News

AGENT: The World’s Smartest Watch by Secret Labs + House of Horology

2013-06-26

QTOOTH loves the spirit of ingenuity… and competition. Here is the latest entry into the smart watch foray from Agent. QTOOTH still wonders about their successful adoption in the marketplace. Not too many people wear watches anymore and they are one of the few wireless devices that seem to be moving AWAY from hands-free. In fact, operating a smart phone usually takes two hands! Agent are well on their way to a very successful Kickstarter round of fundraising to bring their idea to fruition. Below are most of the details from their Kickstarter campaign. Use the link at the bottom of the post if you want to jump into the fray and become one for their sponsors.

Agent Smart Phone

The next generation smartwatch with brand-new technology. World-class developer tools, unparalleled battery life, Qi wireless charging.

If you missed our Kickstarter campaign, you will still be able to get your own AGENT smartwatch. Please visit agentwatches.com for more info.

Let’s talk about a generational leap forward in smartwatch technology.

Smartwatch batteries are less than 10% the size of smartphone batteries. Yet while we’re thrilled when a smartphone lasts the entire day on a charge, we’re frustrated when a tiny smartwatch battery doesn’t last the week.

So smartwatch designers have compromised to conserve battery power—limiting us to simple apps, minimal connectivity and primitive developer tools.

No Compromises

We weren’t willing to compromise. So we spent the last year testing and integrating the very best new technologies from around the world, eliminating limitations of the past.

We’ve created the first smartwatch that doesn’t compromise, with both unparalleled battery life and powerful watch apps. With two-way communication to smartphones and amazing developer tools that you can download today. And with so much more.

This is AGENT, a brand-new generation of smartwatch. Please join us on a tour.

Trendsetting Design

Watches are also fashion accessories.Watches are also fashion accessories.

We want to wear our watches everywhere, so Secret Labs teamed up with NYC watchmaker House of Horology to craft a beautiful watch that matches any outfit.

You can switch from one watchface to another with the press of a button, matching your style or your mood. And you can download additional watchfaces through your smartphone.

Works with your Smartphone

AGENT talks to your smartphone using Bluetooth, enabling convenient control of your music library and acting as a wrist-based display for smartphone apps.

Our powerful Bluetooth firmware makes it possible for smartphone apps to work with your watch, no inter-process communication or white-listing required.

Notifications and lost phone alert

AGENT also displays incoming calls and notifications. And it vibrates to let you know when you’ve accidentally left your phone behind.

Compatible with iPhone 4S or newer, Android 2.3+ and Windows Phone 8.

Connected Watch Apps (Bluetooth Classic + 4.0 LE)

Agent Watch Weather - QTOOTH — Running and Weather Apps

Like your smartphone, AGENT runs downloadable apps.

These apps can talk to traditional Bluetooth devices such as smartphones and heart rate monitors (for exercise apps) as well as the new generation of Bluetooth Low Energy devices such as door locks (so you can leave your physical keys behind).

Working with your smartphone, watch apps can also retrieve info from the Internet, keeping you up to date with the things that are most important to you.

Dual Processor

Agent Watch Sleep Mode - QTOOTH — Power-optimized dual processor design

Powerful watch apps demand a powerful processor. But powerful processors drain batteries quickly.

For long battery life, a smartwatch’s processor remains in sleep mode most of the time. While last year’s processors consume 300μA in sleep mode, AGENT’s brand-new ARM Cortex-M4 processor consumes just 33μA (11% as much power).

And to keep that processor in sleep mode as much as possible, we added a much smaller secondary processor. The second processor takes care of housekeeping duties and events and itself remains in a super-low-power 0.1μA sleep mode most of the time.

Precision Power Metering

Agent Watch Power Meter for Apps - QTOOTH — On-demand power consumption measurements for app developers

Because watch batteries are so small, watch apps must be designed for battery efficiency. But since power metering chips consume too much power, smartwatches have lacked the tools necessary to power-optimize watch apps.

So we’ve been stuck with simple apps that get decent battery life—or more sophisticated apps that can drain battery and ruin the user’s experience.

