| Giveaway: Bracketron Case | If outdoor adventures are in your future this summer, enter to win a Bracketron Sport Case with Mount Strap from MacNN and keep that iPhone, iPod or other electronic device safe from the elements. |
While carriers around the world are still working on their 4G LTE network deployment plans, the next generation of cellular networks is being worked on by Samsung. The manufacturer has announced it has developed an adaptive array transceiver technology, which will apparently form the core of 5G networks by 2020.
According to recent reports, media companies with high-bandwidth apps are considering deals with wireless carriers to ensure users can consume the content without being slapped with data overage fines. Reportedly, sports network ESPN has had discussions with at least one carrier to subsidize users' wireless data usage, with the company paying to offset data used by subscribers.
Following yesterday's unexpected disappearance of Syria from the Internet, service to the war-torn country seems to be completely restored with no feared large-scale attack by the Syrian government against the rebels. Both the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency and Google's real-time reporting have demonstrated that traffic is increasing in the country.
Google has officially announced that Grandview, Missouri is next in line for the search engine-provided Gigabit Fiber Internet service. No timetable for deployment has been announced, with the company saying that "it will still be a while" before the fiber deployment begins and customers can subscribe to the services.
File-sharing network BitTorrent has revealed a "direct-to-fan" collaboration with music label Ultra. Using a new protocol called the BitTorrent Bundle, an interaction by the downloader -- such as providing information or even paying for the content -- is required before unlocking restricted content. The mechanism for secure distribution is embedded within the protocol, and compatible with existing BitTorrent clients.
AT&T has added to its range of 4G LTE connectivity devices with a built-in display. The AT&T Beam from Sierra Wireless is a USB modem that connects to the carrier's 4G LTE network, and like the MiFi Liberate, it comes with its own LCD panel to provide important details, such as the strength of the signal and how much data is remaining in the monthly allowance.
SoftBank's CEO is continuing to talk-up his company's $20.1 billion offer to buy out Sprint, by claiming SoftBank's experience with 4G will help the US carrier. Network enhancements, such as SoftBank's single frequency network technology for reducing interference, will help Sprint in the long run alongside other benefits, according to CEO Masayoshi Son.
Google is expanding the coverage of its existing gigabit Internet offering from Kansas City into another area of Kansas. The city of Shawnee, just outside of Kansas City, will gain Google Fiber in the future, and joins the high-speed connection construction waiting list alongside Olathe in the same state, Austin in Texas and Provo, Utah.
Vine, the six-second video sharing service from Twitter, has undergone its first major upgrade and now offers support for the iPhone's front-facing camera and Twitter mentions in posts and comments. Vine's launch in January was tainted by a major security glitch that resulted in some users being logged into the wrong account. However, after a few patches the issues where sorted out and quickly grew in popularity. While currently limited to iOS devices, an Android version is in the works and is said to include the ability to tag friends to a clip.
T-Mobile USA and MetroPCS have now completed their merger, and are now one company. The formation of the new entity, known as T-Mobile US and trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol TMUS, comes one week after MetroPCS shareholders voted to approve the merger after some improvements, a process which started in October last year.
TomTom has launch the latest version of its navigation app for iOS devices in the App Store. Available for all of the regional app variants, the update includes the most recent versions of TomTom's maps, as well as improved planning support. Users can now change their pre-planned routes without having to start over completely. Options are included for modifying the starting point, destination, and departure time, allowing users to see how it affects the drive and arrival time.
An Internet service provider has announced the launch of its fiber-based Internet service in the Vermont area, but this time it isn't Google. Vermont Telephone Company (VTel) has started to offer its customers gigabit Internet speeds over its new fiber optic network, and is managing to do so at half the price of Google Fiber.
Apple has partially reversed course on its decision to change the way iOS 6 handles VPN connections, a modified Apple support document reveals. "Apple no longer plans to change the behavior of the VPN On Demand feature of iOS 6.1 for devices that have already been shipped. The 'Always' option will continue to work as it currently does on these devices," the company says.
