Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Ubiquiti Networks beefs up outdoor wireless broadband networks with AirFiber]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/27/ubiquiti-airfiber-outdoor-wireless-broadband-network/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/27/ubiquiti-airfiber-outdoor-wireless-broadband-network/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/27/ubiquiti-airfiber-outdoor-wireless-broadband-network/#commentsImageWe won't be satisfied until we live on a planet where wireless internet waves travel at all points where oxygen is readily available, and it sounds as if Ubiquiti Networks is right there with us. The outfit has just rolled out a new outdoor wireless backhaul radio platform dubbed AirFiber, which represents its first proprietary in-house radio design effort that was purpose-built for the Wireless ISP Industry. It hums along in the license-free 24GHz band, and provides optical fiber network performance without the significant capital costs associated with fiber cable network deployment. At $2,995 per link, it's hardly meant for consumer consumption, but but we're hoping it'll bring the world wide web to more of the world when enterprise outfits start deploying 'em later this year.

[Thanks, Shawn]

Continue reading Ubiquiti Networks beefs up outdoor wireless broadband networks with AirFiber

Ubiquiti Networks beefs up outdoor wireless broadband networks with AirFiber originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airfiberbackhaulcommunicationenterprisefiberinternetminipostnetworknetworkingoutdooroutdoor wirelessOutdoorWirelessradioUbiquitiUbiquiti NetworksUbiquitiNetworkswifiwireless internetwireless ISPWirelessInternetWirelessIspTue, 27 Mar 2012 19:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Broadcom extends fiber reach with BroadLight acquisition, intros new location architecture]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/21/broadcom-acquires-broadlight-fiber-indoor-gps/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/21/broadcom-acquires-broadlight-fiber-indoor-gps/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/21/broadcom-acquires-broadlight-fiber-indoor-gps/#comments ImageHere's a question: did Broadcom get a 50 percent discount for acquiring a company that already had "Broad" in the name? Hard to say at this point, but regardless of semantics, the aforesaid company has snapped up BroadLight in a bid to extend its fiber access portfolio. In lay terms, it's hoping to use BroadLight's inroads to roll out next-gen fiber networks across the globe -- perhaps even through the arctic. In semi-related news, Broadcom has also chosen today to reveal a new location architecture, which will reportedly provide "more responsive outdoor and indoor positioning capabilities for smartphone devices." The new system opens the door for even more indoor GPS locks, and it relies on a minty fresh Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) chip that "significantly reduces time-to-first-fix (TTFF) for outdoor positioning applications." The full deets on both can be found in the source link, but sadly there's no word on when the fancy new positioning tech will meander into your next handset.

Broadcom extends fiber reach with BroadLight acquisition, intros new location architecture originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquireacquisitionandroid 4.0Android4.0BCM28155broadcombroadlightbusinesscommunicationsconnectivityfiberfiber networkFiberNetworkgpsice cream sandwichIceCreamSandwichindoorindoor gpsindoor locationindoor positioningIndoorGpsIndoorLocationIndoorPositioningindustrylocationmergermobilepostcrossnetworknetworkingoptical networkOpticalNetworkroutingWed, 21 Mar 2012 16:29:00 EST<![CDATA[New undersea cables planned for arctic passageways, frozen gamers dream of lower pings]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/20/undersea-fiber-optic-cable-arctic-northwest-passage-record/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/20/undersea-fiber-optic-cable-arctic-northwest-passage-record/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/20/undersea-fiber-optic-cable-arctic-northwest-passage-record/#comments ImageHot on the heels of our own reporting of cables in the South Pacific (or the lack thereof), in flies a report that at least two new undersea cables are being planned for the arctic. According to New Scientist, a pair of lengthy fiber optic wires will be laid through the Northwest Passage above North America, connecting Japan to the United Kingdom. Moreover, a third cable is planned along the Russian coastline, with the longest of these links to purportedly become "the world's longest single stretch of optical fiber." A number of outfits are on the list to help out, and when complete, the latency between Tokyo and London should be reduced between 168ms and 230ms. The cost for such luxury? An estimated $600 million to $1.5 billion for each line. In other words, totally worth it.

