Archos gives the home phone an Android upgrade

Pioneers of Android Tablet devices, French company Archos has turned its hand to the home phone in a bid to push the aging product into the digital age.

To create its sleek and desirable Archos 35 Smart Home Phone, Archos streamlined the often-outdated device to match smartphone standards, added the Android operating system and refreshed it with forward-thinking technology.

"Compatible with any ADSL box or phone line and using standard DECT protocols the Archos 35 Smart Home Phone is a light and stylish home phone that brings users contact sharing with their Android smart phone, MP3 ringtones, caller photo display as well as access to thousands of Android apps, web surfing, emails and video calling," said Archos.

The handset is equipped with a built-in front-facing webcam that enables consumers to use the device to make high definition video conference calls, to watch over their baby monitor from a separate room or as a remote surveillance device.

It also features a 3.5in touchscreen, email access, WiFi connectivity, and the ability to download games and applications.

During a press event in Paris, the company also took the wraps off a less-useful hybrid Tablet and music player product called the Archos 35 Home Connect. The clunky-looking Android device follows in the footsteps of Sony's Dash personal Internet viewer and the Chumby 8 - great products if you want an expensive feature-rich alarm clock or photo viewer, less enticing if you were hoping for a portable, full-featured Tablet.

Archos gives the home phone an Android upgrade

Pioneers of Android Tablet devices, French company Archos has turned its hand to the home phone in a bid to push the aging product into the digital age.

To create its sleek and desirable Archos 35 Smart Home Phone, Archos streamlined the often-outdated device to match smartphone standards, added the Android operating system and refreshed it with forward-thinking technology.

"Compatible with any ADSL box or phone line and using standard DECT protocols the Archos 35 Smart Home Phone is a light and stylish home phone that brings users contact sharing with their Android smart phone, MP3 ringtones, caller photo display as well as access to thousands of Android apps, web surfing, emails and video calling," said Archos.

The handset is equipped with a built-in front-facing webcam that enables consumers to use the device to make high definition video conference calls, to watch over their baby monitor from a separate room or as a remote surveillance device.

It also features a 3.5in touchscreen, email access, WiFi connectivity, and the ability to download games and applications.

During a press event in Paris, the company also took the wraps off a less-useful hybrid Tablet and music player product called the Archos 35 Home Connect. The clunky-looking Android device follows in the footsteps of Sony's Dash personal Internet viewer and the Chumby 8 - great products if you want an expensive feature-rich alarm clock or photo viewer, less enticing if you were hoping for a portable, full-featured Tablet.

Archos gives the home phone an Android upgrade

Pioneers of Android Tablet devices, French company Archos has turned its hand to the home phone in a bid to push the aging product into the digital age.

To create its sleek and desirable Archos 35 Smart Home Phone, Archos streamlined the often-outdated device to match smartphone standards, added the Android operating system and refreshed it with forward-thinking technology.

"Compatible with any ADSL box or phone line and using standard DECT protocols the Archos 35 Smart Home Phone is a light and stylish home phone that brings users contact sharing with their Android smart phone, MP3 ringtones, caller photo display as well as access to thousands of Android apps, web surfing, emails and video calling," said Archos.

The handset is equipped with a built-in front-facing webcam that enables consumers to use the device to make high definition video conference calls, to watch over their baby monitor from a separate room or as a remote surveillance device.

It also features a 3.5in touchscreen, email access, WiFi connectivity, and the ability to download games and applications.

During a press event in Paris, the company also took the wraps off a less-useful hybrid Tablet and music player product called the Archos 35 Home Connect. The clunky-looking Android device follows in the footsteps of Sony's Dash personal Internet viewer and the Chumby 8 - great products if you want an expensive feature-rich alarm clock or photo viewer, less enticing if you were hoping for a portable, full-featured Tablet.

Eye-Fi card makes cameras talk to phones

If you are old enough, you probably used to marvel that digital cameras could show a picture right after it was shot, eliminating the need for a trip to the photo store. Now, they look nearly as dated as fax machines, as smartphones allow instant sharing of photos through the magic of wireless uploads and Facebook.

But there is a way for the good old-fashioned digital camera to catch up a bit and remain relevant. A company called Eye-Fi Inc makes an SD memory card that fits most cameras. Through a nifty bit of engineering, it can send images directly to smartphones and Tablet computers as they are shot.

You get the benefits of a standalone camera - its zoom, its strong flash, its high-resolution sensor and other features that trump the smartphone - with the ability to post photos right away. It works with videos, too.

Well, you get all that under ideal circumstances. In testing the Eye-Fi card and its new Direct Mode, I encountered some problems.

It's still worth a look, though.


