Canon’s 5D Mark II, 7D, and the new 1D Mark IV high end SLRs are getting a wireless upgrade. Canon’s new Wireless File Transmitter units cost around $700 and enable the wireless beaming of pictures from camera to computer.

The latest generation adds 802.11a, along with the b/g modes on earlier models. Once connected, the camera can act as an FTP site, and can beam a realtime preview image to a connected computer.

The WiFi adapters can also connect to a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) compatible televisions, photo frames and servers. A DLNA compliant TV, for example, will interoperate with a DLNA compliant PC or camera to play music, photos or videos. DLNA is supported by more than 5,500 different devices.

Canon’s wireless accessory can also synch itself with up to 10 “slave” cameras that all fire at the same time. The 5D’s WFT-E4 II A and 7D’s WFT-E5A cost $699 (no price yet for the 1D Mark IV’s WFT-E2 II A). Unfortunately, none of these SLR WiFi adapters are compatible with each other.

Image Resource has a CES 2010 Roundup and DP Review has a CES 2010 compact camera round-up. HD video has become de rigueur this season – 29 cameras offer at least 720p resolution, with a couple of Sony’s latest models stretching all the way to 1080i, says DP Review. More efficient compression algorithms, such as H.264 and AVCHD, are also starting to creep in alongside the card-space-consuming Motion JPEG format.

Sony’s 10-megapixel Cyber-shot DSC-G3 still camera has WiFi and DLNA built-in for uploading to You Tube. WiFi devices can become DLNA certified with the right software. It provides DRM with home video networking between devices.

Samsung’s CL80 (ST5500) connects to both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0 and uses DLNA for photoframes and tvs. The ST5500 allows users to send a digital image to any email address using the camera’s touch screen QWERTY keypad or by selecting those stored the camera’s address book. The ST5500’s Wi-Fi connection also allows users to upload their images directly to popular websites such as Facebook, Picasa and YouTube, as well as SamsungImaging.com.

Meanwhile, Eye-Fi has unveiled its 8GB Eye-Fi Pro X2 memory card ($149). It has Class 6 performance for faster read/write speeds and wirelessly uploads JPEG and RAW images and videos from the camera to computer and one of 25 online photo and video sharing sites, such as Flickr, Picasa or Facebook.

The new Endless Memory mode enables the Eye-Fi card to automatically make space available after photos and videos are uploaded.

It’s hard to beat Kodak’s Zi8 Pocket Video Camera ($179) with external mic jack; HD resolution; good low light performance; SD card slot; removable, rechargeable battery; bundled composite and HDMI cables; electronic image stabilization and 5-megapixel still capture. Pop in a Eye-Fi card and go.

A battery powered Mobile Router might let your wireless camera go live anywhere.

Sprint’s Personal Hot Spot PHS300S is $139.99, runs on batteries and uses Clear’s 4G USB dongle for the backbone. Sprint’s new Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless will automatically fallback to a 3G backbone.

The AC powered CradlePoint CBA750 ($249.99) features 3G/4G wireless backhaul and Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) while Netgear has two new access points using 3G, 4G and WiMax cellular networks and D-Link’s new products include the DIR-412 a small WiFi router that hooks to 4G USB adapters.

For live video on-the-go, PortaBella makes a wireless broadband bonding appliance. You can attach up to four USB broadband backhaul dongles, combining both 3G and 4G network services for faster uploading. TWIT Live is using it for live webcasting around CES 2010.

Speedstream.tv sells a backpack which uses WiMax to send broadcast-quality signals from remote locations. The package is being marketed to professional broadcasters for about $25,000, although a scaled-back version is expected to be available for advanced consumers for less than $10,000.

But simply connecting a camera’s video output to a laptop 100 feet away might cheaper and easier.

Samsung’s new HMX-S15 and HMX-S16 HD digital camcorder is said to be the world’s first to include built-in Wi-Fi and DLNA connectivity and has an external microphone jack.

The WHDI 5 GHz standard, with chips from Aminon might also deliver the last 100 feet in high resolution.

Might be handy for newspapers and television stations who could go live anywhere. Television stations are stuck with a schedule. Newspapers are not.

Put real journalists in the community. The newspaper as art gallery. News pub.

Applications, Chips, Conferences, Gadgets, GPS, Mobile TV, Podcasting, Wi-Fi News | No Comments »

Phone Arena has the new phones announced at CES while PhoneScoop has hands-on reviews of the Motorola Backflip, Lenovo Lephone, Samsung TV and projector phones, Palm Pre Plus, new LG phones, and more.

