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The new BK-UNV01 module from startup BlueKey Wireless can turn most Bluetooth-enabled phones into home controllers.

Despite the prevalence of Bluetooth solutions on the market, the company believes this product is unique because of the company’s robust on-screen programming interface.

The module and companion software debuted at the Electronic House Expo Fall 2008 in Long Beach, Calif.

The BK-UN↙ receives Bluetooth commands from compatible phones and other devices — up to 300 feet away for Class 1 Bluetooth products — and can trigger virtually any low-voltage device via seven onboard programmable relays.

The unit also has a serial interface for controlling more advanced control systems (one-way). Out of the box, it supports the Powerlinc serial-to-powerline module for controlling Insteon and X10 devices over the home’s existing AC wiring.

Up to 16 mobile devices can be tied into the system.

BlueKey’s Java-based application software loads onto a Bluetooth phone like any other application. It allows users to configure (with delays, if desired) each relay and label each command (up to 82) via an onscreen wizard.

Optional cellular and landline interfaces enable the BK-UNV01 to deliver status reports to the customer’s phone when out of range. Eventually, BluKey will provide Internet connectivity as well.

BlueKey sells the BK-UNV01 module and software for $499 (including a license for one mobile device), but the company is focused mainly on OEM business.

More at CEPro.

Tags: bk-unv01, bluekey wireless, electronc house, insteon, powerlinc, x10

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Original post by nafiz

A rapidly growing phenomenon in the telecommunications world is the growth of “cord cutters,” people who give up their hardwired landline phones and use only cell phones.

Now one of the leading proponents of that shift, Sprint Nextel, hopes to do for the Internet what it’s doing for telephones.

At a recent ceremony in Baltimore, officials from Sprint Nextel celebrated the official launch of the company’s XOHM WiMAX service by literally cutting a cord — they sliced through some Cat-5 wire with pruning shears to mark the end of the wired Internet.

4G has rapidly gone from a mobility vision to service reality with the launch of XOHM service in Baltimore, the company said.

Although XOHM, Sprint’s 4G business unit, has aggressive plans for nationwide WiMAX, the actual implementation may take some time. 

Approximately 70 percent of the city has coverage, with 180 base stations operating and the target at end of build out is 300.

Long-term, XOHM hopes to roll out enough of its national network to make WiMAX available to as many as 140 million people by the end of 2010. 

More at NewsFactor Network.

Tags: 4g, cord cutters, sprint nextel, wimax, xohm

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Original post by nafiz

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Last summer, Sprint was the laughing stock of the major US carriers in terms of customer service. Fast forward 15 months, and the very same carrier is now sitting atop the pile. A recent report compiled by Pali Research has found that Sprint’s wireless customer care response times were best in class, and just 2.5 years ago in its first survey, Sprint was dead last. The carrier answered a whopping 91% of calls that researchers placed to the care center in under 30 seconds, while 99% of calls were answered within 2 minutes. If you′re curious how the other guys did, try this: Verizon grabbed the silver with 85%, T-Mobile followed with 43% and AT&ampT took home the award of shame with just 33% of test calls answered within half a minute. So, the real question is: have you Sprint customers noticed an uptick in service levels? And are you AT&ampT subscribers growing increasingly impatient?

[Via phoneArena]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops, Tablet PCs

A fellow named Stuart Lowe installed Leopard on his Gigabyte M912X netbook / tablet hybrid, and we like the results. Though this isn’t the first Mac tablet hack, it’s a tightly wrapped little package: the interface seems smooth with either fingers or a stylus, and Inkwell’s onscreen keyboard allows complete functionality when the computer is folded into its slate configuration. Much of the necessary software functionality existed in Leopard already, and since installing OS X on something other than a Mac isn’t the challenge it used to be, we’re envisioning a pretty smooth ride for other would-be-hackers. We’ve embedded a video on the other side of the jump — take a look, and then cast your vote on what to call this niche category of netbook-like tablets.

[Via Slashgear]

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Continue reading Gigabyte M912X hack makes a smarter, cheaper Modbook

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Original post by Samuel Axon

Filed under: Cellphones

It looks like T-Mobile is listening folks — and they appear to be responding. In a statement we’ve just received from the company, they tell us that they’re killing the hard-line approach to data capping, saying instead they’ll reserve the right to cap a “small fraction” of users who abuse the network. In their words:

“Our goal, when the T-Mobile ˇ becomes available in October, is to provide affordable, high-speed data service allowing customers to experience the full data capabilities of the device and our 3G network. At the same time, we have a responsibility to provide the best network experience for all of our customers so we reserve the right to temporarily reduce data throughput for a small fraction of our customers who have excessive or disproportionate usage that interferes with our network performance or our ability to provide quality service to all of our customers.

We removed the 1GB soft limit from our policy statement, and we are confident that T-Mobile ˇ customers will enjoy the high speed of data access over our 3G network. The specific terms for our new data plans are still being reviewed and once they are final we will be certain to share this broadly with current customers and potential new customers.”

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Original post by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio

We′ve seen the iPod-as-cassette-tape design in older speaker docks like Altec Lansing’s inMotion iM7 bazooka tube before, but Sony’s bringing it back with its new ZS-S4iP boombox, which appears designed for only iPhone and iPod touch owners. Apart from the novelty of hitting eject to insert and remove your player, it’s pretty much the generically boring CD boombox it looks like, although you do get MP3 CD playback. It’s preordering in black and white in Australia for about AU$179 ($142), should make it Stateside in October.