The Eye-Fi is designed to send photos to iPhones, iPads and devices that use Google Inc's Android software. Working with an iPhone and iPad proved cumbersome and unreliable. The process was much easier on an Android phone or Tablet, but I still had glitches.

The stamp-sized Eye-Fi card, which starts at US$50, works like a miniature Wi-Fi router, producing a "hotspot" that stretches about 10ft around the camera. The phone or Tablet then latches onto that hotspot, and the free Eye-Fi application starts pulling over the photos (or video).

Images end up in the phone's Gallery or Camera Roll, where photos shot with the built-in camera also go. From there, they can be e-mailed, picture messaged or posted to photo-sharing sites.

On the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy S 4G phone and Motorola Xoom Tablet, this mostly worked elegantly. The Eye-Fi app on the Android device stayed in the background, sensing when the camera was trying to communicate. It automatically made a wireless connection to the memory card's hotspot and notified me when the pictures had been transferred. In the meantime, I could use other apps.

However, the app on the Xoom often crashed, forcing me to wipe out my settings and start over.
Apple's devices are much less friendly to the Eye-Fi. Apple doesn't let apps do much in the background, while other apps are working. To start a transfer, you have to first make sure the device is connected to the hotspot, then start the Eye-Fi application. Only when the transfer is done can you close out of the app.

This gets extra fiddly if you're using another Wi-Fi hotspot for Internet access because you have to switch the connection back and forth between that hotspot and the camera's. Even when I went through this whole ritual, the Eye-Fi often failed to send photos to my iPad.

The reasons are unclear, but the problem highlighted another weakness in the system. The camera doesn't give you the slightest bit of help in figuring out what's going on because it was never designed to work with the Eye-Fi.

There are no camera controls and no screen indicators to tell you a transfer is ongoing, or if not, what the problem is. The most you can do is turn the camera on and off to see if that might fix it, which was about as effective as kicking a vending machine.

This lack of responsiveness is particularly galling when using the Eye-Fi in the way it originally launched.

The Eye-Fi has been on sale for a few years - it's just the Direct Mode that's new. In the original mode of operation, rather than create a hotspot, the cards connect to an existing one, such as your home WiFi router. It then transfers the images to a website or a folder on your computer. But the camera doesn't give you a clue whether this is happening or not.

Because Direct Mode frees the cards from being tied to particular hotspots, I expect it to be the default mode for users from now on. Older cards can be upgraded to Direct Mode capability as long as they have an "X2" designation.

I should point out that even if the Eye-Fi fails to transfer your photos wirelessly, they're not lost. The Eye-Fi works like a standard memory card too, storing every photo that's shot. The only caveat is that it may not work in your PC's built-in SD card slot because of differences in the electronics. You may need to use a card reader, which is included and sticks into a USB port.

There's another limitation to the Eye-Fi as well. Don't expect to be able to see every pixel in your high-resolution photos just because you've moved them over to a Tablet with a big screen. The photos are moved over in full resolution, but won't display on the phone or Tablet that way. This will disappoint photographers who want to check details and sharpness.

Despite its lack of reliability and some shortcomings, I think you'll find the Eye-Fi useful if you're a camera bug and have an Android phone.

Owners of iPhones and iPads will be better served by Apple's Camera Connection Kit, which costs US$29. It's simply a memory-card reader that attaches to the USB port, so there's no need to fiddle with a camera that has no idea it's been kicked into the future and is now a wireless device.

Eye-Fi card makes cameras talk to phones

If you are old enough, you probably used to marvel that digital cameras could show a picture right after it was shot, eliminating the need for a trip to the photo store. Now, they look nearly as dated as fax machines, as smartphones allow instant sharing of photos through the magic of wireless uploads and Facebook.

But there is a way for the good old-fashioned digital camera to catch up a bit and remain relevant. A company called Eye-Fi Inc makes an SD memory card that fits most cameras. Through a nifty bit of engineering, it can send images directly to smartphones and Tablet computers as they are shot.

You get the benefits of a standalone camera - its zoom, its strong flash, its high-resolution sensor and other features that trump the smartphone - with the ability to post photos right away. It works with videos, too.

Well, you get all that under ideal circumstances. In testing the Eye-Fi card and its new Direct Mode, I encountered some problems.

It's still worth a look, though.


The Eye-Fi is designed to send photos to iPhones, iPads and devices that use Google Inc's Android software. Working with an iPhone and iPad proved cumbersome and unreliable. The process was much easier on an Android phone or Tablet, but I still had glitches.

The stamp-sized Eye-Fi card, which starts at US$50, works like a miniature Wi-Fi router, producing a "hotspot" that stretches about 10ft around the camera. The phone or Tablet then latches onto that hotspot, and the free Eye-Fi application starts pulling over the photos (or video).