Thankfully, recent hardware innovations in coulomb counting, combined with some really smart software, enable AGENT to provide precision power metering on demand without sacrificing battery life. This gives developers the tools they need to create sophisticated Bluetooth-connected watch apps which are also battery friendly.

Managed Runtime

Traditional smartwatches run apps in an unrestricted environment. This can lead to memory leaks, lockups, and permanently disabled watches. Without access controls, apps can even steal private data from other apps.

Smartphones solve these issues through sophisticated security frameworks and managed runtimes. AGENT’s OS includes a managed runtime, optimized for our low-power architecture. It is called the .NET Micro Framework and it makes watch apps trustable.

This feature-rich managed runtime also offers developers modern features they crave: event-based programming; multi-threading; garbage collection; lambda expressions; exception handling; automatic power management; and much more.

World-class Development Tools

Watch apps can be written in C# using Microsoft Visual Studio 2012 (including the free Express edition). Deploy your apps over Bluetooth and debug them interactively.

Developers can also use AGENT as a secondary display, interacting with it remotely via Bluetooth from their Objective-C, C#, or Java smartphone app.

We’ve also created a desktop emulator, making it easy for developers to start creating watch apps while we are hard at work getting your smartwatch ready for your wrist. We will release the preview version of the emulator right after the Kickstarter campaign ends and will release the final version this autumn.

High Speed Memory Display

Traditional LCDs can display smooth user interfaces, but they’re very power hungry. E-paper displays are very energy efficient, but their slow refresh rates don’t allow for animations.

So AGENT uses a new 1.28″ Sharp Memory Display which combines the best aspects of both technologies: fast animations; high clarity outdoor-readable display; and ultra-low (~20uA) power consumption.

This new memory display also runs at a lower voltage than the last generation, eliminating energy-wasting voltage boosters from our electrical design.

Wireless Charging

We love MicroUSB for charging our devices, but AGENT needs to be water resistant. And we are not big fans of proprietary charging cables.

Qi (pronounced ‘chee’) is a global standard for wireless charging, and we are building it into the AGENT smartwatch. Simply set your watch on the included Qi charging pad (or any other Qi charging pad) from time to time to keep the battery topped off.

No wires, no hassle. The included charging pad is compact and powered by MicroUSB. If you have a Qi charging pad from Energizer, JBL, LG, Nexus, Nokia, or Panasonic those will work too.

Motion and Light Sensors

AGENT senses motion in three dimensions with an integrated 3-axis accelerometer. Motion data is available to apps on demand and via timestamped motion events. Use your smartwatch as a pedometer, a sleep tracker or a game controller.

Two integrated light sensors (both broadband and infrared-only) work together to measure ambient light, enabling AGENT to intelligently illuminate the display in dim lighting conditions. And of course apps can retrieve the current ambient light level anytime.

Fail-safe Recovery Modes

Since AGENT firmware is updated wirelessly, we built fail-safe recovery modes into our hardware design. This ensures that firmware updates cannot disable your watch.

We incorporated bootable dual-bank flash, so we can store two sets of our recovery mode software. If a firmware update is aborted—even while updating the recovery mode software itself—its backup automatically recovers and lets you start the update over again.

And in the rare case that your watch gets into a bad state, our second processor can reset the watch and force it into recovery mode.

Advanced Power Management

7 days of battery life with Bluetooth. 30 days of battery life in watchface-only mode. This is the minimum standard we set for AGENT.

So behind all our premium energy-sipping components lies an advanced power management system. With three separate ultra-efficient power converters and custom power management software, AGENT is optimized to allocate every microwatt of battery power wisely.

And when the watch reaches 10% battery remaining, it automatically switches into watchface-only mode. This ensures that your watch still provides basic timekeeping functions if you’re away from power for a few days.

Watch Straps

AGENT features an accent-stitched watch strap. Available in six accent colors (orange, black, green, red, blue and white), these standard 22mm watch straps can be swapped without specialized tools.