New undersea cables planned for arctic passageways, frozen gamers dream of lower pings originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcticbroadbandcablecommunicationsconnectionfiberfiber opticfiber opticsFiberOpticFiberOpticsinternetjapanlatencynorth americaNorthAmericaopticrussiatransmissionukunderseaundersea cableUnderseaCablevoipTue, 20 Mar 2012 21:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Deutsche Telekom tests 512Gbps fiber optic network in Germany, breaks record in the process]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/05/deutsche-telekom-tests-512gbps-fiber-optic-network-in-germany-b/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/05/deutsche-telekom-tests-512gbps-fiber-optic-network-in-germany-b/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/05/deutsche-telekom-tests-512gbps-fiber-optic-network-in-germany-b/#commentsIf you thought Google's Kansan stab at blistering gigabit speeds was lust-worthy, then this latest fiber feat out of Germany should have you flooding the room with drool. Part of Deutsche Telekom's OSIRIS (Optically Supported UP Router Interfaces) project, the telco's T-Labs team managed to successfully transfer data "over a single optical fiber wavelength channel" from Berlin to Hanover and back at speeds of up to 512Gbps -- that's over half a terabit. It's hard to imagine just what exactly you'd be able to do with all that bandwidth (upload your entire music and video library, perhaps?), but this real-world experiment should go a long way towards helping operators shore up increasing network demands, going so far as doubling their backhaul capacity. As for any actual implementation of the next-gen tech, well, the good news is that a costly and lengthy cable deployment won't be necessary; all that's required to get these state-of-the-art dumb pipes up and running is some newfangled terminal equipment. Don't hold your breath, though, as with all things bleeding edge, this tech is still light years away from your mitts.

Deutsche Telekom tests 512Gbps fiber optic network in Germany, breaks record in the process originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Deutsche TelekomDeutscheTelekomfiberfiber opticFiberOpticGermanygigabitgigabit internetGigabitInternetInternetrecordT-LabsMon, 05 Mar 2012 17:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Fiber rollout now ready to begin in both Kansas Cities]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/07/google-fiber-rollout-now-ready-to-begin-in-both-kansas-cities/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/07/google-fiber-rollout-now-ready-to-begin-in-both-kansas-cities/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/07/google-fiber-rollout-now-ready-to-begin-in-both-kansas-cities/#comments
It reportedly suffered a slight delay due to some disagreement with local officials over just how its thousands of miles of wires would be hung, but Google announced today that it's finally ready to begin the rollout of its Google Fiber network in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri. Expectedly, that effort will initially focus on the network's backbone, after which Google will then turn its attention towards connecting homes and businesses in the two cities to the gigabit network (promising speeds 100 times faster than the average high-speed connection). Unfortunately, there's still no firm word as to when the first customers can expect that to happen.

Google Fiber rollout now ready to begin in both Kansas Cities originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fiberfiber networkFiberNetworkgigabitgooglehigh-speedinternetkansas cityKansasCitynetworkTue, 07 Feb 2012 01:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Israel announces plans to build national broadband network, increases fiber intake]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/27/israel-announces-plans-to-build-national-broadband-network-incr/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/27/israel-announces-plans-to-build-national-broadband-network-incr/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/27/israel-announces-plans-to-build-national-broadband-network-incr/#comments
Israel is home to a burgeoning tech industry, but the country's broadband infrastructure hasn't really been able to keep pace. In terms of broadband penetration, in fact, Israel ranks just 21st out of 34 developed nations, according to statistics gathered by the OECD. All this may be changing, however, now that the country's state-run electric company has announced plans to create a new national broadband network. According to the AP, the forthcoming network will use so-called fiber to the home (FTTH) technology, which is capable of providing connections at speeds of between 100Mbps and 1Gbps. That would be about ten to 100 times faster than the connections most Israelis have today, and could offer obvious benefits to a wide array of businesses and industries. The electric company is aiming to have 10 percent of the country connected to its new network by next year, and to have two-thirds covered within the next seven years.