Here’s Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3

Google’s Nexus One made a splash at CES, with T-Mobile the first to carry it, along with the HTC D2. T-Mobile has upgraded its entire 3G network to HSPA. Verizon will carry the Nexus One in Spring 2010. Verizon will also carry the 1GHz Snapdragon-powered Android handset called HTC Dragon.

AT&T announced plans to launch five new devices from Dell, HTC and Motorola based on the Android platform. Sprint plans a BlackBerry Tour2, a smartphone running Palm’s webOS, and an HTC WiMAX phone that uses the Sprint network for voice.

LG Electronics is now the world’s third-largest handset maker, after Nokia and Samsung. They overtook Motorola and Sony Ericsson last year. LG will focus on Android for about half of their smart phones. Windows Mobile previously dominated LG’s smartphone line.

LG aims to sell 140 million mobile phones this year. It sold 117 million handsets last year, beating its target of over 100 million, to claim about 10 percent of the global market.

Phone Scoop talked with Clear this week and talked future strategy and direction of their WiMAX service. Clear says it is on track to cover 120 million points of presence by the end of 2010 and already covers some 30 million people in 27 markets across the U.S., with New York City, Boston, Houston and other large markets scheduled to go live later this year.

Clear said embedded laptops, dongles and MIDs will be the primary WiMax devices available throughout 2010. A WiMax-equipped smartphone isn’t expected to launch until the end of 2010, with deeper adoption of WiMax smartphones coming in 2011.

Clear didn’t say which smartphone platforms nor hardware vendors it is speaking to, although LG, Samsung and HTC have been mentioned before. Clear indicated that it will rely on VoIP applications and fallback on Sprint’s existing CDMA network.

Apparently Clear’s partners have held back from making their own investments in WiMax technology, equipment and services until they were sure that Clear had the capital to continue operations. Now that Clear has secured the capital, more companies will begin to make and sell WiMax devices.

Clear thinks that its time-to-market gives it a leg up on the competition — notably Verizon and AT&T — which won’t have LTE networks up and running for quite some time. AT&T won’t complete their backhaul for their current HSPA upgrade until 2011 while Verizon says they’ll have coverage of some 100 million subs by 2011, using their new 700 MHz band.

Clearwire has also launched a mobile WiMax service in Malaga, Spain, covering a metropolitan population of almost 600,000. The service, called Instanet, offers average downlink speeds of 3Mbit/s to 6Mbit/s, with service plans starting at €29.90 (US$42.85) per month. It plans to launch in another Spanish city, Seville, in 2010, and also holds spectrum licenses in Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Romania, and Denmark.

The WiMax Forum announced that in 2010 it will finalize its WiMax Release 2 specification in parallel with IEEE 802.16m and IMT-Advanced, ensuring that WiMax 2 (IEEE 802.16m) will remain backward compatible with legacy WiMax Release 1 (IEEE 802.16e). It will provide 100Mbps mobile.

Samsung Electronics is seeking to take the lead in WiMAX 2.0, using 20 Mhz channels and 4X2 MIMO to deliver 120 Mbps. It may be deployed in 2011-2012.

In other news, T-Mobile will stop selling its landline replacement Hotspot@Home. The service allowed users to connect a home phone to a T-Mobile router. T-Mobile@Home allowed corded and cordless phones to connect to T-Mobile’s router. It also allowed you to use a Wi-Fi enabled phone around your home. It won’t impact the Wi-Fi calling (Unlimited HotSpot Calling) service, says T-Mobile. The operator introduced unlimited WiFi calling with the launch of its Hotspot@Home service in 2007.

Android, Cellular News, Conferences, Corporate News, EV-DO/HSDPA, Gadgets, LTE, Mobile TV, Wi-Fi News, WiMAX News | No Comments »

Intel officially introduced its all new 2010 Intel Core family of processors today, including Turbo Boost Technology for laptops, desktops and embedded devices.

The introduction of new Intel Core i7, i5 and i3 chips coincides with the arrival of Intel’s new 32 nanometer manufacturing process, which will be used in current processors at a variety of price points. Intel has integrated graphics inside the processor.