Images end up in the phone's Gallery or Camera Roll, where photos shot with the built-in camera also go. From there, they can be e-mailed, picture messaged or posted to photo-sharing sites.

On the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy S 4G phone and Motorola Xoom Tablet, this mostly worked elegantly. The Eye-Fi app on the Android device stayed in the background, sensing when the camera was trying to communicate. It automatically made a wireless connection to the memory card's hotspot and notified me when the pictures had been transferred. In the meantime, I could use other apps.

However, the app on the Xoom often crashed, forcing me to wipe out my settings and start over.
Apple's devices are much less friendly to the Eye-Fi. Apple doesn't let apps do much in the background, while other apps are working. To start a transfer, you have to first make sure the device is connected to the hotspot, then start the Eye-Fi application. Only when the transfer is done can you close out of the app.

This gets extra fiddly if you're using another Wi-Fi hotspot for Internet access because you have to switch the connection back and forth between that hotspot and the camera's. Even when I went through this whole ritual, the Eye-Fi often failed to send photos to my iPad.

The reasons are unclear, but the problem highlighted another weakness in the system. The camera doesn't give you the slightest bit of help in figuring out what's going on because it was never designed to work with the Eye-Fi.

There are no camera controls and no screen indicators to tell you a transfer is ongoing, or if not, what the problem is. The most you can do is turn the camera on and off to see if that might fix it, which was about as effective as kicking a vending machine.

This lack of responsiveness is particularly galling when using the Eye-Fi in the way it originally launched.

The Eye-Fi has been on sale for a few years - it's just the Direct Mode that's new. In the original mode of operation, rather than create a hotspot, the cards connect to an existing one, such as your home WiFi router. It then transfers the images to a website or a folder on your computer. But the camera doesn't give you a clue whether this is happening or not.

Because Direct Mode frees the cards from being tied to particular hotspots, I expect it to be the default mode for users from now on. Older cards can be upgraded to Direct Mode capability as long as they have an "X2" designation.

I should point out that even if the Eye-Fi fails to transfer your photos wirelessly, they're not lost. The Eye-Fi works like a standard memory card too, storing every photo that's shot. The only caveat is that it may not work in your PC's built-in SD card slot because of differences in the electronics. You may need to use a card reader, which is included and sticks into a USB port.

There's another limitation to the Eye-Fi as well. Don't expect to be able to see every pixel in your high-resolution photos just because you've moved them over to a Tablet with a big screen. The photos are moved over in full resolution, but won't display on the phone or Tablet that way. This will disappoint photographers who want to check details and sharpness.

Despite its lack of reliability and some shortcomings, I think you'll find the Eye-Fi useful if you're a camera bug and have an Android phone.

Owners of iPhones and iPads will be better served by Apple's Camera Connection Kit, which costs US$29. It's simply a memory-card reader that attaches to the USB port, so there's no need to fiddle with a camera that has no idea it's been kicked into the future and is now a wireless device.

Eye-Fi card makes cameras talk to phones

If you are old enough, you probably used to marvel that digital cameras could show a picture right after it was shot, eliminating the need for a trip to the photo store. Now, they look nearly as dated as fax machines, as smartphones allow instant sharing of photos through the magic of wireless uploads and Facebook.

But there is a way for the good old-fashioned digital camera to catch up a bit and remain relevant. A company called Eye-Fi Inc makes an SD memory card that fits most cameras. Through a nifty bit of engineering, it can send images directly to smartphones and Tablet computers as they are shot.

You get the benefits of a standalone camera - its zoom, its strong flash, its high-resolution sensor and other features that trump the smartphone - with the ability to post photos right away. It works with videos, too.

Well, you get all that under ideal circumstances. In testing the Eye-Fi card and its new Direct Mode, I encountered some problems.

It's still worth a look, though.


The Eye-Fi is designed to send photos to iPhones, iPads and devices that use Google Inc's Android software. Working with an iPhone and iPad proved cumbersome and unreliable. The process was much easier on an Android phone or Tablet, but I still had glitches.

The stamp-sized Eye-Fi card, which starts at US$50, works like a miniature Wi-Fi router, producing a "hotspot" that stretches about 10ft around the camera. The phone or Tablet then latches onto that hotspot, and the free Eye-Fi application starts pulling over the photos (or video).

Images end up in the phone's Gallery or Camera Roll, where photos shot with the built-in camera also go. From there, they can be e-mailed, picture messaged or posted to photo-sharing sites.

On the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy S 4G phone and Motorola Xoom Tablet, this mostly worked elegantly. The Eye-Fi app on the Android device stayed in the background, sensing when the camera was trying to communicate. It automatically made a wireless connection to the memory card's hotspot and notified me when the pictures had been transferred. In the meantime, I could use other apps.

