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After Math: Things that shouldn't cost this much
Samsung unveiled the latest iterations its Galaxy Note line during which time the company showed off a plus-sized phone that costs more than a laptop -- specifically, the brand new Book S laptop debuting at the same dang press conference. That ain't right. And that ain't all. Take a look.
Engadget giveaway: Win a set of goTenna Mesh off-the-grid communicators!
Communications have always been a sticky issue when traveling off the grid, either in remote rural or forested areas, exploring other countries or when networks fail. goTenna Mesh fills this gap with its Bluetooth-connectable radio antennas. Pair your mobile device with one and you can send private or broadcast messages and GPS coordinates to anyone in the 1-4 mile range with another goTenna Mesh -- no mobile connection required. If others in the area have a device, they help create an ad-hoc mesh network expanding the range of communication. The goTenna Mesh can also help you stay in touch with friends and family at crowded events where mobile networks are jammed up. They work with a variety of international radio spectrums, too, making it a great backup to roaming mobile options when abroad. This week, goTenna has provided us with two of its Family 4-packs for a couple of lucky readers. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning this off-the-grid communication solution. Winners: Congratulations to Ed N. of Milwaukee WI and Pavan A. of Atlanta, GA!
GoTenna's new communicator crowd sources for a better signal
If you're a fan of exploring the great outdoors, especially in areas of devoid of cell service, you may have already sought out a GoTenna. These walkie-talkie-like enablers pair with your mobile device via Bluetooth so you can send messages and GPS data to others in the area using radio frequencies. Today the company is pushing the off-the-grid envelope even further with the introduction of GoTenna Mesh, along with a new premium subscription service and an SDK for developers to play with. The addition of mesh networking makes it one of the first devices of its kind, providing mobile (not fixed point), off-the-grid, long-range communication to users -- so long as there's a smattering of devices to help leverage its capabilities. This is also the first time GoTenna is launching its product internationally, utilizing available public radio spectrums in each area. Early birds can pick up a set starting at $129 on Kickstarter, but if you wait for the retail launch it'll run you $179 per pair.
Getting lost in the woods isn't so bad with this tech
A walk through the woods. It sounds wonderful. Birds chirping, deer frolicking off in the distance, the majesty of the trees, the opportunity to get lost and drink river water that ties your stomach in knots. Hiking doesn't have to be a combination of pure joy and fear of succumbing to the dangers of being outside.
Engadget giveaway: Win a pair of GoTenna off-the-grid communicators!
Camping and hiking trips can be doubly relaxing since you're often left without cell service and have no choice but to enjoy nature undistracted. If you get separated from fellow travelers and need to communicate, though, having a tool like GoTenna can be a lifesaver. This long-range radio transmitter and receiver connects locally via Bluetooth to the GoTenna app on mobile devices (iOS and Android). You can send private one-to-one or group messages and even share GPS coordinates with other users in the area. For most outdoor terrains, the range is between one and four miles. If you're using them in urban areas, it's around one mile or less, but that's still useful for finding nearby friends at crowded events where cell service is overloaded. The company has provided us with two pairs of GoTennas for a couple of lucky readers this week. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning. Winners: Congratulations to Manuel O. of Brooklyn, NY and Adrian T. of Toronto, ONT!
Get emergency iPhone-to-iPhone connections with GoTenna
In October of 2012, a huge swath of the northeastern US got smacked by Hurricane Sandy. Adding to the post-storm challenges of power, transport, fuel supply and housing shortages, the communications infrastructure suffered major outages that made recovery and response even harder. With up to 25% of New York City's cell towers inoperative, even a charged phone might as well have been stone dead. It was the experience of Sandy that sparked Brooklyn's sibling entrepreneurs Daniela and Jorge Perdomo to create GoTenna, the new grid-independent mobile wireless device for emergencies and more. The GoTenna device -- a slim, gray, waterproof plastic external antenna/transceiver about the size of a campground butane lighter -- connects iPhones to each other for text and location messaging even when there's no cell service available. Today's pre-order launch allows early buyers to get a pair of GoTennas for $149.99, a 50% discount off of the retail price when they ship in late autumn 2014. GoTenna CEO Daniela Perdomo told TUAW that living through the hurricane made it clear to her and her brother how valuable a truly grid-free communications tool would be to supplement conventional wireless coverage in an emergency. First responders, insurance adjusters, NGOs/relief workers and plain old citizens or disaster preppers living in high-risk areas (Tornado Alley, the Gulf Coast) may indeed be looking for that "portable insurance policy" of having a GoTenna in a go bag or glove compartment, but there are several applications for the device beyond getting ready for the end of the world. Think of all the times when it would be helpful to connect with friends or family in spite of poor or unavailable cell coverage. Traveling overseas and want to avoid roaming charges? Unable to get through in a parade or festival crowd? Concerned that a particular text exchange might invite undue scrutiny from your carrier or the Feds? GoTenna's point to point architecture, lack of a central server and end to end encryption for messages might fit the bill. The GoTenna app also includes preloadable offline maps, custom-developed by the company, that allow you to visualize your location or a friend's without needing access to Apple or Google's maps, or the expensive licensing of maps from an existing provider. With a Bluetooth LE pairing to your iPhone, the GoTenna should last about 72 hours in average use and will stay charged on the shelf for over a year; it recharges via a standard Micro USB connector that you could hook up to your BioLite camp stove or other mains-free charger. (John Levy, the BioLite board chairman, is also an advisor/ investor for GoTenna.) With a 9600 bps data rate more akin to the modems of yesteryear than the LTE chipsets of today, you won't be sending any selfies or cat videos through GoTenna -- but that's not really the point. The devices also can't form a mesh network due to current FCC rules, so for now it's point-to-point only; however, you can send a "shout" message to any friends with GoTennas in range, or issue an emergency message that will go to all nearby GoTennas whether they "know" you or not. As the GoTenna gets closer to production, we'll revisit and review the product in the field to find out just how effective it is in urban and rural settings.
Text your friends even when you don't have service
Ever needed to send a message to a friend from the boonies? A company called goTenna has just launched a device that connects to your phone via Bluetooth and turns it into a low-frequency radio with a range of several miles (up to 50 miles). Using an iOS or Android app, that'll let you text or share GPS locations (no voice calls) over an unlimited, free ad hoc network with other goTenna users. The team behind it says that everything is encoded, and the app will automatically retry until your message goes through -- in case you're hiking in difficult terrain, for instance. The company's planning on selling a limited number for $150 per pair on its site to raise $50,000 in funding -- after that, it'll run $300.