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Original post by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Handhelds

Sony isn’t exactly going for subtle in the invitation to its upcoming event on October 2nd. In addition to that picture up above — which is decidedly bookish, if you ask us — the press event is being held in “Bookmarks Lounge” at the “Library Hotel” in NY. If that’s still too obscure for you, perhaps the “join Sony Electronics as we open a new chapter on digital reading” will tip you off. Yes, Sony did recently improve the Reader’s software to work with more booksellers, but the hardware of the PRS-505 itself is nearly a year old, and Sony has found itself decidedly out-Kindled. Our money′s on a new Reader, or barring that, some subtle, Sony-esque potshots at Amazon for having the nerve to show up late to the e-book party and swipe all the glory. Those jerks.

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Original post by Paul Miller

Filed under: Desktops

We don’t suppose there’s any friendlier way to put this: Open Tech Inc. is setting itself up for an Apple lawsuit, without any of the nice “product people will want to buy” stuff to balance out the equation. See, Open Tech thinks you’re an idiot, and that you’ll buy one of their “open computers″ that can run (gasp!) OS X, XP, Vista or Ubuntu — just like almost every other PC on the market today. We’re guessing they figure that as long as they aren’t loading OS X onto the computer themselves, they won’t have any trouble from Apple, but that’s where they go wrong. In addition to the EULA and copyright allegations, Apple’s complaint against Psystar has claims for inducing copyright infringement and infringing on Apple trademarks by advertising non-Apple machines as compatible with OS X which is exactly Open Tech’s ploy here. Mix that in with some crappy specs, an August-ish launch timeframe and no pricepoints to speak of, and you have one of the least desirable computers known to man. And hopefully a fun lawsuit for us to enjoy.

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Original post by Paul Miller

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Sheesh — and we though it was something special when Teddy Ruxpin went digital. Today’s mesmerizing bear just isn′t remarkable unless it talks, and to make it extraordinary, it needs to vocalize your Twitter messages. The mad scientists over at 2pointhome were able to implant a circuit board, USB Bluetooth adapter, 9-volt battery and a host of other goodies into an animatronic Teddy, and after coding in a few things and pairing it up, the animal was yapping in no time flat. Head on past the break to see a video of the operation, but be warned, as it’s not for the faint of heart.

[Via DailyWireless]

Continue reading Complicated DIY project leads to Twittering Teddy Bear

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Eileen Brown doesn’t have any full-fledged robotic phalanges or anything, but she is slowly but surely becoming what most would consider a bionic woman. Mrs. Brown has been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis since her 20s, and now that she’s 49, countless operations have replaced every joint in her body with artificial alternatives save for her elbow and left hip — the latter of which is set to be swapped out before the month’s end. Currently, the determined dame lives with a lot of pain, but she refuses to let a few aches ruin her livelihood. In all honesty, the most amazing part of this isn’t the ability of metal (enough to set off an airport detector) to hold a person together, it’s the will to soldier on. Kudos, Eileen.

[Via Digg]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Robots

Though it’s certainly not the first time a robotic surgeon has made news after joining the staff at a Canadian hospital, history has just been made in Calgary. Doctors (the human kind) were able to use remote controls, an imaging screen and the neuroArm in order to successfully remove a brain tumor from a 21-year old woman. Hailed as the first procedure of its kind, the team already has a line of patients waiting to receive similar surgeries, and the mechanical hand is being praised for its precise movements and delicate nature. Unfortunately for the arm, no pay raise (or extended vacation) is in sight.

[Via Slashdot]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Desktops

Do you absolutely love Gateway desktops? If you said yes, prepare to be seriously stoked. The company is releasing a slew of new systems this week, ranging from cheapos starter to pretty heavily equipped gaming / multimedia models. We’ve got all the info that’s fit to print (and frankly, some that isn’t), and we’ve rounded up the basic specs and features after the break. Enjoy!

Continue reading Gateway releases slew of new desktops, offers something for everyone

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Original post by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Features, GPS

To say we’ve been waiting far too long for the Dash Express to escape the labs and hit the shelves would be a gross understatement, but now that this connected navigator has taken to the streets, we’re wondering if the public at large feels that it was worth the wait. During the time we spent with it on our escapades around the Windy City, we didn’t find too many chinks in the armor, but for the price, we wouldn’t be shocked to hear of people expecting more. So, is the Dash Express living up to your lofty expectations? Aside from rocking a discounted sticker, what else could be squeezed in here to make paying up sting a little less? The forum’s yours, dear readers.

 

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops

Sweet heavens, Dell hasn’t forgotten that there’s a 15-incher in between the Penryn-stocked M1330 and M1730! As we suspected it would, Dell really, truly went ahead and added options for a Core 2 Duo T8300, T9300 and T9500 to its XPS M1530 in short order after a mysterious message popped up hinting at as much on Friday. The 2.4GHz, 2.5GHz and 2.6GHz chips come at an upgrade cost of $75, $200 and $475 (respectively) and can actually be ordered right now. No, celebrating wildly in your cubicle wouldn′t be overreacting.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

 

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds, Transportation

No question about it, the N78 and the N96 are the heavies in Nokia’s Mobile World Congress announcements, but there are a couple gems on the lower end, too — if you can really call a navigation-ready handset and a 5 megapixel smartphone “lower end.” Taking advantage of the company’s newly-introduced Maps 2.0 app, the 6210 Navigator succeeds the 6110 by adding pedestrian navigation and an accelerometer to make it more responsive than AGPS alone. The 6220 classic, meanwhile, is an S60 candybar that slots in beneath the Nseries lineup, but still manages to clean up in the photography department with a Carl Zeiss lens, 5 megapixel sensor, and xenon flash. Check out the full rundown of the announcements over on Engadget Mobile!

Read - Nokia 6210 Navigator
Read - Nokia 6220 classic
Read - Nokia Maps 2.0

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Original post by Chris Ziegler