However, the app on the Xoom often crashed, forcing me to wipe out my settings and start over.
Apple's devices are much less friendly to the Eye-Fi. Apple doesn't let apps do much in the background, while other apps are working. To start a transfer, you have to first make sure the device is connected to the hotspot, then start the Eye-Fi application. Only when the transfer is done can you close out of the app.

This gets extra fiddly if you're using another Wi-Fi hotspot for Internet access because you have to switch the connection back and forth between that hotspot and the camera's. Even when I went through this whole ritual, the Eye-Fi often failed to send photos to my iPad.

The reasons are unclear, but the problem highlighted another weakness in the system. The camera doesn't give you the slightest bit of help in figuring out what's going on because it was never designed to work with the Eye-Fi.

There are no camera controls and no screen indicators to tell you a transfer is ongoing, or if not, what the problem is. The most you can do is turn the camera on and off to see if that might fix it, which was about as effective as kicking a vending machine.

This lack of responsiveness is particularly galling when using the Eye-Fi in the way it originally launched.

The Eye-Fi has been on sale for a few years - it's just the Direct Mode that's new. In the original mode of operation, rather than create a hotspot, the cards connect to an existing one, such as your home WiFi router. It then transfers the images to a website or a folder on your computer. But the camera doesn't give you a clue whether this is happening or not.

Because Direct Mode frees the cards from being tied to particular hotspots, I expect it to be the default mode for users from now on. Older cards can be upgraded to Direct Mode capability as long as they have an "X2" designation.

I should point out that even if the Eye-Fi fails to transfer your photos wirelessly, they're not lost. The Eye-Fi works like a standard memory card too, storing every photo that's shot. The only caveat is that it may not work in your PC's built-in SD card slot because of differences in the electronics. You may need to use a card reader, which is included and sticks into a USB port.

There's another limitation to the Eye-Fi as well. Don't expect to be able to see every pixel in your high-resolution photos just because you've moved them over to a Tablet with a big screen. The photos are moved over in full resolution, but won't display on the phone or Tablet that way. This will disappoint photographers who want to check details and sharpness.

Despite its lack of reliability and some shortcomings, I think you'll find the Eye-Fi useful if you're a camera bug and have an Android phone.

Owners of iPhones and iPads will be better served by Apple's Camera Connection Kit, which costs US$29. It's simply a memory-card reader that attaches to the USB port, so there's no need to fiddle with a camera that has no idea it's been kicked into the future and is now a wireless device.

Skype adding WiFi, 3G video-calling to iPhone app

SAN FRANCISCO: A new version of the free iPhone app for Skype SA will let users make and receive video calls. Users of the Internet calling and messaging service will be able to use both WiFi and 3G cellular networks. FaceTime software, which comes with iPhones, works only with WiFi.

The app, which is being released through Apple Inc's App Store, will let iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS users make free video calls to other Skype users who are using the app or have access to the feature using Skype on their computer or other videophone.


Those with the latest iPod touch will be able to make video calls over WiFi. The app allows the iPad and previous-generation iPod touch to receive video calls, too, Skype said.

Skype's software offers free services such as voice or video calls to other Skype users. Users pay to do things such as make calls from a PC to a landline or cellphone.

This is not the first third-party app for the iPhone to allow free video calling over a cellular network. Apps such as Fring and Tango offer the capability as well, although neither has as many users as Skype. - AP

Skype adding WiFi, 3G video-calling to iPhone app

SAN FRANCISCO: A new version of the free iPhone app for Skype SA will let users make and receive video calls. Users of the Internet calling and messaging service will be able to use both WiFi and 3G cellular networks. FaceTime software, which comes with iPhones, works only with WiFi.

The app, which is being released through Apple Inc's App Store, will let iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS users make free video calls to other Skype users who are using the app or have access to the feature using Skype on their computer or other videophone.


Those with the latest iPod touch will be able to make video calls over WiFi. The app allows the iPad and previous-generation iPod touch to receive video calls, too, Skype said.

Skype's software offers free services such as voice or video calls to other Skype users. Users pay to do things such as make calls from a PC to a landline or cellphone.

This is not the first third-party app for the iPhone to allow free video calling over a cellular network. Apps such as Fring and Tango offer the capability as well, although neither has as many users as Skype. - AP

Skype adding WiFi, 3G video-calling to iPhone app

SAN FRANCISCO: A new version of the free iPhone app for Skype SA will let users make and receive video calls. Users of the Internet calling and messaging service will be able to use both WiFi and 3G cellular networks. FaceTime software, which comes with iPhones, works only with WiFi.

The app, which is being released through Apple Inc's App Store, will let iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS users make free video calls to other Skype users who are using the app or have access to the feature using Skype on their computer or other videophone.


Those with the latest iPod touch will be able to make video calls over WiFi. The app allows the iPad and previous-generation iPod touch to receive video calls, too, Skype said.