UPDATE (22-May-2013): Thanks to extra funding from our backers, you will be able to choose between a genuine leather watch strap and a silicon rubber watch strap (leather straps pictured above).

UPDATE (31-May-2013): We now have an extra-long watchstrap (20mm longer) option. The extra-long watchstraps will be available in a subset of accent-stitching colors (black and white stitching), in both genuine leather and silicon rubber materials.

We will send you a survey before shipment, so that you can select your watch strap’s accent stitching color. The default accent stitching is white, as seen in the video.

Assembled in USA

Secret Labs manufactures its electronics products in the USA. Likewise, we plan to assemble AGENT’s advanced circuit boards and the watch itself in the USA.

Building AGENT smartwatches in the USA speeds our time to market, reduces our manufacturing risk, and enables us to build the watch with exacting standards. It also helps employ our neighbors, which we love.

Warranty

Every AGENT smartwatch will come with a limited 2-year warranty. This will cover the replaceable battery under normal usage circumstances.

Dimensions

Specs

120MHz ARM Cortex-M4 processor
with secondary AVR co-processor
1.28″ Memory Display (128 x 128)
with intelligent backlighting
Anti-glare glass lens
Bluetooth 4.0 BD/EDR + LE
3-axis accelerometer
Ambient light sensor
Vibration motor
7 days battery life (typical)
30 days in watchface-only mode
Qi wireless charging
Water resistant (ATMs: TBD)
AGENT OS 1.0
including .NET Micro Framework 4.3
RoHS, Pb-free
Designed for repair and recycling
including replaceable battery

About the Creators

Agnet Watch Creators Secret Labs - QTOOTH

Secret Labs engineers and manufactures electronics platforms for software developers. Our open-source Netduino product line (launched in 2010) is used by 10,000s of software developers worldwide as the basis for their custom electronics projects.

Secret Labs also builds hardware, software, and services in the smart home and building control industries—with years of experience working with wireless technologies and building robust protocol stacks.

http://www.netduino.com

Agent Watch Creators House of Horology - QTOOTH

House of Horology crafts fashion-forward, precision timepieces. Their Bedlam watches are popular on both runways and wrists. New York Magazine just named them “Best Men’s Watches of 2013.”

House of Horology’s passion is to create premium timepieces without the huge price tag.

http://www.houseofhorology.com

The Road to Your Wrist

Agent Watch Prototypes - QTOOTH — Prototype to production

The watches in the video are the latest prototype watches, with cases precision-milled out of aluminum and powder coated black. We are evaluating several premium case materials for production watches and will select the final material based on beauty and wireless performance.

Our prototype watches use ARM7 processors, Bluetooth Classic, and a wireless charging breakout board. For production, we are using our dual-processor design, a dual-mode Bluetooth radio (including Bluetooth LE), and our custom-designed wireless receiver coil (integrated into the caseback).

We have completed design of the electronic circuitry for production AGENT watches, and we have ported our operating system to the new Atmel Cortex-M4 microcontroller. We have also built validation boards using the production circuitry and are using those boards now to optimize our power management and to integrate Bluetooth Low Energy support into AGENT OS.

Upon successful funding of this Kickstarter campaign, we will use raised funds to create watchcase molds and production circuit boards. We will then obtain the necessary international certifications for wireless radio and wireless power devices (FCC, CE, Qi). We also need to pay for one-time engineering costs for items like our custom backlight assembly.

And most excitingly, we’ll be ordering a rather large volume of processors, screens, batteries, and more…to make AGENT watches for our backers.

via AGENT: The World’s Smartest Watch by Secret Labs + House of Horology — Kickstarter.

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B007VG6ZC8′]

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B00892N53U’]

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B00AYDNRNA’]

Google Wireless Network Perfect For High-Density Urban Centers

2013-06-25

So, when will Google wireless be coming to an environment near you? Here’s a blurb from a little while back from TechCrunch:

When Google experiments, it can have earth-changing consequences. That might be the case with its latest project: the building of a wireless network on-campus at its Mountain View headquarters, reported by the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. The small-scale network wouldn’t have much range, and it would be incompatible with most current-generation iOS and Android mobile smartphones and cellular-capable tablets, given the frequency it would use, but it could work very well in dense urban centers.