Israel announces plans to build national broadband network, increases fiber intake originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>broadbandbroadband accessbroadband speedBroadbandAccessBroadbandSpeedconnectionelectric companyElectricCompanyfiberfiber opticFiberOpticftthgbpsgigabitisraelisraelimegabitmiddle eastMiddleEastnational broadband networkNationalBroadbandNetworkstart upStartUpFri, 27 Jan 2012 19:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Visualized: How Verizon preps LTE and 3G services for CES]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/06/visualized-how-verizon-preps-lte-and-3g-services-for-ces/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/06/visualized-how-verizon-preps-lte-and-3g-services-for-ces/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/06/visualized-how-verizon-preps-lte-and-3g-services-for-ces/#comments With the population of Las Vegas growing by a few hundred thousand each year during CES, cell phone carriers begin planning boosted coverage weeks before the crowds arrive. We noticed a temporary cell site parked near the Las Vegas Convention Center, and asked if we could pop in to get an idea of how AT&T, Sprint and Verizon plan to accommodate all those extra devices. The trailer we saw (often called a "bull" or "cow") was connected to a standard fiber line and serves as a Verizon LTE and 3G cell site -- one of eight added for the show -- and will be tasked with keeping thousands of devices online. We'll be using Verizon LTE along with AT&T's recently launched LTE network to bring you all of this coming week's gadget news, making these temporary sites absolutely critical to our operations as well.

Visualized: How Verizon preps LTE and 3G services for CES originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3gcell phonecell phonescellphoneCellPhonescesces 2012Ces2012consumer electronics showConsumerElectronicsShowdatafiberfiber opticsFiberOpticsltemobilepostcrossverizonverizon 3gverizon lteverizon wirelessVerizon3gVerizonLteVerizonWirelessvisualizedwirelessFri, 06 Jan 2012 20:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Huawei hurls Gigabit broadband across 100 meters of old copper]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/15/huawei-hurls-gigabit-broadband-across-100-meters-of-old-copper/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/15/huawei-hurls-gigabit-broadband-across-100-meters-of-old-copper/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/15/huawei-hurls-gigabit-broadband-across-100-meters-of-old-copper/#comments There's little point in having a super-speedy optic backbone if broadband gets yellow-flagged on the final straight between junction box and home. But Huawei claims it's developed prototype DSL technology that can deliver 1Gb/s downstream and upstream over common twisted pair copper telephone cable for distances of up to 100 meters. This could provide a "cost effective option for telecom operators building ultra-broadband access networks," but will it be enough to overcome America's anxiety towards Chinese-made telecoms infrastructure? In any case, some lucky people have had fiber-to-the-home Gigabit broadband for months already.

Huawei hurls Gigabit broadband across 100 meters of old copper originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1000Mbs1gbps1gbsbroadbandcablecoppercopper cableCopperCablefibergigabitgigabit broadbandGigabitBroadbandHuaweiInternettwisted pairTwistedPairultra-broadbandwiredwired broadbandWiredBroadbandThu, 15 Dec 2011 16:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Optical computing could benefit from new 'whispering gallery' fiber]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/15/optical-computing-could-benefit-from-new-whispering-gallery-fi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/15/optical-computing-could-benefit-from-new-whispering-gallery-fi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/15/optical-computing-could-benefit-from-new-whispering-gallery-fi/#comments It's a spooky feature of Grand Central Station that if you whisper something against the wall, your voice can resonate around the perimeter of the building and sneak up on you from behind. The same 'whispering gallery' principle is crucial to next-gen optical computing: light signals have to be sent on extremely circuitous journeys through 'microresonators', which temporarily bottle up the beams and thereby serve as memory.

