Update:Â Review Wi-Fire from hFieldhField Technologies launched their Windows Vista compatible version USB WiFi Adatper for high-performance, long-rage boost earlier this week.
The Wi-Fire boosts signal strengths up to 1,000 feet making it extremely easy for Windows XP and Vista users to login and work surf. This is more than 3 times the range of a typical 802.11 b/g network.
And for you Mac fans stop your b!tching because the hField USB WiFi extender version was released back in August.
“Wi-Fire is the perfect device—light weight and easy to use—for the seriously mobile Vista user and those who have problems connecting to their regular wireless network because of distance, obstacles or other interference,†said Tom DiClemente, hField’s CEO. “We’re dedicated to empowering people to connect better, faster and more economically.â€
Due to the California Wildfires, AT&T has stated it will be offering freeT-Mobile Hot Spot Wi-Fi services to San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Orange and Ventura counties.
About 600 locations total will participate. The offer began on October 27th and will last a several weeks.
It’s a very nice gesture, especially for people who lost their homes and need to reconnect online and get their life back in order. But I’m not exactly sure why AT&T is offering T-Mobile’s service for free. Weird right?
Photo Credit: MalkoffDid another major telecom merger happen and I missed it? Or is AT&T just offering other people’s products for free? Maybe I’ll take a walk down 5th Avenue at lunch time and tell people that AT&T says they can get a free copy of OS X Leopard at the Apple Store.
Think it will work?
BeSocial: digg story | methodshopContinue ReadingNo Comments
There must be a group of young guns at Thanko as their latest USB gadget is a well thought out USB charger bracelet designed for the youthful gamer.
I would say ideal for the kid in us who can’t put down their PSP, the USB charger bracelet lets you go a little longer to reach that high score, or talk into wee hours of the morning with your significant other.
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Eltima released their latest USB to Ethernet Connector software, version 2.4. The Eltima solution makes it possible to connect to any USB device over a LAN or Internet connection.
So how does Eltima get a USB device to work over Ethernet or LAN? In a nutshell their application intercepts USB port activity for the prepared (shared) device and redirects it via TCP/IP network to the remote site, where the protocol is handled appropriately.
To make this theory a reality, the USB to Ethernet Connector 2.4 must be installed on both computers. Here is a diagram:
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Reading an article from Crave, I realized the very obvious… I should have written about this topic months ago…maybe years ago. Turning a typical USB hub into a power center for all those electronic gadgets.
The key is getting a USB hub that has a dedicated AC Power adapter which plugs directly into the wall. This way a stable supply of 5v will be streaming to all ports. You can grab a 4 port, 6 port or 7 port hub for only a few dollars.
The power hub via USB is a perfect illustration of the potential of such a setup: pretty much anything that accepts USB charging (iPods, Blackberries, cellphones, headsets, Xbox 360 controllers, and the like) should be compatible.
So the USB Ecostrip is a kinda like a smart power strip for office peripherals and gadgets. The surge protector was designed to reduce energy waste. This is how it works:
The USB Ecostrip plugs into the wall and the PC is plugged into the socket marked by the red arrow on the diagram. From there all other devices on the power strip are powered via the USB port connected from the surge protector to the PC.
This way, when the PC is shut down all other devices are also shut down, such as your printer, scanner, modem and speakers.
“We set out to design a product that reduces energy waste, yet, allows distributors and retailers to profit from the new emphasis on this type of product,” said Bjarne Waedeled, President of Centritech Limited, Hong Kong, designer and producer of the Ecostrip. “And, because it functions like any other power strip, there is no education of the consumer required.”
USB will be the one standard for cell phone connections says the OMTP (Open Mobile Terminal Platform). microUSB that is.
We reported about China making the same decision back in Dec of 06, and as we predicted the same standard would hit the US. Well, it did…so one more feather in our [GetUSBinfo] cap.
China’s press release about the USB standard for cell phone connection was more direct. The recycling costs of different types of cables is too high, to standardize on a single USB charger connection means reduced costs for the manufacturer. In my opinion, a good decision like making USB the single standard benefits the consumer by having a universal plug (rare!) and it betters the environment with less cable crap.
Reference: China sets standard for USB as cell phone charger connection.
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WUSB or Wireless USB products just began to ship and WUSB 1.1 is ramping up. Although a mild ramp, as with current transfer rates of 40Mbits/second the 1.1 spec needs to hit at least 500Mbits/second otherwise it’ll never see the light of day.