Already, China, Brazil and Japan are building networks using the same frequencies, which means that eventually devices will likely be made to work on these networks, and if Google’s building a small-scale version of those networks, it’s probably going to be running experimental hardware that can take advantage of it, too. Google declined to share more info with the WSJ on what it was building the network for, but part of the application it filed with the FCC for its deployment includes launching the network in part from the building that houses the team responsible for Google Fiber.

Part of Google’s extended plan for the experiment could be eventually offering a wireless service for Google Fiber users, expanding their coverage to an entire metropolitan area when they’re outside of a house, for instance. That’s just speculation from BTIG analyst Walter Piecyk, in conversation with the WSJ, but it’s a plausible enough notion given where the project is spinning up at Google HQ.

There has been lots of talk in the past of Google’s potential desire to build its own wireless service, sparked recently by news that it was in discussion with Dish, the TV service provider that has said in the past it was seeking a partner for building a wireless network. The company also aims to deploy free Wi-Fi access in NYC, beginning in Chelsea where it has its East Coast headquarters. A new project at its Mountain View facility to build a network using licensed spectrum, rather than Wi-Fi, indicates it could be looking to ramp up those efforts to a whole new level down the road.

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B0083PWAPW’]

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B008GFRBBW’]

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B007PTCFFW’]

Wireless Service for 30 New Underground Subway Stations

2013-06-24

Transit Wireless and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced a significant milestone in the multi-year project to build a state of the art wireless network in the New York City subway system. Thirty new subway stations in mid-town Manhattan, including Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Lincoln Center and Columbus Circle are now online, in addition to the initial six in Chelsea, which went online in September 2011.

MTA officials were joined by executives from Transit Wireless, AT&T, T-Mobile USA and Boingo Wireless to demonstrate the service at the Times Square Station.

In addition, representatives from Sprint and Verizon Wireless were also on hand to announce that both carriers are finalizing agreements to participate in the network, meaning that all four major carriers are expected to provide cell phone and data connectivity to their customers in New York’s underground subway stations.

“For the past three years, the MTA has been on a clearly defined mission to bring our mass transit system into the 21st century with upgrades to the station environment through several ambitious new-technology communications projects like this one, aimed at improving the travel experiences of our customers while offering another level of security,” said MTA Interim Executive Director Thomas F. Prendergast.”

“The New York City subway system is the most heavily trafficked system in the world and now riders have wireless service. We have been working closely with AT&T, T-Mobile USA and Boingo to bring wireless technology into one of the oldest and historic public transportation systems in the world and we’re thrilled to begin that work with Sprint and Verizon,” said William A. Bayne Jr., CEO of Transit Wireless, “This network benefits not only riders, but city workers and first responders, and it will be the backbone for future technology and safety improvements to the city’s subway stations.”

Public Safety Benefits

While the network allows users to make and receive cell phone calls, send text messages, stream music, play online mobile games and more, all from underground subway station, it also enables important services that improve security such as E911 that allow dispatchers to know when a call is being placed from an underground platform and the forthcoming Help Point Intercom system, which will help riders get basic travel information or get help in an emergency with the push of a button, right on the platform.

“This goes beyond providing cell service underground, it brings our customers a new level of security – with the ability to dial 911 in an emergency,” said Acting MTA Chairman Fernando Ferrer. “Customers now know that when they see something, they can now say something using their device to call 911.”

Leading Wireless Providers Continue Partnership

Under agreements with the MTA and Transit Wireless, AT&T and T-Mobile USA customers can now use their cell phones to make and receive calls as well as use wireless data in more underground subway stations. Service should be available for Sprint and Verizon customers later this year.

“Bringing wireless to these busy subway platforms helps AT&T deliver on its commitment to provide our customers with the fastest and most reliable wireless service in New York City, including 4G LTE, whether above or below ground, at home, at work or in between,” said Tom DeVito, AT&T’s vice president and general manager for New York and New Jersey. “This initiative will also help spur transit innovation, which is one of the reasons AT&T is working with the MTA and NYU Poly on the AppQuest Challenge to develop the next generation of transit apps to improve the experience of every commuter.”