Skype's software offers free services such as voice or video calls to other Skype users. Users pay to do things such as make calls from a PC to a landline or cellphone.

This is not the first third-party app for the iPhone to allow free video calling over a cellular network. Apps such as Fring and Tango offer the capability as well, although neither has as many users as Skype. - AP

Aruba Networks Airheads Technical Conference, Phuket, Thailand 2010

At a glance, about Aruba Networks Airheads Technical Conference, Phuket, Thailand 2010.

Venue: JW Marriott Hotel, Phuket Thailand
Date: 1 - 3 December, 2010

The Airheads Conference is all about Technology Directions and Roadmap: A detailed review of Aruba’s plans for the future. This conference focusing on a few topics as follows:

Designing Defensive Networks with WIPS
Overview of fundamental WLAN security concepts, update on recent threats, and discussion of best-practices for defending your networks. Including a discussion on Aruba’s overall security architecture.

Supporting Voice & Video over WiFi
Wireless LANs are becoming mission-critical networks supporting a wide variety of voice and video applications (including Microsoft OCS). This session covers best practices for design, implementation, management and monitoring to deliver reliable performance for voice and video applications.

Managing an Aruba Networks with AirWave
Focusing on using the AirWave Wireless Management Suite to configure AOS, measure network capacity, and monitor usage patterns. Including discussion and demonstrations of AirWave 7.0

Taking the WLAN Outdoors
An overview of key issues to consider when implementing an outdoor network for access, video surveillance and other applications. Includes discussion of core outdoor design principles, antenna selections, mesh network designs, and more.

Teleworking & Branch Scenarios
Workers need secure access to their network resources wherever they are: at home, in small remote offices, on the road. This session offers an in-depth look at Aruba Virtual Branch Network architecture and other solutions to address the needs of remote users.

A Least Privilege Approach to Security using PEF
An in-depth discussion of user roles, Aruba’s Policy Enforcement Firewall (PEF), and Wireless Intrusion Prevention (WIP) in Aruba’s new 6.0 software. The speaker will provide in-depth examples of how to protect corporate asset, isolate viruses and worms and more.

Designing Wi-Fi Networks for Density
As more users and devices connect to your network, how do you design your WLAN to assure performance and reliability? The best practices for designing high-density wireless networks – and discuss how to avoid common mistakes.

Aruba Networks Airheads Technical Conference, Phuket, Thailand 2010

At a glance, about Aruba Networks Airheads Technical Conference, Phuket, Thailand 2010.

Venue: JW Marriott Hotel, Phuket Thailand
Date: 1 - 3 December, 2010

The Airheads Conference is all about Technology Directions and Roadmap: A detailed review of Aruba’s plans for the future. This conference focusing on a few topics as follows:

Designing Defensive Networks with WIPS
Overview of fundamental WLAN security concepts, update on recent threats, and discussion of best-practices for defending your networks. Including a discussion on Aruba’s overall security architecture.

Supporting Voice & Video over WiFi
Wireless LANs are becoming mission-critical networks supporting a wide variety of voice and video applications (including Microsoft OCS). This session covers best practices for design, implementation, management and monitoring to deliver reliable performance for voice and video applications.

Managing an Aruba Networks with AirWave
Focusing on using the AirWave Wireless Management Suite to configure AOS, measure network capacity, and monitor usage patterns. Including discussion and demonstrations of AirWave 7.0

Taking the WLAN Outdoors
An overview of key issues to consider when implementing an outdoor network for access, video surveillance and other applications. Includes discussion of core outdoor design principles, antenna selections, mesh network designs, and more.

Teleworking & Branch Scenarios
Workers need secure access to their network resources wherever they are: at home, in small remote offices, on the road. This session offers an in-depth look at Aruba Virtual Branch Network architecture and other solutions to address the needs of remote users.

A Least Privilege Approach to Security using PEF
An in-depth discussion of user roles, Aruba’s Policy Enforcement Firewall (PEF), and Wireless Intrusion Prevention (WIP) in Aruba’s new 6.0 software. The speaker will provide in-depth examples of how to protect corporate asset, isolate viruses and worms and more.

Designing Wi-Fi Networks for Density
As more users and devices connect to your network, how do you design your WLAN to assure performance and reliability? The best practices for designing high-density wireless networks – and discuss how to avoid common mistakes.

Aruba Networks Airheads Technical Conference, Phuket, Thailand 2010

At a glance, about Aruba Networks Airheads Technical Conference, Phuket, Thailand 2010.