So far, microresonators have generally been made from silicon wafers etched with the a long series of loops. However, even the most precise etching leaves imperfections, which quickly cause the signal to lose its strength and fade away. Now, researchers at OFS Laboratories in Somerset, N. J., have come up with a different type of microresonator that could potentially hold onto light 100 times longer.

The new technology diverts light onto a stretch of optic fiber that has been specially manufactured with tiny step-changes in its diameter. When the signal hits this abrupt change, it reverses and goes back the opposite way -- and, if it hits another diameter change, it will effectively enter a whispering gallery inside the fiber, bouncing up and down with only minor attenuation. The OFS scientists claim their microresonator could appear in "specialized devices" in just two or three years, which is good to hear, because electronics is starting to get old.

Optical computing could benefit from new 'whispering gallery' fiber originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fiberfibreGrand Central StationGrandCentralStationlightlight waveLightWavememoryOFS LaboratoriesOfsLaboratoriesopticaloptical computingoptical fiberoptical fibreOpticalComputingOpticalFiberOpticalFibrephotonwhispering galleryWhisperingGalleryThu, 15 Dec 2011 11:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Shaw plants 100Gbps fibers in Canada, watches them grow]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/09/shaw-plants-100gbps-fibers-in-canada-watches-them-grow/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/09/shaw-plants-100gbps-fibers-in-canada-watches-them-grow/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/09/shaw-plants-100gbps-fibers-in-canada-watches-them-grow/#comments Consumers can dream of 1Gbps, businesses might ask for 10Gbps, but here's the next step along that logarithmic curve: Shaw and Alcatel-Lucent just launched a new 100Gbps inter-city fiber optic network in Canada, following a successful trial between Calgary and Edmonton. The network can purportedly handle 133 million simultaneous voice calls, 440,000 HDTV channels, or transmit the equivalent of 44 Blu-ray discs in a single second. More redweed details in the PR after the break.

Continue reading Shaw plants 100Gbps fibers in Canada, watches them grow

Shaw plants 100Gbps fibers in Canada, watches them grow originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>100gbpsbandwidthCanadaCanadiandatafastfiberfiber opticFiberOpticfibrefibre opticFibreOpticopticopticalredweedShawsuper fastSuperFastWed, 09 Nov 2011 17:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Google might offer TV / phone service over its fiber network]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/04/google-might-offer-tv-phone-service-over-its-fiber-network/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/04/google-might-offer-tv-phone-service-over-its-fiber-network/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/04/google-might-offer-tv-phone-service-over-its-fiber-network/#comments Google has mentioned more than once that its Google TV platform isn't about replacing traditional pay-TV services, and now the Wall Street Journal reports it might be about to offer one of its own. Don't cancel your cable, satellite or IPTV service just yet though, as this would merely be an expansion of the fiber internet it will offer in the Kansas Cities, offering video and phone service as well. Reportedly it's looked into offering channels from the families of Disney, Time Warner and Discovery, but nothing is set in stone at this point. As CBS' attitude towards Apple TV makes clear, actually getting into the service biz can be complicated and costly, but we figure Mountain View has to fill those 1Gbps pipes with something other than Turquoise Jeep videos.

Google might offer TV / phone service over its fiber network originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 05:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cablechannelsfibergooglegoogle fibergoogle tvgoogle tv serviceGoogleFibergooglenetGoogleTvGoogleTvServicehdpostcrossiptvkansas cityKansasCitypay tvPayTvphonetvvoipFri, 04 Nov 2011 05:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Fiber beta test goes live, bathes Stanford in high-speed regularity]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/23/google-fiber-beta-test-goes-live-bathes-stanford-in-high-speed/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/23/google-fiber-beta-test-goes-live-bathes-stanford-in-high-speed/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/23/google-fiber-beta-test-goes-live-bathes-stanford-in-high-speed/#comments
When we last checked in on the Google Fiber project, engineers were busy laying the groundwork for a 1Gbps network across both Kansas Cities, while preparing to launch a beta test near Stanford. Now, it looks like the beta service has gone live in the Palo Alto area, according to a lucky Reddit user who claims to be using it. The ISP is available free of charge to students and faculty members within the area, at pretty mouth-watering speeds. No word yet on when the Kansas City communities will receive similar treatment, but you can gaze in awe at the Stanford Speedtest result, after the break.