Intel is unveiling several platform products, including more than 25 processors, wireless adapters and chipsets, including new Intel Core i7, i5 and i3 processors, Intel 5 Series Chipsets, and Intel Centrino Wi-Fi and WiMAX adapters that include new Intel My WiFi features. More than 400 laptop and desktop PC platform designs are expected from computer makers based on these products, with another 200 expected for embedded devices.

The all new 2010 Intel Core processor family integrates graphics into mainstream PC processors. With Intel HD Graphics, the processors are said to deliver smooth high-definition (HD) video playback.

All the new wireless adapters support Intel My WiFi Technology, which allows users to turn their laptop into a virtual hotspot and directly connect wireless devices to their laptop. Intel’s new WiFi adapters (right) feature 802.11n multi-stream capabilities with dual-band support for WiFi, delivering up to 8 times greater speed while consuming less power.

Intel’s new integrated 6250 WiMAX/WiFi adapter (left) runs on 2.3, 2.5 and 3.5GHz WiMAX bands. It supports both IEEE 802.16e and 802.11a/b/g/n. Using WiMAX, it delivers up to 20 Mbps+ down, 6 Mbps uplink and over Wi–Fi, up to 300 Mbps Tx/Rx.

Video, benchmarks, photos and more are available at Intel, Hot Hardware and PC Perspective.

All of the CPUs on AMDs 2010 roadmap, says Tom’s Hardware, are extensions of the 45nm manufacturing process it employs today. We won’t see an updated micro-architecture from AMD until the arrival of 2011’s Zambezi and Llano CPUs.

Intel also announced today the launch of an Atom app store at www.intelappup.com in beta which will come pre-installed on Atom netbooks from Samsung, ASUS and Acer. It will also be available for download for Windows and Linux.

Otellini also demonstrated the LG Electronics GW990 smartphone running “Moorestown,” Intel’s next-generation platform for handhelds and smartphones. Moorestown draws half the power in active mode and up to 50 times less power in idle mode then current Atom chips. The LG GW990 offers a 4.8-inch panoramic widescreen display, multi-window UI, multitasking, Wi-Fi, A-GPS, HSPA, digital compass, 3D gaming, 5MP camera, HD Video, a 1850mAh battery and possibly VoIP.

He also showcased a smartphone reference design from Aava Mobile and a tablet reference design from OpenPeak. “Moorestown” will likely be included in some WiMAX phones, scheduled to launch during the first half of the year with devices coming to market in the second half. The rumored LG WiMax phone running Windows Mobile looks like a no show (so far).

Intel’s Atom shrink (Moorestown) is getting serious competition from chipmakers Freescale (above), ARM, Marvell, TI’s OMAP, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon and NVidia’s Tegra. The Next Generation Tegra, is based on Arm’s Cortex-A9 processor with GeForce graphics for HD video. They’re everywhere in Netbooks and tablets.

Intel’s competitors don’t need Windows. Google’s ChromeOS or Android is their platform of choice. With voice or gesture recognition.

More coverage of the 2010 CES show, is available on Engadget, Gizmodo, C/Net, ComputerWorld, Laptopmag.com, PC Magazine, PC World, NY Times, WSJ, IGN.com, I4U, Mobile Burn, Small Net Builder, Venture Beat, Laptop Magazine, E-Week, Hot Hardware, Tom’s Hardware, JK OntheRun, GizMag, Tech Meme, Google News and Twitter.

Chips, Conferences, Corporate News, Wi-Fi News, WiMAX News | No Comments »

Here are some interesting videos I found searching CES 2010 on YouTube:

Intel’s Touch Screen Interactive Wall has rotating Cubes. Touch on a cube for more info. It’s running on an Intel i7 Processor.

TWiT will be streaming live from CES Jan 6-10.

Wired has a preview of this Year’s CES and a transparent LCD screen.

PC World tested out the AR.Drone Quadricopter

Revision 3 shows new Skylight “smartbook”, a unique sub 2 pound form factor which promises 10 hours of battery life.

jkkmobile.com demos some new ereaders and Android devices.

More coverage of the 2010 CES show, is available on Engadget, Gizmodo, C/Net, Laptopmag.com, PC Magazine, PC World, I4U, Mobile Burn, Small Net Builder, Venture Beat, Laptop Magazine, E-Week, JK OntheRun, GizMag, Tech Meme, Google News and Twitter.

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Sprint announced today their Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless. It allows you to connect up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices via Wi-Fi, with the Sprint 3G/4G network providing the backhaul. Typical average speeds for 3G are 600 kbps-1.7 Mbps (3G) and 3-6 Mbps (4G), although actual speeds may vary.