Venue: JW Marriott Hotel, Phuket Thailand
Date: 1 - 3 December, 2010

The Airheads Conference is all about Technology Directions and Roadmap: A detailed review of Aruba’s plans for the future. This conference focusing on a few topics as follows:

Designing Defensive Networks with WIPS
Overview of fundamental WLAN security concepts, update on recent threats, and discussion of best-practices for defending your networks. Including a discussion on Aruba’s overall security architecture.

Supporting Voice & Video over WiFi
Wireless LANs are becoming mission-critical networks supporting a wide variety of voice and video applications (including Microsoft OCS). This session covers best practices for design, implementation, management and monitoring to deliver reliable performance for voice and video applications.

Managing an Aruba Networks with AirWave
Focusing on using the AirWave Wireless Management Suite to configure AOS, measure network capacity, and monitor usage patterns. Including discussion and demonstrations of AirWave 7.0

Taking the WLAN Outdoors
An overview of key issues to consider when implementing an outdoor network for access, video surveillance and other applications. Includes discussion of core outdoor design principles, antenna selections, mesh network designs, and more.

Teleworking & Branch Scenarios
Workers need secure access to their network resources wherever they are: at home, in small remote offices, on the road. This session offers an in-depth look at Aruba Virtual Branch Network architecture and other solutions to address the needs of remote users.

A Least Privilege Approach to Security using PEF
An in-depth discussion of user roles, Aruba’s Policy Enforcement Firewall (PEF), and Wireless Intrusion Prevention (WIP) in Aruba’s new 6.0 software. The speaker will provide in-depth examples of how to protect corporate asset, isolate viruses and worms and more.

Designing Wi-Fi Networks for Density
As more users and devices connect to your network, how do you design your WLAN to assure performance and reliability? The best practices for designing high-density wireless networks – and discuss how to avoid common mistakes.

Singapore Airlines to offer inflight connectivity services

SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines passengers will soon be able to use their mobile or smartphones to make calls and text messages, as well as access the Internet via WiFi at all times, even when flying at 35,000ft.

The airline said it is collaborating with in-flight connectivity provider OnAir to offer a full suite of onboard communication services to its customers, including access to WiFi Internet and mobile telephony services.

Singapore Airlines also said it plans to roll out the services from as early as the first half of next year, making it the first major airline in Asia to launch such complete in-flight connectivity services.

It said the services would be introduced progressively on flights operated by the airline's Airbus A380, Airbus A340-500 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

The airline's product and services senior vice-president Yap Kim Wah said the services are being offered, as more people want to remain connected with telephony charges now more affordable, apart from the connectivity technology that has advanced.

Singapore Airlines' connectivity partner OnAir is jointly owned by Airbus and SITA, the provider of global IT and telecommunications solutions for the air transport industry, offering global satellite coverage including for the Asian region. 

Source: Bernama

Singapore Airlines to offer inflight connectivity services

SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines passengers will soon be able to use their mobile or smartphones to make calls and text messages, as well as access the Internet via WiFi at all times, even when flying at 35,000ft.

The airline said it is collaborating with in-flight connectivity provider OnAir to offer a full suite of onboard communication services to its customers, including access to WiFi Internet and mobile telephony services.

Singapore Airlines also said it plans to roll out the services from as early as the first half of next year, making it the first major airline in Asia to launch such complete in-flight connectivity services.

It said the services would be introduced progressively on flights operated by the airline's Airbus A380, Airbus A340-500 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

The airline's product and services senior vice-president Yap Kim Wah said the services are being offered, as more people want to remain connected with telephony charges now more affordable, apart from the connectivity technology that has advanced.

Singapore Airlines' connectivity partner OnAir is jointly owned by Airbus and SITA, the provider of global IT and telecommunications solutions for the air transport industry, offering global satellite coverage including for the Asian region. 

Source: Bernama

Singapore Airlines to offer inflight connectivity services

SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines passengers will soon be able to use their mobile or smartphones to make calls and text messages, as well as access the Internet via WiFi at all times, even when flying at 35,000ft.

The airline said it is collaborating with in-flight connectivity provider OnAir to offer a full suite of onboard communication services to its customers, including access to WiFi Internet and mobile telephony services.

Singapore Airlines also said it plans to roll out the services from as early as the first half of next year, making it the first major airline in Asia to launch such complete in-flight connectivity services.

It said the services would be introduced progressively on flights operated by the airline's Airbus A380, Airbus A340-500 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

The airline's product and services senior vice-president Yap Kim Wah said the services are being offered, as more people want to remain connected with telephony charges now more affordable, apart from the connectivity technology that has advanced.

Singapore Airlines' connectivity partner OnAir is jointly owned by Airbus and SITA, the provider of global IT and telecommunications solutions for the air transport industry, offering global satellite coverage including for the Asian region. 

Source: Bernama

The future of wireless technology

WAY OF THE FUTURE: A report has predicted that there will be more than 2.6 billion WiFi-enabled consumer devices roaming our planet by 2014.

