Developages - Development and Technology Blog

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Displays

Sony’s VAIO CP1 looked mighty sexy in the press shots, but trust us when we say it’s even more stunning in person. We still think it’s overpriced at $300, but this WiFi-enabled frame was showing off all of its sides (RSS reader, split-screen Picasa viewing, music player) at CEDIA. Take a look at this fine piece of technological goodness in the gallery below.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Digital Cameras

The FCC didn’t give us much to go on here besides these wireframe images and a few radiation reports. From that we can tell you that Sony’s about to release its new DSC-G3 Cyber-shot boasting 802.11b/g WiFi. As a followup to the WiFi-packing DSC-G1 announced more than a year ago, we’re expecting the 3.5-inch LCD (now probably touchscreen like the T700) to carryover with storage twisted above 2GB and a sensor bump into the 10.1 megapixel range like Sony’s new T500. Just a guess though, we hope to hear more at the Photokina show later this month.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Displays

We had a hunch that Sony’s VGF-CP1 was just too svelte to stay locked in Japan forever, and now that CEDIA is upon us, we’re finally getting the news we’ve been waiting for: it’s coming to the United States. Rechristened the VAIO CP1 WiFi photo frame, this device features a 7-inch 800 x 480 resolution display, support for Google Picasa streaming, 128MB of internal storage space, an SD / Memory Stick / CF multicard reader and an RSS reader to keep you abreast on the latest happenings. Furthermore, it touts built-in stereo speakers and an internet radio player, not to mention the digital / analog clock. Check it in mid-October for three bills.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

Evidently fearing some outbreak of freedom and excitement, Sony has notoriously guarded its PSP’s WiFi access closely, adding features such as Remote Play at a snail’s pace, and keeping such obvious adds as “ad-hoc” over the internet at bay. But no longer(ish). Sony is bringing ad-hoc online multiplayer to the PSP this fall, with a firmware update to allow the portable to network over the PS3. You’ll also be able to get social during gameplay, with text and voice chat in the new online mode. Additionally, the PSP is finally barging on to the PlayStation Store via WiFi, and Sony’s going to kick things off with a free downloadable game, “Mainichi Issyo Portable.” The best news is that this is compatible with all three PSP generations, so just because you can’t afford The Screen of Awesomeness doesn’t mean you’re out in the cold.

[Via Joystiq]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Paul Miller

Filed under: Wireless

While 802.11n has been stuck in endless certification hell for years, the IEEE keeps cranking out additional wireless standards — the latest is 802.11r, which allows devices to move from access point to access point with less than 50ms in downtime, even for authenticated connections. That’s quick enough to keep a voice call alive, which should make the next generation of VoIP phones and other devices that much more flexible when support arrives — let’s hope that’s soon.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Nilay Patel

It’s so easy to love WiFi’s convenience. Imagine being able to tap out an article on the laptop while lying down on bed, or even while using the john! But Ryan Block, on the eve of his departure as Engadget’s editor-in-chief, made the case for wiring your house up.

WiFi or Ethernet? As a former network engineer, it’s a question I can hardly resist. My take: wireless is great (and always necessary), but wire your home as much and as well as you can.

Why go wired? Well, Ryan’s right on the money when he talks about “consistent speeds and reliable connectivity”, how much faster Ethernet is than even the latest WiFi, and Power over Ethernet (PoE). PoE you ask? That’s the awesome phenomenon involving network hubs, routers, and access points drawing data and power through the same Ethernet cable.

To be honest though is a question that more people should know the answer to; it’s been around at least since 2003.

Tags: Ethernet, PoE, Power Over Ethernet, WiFi, Wired vs. Wireless

Share This

Original post by Rico

Filed under: Transportation, Wireless

At long last, “you are now free to surf the intarwebz while flying.” Okay, so maybe it has been possible in the past, but American Airlines is taking a huge leap forward in the US market today by giving passengers aboard long-haul Boeing 767-200 flights the option to hop online during the trip. The GoGo service, which is being provided by Aircell, will charge customers $12.95 for access to the world wide web, though Reuters points out that VoIP calling is “not available.” Delta, US Airways, et al. — time to get with the program.

[Via Dallas News, thanks Travis]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio

Look out, Pure Digital — you’ve got a new rival in town. Radiopaq, best known for bringing thousands of internet radio stations and podcasts to listeners via the web, has decided to hop into the hardware game. The Rp5 tabletop radio features a five-way speaker system, digital / analog processors, a headphone jack, remote control and a rather stylish design. There’s also an integrated WiFi module for tuning into the outfit’s website and even sucking down news, weather and traffic information. Of course, the more traditional FM / DAB tuners are there as well, making this one quite the multifaceted box. Word on the British streets has this one pegged for a September launch at £250 ($468).

