QuantumTom the (nearly) daily mutterings of a so-cal [consumer of food & media] + [gearhead] + techie

23Feb/100

L.A. Conspicuously Absent from PCWorld’s Cell Data Performance Test

Where's Los Angeles? They're also missing Detroit, Miami, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Philadelphia.

How is this impartial when the second most-populous metro area in the country is absent?

How about a latency test? And what good is the backbone's bandwidth if its radio signal can't penetrate a single office building wall?

via AT&T Roars Back in PCWorld’s Second 3G Wireless Performance Test - PCWorld.

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15Feb/100

Sagem Orga outs SIMFi, a SIM card/WiFi router hybrid

Sagem’s SIMFi is one of those ideas that you wish you had come up with yourself. The concept is pretty straightforward: they’ve created a SIM card with an embedded WiFi radio, so provided you have a suitable data plan, the card itself puts out a WiFi signal instead of relying on the phone. For anyone who’s ever needed internet access on a laptop, with no other tools besides the phone in their pocket, this is a potential godsend.

via Sagem Orga outs SIMFi, a SIM card/WiFi router hybrid.

14Feb/100

DO WANT: Ski Goggles HUD

Now if they just had an augmented reality browser, I'd never take them off.

Wow, these Zeal Optics “Transcend” goggles feature built-in GPS, speed data, altitude information, temperature, and a whole lot of other stuff for $350.

via Ski goggles feature head mounted display.

Filed under: Technology No Comments
14Feb/100

Android 2.1 Now Has Live Wallpaper

With the introduction of live wallpapers in Android 2.1, users can now enjoy richer, animated, interactive backgrounds on their home screen. A live wallpaper is very similar to a normal Android application and has access to all the facilities of the platform: SGL (2D drawing), OpenGL (3D drawing), GPS, accelerometers, network access, etc. The live wallpapers included on Nexus One demonstrate the use of some of these APIs to create fun and interesting user experiences. For instance, the Grass wallpaper uses the phone's location to compute sunrise and sunset times in order to display the appropriate sky.

via Android Developers Blog: Live wallpapers.

9Feb/100

The stark reality of iPod’s Chinese factories | Mail Online

The Mail on Sunday has traced the incredible journey an iPod makes from conception to completion, and uncovers the harsh working conditions in the Chinese factories where iPods are made.

Although it is one of America's most prestigious brands, nearly all Apple computers and iPods are made abroad, predominantly in China. As you might expect, the workers who assemble them see little of the profit.

via The stark reality of iPod's Chinese factories | Mail Online.

Filed under: Apple No Comments
9Feb/100

3-D HDTV

3-D HDTV

Check it out: Panasonic.jp has 3-D HDTV now.

Obviously, it's not easy to convey the concept of 3-D TV visually without a 3-D TV. But, I really like what they did with the dolphin. The intellectual horsepower at Panasonic has obviously been shifted from marketing to engineering.

Filed under: Technology No Comments
9Feb/100

HUGE: Google Set to Make Gmail Social With Status Update Features

I wonder how this will work with enterprise GMail.

Gmail is set to become Google’s next major push into social media. According to The Wall Street Journal, the popular webmail service will soon launch a new feature for sharing content and status updates with friends. [Update: We think Google might announce these features on Tuesday]

via HUGE: Google Set to Make Gmail Social With Status Update Features.

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29Jan/100

Selling Modded Cable Modems Gets You 20 Years

U.S. federal authorities arrested a 26-year-old man on Thursday for allegedly selling modified cable modems that enabled free Internet access, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Matthew Delorey of New Bedford, Mass., is charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of wire fraud. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison for each charge, and a $250,000 fine.

via FBI arrests alleged cable modem hacker.

29Jan/100

Pee Wee’s iPad

Pee-wee Gets An iPad! from Pee-wee Herman
Filed under: Apple, TehWinRar No Comments
29Jan/100

Remote tribe discovered worshipping iPad • The Register

Anthropologists claim to have contacted a remote Papua New Guinea tribe which worships a crude effigy of an Apple iPad crafted from the bark of a sacred tree.

via Remote tribe discovered worshipping iPad • The Register.