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Withings WiFi Body Scale integrates Twitter, launches in the US

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Nov 11th 2009 at 12:20AM

You know that friend -- we all have one -- that bores you with incessant tweets regarding his weight, his caloric intake, number of miles jogged, so on and so forth? Well, don't let him get a hold on this: finally available in the US, the WiFi Body Scale by Withings has received a bit of an upgrade, with its web app now offering Twitter integration. Not only does this bad boy register your weight, body fat, and BMI, but you can now configure it to send your stats to "the Twitter" either daily, weekly, monthly, or each and every time you weigh -- and your followers will start dropping faster than even you could imagine. But don't take our word for it! As our man Cedric Hutchings (the company's general manager) states, "adding this social functionality makes the WiFi scale by Withings the first true flagship of the Internet of Objects." Right. He might have added that the company's given "fail whale" an entirely new meaning. Yours for $159. PR after the break.

Continue reading Withings WiFi Body Scale integrates Twitter, launches in the US

Google gifting free airport WiFi for the holidays

by Thomas Ricker posted Nov 10th 2009 at 4:12AM

We really want to dislike Google. Such a massive company with unbelievable wealth and control over so much of our data must be evil, right? But man, free airport WiFi for the holidays? Come give us a hug Goog. The gift extends the Virgin America deal already announced to 47 airports across the US until January 15th -- an arrangement expected to cover about 35% of all US travelers. Oh, and it starts now. Hey, at least we can still hate those money grubbing airport WiFi service providers. Hit the read link to find out if the airports in your holiday plans are covered.

Read -- Participating airports
Read -- Press release

Elusive Xbox 360 802.11n wireless adapter appears in the UK

by Nilay Patel posted Nov 8th 2009 at 9:34PM

Microsoft might be playing cat-and-mouse with the Xbox 360 802.11n adapter, but it looks like the jig is up in the UK -- we just got this shot of it sitting on an ASDA store shelf. Still no word on Stateside availability, but surely we can't all keep on like this forever, can we?

[Thanks, Daniel]

TiVo's AN0100 802.11n WiFi adapter hits the FCC, stirs up imaginations

by Darren Murph posted Nov 6th 2009 at 10:51AM

TiVo's Wireless G USB network adapter has been out and about since late 2005, so to say an 802.11n version is past due would be understating things dramatically. At long last, it seems as if high-speed network access is coming to the heralded DVR, with an AN0100 802.11n AP recently splashing down at the FCC. There's no instruction manual or indication of whether this is the device we've been waiting for in order to stream networked media to the TV through one's TiVo, but why else would the outfit bother with tossing out a new dongle with support for higher throughput? We know, we're letting ourselves get a bit too optimistic here -- but c'mon, can you really blame us?

Dell Mini 3iX shows up at FCC, with WiFi and 3G in tow

by Vladislav Savov posted Nov 6th 2009 at 5:40AM

Having already witnessed the case and UI of Dell's incoming Android invader, we can now pretty much complete the picture with the latest info from the FCC. Reassuringly, WiFi and 3G -- the two big modifications from the China-bound Mini 3i -- both make it onto US soil, leaving us with only the timeless questions of when and how much. The Chinese version of the phone runs a 360 x 640 resolution on a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen, which makes for a nice base to get all that wireless communication (Bluetooth included) flowing. We can expect the Mini 3iX to find its way onto AT&T's awesome networks some time in 2010, joining a growing army of Android devices vying for your cash, love and understanding.

[Via Unwired View]

Send your 'Hiro P' BUGbase back, get a BUGbase WiFi for $99

by Darren Murph posted Nov 5th 2009 at 4:32PM

If you classify yourself as a hardcore DIYer, you probably sprung for Bug Labs' 'Hiro P' BUGbase way back in the day. You've also likely been weeping since the entirely more awesome BUGbase WiFi was announced last month. Thankfully, you can now empty your current bucket of tears and stash it away for good, as a wicked good deal has just arrived to turn that frown upside-down. Bug Labs is offering the $449 BUGbase WiFi for just $99 if you send your original BUGbase back to the company before November ends. If you'd like to take advantage, feel free to hit up Bug and mention the offer being emailed out to existing users after the break.

