Cool New Gadgets

Free Wireless Internet For the Masses: Another Dumb Scheme From Washington [Free Wireless]

A California congresswoman has proposed yet another spectrum auction—the 2,155MHz to 2,180MHz range—with some hefty public-service requirements:
• Within two years of receiving the license, launch an “always-on” broadband with at least 200Kbps downloads
• Service is to be free of subscription, airtime and other usage fees
• “A technology protection measure” that would keep kids from the porn
• Publication of specs and standards, royalty free, so that others can develop for the network
Let me get this straight: You want some well-heeled for-profit corporation to pay potentially billions for the privilege of hastily launching a network that it can’t charge money for, and let competitors provide devices for it, again for no extra money? I don’t think so. I’m not pro-corporation, so much as I am pro-reality.

The Wireless Internet Nationwide for Families Act was introduced by Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and backed by Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Chris Cannon (R-Utah). CNet points out that the bill sounds like a plan proposed by a startup called M2Z, which wanted to build a 384-kilobit network on this spectrum that was free, but ad-supported. If this becomes a legit spectrum auction, M2Z would presumably be one of the bidders (the FCC insisted that the company play by the usual auction rules). Rep. Eshoo says that her plan will hopefully engender “a new kind of national broadband service provider.”

My instinct is that it isn’t going to get very far, for assorted reasons:
• No company with enough cash to build a network like this would take the risk on a completely new business model.
• An “ad-supported” system of weak wireless broadband might be more annoying than useful, even for people who can’t afford an alternative.
• The unfortunates targeted for this service would still have to buy or be given equipment that runs on the particular frequency band.
• If all you need to do is promise those low speeds, you could more cheaply create a compressed dial-up service that runs over traditional copper-wire phone lines.
• In the recently concluded 700MHz auction, the so-called D Block was left untouched because of its requirement of a nationwide public-safety network.

Sometimes I wish politicians needed higher-ed degrees in order to serve. This scheme could have used expertise in econ, psych, engineering, maybe even a little history. [CNet]

Source: feeds.gawker.com

MSI Wind Notebook To Come In 8.9 and 10-Inch Flavors [Laptops]

MSI has dropped some new info on its contender to the Eee-PC throne, the Wind Notebook, which we first peeked at in March. The roughly 2.2 lb UMPC will come with either an 8.9 inch or 10 inch LCD display sporting a 1024 x 600 resolution. MSI says the Wind will feature a 2.5-inch HDD with an 80 GB capacity and have a purported 7 hours of battery life — compare that with the Eee PC’s 20 GBs and puny two-hour battery.

Other reported specs include a choice of processors ranging from 1.0GHZ to 1.6GHz, 1GB RAM and a Windows XP operating system. The laptop will get a European release in June. Prices are expected to be between $471 - $1100, depending on the options chosen. No word on a U.S. release yet. [Electronista]

Source: feeds.gawker.com

Asus Eee PC 900 gets an official price and launch date

Crave

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Crave

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Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.

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The rat race continues: Shanghai will be 45nm, have up to 12 cores, include the long awaited Hypertransport 3.0 for socket-to-socket and southbridge communication, and can emulate quad channel memory. For more: [DailyTech]

Source: feeds.gawker.com

Ben Heck’s PS3 Laptop Charity Auction Starts, Already Tops $3700 [PS3]

The charity auction for Ben Heck’s magically modded PS3 laptop is up and running on eBay. Proceeds go to the National Cancer Coalition. If you want in, be prepared to open your wallet up pretty wide for the good cause: With six days and 22 hours left, it’s already zoomed past $3700. [eBay via Engadget]

Source: feeds.gawker.com

Iomega Media Xporter Drive

Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.

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For you poor, poor souls who own an Xbox 360 but still rely on dial-up for your internet, an intrepid Instructables member has written up a great “How To” on using your phone line to log onto Xbox Live. All you need is a PC running Windows with a working dial-up connection, an ethernet cable and an Xbox360 (duh). Yes! Now even those of us still riding along the 56.6K information dirt trail will be able to download new Rock Band tracks! [Instructables]

Source: feeds.gawker.com

Crazy Uncle Ballmer Admits Vista Is An “Incomplete Product”
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is one entertaining man. Both brutally unique and charismatic, something which he has recently shown is a certain level of humility. Ballmer has even gone as far as admitting that Vista is an “incomplete product”, while speaking at Microsoft’s Most Valuable Professionals event in Seattle yesterday. Ballmer claims that the Vista OS […]

Gadget Corner
Source: www.gadgetgoblin.com

Overpriced Re:Vision Bracelets Were Once Overpriced Camera Lenses [Photographer Fashion]

For the photographer with a sharp eye (for recycling) come these innovative bracelets from Australian designer Craig Arnold. Called the re:vision line, these premium-priced baubles are assembled using the discarded lens casings of some of the world’s most well-known camera brands. (I swear I spotted a Minolta in there somewhere.) The bad news is that these hacked-up lens hand-me-downs are priced from around $175 to $250, and come complete with wear and tear from their previous owner. Certainly not cheap, especially when you consider that hacksaws, hammers and your friend’s brand new Nikon D60—conveniently “borrowed for the weekend”—are so readily at hand on the cheap. [re:vision via Boing Boing]

Source: feeds.gawker.com

Buy the Crappiest, Rustiest MacBook Pro Ever for Only $1300 [MacBook Pro]

Macs tend to have a high resale value that outpaces PCs with similar specs and age. But this MacBook Pro on eBay looks like it was literally beaten with an ugly stick before being left to rot in a vat of orc piss, and the dude’s still asking $1295 (more than a brand new MacBook). For that, you get a 17-inch Core 2 Duo Tiger-based MBP that’s covered in rust, missing the battery and plagued by a bum screen.

Granted, it comes with Windows XP and all the Adobe software—Photoshop, Dreamweaver, etc.—you could ever want, but this thing still makes Blam’s sorry, battered MBP look like a supermodel. If you think real beauty’s on the inside and are still interested, get clicking, ’cause there’s only a couple hours left on the auction.
[eBay, Thanks Caleb!]

Source: feeds.gawker.com

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