[Via Pocket-lint]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Well, would ya look at what popped up at Dutch online shop wifimedia? The Logitech Squeezebox Boom looks to be a nice way to turn your Squeezebox network digital audio into soundwaves with 802.11g, a digital amplifier, SqueezeNetwork online music service access, and a 7-day alarm for those of you with techy bedrooms. As for the speakers, they are 3-inch woofers with 3/4-inch tweeters bi-amplified by the aforementioned digital amp. Other notable features include an IR remote, 6-button presets, high-contrast VFD display, 10/100Base-T ethernet port, and a 1/8-inch stereo input. The Euro price is €279, which currently nets out to $431.44 US. We’d venture to guess that will net out to a sub-$400 price, but only time — and economies — will tell.

[Thanks, Peter]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Joshua Fruhlinger

Filed under: Wireless

Netgear looks to be doing its part to bring every last home network into the Wireless-N fold, with the company now rolling out its appropriately-named Wireless-N Upgrade Kit, which includes a 5GHz Wireless-N HD Access Point (WNHDE111) and that RangeMax Dual-Band Wireless-N USB adapter (WNDA3100) that made an appearance at the FCC earlier this year. Like most such kits, the included Access Point can function either as a standalone bridge (including with a game console or media receiver) or as a full-fledged 5GHz Wireless-N access point when it’s connected to an existing router or gateway. There’s also not many surprises with the USB adapter, although it does boast some “patented metamaterial micro-antennas,” which promise to out-do other non-metamaterial 802.11n adapters. If that’s got you sold, you can pick up the kit right now for $149.

[Via BIOS]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Displays, Peripherals, Wireless

We’ll admit, ASUS has us scratching our noggins on this one. Just last month, the outfit coaxed us into believing that EZLink was simply its way of saying DisplayLink. Now, however, it seems that it’s a blanket term being used anytime ASUS “simplifies” something. Whatever the case may be, the outfit has introduced its newest Wireless N USB adapter, the USB-N11. Sporting integrated support for Mac, Windows and Linux-based computers, this draft-N compliant device also features a WPS (WiFi Protected Setup) button — this is where the EZLink comes in — that “allows users to setup a protected networking environment with ease.” Per usual, there’s no mention of a price or release date, so it’s on you to keep an eye out for it to land anytime, anywhere.

[Via I4U News]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Ask Engadget, Displays

Tired of looking at that tired old CRT monitor? Anxious to get a screen with a bit more screen real estate? So is Paul — have a look:

“I was wondering if you all could help me out in deciding on a monitor. I’d like it to be at least 19-inches, bigger is better, but the main thing is to have a nice resolution. I currently have a 1,280 x 1,080 17-inch LCD monitor, and really like it, but would like to go past the 1,080 to possibly 1,200. Thing is I’d like to spend around $300, going up to maybe $400. What’s the best choice out in this price range?”

We’d wager Paul’s quandary is one shared by many, and if you just recently solved this yourself, be sure to toss in your recommendation below. Once you’ve completed said task, feel free to shoot us a question you’d like help with at ask at engadget dawt com.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

No doubt about it, but Apple’s Time Machine is a wonderful piece of magic, er software, that enables you to easily backup your computer and then easily see all of the files you’ve backed up.

Trouble is that you can eat up a lot of your storage real estate by having redundant files upon files upon files upon files (just like all of those stacks).

Here’s a link from Tidbits that helps you first see how much space Time Machine is using and then gives you the ability to delete unnecessary files, like ones that don’t need multiple backups.

Tags: Apple, Tidbits, Time Machine

Related Entries
• New iMac Specs Are Good To Have … -
  Apr 28, 2008
• JAJAH Mobile VoIP client for the iPhone -
  Apr 02, 2008
• Skype and other VoIP Apps on Mobile Phones -
  Apr 01, 2008
• VoIP on Apple iPhone a No Go unless over WiFi -
  Mar 11, 2008
• Touchmods VoIP App for the Apple iPhone Sparks Controversy -
  Feb 08, 2008
• iPhoneGnome VoIP app for Apple iPhone -
  Feb 01, 2008
• Bye Bye Unlimited Flat-Rate Internet -
  Jan 18, 2008
• RIM Garners 10% of Smartphone Market -
  Dec 20, 2007
• Launch of VoIP on iPod touch now official -
  Dec 18, 2007
• Congrats to Netgear - wins Top 10 Gadgets 2007 Award -
  Dec 12, 2007

Original post by nafiz

D2 Technologies today released their mobile handset solution powered by Google Android.

D2’s mCUE mobile convergence software solution combines a communications user interface with the company’s vPort MP VoIP software platform and is targeted towards OEMs and service providers to help deliver integrated Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) and Unified Communications (UC) functionality.

mCUE provides a complete embedded software framework for multi-mode mobile handsets for enterprise and consumer use, such as dual-mode cellular plus Wi-Fi phones. Its completely Java-based user interface framework for Linux can be ported to other GUI platforms.

“mCUE revolutionizes mobile communications by tying together the best aspects of PC-based communications, such as VoIP, instant messaging and presence support, with the roaming benefits of mobile cellular and connection speed and quality of in-building wireless,” said Doug Makishima, vice president of marketing at D2 Technologies. “It is a complete turnkey solution for multi-mode mobile communication devices.”

mCUE is interoperable with enterprise IP-PBXs and unified communications systems. Looking at the GUI and the feature-specs, this definitely seems like a pretty cool product that I need to get my hands on and test.