Continue reading Google Fiber beta test goes live, bathes Stanford in high-speed regularity

Google Fiber beta test goes live, bathes Stanford in high-speed regularity originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1 Gbps1gbpsbetabeta testBetaTestcaliforniacampuscollegeconnectionfacultyfibergooglegoogle fibergoogle ispGoogleFiberGoogleIspinternet service providerInternetServiceProviderISPkansas cityKansasCitylaunchmountain viewMountainViewsan franciscoSanFranciscospeedspeedteststanfordstudenttestTue, 23 Aug 2011 08:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Fiber puts boots on the ground, begins detail engineering in Kansas Cities]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/28/google-fiber-puts-boots-on-the-ground-begins-detail-engineering/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/28/google-fiber-puts-boots-on-the-ground-begins-detail-engineering/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/28/google-fiber-puts-boots-on-the-ground-begins-detail-engineering/#comments We've come a long way since Google first started taking about launching a fiber-based ISP -- from beta tests, to hopeful communities, to Topeka fools day, to selecting not one, but two Kansas Cities. Now, it's "boots on the ground," time according to the Google Fiber blog: detail engineering starts now. In the coming weeks, Kansas City residents (presumably on both sides of the Kansas / Missouri border) can expect to see El Goog's engineers measuring phone poles, gathering geographical data, and asking hard-hitting questions, like "What is your address?" All this footwork will help Google get a head start on building that sweet, ultra-high-speed gigabit network. Not the most glamorous bit of Google magic we've ever seen, but it's still exciting to hear that preliminary work has begun. Of course, it would be even more exciting if this were coming where we lived.

Google Fiber puts boots on the ground, begins detail engineering in Kansas Cities originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 02:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessfiberfiber for communitiesfiber optic internetFiberForCommunitiesFiberOpticInternetgoogleGOogle fibergoogle fiber bloggoogle fiber for communitiesgoogle ultra high-speed interenetGoogleFiberGoogleFiberBlogGoogleFiberForCommunitiesgooglenetGoogleUltraHigh-speedInterenethigh speedHighSpeedInternetInternet accessInternetAccessispKkansaskansas citykansas city kansaskansas city missouriKansasCityKansasCityKansasKansasCityMissouriThu, 28 Jul 2011 02:59:00 EST<![CDATA[NC State discovery finds optimal connections 10,000 times more quickly, ResNet admins do a double take]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/nc-state-discovery-finds-optimal-connections-10-000-times-more-q/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/nc-state-discovery-finds-optimal-connections-10-000-times-more-q/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/nc-state-discovery-finds-optimal-connections-10-000-times-more-q/#comments Ever wondered how just one message in an average Chatroulette session finds its way to whatever destination fate may deem suitable? Sure you have. As it stands, every single pulse from your Ethernet socket starts its initial journey by hunting for an optimal connection path; in some cases, that involves routing through massive ring networks crossing over untold miles of fiber optic cabling. Using traditional techniques, nailing down an optimal solution for a ring can take eons (or days, whichever you prefer), but there's a new methodology coming out of NC State's den that could enable the same type of scenario to reach its natural conclusion 10,000 times faster. Dr. George Rouskas, a computer science professor and proud Wolfpacker, has just published a new paper describing the scheme, with the focal point being a "mathematical model that identifies the exact optimal routes and wavelengths for ring network designers." More technobabble surrounding the discovery can be found in the source link below, but unfortunately, there's no telling how long it'll take your impending click to be addressed using conventional means. Here's to the future, eh?