Continue reading Send your 'Hiro P' BUGbase back, get a BUGbase WiFi for $99

Eston's 7-inch Android MID believes it's an N97, can play full HD

by Vladislav Savov posted Nov 3rd 2009 at 5:46AM

We'll go out on a limb here and suggest that Nokia probably doesn't care about Shenzhen Eston's N97-branded device, but what really matters is whether you should care about it. Positioned slap bang in the middle between smartphones and netbooks, this Android-driven MID offers 7 inches of viewing real estate and 4 hours of battery, as well as integrated WiFi, 3G, Flash player, web browser, and ebook reader, plus the purported ability to play back full HD content. Don't ask us how anyone can squeeze that kind of processing power out of a Marvell PXA303 chip, but if you want to know more, the read link is your ever-loyal best friend.

[Via Cloned in China]

Sprint touts Palm Pixi's nonexistent WiFi

by Chris Ziegler posted Nov 3rd 2009 at 1:14AM

Sprint has a time-honored tradition of screwing up its ads. Remember the Palm OS-powered (yes, Palm OS, not webOS) Motorola Q2? How about the Pre's mythical tethering capability? Here's a new one to add to the history books: the "WiFi capable" Pixi, yours for just $99.99 after mail-in rebate. Count us in.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 announced, we go hands-on

by Vladislav Savov posted Nov 2nd 2009 at 11:00PM

The first Android device from Sony Ericsson may have undergone an upgrade in the naming department, jumping from X3 all the way to XPERIA X10 (probably to avoid confusion with Nokia's X3 handset), but what lies under the hood is reassuringly in line with what we've been hearing. That is to say, a 1GHz Snapdragon chip from Qualcomm, wide 4-inch capacitive touch display, 8.1 megapixel camera with LED flash, and a thoroughly tricked out Android skin named Rachael. Sony Ericsson stressed to us the symbiotic importance of both the new flagship device and "open OS" UI -- the X10 was presented as the patriarch of a whole new family of handsets, which we can expect to see in the first half of 2010, all sporting the beauty of Rachael and perhaps helping to bridge the gap between featurephones and, well, more advanced featurephones. So don't be shy, come along past the break to see our uncensored first impressions of both, along with hands-on video and pictures.

Gallery: Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 announced, we go hands on

Continue reading Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 announced, we go hands-on

Dell Mini 3iX has WiFi, 3G, and a number of leaked UI photos

by Ross Miller posted Nov 2nd 2009 at 10:08PM

You know what's ridiculous? Modern smartphones without WiFi (why hello there, Pixi and Tour). Looks like Dell's getting the message with the supposed Brazil-bound Mini 3iX, which as far as we can tell is the Mini 3i as it should've been -- same specs, plus WiFi and 3G connectivity. The OPhone-esque user interface also seems to have gone through some changes, at least cosmetically, and Cellular Cafe has the vivid imagery -- so might this be the little guy rumored to be coming to AT&T, or will we get the 2G variant instead? How about we just skip this one altogether and get the Streak?

HTC Droid Eris peeks its head out once more, shows off 5MP camera

by Darren Murph posted Oct 29th 2009 at 2:24PM

Hey, HTC -- we're onto you. We know you're a little upset that the lower-end Droid Eris isn't getting much attention now that the DROID is all over Verizon's marketing agenda, but it's not like we don't feel your pain. For those interested in spending a full Benjamin less on their next Android handset (on Big Red, anyway), the Droid Eris looks to offer that very solution, and now a few more sneak peeks have shown that a 5 megapixel camera (with a video record mode) is gracing the rear. We're also told that WiFi will be onboard (right, VZW?), and a bundle of joy will also be thrown in after mail-in rebate. Whatever that means.

