Technology Info

Although it’s anybody’s guess whether Apple will release an iPod with integrated Bluetooth wireless capabilities, Logitech has stepped up to the plate with its Wireless Headphones for the iPod ($150), the first set of Bluetooth headphones for Apple’s MP3 player. The well-designed product includes white neckband-style headphones with foam-covered ear pads and built-in controls, a low-profile Bluetooth 1.2 wireless transmitter (measuring 1.25 by 2.5 by 0.75 inches) that attaches to any dockable iPod, and a charger cable. (If you want wireless headphones for another MP3 player, check out Logitech’s Wireless Headphones for MP3.) The transmission range of up to 30 feet lets you conveniently stash your iPod in a messenger bag or a purse, for instance, while listening untethered.

At just 3.2 ounces, the surprisingly light headset was comfortable throughout mostly sedentary, multihour listening sessions and didn’t dislodge once during a 40-minute jog. However, you should note that the headband is not adjustable, so the ‘phones won’t fit everyone as well as they fit us. Although you wouldn’t want to regularly run while holding the bulky iPod, the wireless capability lets you stash it in a treadmill’s accessory holder or even leave it in a nearby gym bag during your workout. The headset is appropriately easy to operate without requiring you to look at its controls. The outside of the right earpiece hosts four keys (volume up, volume down, next track, and previous track) that are intuitively arrayed around a large, circular play/pause button, and the volume controls have slight indents so that you can distinguish them by feel from the track-skip keys. (link)

Ever since the first Bluetooth headset for cell phones came out, plenty of folks have been eager to see the day when Bluetooth audio made the transition to stereo sound, so you could ditch that wire connected to your iPod–or other portable music device–and feel, well, a bit more liberated. That finally happened last year, and now several new Bluetooth stereo headphones are trickling their way onto the market. The only problem is, most of them don’t sound all that good, which is why we were pretty excited to hear that Etymotic, which is known for its high-performance wired earbuds, was getting into the wireless game.

With a rather hefty price tag of $300, the company’s Ety8s can only be described as premium Bluetooth headphones. They come in two models: the model reviewed here comes with a Bluetooth transmitter/dongle that attaches to the bottom of your iPod, while a second package contains only the wireless ‘buds themselves (if you already have a device with built-in Bluetooth) for $100 less. Etymotic says the Ety8s are compatible with devices “supporting Bluetooth specification 1.1 and higher, as well as A2DP and AVRCP for profiles for stereo listening,” and have a wireless range of about 30 feet. They come with a leather storage case and custom USB cable to juice up the headphones’ internal rechargeable battery, which delivers about seven hours of power. (link)

After raising the ire of its customers with what are believed to be overly expensive iPhone 3G plans, Canadian provider Rogers Wireless is allegedly being punished by Apple with fewer shipments.

Blogger Daniel Smith claims multiple sources, including a senior Rogers representative, claim that Apple has diverted a significant amount of its initial iPhone 3G Canadian deliveries to Europe in retribution for the carrier’s steep rate plans, which at similar prices offer a third fewer minutes and limited data compared to AT&T.

Stores may be getting just 10 to 20 iPhones each and are being told to “exercise caution” not to promise ample stock on launch day, according to the rumors.

At the same time, Rogers is also claimed to be promptly firing the part-time staff that had been hired to handle an expected deluge of customers at some stores.

With the story breaking on the weekend, neither Apple nor Rogers officials have commented on the allegations. However, the provider in recent days has faced a steadily mounting backlash against its planned rates with approximately 42,000 would-be iPhone buyers signing a highly-publicized petition for lower rates that they plan to deliver to Rogers in person. (link)

Thanko introduced the so-called i2!, a 2.4 GHz digital wireless transmitter for portable audio players.

After connecting your MP3-player to an i2!, you can share music with up to 5 people within a radius of 10m. The device features a frequency response of 10Hz-24,000Hz, a bit rate of 16bit at 48kbps Stereo and an audio latency of 20ms. 5 hours of music playback are possible after charging the i2! for 5 hours. (link)

The number of personal computers in use around the world has surpassed 1 billion, with strong growth in emerging markets set to double the number of PCs by early 2014, research firm Gartner said on Monday.

