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Mozilla bundles its VPN and email relay services for $7 per month
Mozilla now offers its VPN and relay services together in a $7 monthly subscription.
CommStar will launch a relay satellite to talk to astronauts on the Moon
CommStar Space Communications plans to launch a data relay satellite that will serve as communications infrastructure for government and commercial space ventures.
Wink's smart home controller can hail an Uber car
Wink's Relay controller is about to do a lot more than tie your smart home together. The company is rolling out third-party service support that accomplishes tasks you wouldn't normally expect from the device controlling your light bulbs. For one thing, you can order a ride through Uber -- it'll even show a ride you've ordered on your phone, in case you need a heads-up that your driver is nearly there. You can also get updates on your Fitbit progress from the Relay's sleep screen, or use the controller's two physical buttons to trigger automated IFTTT tasks. Will you use these often? Probably not, but they'll beat walking across the house to get your phone.
Stripe launches new 'Buy' button for Twitter and other apps
Stripe, the company that has powered Twitter's "Buy" button from the start, has released a new and universal button merchants can use to sell across apps. This API (if you want to get technical) is called Relay, and it connects with the sellers' existing inventory, so you don't click "Buy" only to find out later that the item's already sold out. For sellers, it means they can list products in a single place, knowing that items will show up on every app they use Relay with. Yes, that includes Twitter, which is one of this new tool's launch partners and already allows users to sell within tweets. For you, it means being able to purchase an item easily in fewer screens using payment information you've previously used with Relay and Stripe. Unfortunately, that also makes it harder to prevent yourself from spending too much by shopping through mobile, which is typically more cumbersome than buying through a computer.
Google grabs its first carrier partner for Project Loon tests in Australia
Google's internet-transmitting Project Loon balloons are set to float above Australia and beam data down to residents below. The company announced plans to use balloons to bring the internet to disconnected areas last year, and after semi-successful trials in New Zealand, Brazil and the States, it's teaming up with a local carrier (Australia's Telstra) for the first time to launch Loon's biggest test flight to date.
3DS owners get tired of searching for StreetPasses, build their own Nintendo Zone relays
Unless you live in a densely populated city, you probably struggle to make the most of the 3DS' StreetPass feature -- it's why Nintendo implemented a StreetPass Relay program earlier this month. Now, less than a week after the Mii-sharing setup launched, the gaming community has found a way to exploit it. Users on the GBATemp forums have discovered that spoofing the MAC address of a known Nintendo Zone router while broadcasting the correct SSID creates a homemade relay that pulls the latest StreetPass data from Nintendo's servers. This trick allows gamers to remotely share StreetPass data from the comfort of their own home. It's not a gateway to unlimited passes, however -- just like with local 3DS systems, the relay stations will only share data with an individual handheld once every eight hours, requiring die-hard "homepassers" to manually change their spoofed MAC for each additional StreetPass they want to collect. There is also some concern that Nintendo will notice this remote StreetPass setup and block the known MAC addresses (or worse, infringing handhelds) in an attempt to combat exploitation. Convoluted? Sure, but it's still pretty impressive. If you're feeling bold, check out the adjacent source links to get started; the community has created tutorials for Android, Linux, OSX and Windows, complete with a spreadsheet of viable MAC addresses.
PSA: New 3DS firmware out today, adds StreetPass 'relay' functionality
The latest firmware update for the 3DS is available, bringing new StreetPass functionality along with it. 3DS owners with firmware version 6.2.0-xU or higher will now be able to access StreetPass data from other users that previously passed by Nintendo Zone locations. Nintendo Zone locales now temporarily store one user's StreetPass data for games like Animal Crossing: New Leaf and Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate for a future passer-by to collect, then automatically stash the following person's game data. Nintendo points out that Relay Points will be especially helpful for Mii Plaza games, which have done well for the company.
Nintendo 3DS update brings you more Mii Plaza pals with StreetPass Relay
Though StreetPass has proven to be extremely popular, you're much less likely to directly cross a fellow Nintendo 3DS user stateside than in the console's home country of Japan. But thanks to a new update, you'll now be able to pick up Mii avatar buddies via StreetPass Relay. When a 3DS user crosses a Nintendo Zone hotspot, their data is automatically stored and passed on to another 3DS owner who hits the same relay point. You'll find them in North America at Best Buy, Simon malls, Future Shop and AT&T WiFi hotpots located in Starbucks, McDonald's and Barnes & Noble. That'll help you scoop up friends to play new Mii Plaza games Mii Force, Flower Town, Warrior's Way and Monster Manor. They sold to the tune of $4 million in their first month, meaning you should have more potential players than ever hanging around your gate.
Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G review: T-Mobile's QWERTY slider falls flat
More Info Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G bringing keyboard, longwinded name to T-Mobile September 19th Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G shows off all sides, sticks with new name Samsung Galaxy S Blaze Q may be renamed to equally awkward Galaxy S Relay 4G We first heard rumblings about the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze Q slider back in August, and what stood out most -- apart from the rumored Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor and HSPA+42 connectivity -- was that long-winded moniker. Interesting, then, that Sammy should re-brand the T-Mobile device with a name that does nothing to clarify this handset's identity: the Galaxy S Relay 4G. That jumble of words aside, this phone offers a five-row QWERTY layout, a dual-core S4 chip and a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash, all for the moderate price of $150 (with a $50 mail-in rebate). Is this slider the best T-Mobile has to offer? Join us past the break as we give the Relay the full run-through.
Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G announced, arriving at T-Mobile in the coming weeks
The rumors didn't lead us astray this time around: T-Mobile's latest QWERTY device, the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze Q Relay 4G has been officially announced. While we're still waiting to hear pricing and availability (aside from the usual "coming weeks," that is), we have confirmation that the 4-inch Super AMOLED device will offer ICS, HSPA+ 42Mbps connectivity and a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S3 processor. Additionally, it has a 5MP rear camera, 1.3MP front-facing cam, 5-row keyboard and it's been certified for SAFE (Samsung Approved for Enterprise). We're still wrapping our brains around the name, but fortunately we have some time to do so before the device officially drops onto store shelves. Update: TmoNews has gotten word that the Relay 4G is actually carrying a Snapdragon S4 processor, not an S3. Enjoy the extra horsepower.
Double amputee Oscar Pistorius will race in the London Olympic games
Four years ago, double amputee Oscar Pistorius -- aka the Blade Runner -- was battling bureaucracy (and his own ability) for the chance to compete in the Beijing Olympics. He might not have made the cut for China, but this time around he's secured his ticket to London. The South African athlete was already penned in for the 4 x 400 meters relay, and will now also compete in the singles 400 meters -- said to be his favorite distance. The South African Olympic committee made a last-minute decision to include Pistorius in the team, making him the first amputee track athlete to compete in the full Olympic games. An amazing achievement in its own right, but a race victory on top of the bureaucratic one would surely be the ultimate finish.
Sprint introduces My Wireless STS service to assist folks with speech disabilities
Sprint's had text-to-speech services on devices like the Samsung Epic 4G for quite some time, and now, looking to build up on that, the company's introducing its My Wireless STS feature. The new speech-to-speech service aims to help people with speech disabilities by giving them access to an operator-assisted line every day of the week and all year round. Folks wanting to use the My Wireless STS will have to dial *787 from their device, after which a Now Network rep will start a call and repeat every spoken word -- or ones that are unclear -- depending on users choice. Relay Director, Michael Ellis, says Sprint is "the first in the industry to bring this service to market," and that the project was developed closely with the help of speech disabled communities. If you're interested in learning more, there's a mighty presser waiting on you just past the break.
Motorola considering Nike+ SportWatch contender?