“Through this project, T-Mobile is extending our blazing fast nationwide 4G network coverage into the New York City subway, where New Yorkers often spend a significant part of the day,” said Tom Ellefson, regional vice president, Engineering and Operations at T-Mobile USA. “Our customers have really embraced the unlimited 4G experience T-Mobile offers, and now they can keep browsing, streaming and sharing when they go underground. We expect to launch 4G LTE in New York this summer, and this project has paved the way for it to extend into the subway as well.”

“Boingo has kept commuters connected since our managed and operated services launched in 2011. We look forward to expanding our network and introducing leading brands to consumers at stations across the city,” said Zack Sterngold, vice president of business development at Boingo Wireless. “Boingo’s advertising and sponsorship platform allows commuters to connect to subway Wi-Fi free-of-charge, and enables advertisers to reach the on-the-go, connected New Yorkers with location-based messages.”

Subway riders can currently access the sponsored Wi-Fi network provided by Boingo for free by choosing the SSID: FreeWifibyHTCONE.

“In the city that never sleeps, New Yorkers love to use their mobile devices 24/7 to stay connected to friends, loved ones and business associates. So, we are thrilled to include the subway in the buildout of our new network and deliver the robust benefits of 3G and 4G LTE to commuters, public safety representatives and first responders,” said Greg O’Connor, vice president of engineering at Sprint.

“Verizon Wireless is always exploring opportunities to provide our customers with the world-class experience of the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and most reliable 3G network, no matter where they are – above ground or below. In addition to the more than $3 billion that we’ve already invested in the Verizon Wireless network regionally, we’re working with Transit Wireless to finalize an agreement to bring Verizon Wireless service to 76 stations as we support the current and next phase of this project,” said Patrick Devlin, regional president for Verizon Wireless.

The list of stations now connected is as follows (* first six were part of the initial build):

*1	23 Street – 8 Ave.	CE
*2	14 Street – 8 Ave.	ACE
*3	14 Street – 7 Ave.	123
*4	14 Street – 6 Ave.	FM
*5	14 Street – 8 Ave.	L
*6	14 Street – 6 Ave.	L
7	96 Street	BC
8	86 Street	BC
9	28 Street	1
10	18 Street	1
11	81 Street-Museum of Natural History	BC
12	72 Street	BC
13	79 Street	1
14	23 Street	1
15	96 Street	123
16	66 Street-Lincoln Center	1
17	72 Street	123
18	57 Street	F
19	47-50 Streets-Rockefeller Center	BDFM
20	57 Street-7 Ave.	NQR
21	28 Street	NR
22	50 Street	1
23	50 Street	CE
24	23 Street	NR
25	49 Street	NR
26	5 Ave.-53 Street	EM
27	59 Street-Columbus Circle	1
28	59 St-Columbus Circle	ABCD
29	7 Ave.	BDE
30	Times Square-42 Street	123
31	Times Square-42 Street	NQR
32	Times Square-42 Street	7
33	Times Square-42 Street	ACE
34	Times Square-42 Street	S
35	5 Ave.-59 Street	NR
36	86 Street	1

To quickly find stations that have wireless service, Transit Wireless today released a mobile-friendly website, available now at www.nycsubwaywireless.com.

Transit Wireless plans to outfit the remaining 241 underground stations within four years and has already begun work on the next 40 stations, which include Grand Central Station, 34^th St. Herald Square and Bryant Park in mid-town Manhattan and stations throughout the Borough of Queens.

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B007OZNZG0′]

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B0083PWAPW’]

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B0051QVESA’]

DIY Headphone Implant – Yes, Implant

2013-06-23

So here’s a bit of news from the human evolution frontier. Grinders, also known as biohackers, are people who identify with transhumanist and biopunk ideologies. Transhumanism is the belief that it is both possible and desirable to so fundamentally alter the human condition through the use of technologies as to inaugurate a superior post-human being. Sounds extreme? Maybe, maybe not. Think heart pacemakers or sub-dermal blood sugar management for diabetics. There are many examples of where modifying the human body is already routine. However, it is probably the DIY aspect of this following story that may make people ask, “Really?” Enjoy!