Read - Boy Genius Report
Read - phoneArena

Nokia vs. Apple: the in-depth analysis

by Nilay Patel posted Oct 29th 2009 at 11:00AM

There's just something about Apple that makes people go crazy whenever the company's lawyers do even the simplest things -- whether it's filing routine trademark oppositions, getting patents granted, or, uh, defending allegations that the company is in league with the Mafia, Steve and friends just seem to inspire some strong reactions whenever they end up in the courtroom. So of course things got a little wild last Thursday when Nokia announced it was suing Apple over ten patents related to GSM, UMTS (what you know as 3G) and WiFi -- the pundit class immediately set upon the idea that the lawsuit was some sort of reaction to Nokia's diminishing cellphone marketshare and the perceived dominance of the iPhone, perhaps best exemplified by John Gruber's flippant "If you can't beat 'em, sue 'em." Nokia can't compete against Apple, so obviously it's abusing the hopelessly-broken patent system get a little payback, Espoo-style -- right?

Well, wrong. As usual, the race to hype this dispute as a bitter standoff between two tech giants desperate to destroy one another has all but ignored the reality of how patents -- especially wireless patents -- are licensed, what Nokia's actually asking for, and how it might go about getting it. And as you know, we just don't do things that way, so we've asked our old friend Mathew Gavronski, a patent attorney in the Chicago office of Michael Best & Friedrich, to help us sort things out and figure out what's really going on here -- read on for more.

Continue reading Nokia vs. Apple: the in-depth analysis

GM to offer $500 Autonet Mobile WiFi option in select vehicles

by Darren Murph posted Oct 28th 2009 at 8:02PM

First came Cadillac (naturally), and now some of General Motors' other remaining brands are finally scratching the WiFi itch. Beginning next month, Buick, Cadillac, GMC and Chevrolet dealers will all begin offering up Autonet Mobile's $499 WiFi router as a dealer-installed option, though it's on you to pony up the $29 (or more) it takes to get said device online month in and month out. As always, you'll also get a docking station to take it from one GM vehicle to another, though (at least initially) it'll only be offered in SUVs, crossovers and trucks, which are whips most likely to be used by internet-addicted families. 'Course, those looking to do a little retrofitting need only head to gmextras.com to snap one up themselves, but don't say you heard it from us.

[Via Autoblog]

NEC's Aterm WM3300R is like a souped-up WiMAX version of the MiFi

by Thomas Ricker posted Oct 27th 2009 at 4:26AM

Not every company has the design chops to make it in modern consumer electronics. Case in point: NEC's Aterm WM3300R. While it looks like a thermostat you'd wall-mount at the local health center, it packs enough technological appeal to make up for that clinical dowdiness. See, it's a pocketable WiMAX router with integrated 802.11b/g WiFi -- think MiFi only with the relatively blazing speeds of 40Mbps (downstream) / 10Mbps (upstream) WiMAX instead of EV-DO or HSPA and a battery capable of about 2.5 hours of shared usage. The WM3300R can also be USB-attached to a PC as a WiMAX modem. Drop another ¥5,000 (about $54) and you've got a spare battery to keep the mobile action going. Expect it to be released in early November in Japan for an estimated ¥25,000 or right around $272. You seeing this Sprint, Clearwire?

[Via Akihabara News]

Novatel MiFi 2200 gets new firmware, now stays on even when you don't need it

by Tim Stevens posted Oct 26th 2009 at 9:05AM

MiFi gets new firmware, now stays on even when you don't need it

If you're using one of the various MiFi incarnations, you may have been slightly annoyed at the thing shutting itself down after a few minutes of inactivity. It's a lovely feature to save juice when running disconnected -- a little less desirable when running on AC. There's a new firmware in town and it does away with such bad behavior whilst also adding better compatibility with the Nintendo DS and BlackBerry Curve. It's not an automatic update, though, so you'll need to dig through some menus to make the magic happen, but we're sure you can figure it out. (If you get stuck, the read link has pictures.)

[Via Zatz Not Funny]