BY 2014 there will be more than 2.6 billion WiFi-enabled consumer devices roaming our planet.

In the space of just a few years, WiFi has been transformed from an expensive luxury into a necessity for consumers that feel the need to remain connected at high speeds regardless of their location.

An August 17 report from Strategy Analytics predicts that the embedded WiFi device market will continue to grow at a rapid pace over the next four years, exceeding an market value of US$250bil (RM787.5bil).

"Consumer demand for the 'everywhere web' will drive WiFi adoption in mobile Internet devices," says Peter King, director of the Connected Home Device service at Strategy Analytics. "Even where 3G or 4G technologies are available, WiFi will still be a preferred access route for many, as hotspots and home networks proliferate."

Mobile internet devices will not be the only electronics goods to connect to the Internet via WiFi. Mainstream WiFi adoption will also take place across a wide spectrum of consumer electronics channels and will become commonplace on devices such as digital cameras, MP3 and digital media players, handheld games consoles, digital video recorders, digital audio systems, digital photo frames and networked storage devices by 2014.

"While today the market is dominated by portable products, WiFi Networked TV & Blu-ray players will become significant products in the family room by 2014," added King.

In July American network carrier AT&T reported handling 68.1 million connections on its public WiFi network during the second quarter of 2010 - a stark increase from the 20 million connections seen by the company during the entirety of 2008.

The impressive year-on-year WiFi usage increases point to a future where constant connectivity is ubiquitous; a time where a dropped Internet connection is like having the power cut out in the developed world, a rare incident that completely disrupts day-to-day life.

The future of wireless technology

WAY OF THE FUTURE: A report has predicted that there will be more than 2.6 billion WiFi-enabled consumer devices roaming our planet by 2014.

BY 2014 there will be more than 2.6 billion WiFi-enabled consumer devices roaming our planet.

In the space of just a few years, WiFi has been transformed from an expensive luxury into a necessity for consumers that feel the need to remain connected at high speeds regardless of their location.

An August 17 report from Strategy Analytics predicts that the embedded WiFi device market will continue to grow at a rapid pace over the next four years, exceeding an market value of US$250bil (RM787.5bil).

"Consumer demand for the 'everywhere web' will drive WiFi adoption in mobile Internet devices," says Peter King, director of the Connected Home Device service at Strategy Analytics. "Even where 3G or 4G technologies are available, WiFi will still be a preferred access route for many, as hotspots and home networks proliferate."

Mobile internet devices will not be the only electronics goods to connect to the Internet via WiFi. Mainstream WiFi adoption will also take place across a wide spectrum of consumer electronics channels and will become commonplace on devices such as digital cameras, MP3 and digital media players, handheld games consoles, digital video recorders, digital audio systems, digital photo frames and networked storage devices by 2014.

"While today the market is dominated by portable products, WiFi Networked TV & Blu-ray players will become significant products in the family room by 2014," added King.

In July American network carrier AT&T reported handling 68.1 million connections on its public WiFi network during the second quarter of 2010 - a stark increase from the 20 million connections seen by the company during the entirety of 2008.

The impressive year-on-year WiFi usage increases point to a future where constant connectivity is ubiquitous; a time where a dropped Internet connection is like having the power cut out in the developed world, a rare incident that completely disrupts day-to-day life.

The future of wireless technology

WAY OF THE FUTURE: A report has predicted that there will be more than 2.6 billion WiFi-enabled consumer devices roaming our planet by 2014.

BY 2014 there will be more than 2.6 billion WiFi-enabled consumer devices roaming our planet.

In the space of just a few years, WiFi has been transformed from an expensive luxury into a necessity for consumers that feel the need to remain connected at high speeds regardless of their location.

An August 17 report from Strategy Analytics predicts that the embedded WiFi device market will continue to grow at a rapid pace over the next four years, exceeding an market value of US$250bil (RM787.5bil).

"Consumer demand for the 'everywhere web' will drive WiFi adoption in mobile Internet devices," says Peter King, director of the Connected Home Device service at Strategy Analytics. "Even where 3G or 4G technologies are available, WiFi will still be a preferred access route for many, as hotspots and home networks proliferate."

Mobile internet devices will not be the only electronics goods to connect to the Internet via WiFi. Mainstream WiFi adoption will also take place across a wide spectrum of consumer electronics channels and will become commonplace on devices such as digital cameras, MP3 and digital media players, handheld games consoles, digital video recorders, digital audio systems, digital photo frames and networked storage devices by 2014.

"While today the market is dominated by portable products, WiFi Networked TV & Blu-ray players will become significant products in the family room by 2014," added King.

In July American network carrier AT&T reported handling 68.1 million connections on its public WiFi network during the second quarter of 2010 - a stark increase from the 20 million connections seen by the company during the entirety of 2008.