DIY Headphone Implant

By: Rich Lee
Published: June 24, 2013

This idea was completely inspired by @Saumanahaii ’s thread here:
http://discuss.biohack.me/discussion/252/subdermal-bone-conduction-headphoness#Item_32

First, the idea is based on this:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Your-Invisible-Earphones/

The project is set up like this:
1. implant magnets
2. test implants with coil to make sure audio is picked up
3. implant coil/other parts w/transdermal jack & power charger

Having stuff like this done isn’t really the realm of doctors. Most Grinders rely on body modification artists to install their implants. I’ve had work done by the body modification master Steve Haworth in the past and have relied on him for advice on several project ideas. Steve instinctively knew the best way to go about the implantation in a way that would minimize chances for infection and would leave no scarring. The implant procedure itself went very smoothly and the pain was surprisingly minimal.

The first thing everyone asks is “why would you do this?” Honestly, I don’t feel the need to answer this question. People either get it or they don’t. I’m a Grinder, and we are notorious for getting it.

The second question is usually “what are you going to do with it?”

Listening to music is nice and probably the most obvious answer, but I intend to do some very creative things with it. The implant itself is completely undetectable to the naked eye. The device & coil necklace are are easily concealed under my shirt so nobody can really see it. I can see myself using it with the gps on my smartphone to navigate city streets on foot. I plan to hook it up to a directional mic of some sort (possibly disguised as a shirt button or something) so I can hear conversations across a room. Having a mic hooked up to it and routed through my phone would be handy. You could use a simple voice stress analysis app to detect when people might be lying to you. Not to say that is a hard science, but I’m sure it could come in handy at the poker table or to pre-screen business clients. I have a contact mic that allows you to hear through walls. That might be my next implant actually.

I plan to hook this thing up to an ultrasonic rangefinder so that hums can be heard when objects get closer or further away. This will basically give you a sense of echolocation like a bat has. This could be really handy for blind people (many of whom use echolocation for navigation) since it will be audible only to them and doesn’t require making clicking noises with your mouth or using some other manual noisemaker. Echolocation is something I want to start practicing with now because I might be legally blind soon. I lost much of vision in my right eye overnight a few years back. I just woke up and couldn’t see well up close or far away. My other eye has compensated for the vision loss but the doc says the good eye can go at any time and when it does it will be very rapid. I’ll lose my drivers license, won’t be able to read, and glasses won’t correct the problem. Making money will be harder. A cornea transplant will be my only option and that is a bit out of my budget at the moment. So I figure learning to navigate with echolocation is a good thing to develop now, not that I’ve resigned myself to blindness or anything.

Beyond that, I’d love to hook a geiger counter up to it and experience the world or radiation. Living near the old Nevada nuclear testing grounds provides a lot of opportunity for this. I wouldn’t mind finding some yellow cake uranium while on a hike because that stuff is expensive. Hearing a gentle hiss around warm objects might be a novel way to experience the thermal realm. The implant is going to allow for a lot of new senses. Plugging new sensors into the jack will allow me to experience a lot of the world that is normally invisible. Well, it still might be invisible but now it will be audible. This new synesthesia of sorts is an exciting way to explore the world and develop new instincts about the way the world works around you.

I still have a lot of experimenting to do and a lot of things to troubleshoot. Several things impact sound quality and volume. First, the closer the coils move toward the implant, the louder the sound becomes. Pressing on my tragus and moving the implant closer to the eardrum likewise increases volume. A future implant will definitely be a coil very close to the existing implant. This should reduce my power consumption (I think). I’m also considering adding more magnets in other parts of the outer ear to see if that enhances the effects. It should. Bluetooth will be in a future version as well.