The seven-member Provo Municipal Council approved Google's offer to buy the iProvo fiberoptic network. The unanimous vote makes Provo the third area to adopt the search engine as an internet provider. While Google has to pay the area $1 for the right to use the extant fiber, the locality has a number of additional expenses related to the network that it must still pay, not previously announced.
Mobile data provider FreedomPop has announced an expansion of its 3G coverage through support for Sprint. The change is effective immediately, and should enable nationwide access, solving some complaints about gaps in the carrier's service. The company sells cases and hotspots that enable otherwise Wi-Fi-only devices to get 3G/4G connections; each accessory comes with 500MB of free 4G data per month.
We live in a world positively soaked in data nowadays. Fortunately, the capacity to store that data has gotten bigger in volume, smaller in physical size, and cheaper per gigabyte as time progresses. Gone are the days where you'd have to lug a Zip disk around (remember those?) or stick your iPod into disk mode. At worst, you're carrying a USB drive with you -- though really, you should be relying on the cloud for by now. The issue is figuring out just what you're going to be keeping up there.
Google has been fined 145,000 euros ($189,230) by a government regulator in Germany for collecting data from Wi-Fi connections in the country. The fine stems from when the company's Street View cars were in operation between 2008 and 2010, inadvertently collecting data packets from individuals and businesses as the fleet drove around the country.
An Internet service provider based in California is offering residents connections using white spaces. Cal.net is using unallocated spectrum, left over after the transition from analog to digital television in 2009, to allow rural customers in areas without 4G LTE and land-based connections a wireless Internet connection.
Sprint has expanded its 4G LTE network to cover another 21 markets, the same locations detailed in a leak last week. The carrier is also adding another 34 markets to its existing 170-market LTE-rollout roadmap, which means that its 88 currently-active LTE markets will be joined by another 204 areas by the end of this year.
An update on the official Google Fiber website has revealed that the search engine is attempting to expand into Provo, UT. While the deal is not yet finalized, Google has said that it will "commit to upgrade the network to gigabit technology and finish network construction so that every home along the existing iProvo network would have the opportunity to connect to Google Fiber."
Microsoft has enabled two-factor authentication for Microsoft Accounts. Leaked earlier this month, users will see the option to add the extra security measure through the account management menu over the next few days, and can download an authenticator app from the Windows Phone store or use third-party apps on other platforms, according to a company blog post. Apps and devices that will not work with the new security measure directly can have application-specific passwords created in order to function.
Despite the console still being available, Nintendo has announced it will shut down the larger part of the Wii's online abilities on June 28. Channels being discontinued are the Nintendo Channel, the News Channel, the Forecast Channel, the Everybody Votes Channel, and the Mii Contest Channel. Also being lost are data exchange, and in-game messaging on most games.
Apple has once again attracted the ire of a non-practicing entity. Patent troll Wyncomm claims that Apple is violating a patent that AT&T developed (that Wyncomm now holds) regarding simultaneous voice and data transmission. Patent number 5,506,866 covers "Side-channel communications in simultaneous voice and data transmission," and was filed by AT&T in 1993, with a granting of the patent in 1996.
Sprint is rolling out its 4G LTE network in a number of new markets later today, according to a leak. The network, which is said to offer speeds between 6 to 8Mbps and a peak of 25Mbps, may end up being turned on with little to no fanfare in a similar way to how areas of New York City, Washington D.C., and San Francisco quietly went live in February.
CBS is considering a possible move to cable if Aereo continues to operate, following comments from another broadcaster. Chief executive Les Moonves voiced approval of Fox Chief Operating Officer Chase Carey's earlier threat to cease over-the-air broadcasts, though it such an action is unlikely to occur in the first place.
