botched DirecTV software update a couple weeks ago that locked up DVRs everywhere, causing missed shows, global warming, spousal abuse and general melancholy amongst the populace? It's back and locking up boxes across the land again, however this time, after rebooting their HR2x units and wondering how they'll go on without a DVR'd episode of this afternoon's Judge Judy, DirecTV subs will be greeted with a message proclaiming them the proud owners of a 1080p video on-demand capable set-top box, with improved "cellphone style" search via the remote and enhanced channel guide info including more actors. We probably can't expect more than another apology letter from the satcaster, but tell us, does knowing what all this pain was for make it any easier?

[Thanks to Chris for the pic & everyone who sent this in]