I have a hundred project ideas as well as plans for future implants. I can only do so many at once, but if people are welcome to design and ship me implants if they need a lab rat. I know a lot of hopeful lab rats actually.

###

Rich Lee is a Space Gangster, businessman, Grinder, and black hat transhumanist; he promotes tech piracy, biohacking, and committing Grand Theft Future. Contact Rich at megalorich @ gmail .com

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B0087RF5RG’]

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B003EM6AOG’]

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B003XU6H8I’]

How the Internet of Things is Changing Our Lives

2013-06-22

The billions of connected devices and sensors that make up the Internet of Things have transformed the technology landscape and revolutionized our day-to-day lives in the process. The impact of this mega-trend on the American consumer was brought into the limelight at this week’s HP Discover event.

According to an infographic that went out on the second day of the conference, one in two Americans would rather use communications technology to interact with peers than have a face-to-face conversation. 75 percent bring their phones to the bathroom, and 57 percent encounter at least one mobile ad every day.

The same chart shows that one third of Americans use at least three devices for work-related purposes, and 91 percent of recruiters use social media to find potential candidates. Surprisingly, only 27 percent of companies block Facebook, 18 percent prevent employees from watching videos on YouTube, and a mere 17 percent deny their workers access to Twitter.

The Internet of Things has become a reality for both consumers and enterprises. Today, CIOs are in hot pursuit of technologies that can help their organizations transform growing quantities of sensory data into tangible business value. Nick Illyadis, the Chief Technology Officer of Broadcom, shared his insights into this trend in a recent interview with SiliconAngle founder John Furrier and Wikibon’s Jeff Kelly. He explained that software-defined networking and analytics are what make it all possible:

“You have this wireless infrastructure that can reach out and pull this information in, but then you need the network fabric behind it to be able to bring it to where it needs to go to be processed,” Illyadis said. “There’s also an angle that says, we want to filter how much of that data gets to the core, because a lot of it is redundant. So you want to have [an] intelligence engine.”

via SiliconANGLE.

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B009GDHYPQ’]

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B007005364′]

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B004150PJG’]

AT&T Adds LTE-Equipped Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0

2013-06-21

AT&T has agreed to sell the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 tablet, the companies announced this week. Unlike the version of the Note 8.0 that went on sale earlier this year, this new variant will come with support for AT&T’s LTE 4G network.

The Galaxy Note 8.0 is a midsized tablet that is equal parks work machine and play device. It fits right in with Samsung’s line of Galaxy smartphones in terms of design and basic functionality. Samsung used glossy plastics to construct the Note 8.0, which is in keeping with its current crop of phones and tablets.

The Note 8.0 includes an 8-inch TFT LCD display with 1280 x 800 pixels. That gives it a pixel density of 189 ppi, which means it is not the sharpest display ever. The tablet is powered by a quad-core ARM Cortex A9 processor with each core rated at 1.6 GHz. The processors are paired with 2 GB of RAM and up to 32 GB of onboard storage. The tablet has two cameras: a 5-megapixel main camera and a 1.3-megapixel user-facing camera. The main camera doubles as an HD videocamera for Google Hangouts.

Looking past the hardware, the Galaxy Note 8 includes a wide range of Samsung’s software and applications that take advantage of the S Pen, or stylus. Awesome Note, for example, provides power users with a to-do list on steroids. The Note 8 also supports true multitasking, which allows users to run two apps on the screen at the same time. Users can employ the S Pen to pull up secondary menus and use Air View to see previews of links and other content. The Note 8 also boasts an IR blaster and Samsung’s WatchOn software. Together, these let people control their television sets and search for content worth viewing.

AT&T said the device will go on sale in the coming weeks, but it didn’t disclose pricing. If you’re wondering where you’ll be able to use the Galaxy Note 8.0, AT&T’s LTE network covers more than 200 million Americans in more than 270 markets. AT&T’s HSPA+ network reaches 97% of all Americans, which means even when LTE isn’t around, you’ll still have speedy Internet access.

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B00BM3HV92′]

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B00C3V9MJO’]

[amzn_product_inline asin=’B009QZH6JS’]