It looks like Motorola might be prepping to give the Nike+ SportWatch a run for its money. An intrepid tipster sent along a screenshot from a recent survey showing off what looks like a tricked out nano watch. Described as an "all-in-one fitness and music personal fitness device" (redundant much?) that packs a GPS for "accurate performance tracking," the as of yet unnamed gadget also sports a "smart music player" that compiles a list of songs based on the tunes that help you sweat your best. It also lets you wirelessly sync to your PC for workout analysis, and apparently does the same for Android devices. Among the possible names listed in the survey is the MotoActive, hinting at, but certainly not pinning down, Motorola branding. Of course this is just an online survey, so we wouldn't get too excited about your new running mate just yet. [Thanks, Anon]
Research shocker! Keyless car entry systems can be hacked easily, elegantly
We know you are vigilant enough not to trust your car's security to a wireless system, but plenty of other folks like the convenience of putting away the metallic keys and getting into their vehicles with a bit of Bond-like swagger. Professor Srdjan Capkun of ETH Zurich found himself perched on the fence between these two groups when he recently purchased a vehicle with a keyless entry system, so he did what any good researcher would: he tried to bypass its security measures. In total, he and his team tested 10 models from eight car makers and their results were pretty conclusive: each of the tested vehicles was broken into and driven away using a very simple and elegant method. Keyless entry systems typically work by sending a low-powered signal from the car to your key fob, with the two working only when they're near each other, but the wily Zurich profs were able to intercept and extend that signal via antennas acting as repeaters, resulting in your key activating your car even when it's nowhere near it. The signal-repeating antennae have to be pretty close to both the key and the car, but that's why heist movies stress the importance of teamwork. Hit the source link for all the chilling details.
Consumer Cellular rolls out Mobile Captions Service atop Nokia E5
MVNO Consumer Cellular is now offering Mobile Captions Service, an on-phone text relay system that allows deaf and hard of hearing users to see what's being said to them on the screen. Needless to say, speech-to-text isn't accurate enough to make it work, so the company has partnered with Hamilton Relay Service to have actual relay operators push the text to you. In order to use it, you'll need a Nokia E5 -- an odd choice for a carrier that thrives on hardware simplicity, except for the fact that a smartphone platform like S60 probably gives Consumer Cellular the flexibility it needs to deploy a usable relay app. In states where Hamilton is authorized to provide relay service, Mobile Captions is available now -- for free -- to qualified users.
Report from the iPadDevCamp
I was just at the eBay/Paypal campus in San Jose last week for 360iDev, but I wasn't able to stay for the iPadDevCamp that went down there last weekend; it featured one of the first big gatherings of iPad developers. Fortunately, GigaOm's David Klein did stay, and he brings us a nice report of the goings-on there. He touches on a wide range of topics, from all of the fascinating apps being developed to fun live events like Rana Sobhany (one of the panelists at 360iDev) mixing the turntables with two iPads. You can read through all of Klein's impressions on the apps that he saw, but I'll pick out a few that seem interesting to me. Audiotorium is a note-taking app that picks up audio while you write along (and it's on the App Store right now), Relay connects your iPad and your computer almost like magic, and there were a few apps that used the iPhone as a controller, including a three-iPad-and-one-iPhone slot machine (pull the iPhone and the three iPads "spin" symbols) and a game called Tank or Die that used the iPhone to control tanks on the iPad. It's good to hear that there's a lot of creativity coming out of the iPad dev community already. Hopefully we'll see some of these prototype apps in the store soon.
DIY cat feeder now enabled by a Cisco switch, streams food and video
You know, there are times when you have to part ways with your adorable kitties at home, and you might not be so keen on getting a cat sitter in case he or she touches your precious game consoles (even if it's an old granny). We've seen the lazy man's solution before, but Britain's Mathew Newton has brought us a new DIY internet-enabled cat feeder just in time for a new decade. Rather than using a CD-ROM tray to push-release unknown quantities of cat food, Mathew's version has a motor-driven cereal dispenser controlled by signal from port status LEDs on a Cisco switch -- an ingenious way to avoid expensive Ethernet relay units. When it's feeding time the user logs onto a web interface to choose the dispensing quantity, or you can also have an automatic feed schedule set up if you trust the system -- Mathew said he "can rely on it 100%," and his cats do appear to be healthy. Fortunately, you can always check the live video stream just in case you have doubts. All is explained in the video after the break.
Sprint WebCapTel On the Go brings call transcription to the mobile
Sprint has just made its WebCapTel service even better. In an effort to provide greater accessibility to Americans with hearing loss, the carrier has introduced the aforementioned service to allow "hard of hearing customers to read word-for-word captions on Windows Mobile 6 web browsers," and for what it's worth, it's also compatible with Safari 2.0. The free web-based system enables hearing impaired individuals to make a call using two phones -- one of which is used for reading captions while the other is used for listening and speaking. The process seems simple enough; before making a call, the user would log onto www.sprintcaptel.com on one device in order to receive the transcription of the discussion on the other. It's available now for calls made within the US (and its Territories).[Via RCRWireless]