Shortly after stating it will build a Gigabit fiber network to compete against Google in Austin, AT&T has expanded its 4G LTE network into six new markets. While this means the carrier is currently covering 182 different markets, AT&T also plans to add another 77 markets to the list by this summer, as the carrier tries to catch up to Verizon Wireless and its 4G LTE network.
Software and service provider Boingo Wireless today revealed a deal with AT&T allowing global roaming data subscribers to use Boingo's network of Wi-Fi hotspots globally. By way of the AT&T Wi-Fi Internataional App, users can locate and sign into the network operated by Boingo's subsidiary, Concourse Communications Group. The AT&T Wi-Fi International app is available to AT&T customers who subscribe to either the 300MB or 800MB AT&T Data Global Add-On package. Pay-as-you-go or other data cap packages are ineligible for the offering.
Following in the wake of Google's announcement of Fiber expansion in Austin, AT&T has announced similar plans, according to a press release. The company is planning to build out a gigabit fiber network in the city, but hasn't yet revealed what parts of the city will be served, or what the gigabit tier might cost. Likewise, it hasn't set a timeline for when the network will be completed.
Google has officially announced it will be building its fiber Internet service in Austin, Texas. The expansion, leaked over the last few days, will see Austin become the second city after Kansas City to get the Gigabit Internet and TV service through Google Fiber, with the company hoping to "start connecting homes" to the network by mid-2014.
Recent research estimates the cost of Google's Kansas City fiber project is just below $100 million, so far. Carlos Kirjner and Ram Parameswaran of Bernstein Research believe that the rollout of Google Fiber in Kansas City, Kansas has cost $42 million, while Kansas City, Missouri has cost $52 million for the current fiber build-out.
Seemingly adding confirmation to the rumors of Google Fiber in Austin TX, industry evangelist Gig.U briefly posted a press release congratulating the Texas city on joining the project. The retracted press release included a statement by the director of the Gig.U project commending the effort, as well as some benefits expected from wide-scale deployment of the ultra-fast connection technology.
Austin, Texas could be the next city to get Google Fiber, an upcoming meeting suggests. Google and the City of Austin are holding an event on April 9th, and city sources tell GigaOM that they suspect it's related to broadband. "You are a leader here in Austin," a leaked invitation reads. "Every day, your work and contributions help make our community better and stronger. That’s why we want you to be one of the first to hear about something new coming to Austin. Please join Google and the City of Austin for an announcement on Tuesday."
A forthcoming version of iOS will change the way the OS handles VPN connections, according to a support document on Apple's website. On devices with VPN On Demand, the "Always" setting will instead behave as if it were "Establish if needed." In essence, VPN On Demand will only be established if iOS can't resolve the DNS name of a host. The new firmware is scheduled to appear sometime this month.
Cloud systems company Nebula today announced the availability of the Nebula One, a low-configuration enterprise cloud computer. The hardware is a turnkey private cloud system that provides computational, network, and storage services through a simple self-guided interface with familiar APIs, using industry-standard servers from vendors such as HP, IBM, and Dell.
Accessory maker Sonnet Technologies has introduced a catch-all Thunderbolt dock that offers users just about any kind of connection they might want. The Echo 15 Thunderbolt Dock, compatible with both Mac and Windows machines, offers a total of 15 ports and includes options for an optical DVD or Blu-ray DVD drive as well as a 2TB hard drive (or smaller SSD). The deluxe dock is expected to arrive by summer, but can be pre-ordered now for North American customers. The unit's drive bay can also be used for Time Machine backups.
On Monday at the VentureBeat Mobile Summit in California, AT&T Senior Vice President Kris Rinne reported that the carrier would activate HD Voice on its network later in 2013, calling it "part of our voice over LTE strategy." Also in the interview, the executive described previous call quality concerns as "off the table," and mostly resolved.
Live TV streaming service Aereo has won a major court battle against a number of television networks, after the United States Second Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an appeal from broadcasters. The two-to-one vote confirms that Aereo does not infringe the copyrights of broadcasters, and clears the legal standing of the service in general.