NC State discovery finds optimal connections 10,000 times more quickly, ResNet admins do a double take originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 08:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accdiscoveryfiberFiber OpticFiberOpticGeorge RouskasGeorgeRouskasinternetnc statenc state universityNcStateNcStateUniversitynetworknetworkingnorth carolinanorth carolina stateNorthCarolinaNorthCarolinaStateresearchring networkRingNetworkuniversityWed, 29 Jun 2011 08:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Sonic.net starts trial of 1Gbps fiber-to-the-home internet in California, asks just $70]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/13/sonic-net-starts-trial-of-1gbps-fiber-to-the-home-internet-in-ca/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/13/sonic-net-starts-trial-of-1gbps-fiber-to-the-home-internet-in-ca/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/13/sonic-net-starts-trial-of-1gbps-fiber-to-the-home-internet-in-ca/#comments You'll be forgiven for not being intimately familiar with Californian ISP Sonic.net, though we get the feeling you'll also wish it operated a little closer to your abode by the time you've finished reading this. You see, Sonic has always dabbled in the business of high-speed, low-price internet connectivity, and now it's going for the jugular with a new fiber-to-the-home service, which costs just $69.95 a month, reaches speeds up to 1Gbps, and bundles in two phone lines and unlimited long distance calling. Just for reference, Comcast's "Extreme" 105Mbps connection costs $105 a pop when taken as part of a bundle, whereas Sonic's budget menu option will net you a 100Mbps line for $39.95 (plus a phone line with unlimited calls). Understandably, Sonic's grand plan is starting out small, with a trial in Sebastopol spanning 700 households, but provided the company doesn't go bust by giving people so much for so little, expansion to bigger cities will follow, with San Francisco and Santa Rosa being the prime candidates. And just in case you're questioning Sonic's credentials, Google's chosen the ISP to manage its gigabit fiber network at Stanford University, and who knows ultrafast broadband better than Google?

[Thanks, Roland]

Sonic.net starts trial of 1Gbps fiber-to-the-home internet in California, asks just $70 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 02:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1gbpsaccessbroadbandcaliforniaconnectivityfiberfiber opticfiber to the homefiber-to-the-homeFiberOpticFiberToTheHomeftthgigabitgigabit internetGigabitInternetinternetisppilotsonicsonic.nettrialwebMon, 13 Jun 2011 02:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers create 26 terabit-per-second connections with just a single laser]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/23/researchers-create-26-terabit-per-second-connections-with-just-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/23/researchers-create-26-terabit-per-second-connections-with-just-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/23/researchers-create-26-terabit-per-second-connections-with-just-a/#comments Internet Must Be On At All Times
Remember that pair of 100 terabit-per-second connections we told you about earlier this moth? Impressive? Sure, but not entirely practical thanks to the massive banks of lasers (370 to be exact) that guzzled several kilowatts of electricity. Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany haven't hit 100Tbps yet, but they were able push 26Tbps using just one, lonely laser. The new single-laser fiber-optic speed record was set using a technique called fast Fourier transform that pulses light at an incredibly high rate with data encoded in 325 distinct colors across the spectrum. A detector at the receiving end is able to distinguish between the various colored data streams, based on tiny differences in arrival time, and recombine them into a high-speed torrent of ones and zeros. The scientists behind the project believe that, eventually, the technology could make its way into commercial use and be integrated into silicon chips. Now, someone needs to hurry up and jack our FiOS connection into this thing -- all this talk of terabits-per-second and graphene modulators, yet we're still jealous of grandma Löthberg.