As the first dual-mode device of its kind, the Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot can be used on both the Sprint 4G (WiMAX) network as well as Sprint’s 3G (EV-DO) Network. Sprint 4G is available in 27 markets and continues to expand to new cities, providing 1-10 Mbps mobile connections. In 2010, Sprint expects to launch service in multiple markets, including Boston, Houston, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

It’s similar to the 3G-only MiFi device, from Sprint and Verizon which costs about $280 (without a contract) and uses only the cellular (EVDO) backhaul

Key features of Sprint Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot include a LCD that provides battery and internet connection status, as well as an easy-to-use web interface for customizing settings. It includes built-in GPS capability (on 3G), MicroSD slot for up to 16 GB memory cards creating shared storage with up to five connected devices, and an extended Wi-Fi range of up to 150 feet. It uses a Beceem WiMAX chipset.

Beginning on Jan. 10, customers will be able to purchase Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot exclusively from Sprint for $99.99 (excluding taxes) after a $50 mail-in-rebate with a two-year service agreement. Customers can purchase the device and sign up for 3G/4G plans at select Sprint retail stores and select Best Buy stores. Also beginning Jan. 10, Sprint will offer simplified 3G/4G data plans for consumers and businesses at $59.99 monthly (price plans exclude surcharges and taxes). The price for those that do not want a contract was not given.

Several other Mobile WiFi Hotspots were shown at CES:

• Cradlepoint announced two new WiMax/3G routers and one currently available enterprise router during CES.

  The CradlePoint CBA750 (right) features 3G/4G wireless backhaul and Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) to take advantage of existing CAT5 cabling. It has an MSRP of $249.99. Sprint’s Personal Hot Spot PHS300S is $159.99 and runs on batteries while their AC powered MBR1000 “N” router is priced at $249.99.
• Netgear introduced two new access points using 3G, 4G and WiMax cellular networks. One combines 802.11n wireless with 3G/WiMAX connectivity, while the second combines 802.11n wireless with a built-in ADSL2+ modem and 3G/WiMAX support.
• D-Link’s new products include the DIR-412 a diminutive WiFi router that hooks up a 3.5G USB adapter.

Dan Hesse, Sprint’s CEO said there are currently more than 4 million Wi-Fi devices on the market and that number could reach 1 billion by 2012 says In-Stat. By the end of 2010, over 120 million U.S. residents are expected to have access to Clear 4G service.

Cellular News, Chips, Corporate News, Enterprise, EV-DO/HSDPA, Transit Connectivity, Wi-Fi News, WiMAX News | No Comments »

An NVIDIA Tegra-powered Ultra tablet, designed by Innovative Converged Devices, operating over a pre-commercial Verizon Wireless LTE network — was announced at CES today.

ICD’s new Vega, a 15” touchscreen device, is designed primarily to sit in the kitchen. The tablet offers one-touch access to a household calendar so families can organize their busy schedules in one place.

The collaboration was fostered at Verizon’s LTE Innovation Center, which provides an environment for diverse companies to work together in developing innovative products that leverage 4G LTE technology.

Highlights of the tablet:

• NVIDIA Tegra mobile processors enable full HD web, with streaming YouTube HD, for hours on a single charge.
• Verizon Wireless has announced plans to build a 4G LTE network in the United States, with 25 to 30 markets rolling out in 2010.
• Motorola provides the 4G wireless modem and data card to deliver visually rich HD content that consumers expect, away from home and hot-spots.
• ICD, a Seattle-based engineering and design firm, built the Ultra tablet, working in conjunction with NVIDIA, Verizon and Motorola.

Verizon and AT&T passed on the 2.6 GHz spectrum that Sprint and Craig McCaw bought up. Now they’d like the government to help them out because they were short-sighted. Like the banks, they make the case that they’re too important to fail.

Of course the cellcos could activate the billions in AWS frequencies that both carriers bought, but neither is using. They could also buy more spectrum from cable operators (under SpectrumCo), which are collectively sitting on $2.4 billion in unused AWS spectrum.

Some observers (me) think cellular operators would rather horde spectrum and prevent competitors from coming in rather than build expensive new networks, despite all the fancy charts and graphs. The DOJ is looking into the issue.

Applications, Cellular News, Corporate News, Gadgets, LTE, Mobile TV, Spectrum News | No Comments »