Tag: wireless

Google from the 700 MHz point of view

In the last two years, the well-known fact of Google offering free WiFi Internet access in Mountain View, California has almost been forgotten (except, of course, by people living in Mountain View and Googlers themselves).  At the time of news many were wondering about why Google is doing such a thing.  Not it all suddenly became obvious…

Slashdot reports that Google is preparing for a bid in the upcoming auction set up by FCC for a 700 Mhz radio frequency.  There are a few interesting twists about the offer – “open access” and “nation-wide”.  With these news, it’s hard to see the Mountain View setup as something else rather than a test platform.  With the recently released Android open mobile platform, the connections seem obvious.

The stakes for the band are high, and Google is planning to bid at least $4.6 billion USD dollars.  And they are paying this all out of their own pocket (not sharing with another company, etc).   Wh?  Because there are quiet a few things on Google’s agenda.

If you are like me, and need more information on this whole thing, here are a few pointers:

P.S. : Now those Indian telecoms have to re-think their position.

P.P.S. : In the completely unrelated news,  Ubiquiti Networks announced world’s first 700 MHz WiFi radio.  Here is the official press release.

iPod problem. Logitech solution.

I love coincedences. It was just a couple of days ago that I wrote how much I hate the headphone wires that come with iPod. Today I am looking through the list of new items at Think Geek, and guess what I see –

Logitech Wireless iPod Headphones

Probably there are other options available on the market too…

iPod got it wrong

Let me say this once – I’ve never had an iPod and I’ll probably never have one. I appreciate the fact that some people find it convenient, modern, groovy, stylish, fashionable, and whatnot. But for me it brings nothing new, so I’ll just stay to my own set of gadgets.

Looking at how many people gladly use iPods on a daily basis and praise it as the best thing since sliced bread, I feel like bringing in this negative comment. Even without using iPod once, I can point out to one thing that is so very wrong with it. And that is:

Meters of wires.

C’mon people! It’s the 21 century. Wireless communications are blooming. Technology is making yet another circle to become even smaller. Why is it that the coolest and newest gadget has two meters of wires a piece? It is inconvienient, looks terrible, and plain dangerous. Haven’t we already learned this lesson with headphones for cell phones? Apparently, we didn’t.