Researchers create 26 terabit-per-second connections with just a single laser originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 May 2011 19:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>26 terabits per second26TerabitsPerSeconddatafiberfiber opticfiber opticsFiberOpticFiberOpticsgermanyinternetKarlsruhe Institute of TechnologyKarlsruheInstituteOfTechnologyKITlaserlasersrecordrecordsresearchspeed recordSpeedRecordMon, 23 May 2011 19:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers create two 100 terabit per second optical connections, dare us to torrent something]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/01/researchers-create-two-100-terabit-per-second-optical-connection/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/01/researchers-create-two-100-terabit-per-second-optical-connection/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/01/researchers-create-two-100-terabit-per-second-optical-connection/#comments Even a woman with a 40 Gbps internet connection might feel a twinge of jealousy at this news -- Japan has successfully tested two separate 100 terabit per second data links that use a single optical fiber to carry their loads. New Scientist reports that NEC scholars stuffed the light from 370 lasers into 165 kilometers of fiber to achieve a speed of 101.7 Tbps, while NICT researchers set a new record of 109 Tbps using a special fiber with seven cores to manage the trick. We imagine that Alcatel-Lucent and NTT aren't sitting still. Not that we really care who has the fastest fiber... just so long as one end leads to our house.

Researchers create two 100 terabit per second optical connections, dare us to torrent something originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 May 2011 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>100 terabit100TerabitdataDayou QianDayouQianfiberfiber opticfiber opticsFiberOpticFiberOpticsfibreinternetJun SakaguchiJunSakaguchiNECNICTopticalrecordrecordsspeedspeed recordSpeedRecordtbpsterabitterabits per secondTerabitsPerSecondtransmissionSun, 01 May 2011 16:02:00 EST<![CDATA[South Pacific's Vanuatu grabbing fiber internet connection, sidesteps 'remote' stereotype]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/14/south-pacifics-vanuatu-grabbing-fiber-internet-connection-side/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/14/south-pacifics-vanuatu-grabbing-fiber-internet-connection-side/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/14/south-pacifics-vanuatu-grabbing-fiber-internet-connection-side/#commentsEver been to Vanuatu? Neither have the vast majority of the world's inhabitants -- particularly those who simply can't function off the grid. For ages, the island archipelago has relied on sluggish, unpredictable satellite connections for eBay bids and liveblog following, but it looks as if fares to the blossoming nation are about to head even further north. Around this time next year, the Pacific Island destination will be connected to the real internet, thanks to an undersea optical fiber backbone cable linking it to nearby Fiji. Interchange and Alcatel-Lucent will be working to lay and operate the 1,230 kilometer cable system, which will "link directly into the high capacity Southern Cross Cable between Sydney and Hawaii." At first, the system will be equipped to handle 20Gbis/sec -- a figure that dwarfs the country's current capacity by 200x. In time, that should creep up to 320Gbit/sec, enabling your future vacation videos to hit YouTube in record time. Total cost? $30 million, or a drop in the bucket compared to the economic boom that's bound to transpire.

Continue reading South Pacific's Vanuatu grabbing fiber internet connection, sidesteps 'remote' stereotype

South Pacific's Vanuatu grabbing fiber internet connection, sidesteps 'remote' stereotype originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Alcatel LucentAlcatel-LucentAlcatelLucentbroadbandfiberinternetpacificremotetravelVanuatuThu, 14 Apr 2011 12:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Fujitsu to build 1Gbps fiber optic broadband network in the UK, but needs BT to play fair first]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/13/fujitsu-to-build-1gbps-fiber-optic-broadband-network-in-the-uk/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/13/fujitsu-to-build-1gbps-fiber-optic-broadband-network-in-the-uk/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/13/fujitsu-to-build-1gbps-fiber-optic-broadband-network-in-the-uk/#commentsGood news for anyone feeling left behind by the broadband revolution just because of their post code: Fujitsu has just announced a joint venture to deliver fiber optic connectivity to neglected rural homes in the UK. Built on hardware provided by Cisco and supported by Virgin Media and TalkTalk, this network will focus on channeling fiber directly to the home, which is said to provide symmetrical 1Gbps bandwidth with up to 10Gbps speeds considered possible down the line. Best news of all, perhaps, is that the cabling will be available on a wholesale basis to all ISPs, not just the ones involved in the project, so the UK may finally get a decent taste of what competition in the internet service space feels like. Alas, there's a key line in the press release that notes the new venture is dependent on BT providing "access to its underground ducts and telegraph poles on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms," which it apparently isn't doing at the moment. Ah well, we're sure they'll sort things out like the mature professionals that they are. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Fujitsu to build 1Gbps fiber optic broadband network in the UK, but needs BT to play fair first