The 1.1 spec will support band groups at 6 GHz and above, including the 3-4 GHz supported by wireless USB 1.0. It aims to lower power consumption by an undisclosed amount. It also will adopt the techniques of near-field communications for letting two devices identify themselves to each other with a simple contact.
As (source) Gizmodo said: “…realistic or not, we like the ambition.”
Currently the USB Implementers Forum has certified a handful of notebooks and hubs for the 1.0 spec. The WiMedia Alliance is expected to certify the first 1.0 products shortly.
PDAs don’t make it into military applications because of glass on the display. PDAs don’t make it into military applications because battery life is too short. This is no longer true.
InHand Electronics introduces a rugged low-power flex PDA (SFPDA) to withstand military environments and extended missions. This rugged PDA includes Ethernet, USB, Bluetooth, and keypad interface connections.
The non-glass flexible display not only reduces possibility of injury but reduces power consumption to display information. In conjunction with InHands power management software these PDAs will run for 6 continuous hours.
6 hours may not seem like a long time, but this spec is continuous hours, so it doesn’t include stand-by time or sleep mode. The new iPod touch barely gets 5 hours of video – and we know that claim doesn’t stand up to government specifications – so cut that in half. 6 hours is impressive.
Some quick bullet points on the BatterySmart technology include:
Startup CPU Speed Adjustment – Automatically and dynamically adjust CPU clock speed based on the operating bandwidth requirements of your handheld device.
Advanced Idle Mode – Understand the differences in power consumption at 100MHz versus 400MHz.
Dynamic CPU Speed Adjustment – Determine the required computational bandwidth of your application software at different CPU clock speeds.
Performance-Tuned Core Software Drivers – Understand how battery life is affected by plugging in a PCMCIA peripheral?
Optimized Peripheral Software Drivers – Reduce both computational bandwidth and power consumption while connecting to multiple peripheral devices.
InHand didn’t publish a price tag for the Military PDA – who cares – get our guys what they need when they need it.
Source: InHand via EngadgetContinue ReadingNo Comments
Franklin Wireless is churning out their smallest EVDO USB Modem so you can be your own hotspot – whether you’re hot or not.
EVDO or Evolution Data Only/Evolution Data Optimized provides fast wireless broadband (3G) internet service directly to your [I’m assuming] laptop [or any computer really]. All this access is now portable and available via Franklin’s USB CDU680 modem. You can take the internet with you and surf the web in your car, on the train, in the airport, at your Starwars technology convention or in your Luv Bus RV.
Some exceptional features too. 64MB flash drive – okay maybe THAT’S not impressive, built-in GPS, antenna port for external signal boost, pre-configured for PC/ Mac and swivel base USB connector.
Hyundai Motors will place a USB port into their 2009 Elantra car for stereo connectivity and support of the Microsoft automotive initiative Blue&Me.
Given the fact you’d find yourself in a Hyundai it’s not clear on how you can actually use the USB port, although it’s obvious the USB port would give you access to sync GPS devices, access the stereo for flash based music libraries and display contact information from your PDA on the upgraded nav station.
It looks like 2007 will be the year of shipping wireless USB products. D-Link offers their wireless WUSB 4 port ultra-wide band USB hub for those seeking the ultimate laziness of USB connectivity. I for one agree, leaning over to connect a USB cable to your scanner, storage hard drive or printer is just too much work.
It looks like my paperless office will also be wireless by 2008, thanks to WUSB.
The D-Link DUB-9240 wireless hub wont be the fastest kid on the block as unofficial reports indicate transfer speeds of under 10MB/second and with no transfer speeds available on the D-Link website we aren’t too hopeful. With a maximum distance from base to hub at 30 feet I doubt this distance will have a big impact on performance.
Due to the California Wildfires, AT&T has stated it will be offering free T-Mobile Hot Spot Wi-Fi services to San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Orange and Ventura counties.
About 600 locations total will participate. The offer began on October 27th and will last a several weeks.
It’s a very nice gesture, especially for people who lost their homes and need to reconnect online and get their life back in order. But I’m not exactly sure why AT&T is offering T-Mobile’s service for free. Weird right?
USB will be the one standard for cell phone connections says the OMTP (Open Mobile Terminal Platform). microUSB that is.
We reported about China making the same decision 
