Digital Tech News - Digital Technology & Consumer Electronics

SK-EarthLink Promise Wireless Broadband

EarthLink's joint venture with South Korea's SK Telecom is on course, and together they are planning to bring wireless broadband access to mobile users in the U.S.  Here's what they say:

"Need to stay in touch and stay productive when you're away from your desk?  SK-EarthLink offers mobile professionals cutting-edge solutions via wireless handhelds and laptops. SK-EarthLink is a wireless company dedicated to offering the next generation in mobile communications, business, and entertainment for a fully wireless world."

Now that sounds exciting, but we've heard similar claims before from companies promising high-speed mobile service via 3G.  What makes this new joint venture interesting is, SK-EarthLink are also talking about using WiBro (wireless broadband) technology which is based on mobile WiMax 802.16e. SK Telecom plans on introducing WiBro service in South Korea in 2006. We'll see if together, they will be the first to offer a true mobile broadband solution for laptops, mobile phones, and PDAs in the U.S.

Watch this SK-EarthLink  video presentation

Skype Video over IP - The New VOIP

Voip Watch reports that a new plug-in tool called "video4skype" has emerged.  According to Spontania, Skype users will be able to "experience spontaneous high-quality video communication as easy as placing a voice call." 

We knew video over ip would be the new VOIP, and it'll be exciting to see what's next as Skype develops more multi-media communication tools. Spontania's video4skype may be one of the first with video for skype, but there will be others to come since this is only the beginning of Internet protocol video communications.

With Skype you can make free calls over the Internet. Skype – the whole world can talk for free

Car Telematics - Your Future Ride

The "automotive digital revolution" has begun, and we're in for a new wave of hi-tech innovation for the automobile. You'll have to pay extra to add these tech advances to your car, but in the coming years many of these features will come standard when you purchase a new vehicle. Here's a preview:

• GPS (global positioning system) - for location awareness navigation
• Sensors - radar, laser, infrared, ultrasound (safety applications)
• Cameras - for security and driver aids such as rear view and blind spot assist
• Displays - screens for instruments, navigation, and digital entertainment
• Wireless access - cellular, Bluetooth, WiMax, and satellite
• Lots of software and operating systems - just like your home computer
• Mass storage devices - DVD drives, flash drives, and hard disk drives with several gigabytes of memory.
• Dozens of microprocessors (as powerful as several PCs)
• 24/7 monitoring by telematics service provider

via | Businesswire

 

Future of Television and TV Entertainment

In this week's edition of Newsweek, a Special Report examines how the growth of digital communication is changing television as you now know it. The report covers some hot Digital TV industry topics including HDTV (high definition tv), IPTV (Internet protocol TV), DVR (digital video recording), new interactive TV entertainment concepts, and how you might be watching tv in the future. There are several articles - highly recommended reading.

• Television Reloaded
• Interactive Television

• Changing Channels
• The Airwaves Go Digital
• The End of Television

via | MSNBC

Earthlink $69.99 PC Deal

Xandros and Earthlink have a pretty good deal for customers who sign up for Earthlink's premium dial-up Internet service.  In the deal, customers will be able to purchase a Microtel PC for only $69.99.  WOW!  The computer will run a Linux operating system. In addition to that, Earthlink users also have the option of buying a Laptop computer for $399!  By the way, Earthlink charges $21.99 a month for service, but all in all, this could be an attractive deal for those on a budget who want a decent computer. You can select an AMD Sempron 2200+ based PC with 256 MB of RAM, a 40 GB hard drive and a 52x CD-ROM for $69.99, or you could upgrade for more options, and more money but the whole point of this was to get a PC for $69.99 right?  The deal ends June 25, 2005.
Read more | ExtremeTech

Best Pocket PC PDA is?

This could be the best Pocket PC around!  The HTC Universal PDA is the closest thing to a handheld computer at this size. It will run Windows Mobile 5.0 OS, and should be available by September. You might have read about the HTC Universal PDA device here before, but the new photos on a Chinese website are the best around, so you can really get a close look at the details. The English translation is barely readable, but you'll get an idea of the coming features. You should start seeing more details about this Pocket PC soon as it becomes available around the world, until then these pictures should get you excited!

via | PocketPCThoughts

Microsoft Digital Home Lifestyle

Microsoft showed off its mHome (Microsoft Home) this month in London and demonstrated the latest digital technology and software to control digital media around the house. At the center of it all was Microsoft's Media Center 2005 software running things. The "mHome" was set up to feature digital technology and wireless gear that is available today, it's not meant to be a concept of the future. 

Microsoft has already made the "home of the future" near their headquarters in Redmond, Washington. This home of the future is based on what a home might be like in 10 years and what digital tech will be used in and around the home. The future home will get to know you, it will know what music you like, what lighting mood you want, what XBOX (and Nintendo or PlayStation I hope) games you want to load, and what movies and entertainment you want to access on your digital home theatre HDTV.  All with the help of your "voice" as well. Home Automation to the max!

PocketDish DVR = Archos AV700

It appears that the "Tivo to go" idea is going mainstream with the new EchoStar PocketDish DVR for the Dish Network satellite receiver. The recently announced Archos AV700 handheld DVR will be re-branded as the PocketDish, and will link to a set-top box / DVR via USB.  The PocketDish can download a full-length movie in less than 10 minutes from an EchoStar Digital Video Recorder (DVR). You'll have a choice of a 2-inch, 4-inch, or 7-inch screen size with this portable powerhouse.

Echo Star Pocket dish = Archos av 700

Yahoo PhotoMail Service Introduced

Yahoo! has launched in beta, a photo e-mail service that will allow you to send up to 300 photos.  They're calling this free service PhotoMail, and is part of the company's Yahoo Mail service. Apparently you'll be able to store unlimited digital photos on Yahoo's computers and then share them with others. With the Quick Select Tool, you can attach files easily to e-mail. more PhotoMail details

Thin Digital Camera Review

The NY Times reports on a variety of new small compact digital cameras that are hitting the market.  These "wafer-thin" models might be tiny (some the size of a credit card) but they are still feature rich, and capture high resolution five-megapixel digital photographs. These "credit card cams" might urge you to leave your big old camera at home.