D-Link has put the Wireless AC1200 Dual Band Gigabit Cloud Router on sale in the United States. Last shown at CES in January, the AC1200 offers dual-band speeds on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands of up to 300Mbps and 867Mbps for 802.11a, b, g, n, and ac devices, and can be remotely managed from a mobile device using an accompanying app.
Earlier this week, network equipment manufacturer Cisco announced a cut of 500 jobs. The move was made as part of the company's periodic reassessment of needs and manpower. Most of the positions lost relate to the company's alliance with EMC and other superfluous data center positions. Cisco's worldwide workforce totals nearly 73,000 people.
Google has filed a patent application with the USPTO for using a GPS to alter the settings on a camera. The abstract in the filing suggests that a weather report based on a specific physical location could give the camera important data to optimize its settings for a photograph or video recording, such as how much ambient light there is to work with, reports Engadget. While it is possible that the method may not make its way into digital cameras, it is possible it could appear in a Google-produced handset, like the X Phone, in the future.
Rayner Software has released v2.0 upgrades of its NetShade iPhone and iPad apps. Both now support VPN access, operating through the same nine servers NetShade uses for proxies. The apps come with a free 10-day subscription; after that the combined proxy/VPN tier costs $70 for a full year. Proxy-only access is $27 per year.
Kickstarter-funded smartwatch Pebble has received an update to fix a showstopping bug. The new 1.9.1 firmware came into being following reports received by Engadget of users finding their timepieces stopped working after shutting down, and is said to fix the issue. Customers with watches on older firmware that do not switch back on can request for a replacement through e-mail or the companion Pebble app.
North Korea is stopping tourists visiting the country from accessing the Internet over 3G wireless connections, reversing what some believed was a major step forward for the secretive region. The change comes just one month after the regime opened up its digital borders, with carrier Koryolink launching its mobile Internet service for visitors, as well as international calling, texts, and MMS messaging.
Rogers is expanding the reach of its LTE coverage in Canada to include an extra 44 markets over the next few months, increasing the proportion of the Canadian population covered by LTE to beyond the 60-percent hit last year. The expansion will also see 34 of the 44 new markets become capable of maximum theoretical network speeds of 150Mbps, using the carrier's 2600MHz spectrum band.
QNAP has revealed its new budget-friendly Turbo NAS lineup with the TS-421U and TS-420U rackmount models for workgroups with fast-growing data storage needs. Both new models support cross-platform file sharing for Windows, Mac, and Linux/UNIX users, and provide a centralized storage solution, along with robust backup options, including Time Machine for OS X.
T-Mobile has made its new "UnCarrier" contract-free prices official in the United States. The new plans, doing away with the two-year contracts and generally streamlining prices for all future customers, has been unveiled just days before the carrier was due to host a special event, where it is still expected to turn on its 4G LTE network.
A number of cities may have been identified as launch locations for T-Mobile's 4G LTE roll-out. Details picked up by crowdsourced network coverage map service OpenSignal suggests that it could launch in nine different cities in the United States, when the carrier is expected to launch the network upgrade later this month.
Google has announced it will be making its first major expansion for the Google Fiber network, to a city not too far away from its existing service. Officials from Olathe City Council in Kansas approved the build-out of the Fiber network into the city on Tuesday, making it the first location after the service launched to receive Gigabit Internet speeds.
Google has come under fire from an anti-Google lobbying body over a number of generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs) it has applied for. The FairSearch group, made up of companies including Microsoft, Oracle, Nokia, Expedia and others, has filed objections with ICANN against Google's requests to control .search, .fly, .map as closed registries.
AT&T is updating its shared data plans for business and consumer customers, with three new tiers offering larger data allowances. Expanding from its existing Mobile Share packages, companies can now get a data allowance of 30GB, 40GB, or 50GB to share between devices, along with the unlimited text messages and unlimited talk-time the smaller allocations offer.