Mature markets accounted for 58 percent of the first billion installed PCs, but would only account for about 30 percent of the next billion, Gartner said.

“Rapid penetration in emerging markets is being driven by the explosive expansion of broadband and wireless connectivity, the continuing fall in PC average selling prices, and the general realization that PCs are an indispensable tool for advancement,” George Shiffler, research director at Gartner, said.

Gartner expects more than 180 million computers will be replaced this year, with some sold to second owners through various channels, some broken up and recycled, but many simply dumped directly into landfill. (link)

Another day, another class-action wireless consumer lawsuit. This one is big, though, naming six mobile-phone carriers and a top mobile virtual network operator as defendants in a complaint filed in Mississippi federal court.

“This action seeks recovery for actual and compensatory damages sustained by plaintiffs and others similarly situated. At this time, plaintiffs are specifically seeking recovery against the defendants for unauthorized charges, wrongful collections and unjust enrichment,” the stated the 12-page suit filed by attorneys with the Graves Law Offices P.L.L.C. in Jackson, Miss.

The allegations, among other things, focus on charges for unsolicited text messages received by subscribers “without offering its customers the opportunity to avoid such charges by opting out of text messaging and refusing to disable its customers’ text messaging service.” (link)

For nearly three in 10 households, don’t even bother trying to call them on a landline phone. They either only have a cell phone or seldom if ever take calls on their traditional phone.

The federal figures, released Wednesday, showed that reliance on cells is continuing to rise at the expense of wired telephones. In the second half of last year, 16 percent of households only had cell phones, while 13 percent also had landlines but got all or nearly all their calls on their cells.

The number of wireless-only households grew by 2 percent since the first half of last year. Underscoring the rapid growth, in early 2004 just 5 percent had only cell phones.

Households with cell phones who rarely if ever use their landlines grew by 1 percent since the first half of last year.

Such families often either have their landline hooked exclusively to a computer or rely so heavily on their cells that they ignore landline calls because they are probably from telephone solicitors, said Stephen Blumberg, senior scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and an author of the report. (Yahoo)

Setting up a wireless network can be a hassle … ok, it IS a hassle. Once you finally get everything up and running you’re still not done. Wireless security is a must for any network. (ABC’s of securing wireless networks) Despite the unlikely event that someone is tapping into your network, it’s better to be safe, than sorry.

On another front, Microsoft has been developing a forensic USB tool capable of bypassing PC security. Maybe this answers why there are so many bugs in the Windows OS? Hmm. So I encrypt my laptop, passwords all over, biometric security, and Microsoft is selling a USB tool for $99.99 that will undo all of that. *&^%$#@!!

Losing data? How about accidentally deleting data? Take a look at how the Bush government lost incriminatory emails, how convenient. I’m sure they went to great lengths to contact IT specialists, 2nd and third opinions while failing to contact an established data recovery company. What about the backups? Oh I see, accidentally wiped those too huh? (cover-up)

SHARP To Offer Ultra-thin LCD TV with Wireless HDTV Link by AMIMON

AMIMON’s WHDI Technology Enables High Quality and Robust Wireless Uncompressed HDTV Link to Sharp’s New X-Series LCD TVs

Santa Clara, Calif. and Osaka, Japan - April 30, 2008 - AMIMON Inc., an emerging leader in semiconductor technology for wireless high-definition (HD) video, has partnered with leading LCD TV manufacturer Sharp Corporation to offer a wireless HDTV link for the new X-Series ultra-thin LCD TVs. AMIMON’s WHDI™ technology, capable of delivering uncompressed HD video streams wirelessly, will simplify the installation of Sharp’s ultra-thin LCD TVs by eliminating the need for an audio/video cable between the TV panel and the separate tuner unit. (Gizmodo)

Audioengine has released a new product called the AW1, which can wirelessly connect nearly any audio source to any audio playback device up to 100 feet away. The Audioengine AW1 sender connects to a computer via USB or any audio source via RCA jacks or a line-out jack, automatically connects to the AW1 receiver with no drivers, software, or network management required, and wirelessly transmits the signal. The wireless transmission uses AvneraAudio’s technology that we reported about back in December to produce “CD quality” sound without static or signal dropouts. The AW1 wireless adapter is priced at $149, and includes the sender and receiver, power adapter, and audio cables. (link)