The impressive year-on-year WiFi usage increases point to a future where constant connectivity is ubiquitous; a time where a dropped Internet connection is like having the power cut out in the developed world, a rare incident that completely disrupts day-to-day life.

From drain to gain

Mobile phone today is not solely a communication medium, but rather become smarter in handling multi-tasking activities than just talk to your friends. Not only time scheduler, notes and push mail but now people getting more advance in making their computer applications go to mobile. As the need to connected always has been greatly become important (to link to facebook, myspace…), WIFI is among the best options they have to fulfilled such need.

However, the biggest problem is on cell phone battery life. Even a simple changes to the software running on Wi-Fi access points could significantly extend or even double cell phone battery life. That’s the finding of a study that investigated why using Wi-Fi on a cell phone, and on some other portable devices, sucks up power so quickly. It found that a protocol designed to reduce Wi-Fi power drain often doesn’t work effectively.

Recently, Nokia says it’s developing technology that could draw enough power from ambient radio waves to keep a cell-phone handset topped up


Ambient electromagnetic radiation–emitted from Wi-Fi transmitters, cell-phone antennas, TV masts, and other sources–could be converted into enough electrical current to keep a battery topped up, says Markku Rouvala, a researcher from the Nokia Research Centre, in Cambridge, U.K. Rouvala says that his group is working towards a prototype that could harvest up to 50 milliwatts of power–enough to slowly recharge a phone that is switched off. He says current prototypes can harvest 3 to 5 milliwatts.

The Nokia device will work on the same principles as a crystal radio set or radio frequency identification (RFID) tag: by converting electromagnetic waves into an electrical signal. This requires two passive circuits. “Even if you are only getting microwatts, you can still harvest energy, provided your circuit is not using more power than it’s receiving,” Rouvala says.

To increase the amount of power that can be harvested and the range at which it works, Nokia is focusing on harvesting many different frequencies. “It needs a wideband receiver,” says Rouvala, to capture signals from between 500 megahertz and 10 gigahertz–a range that encompasses many different radio communication signals. Historically, energy-harvesting technologies have only been found in niche markets, powering wireless sensors and RFID tags in particular. If Nokia’s claims stand up, then it could push energy harvesting into mainstream consumer devices.

Wow….this would be a great achievement if the ‘power through wireless’ can be done. But what happen when the guy is using his VOIP service while charging his mobile ‘on air’. Will it drain his brain? will the electromagnetic conversion endanger human brain?

From drain to gain

Mobile phone today is not solely a communication medium, but rather become smarter in handling multi-tasking activities than just talk to your friends. Not only time scheduler, notes and push mail but now people getting more advance in making their computer applications go to mobile. As the need to connected always has been greatly become important (to link to facebook, myspace…), WIFI is among the best options they have to fulfilled such need.

However, the biggest problem is on cell phone battery life. Even a simple changes to the software running on Wi-Fi access points could significantly extend or even double cell phone battery life. That’s the finding of a study that investigated why using Wi-Fi on a cell phone, and on some other portable devices, sucks up power so quickly. It found that a protocol designed to reduce Wi-Fi power drain often doesn’t work effectively.

Recently, Nokia says it’s developing technology that could draw enough power from ambient radio waves to keep a cell-phone handset topped up


Ambient electromagnetic radiation–emitted from Wi-Fi transmitters, cell-phone antennas, TV masts, and other sources–could be converted into enough electrical current to keep a battery topped up, says Markku Rouvala, a researcher from the Nokia Research Centre, in Cambridge, U.K. Rouvala says that his group is working towards a prototype that could harvest up to 50 milliwatts of power–enough to slowly recharge a phone that is switched off. He says current prototypes can harvest 3 to 5 milliwatts.

The Nokia device will work on the same principles as a crystal radio set or radio frequency identification (RFID) tag: by converting electromagnetic waves into an electrical signal. This requires two passive circuits. “Even if you are only getting microwatts, you can still harvest energy, provided your circuit is not using more power than it’s receiving,” Rouvala says.

To increase the amount of power that can be harvested and the range at which it works, Nokia is focusing on harvesting many different frequencies. “It needs a wideband receiver,” says Rouvala, to capture signals from between 500 megahertz and 10 gigahertz–a range that encompasses many different radio communication signals. Historically, energy-harvesting technologies have only been found in niche markets, powering wireless sensors and RFID tags in particular. If Nokia’s claims stand up, then it could push energy harvesting into mainstream consumer devices.

Wow….this would be a great achievement if the ‘power through wireless’ can be done. But what happen when the guy is using his VOIP service while charging his mobile ‘on air’. Will it drain his brain? will the electromagnetic conversion endanger human brain?