Check out the news today.

LAS VEGAS, CTIA Wireless 2008 (Meeting Room 355) — April 1, 2008 — D2 Technologies, the market leader in embedded software platforms that power IP communications, today announced that its mCUE™ converged communications client for mobile devices and handsets now supports Google’s Android, one of the industry’s first open-source mobile platforms. D2’s mCUE product line, coupled with Google’s Android software development kit, now enables OEMs to rapidly develop handsets powered by Android that offer a premium,
graphic- and media-rich user experience.  The mCUE solution delivers device interoperability with enterprise IP PBXs, Unified Communications
(UC) systems and service provider networks, integrating all session types including voice, IM, SMS and email messaging through a converged presence-based communications user interface (CUI).

D2 is unveiling the integration solution at CTIA Wireless 2008, being held at the Las Vegas (NV) Convention Center April 1-3 (Meeting Room 355).

“This offering will give developers a complete turnkey solution for developing multi-mode mobile communication devices based on Android,” said Doug Makishima, vice president of marketing and sales at D2 Technologies.
“There is considerable market anticipation around Google’s Android platform, and our goal is to make it as fast, easy and affordable as possible for OEMs to deliver converged, unified communications devices to meet that demand.”

D2’s mCUE pairs an innovative, patent pending communications user interface with the company’s vPort MP VoIP software platform to address the needs of OEMs and service providers delivering integrated Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) and UC functionality. mCUE provides a complete embedded software framework for multi-mode mobile handsets for enterprise and consumer use, such as dual-mode cellular plus Wi-Fi phones.

Mobile devices with mCUE provide users with advanced presence-based and push-to-x control of cellular and VoIP calls, PBX extension feature activation, IM, email, SMS and other features typically only available on PC-based unified communications soft clients. Its revolutionary user interface, built on top of a multi-identity, multi-session, multi-protocol engine, enables users to simultaneously utilize multiple different communications services such as enterprise IP PBXs and UC systems, and commercial VoIM services like Google Talk, Yahoo!, MSN, AIM, and others.

Developed by the Open Handset Alliance, the Android platform is a Linux-based software stack for mobile devices that includes an operating system, middleware and key applications.

Tags: Android, fixed mobile convergence, FMC, Google, IP PBX, Linux, Open Handset Alliance, Unified Communications, VoIP

Related Entries
• D2 Technologies mCUE mobile convergence softphone launches -
  Jan 07, 2008
• U.S. SMBs spending $30B on converged communications and managed services in 2007 -
  Jun 21, 2007
• Digium - The Showstopper! -
  May 18, 2007
• Fonality’s trixbox appliance Part 2 -
  Mar 19, 2007
• Fonality launches Asterisk-based trixbox Appliance -
  Mar 18, 2007
• Digium podcast of Mark Spencer’s new role -
  Jan 30, 2007
• VoIP Supply Grants No-Questions-Asked 3-Year Warranty on All VoIP Hardware -
  Apr 01, 2008
• More on the Aastra AastraLink Pro 160 appliance -
  Mar 18, 2008
• Microsoft & Aspect Software Partner on Unified Communications -
  Mar 18, 2008
• Aastra AastraLink Pro 160 -
  Mar 18, 2008

Original post by nafiz

No Asterisk fan can do without some Asterisk paraphernalia such as an Asterisk or Digium T-Shirt, Asterisk book, maybe even an Asterisk coffee mug from ITEXPO where lots of Asterisk happenings take place. Well now you can add an Asterisk USB hub to your collection of all-things Asterisk! This four-port USB hub in the shape of an "asterisk" was created by industrial designer Joel Escalona

He writes:

Some of these designs have been fortunate enough to be manufactured, others were just lucky to be prototypes or models and the less fortunate live within a render. So if at some point you are interested in finding out more about any of my projects or you want to produce, buy or distribute one, do not hesitate to contact me to ask for more details about any of my designs.

So Asterisk fanboys (& girls) give Joel a shout if you want to add this Asterisk hub to your desktop. You’ll be the envy of all your fellow co-workers that also love Asterisk.

Tags: Asterisk, Digium, gadgets, hub, Joel Escalona, USB, VoIP

Related Entries
• Sangoma Technologies Offers Lifetime Warranty -
  Mar 18, 2008
• Switchvox SMB 3.5 and AA60 Switchvox Appliance -
  Mar 18, 2008
• Digium reaches 1 million download milestone -
  Dec 19, 2007
• Astfin announces Asterisk Appliance based on Blackfin -
  Oct 30, 2007
• Digium Acquires Switchvox -
  Sep 27, 2007
• Digium Wins InfoWorld ”Best of Open Source Software” Award -
  Sep 18, 2007
• Skip2PBX, SIP-to-Skype Gateway, is here! -
  Aug 31, 2007
• Avaya #1 VoIP PBX Vendor? -
  Aug 21, 2007
• Top 10 Reasons Why I love Asterisk -
  Aug 03, 2007
• Digium Acquires Astricon -
  Jul 11, 2007

Original post by nafiz