Archive for April 28th, 2010

Quantum Encryption Makes Messages You Can Only Read In One Location [Encryption]

The problem with messages is that you can’t be sure who might pick them up at the other end. But a new scheme for a quantum communications ensures only a recipient in exactly the right location can read their message. More »

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iPhone tethering on AT&T still waiting on better network performance

AT&T’s own Ralph de la Vega mentioned as early as November of 2008 that you’d be able to tether your iPhone to your computer and use it as a modem “soon,” but here we are some ten months after the initial announcement of official tethering support in the platform and there’s no sign of it. Considering that many iPhone carriers around the world deployed it as soon as Apple had it ready — and many more came online over the months to follow — it seems that AT&T’s silence on the issue has spoken volumes. We reached out to the company today to get a statement on the feature’s status, and here’s what we got back (text bolded by us, not AT&T):

“We understand that there is great interest in tethering but cannot provide any details at this time. We know that iPhone users love their devices and mobile broadband, and that they’re likely to embrace tethering just as they have other features and apps – by using it a lot. iPhone tethering has the potential to exponentially increase traffic, and we need to ensure that we’re able to deliver excellent performance for the feature – over and above the increases in data traffic we’re already seeing – before we will offer the feature.“

Coincidentally, that’s almost identical to a statement the company issued last September, but regardless, AT&T can’t necessarily afford to meet its network “performance objectives” before acting — Verizon’s announcement that Palm’s Mobile Hotspot app would become a free add-on with the Pre Plus and Pixi Plus was a serious shot across the bow of any other American carrier trying to woo business customers and road warriors. Think it’ll go live before the next iPhone does?

iPhone tethering on AT&T still waiting on better network performance originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Desire Android smartphone could land on U.S. Cellular this summer

U.S. Cellular today wrote on its Facebook Fan page that the HTC Desire could launch as soon as July, provided that it passes the carrier’s testing. The full post read: “Hungry for more Android info? How about a peek at some specs for the gorgeous HTC Desire including a 3.7″ AMOLED touchscreen display, 5 MP camera with LED flash, Wi-Fi, GPS, Android Market and an 8 GB microSD card. How about news of a launch date around July? We’ll need to make sure our rigorous testing is complete before you can get your hands on this sweet phone. Stay tuned here for more exclusive Android updates!” For more information on the HTC Desire, check out our review.

Read the full story here.

View full post on MobileBurn.com

US Cellular Tease HTC Desire Details And Release Window

On their Facebook page today, US Cellular today teased an “around July” release for the HTC Desire (previously known as the Bravo).

The device, in case you didn’t know, is basically a Nexus One in Sheep’s (or HTC’s) Clothing (which includes Sense UI), but with a few differences.

There is a little more RAM on the Desire (presumably to fit in the extra bits of Sense UI), and no docking ports, or second-mic-noise-cancelling-tech.

The buttons on the desire are also “physical” (as opposed to capacitive), and there is an optical trackpad, rather than a trackball (which is good, because, like old mice balls of yore, the trackball on my Hero is already wearing out. Or getting gunked up. I don’t really know. But it’s not working so great anymore… aaaanywhooooo).

The original announcement is included below:

Hungry for more Android info? How about a peek at some specs for the gorgeous HTC Desire including a 3.7″ AMOLED touchscreen display, 5 MP camera with LED flash, Wi-Fi, GPS, Android Market and an 8 GB microSD card. How about news of a launch date around July? We’ll need to make sure our rigorous testing is complete before you can get your hands on this sweet phone. Stay tuned here for more exclusive Android updates!

[via Phone News]

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Incredible Perching UAV Lands On And Takes Off From Walls [UAVs]

This little guy is pretty remarkable: a fixed-wing aerial drone that lands by clinging vertically to a wall, and takes off from the same position. I’m not saying this is the future of spy planes—but it should be. More »

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