Fujitsu to build 1Gbps fiber optic broadband network in the UK, but needs BT to play fair first originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 05:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1gbpsaccessbritainbroadbandbtciscofiberfiber opticfiber opticsfiber to the homeFiberOpticFiberOpticsFiberToTheHomeftthfujitsugigabitinfrastructureinternetonlineplansroadmaprolloutscheduletalktalkukunited kingdomUnitedKingdomvirginvirgin mediaVirginMediawholesaleWed, 13 Apr 2011 05:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Nanogenerators produce electricity by squeezing your fingers together, while you dance]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/nanogenerators-produce-electricity-by-squeezing-your-fingers-tog/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/nanogenerators-produce-electricity-by-squeezing-your-fingers-tog/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/nanogenerators-produce-electricity-by-squeezing-your-fingers-tog/#comments It's been a while since we last heard about nanogenerators -- you know, those insanely tiny fibers that could potentially be woven into your hoodie to juice up your smartphone. Dr. Zhong Lin Wang of the Georgia Institute of Technology has reported that he and his team of Einsteins constructed nanogenerators with enough energy to potentially power LCDs, LEDs and laser diodes by moving your various limbs. These micro-powerhouses -- strands of piezoelectric zinc oxide, 1 / 500 the width of a single hair strand -- can generate electrical charges when flexed or strained. Wang and his team of researchers shoved a collection of their nanogenerators into a chip 1 / 4 the size of a stamp, stacked five of them on top of one another and can pinch the stack between their fingers to generate the output of two standard AA batteries -- around 3 volts. Although it's not much, we're super excited at this point in development -- imagine how convenient to charge your phone in your pocket sans the bulky battery add-ons. And that's only one application of this technology. Yea, we know.

Continue reading Nanogenerators produce electricity by squeezing your fingers together, while you dance

Nanogenerators produce electricity by squeezing your fingers together, while you dance originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chargeDr zhong lin wangDrZhongLinWangelectricelectricityfibergenerategeneratorgeorgia institute of technologyGeorgiaInstituteOfTechnologyLCDLEDmovementnanonanogeneratornanotechnologyoxidepiezoelectricpowerwangwirezhong lin wangZhongLinWangzinczinc oxideZincOxideThu, 31 Mar 2011 20:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Fruity nanofibers could make for super-strong plastics, banana-flavored body panels]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/fruity-nanofibers-could-make-for-super-strong-plastics-banana-f/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/fruity-nanofibers-could-make-for-super-strong-plastics-banana-f/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/fruity-nanofibers-could-make-for-super-strong-plastics-banana-f/#commentsFruity nanofibers could make for super-strong plastics, banana-flavored carbon fiber Carbon fiber is still the material of choice for high-end components that need lots of strength without a lot of weight, but wouldn't life be better if those components were made of pineapple? Apparently, yes. At least that's the case according to Brazilian scientists led by Alcides Leão, who have created so-called nanofibers from the pulp of various fruits, including pineapple leaves and coconut shells. These are processed down to create nano-scale threads that, when added to plastics, form a composite 30 percent lighter than carbon fiber yet three or four times stronger. Healthier, too. No word on when this stuff might be in full production, but we look forward to cradling our future fruit-based gadgets.

Fruity nanofibers could make for super-strong plastics, banana-flavored body panels originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 22:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Alcides LeãoAlcidesLeãobrazilcarbon fiberCarbonFiberfiberfruitnanofiberresearchscienceWed, 30 Mar 2011 22:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Google's gigabit fiber network to be built in Kansas City, Kansas; people of Topeka reportedly crestfallen]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/googles-gigabit-fiber-network-to-be-built-in-kansas-city-kansa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/googles-gigabit-fiber-network-to-be-built-in-kansas-city-kansa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/googles-gigabit-fiber-network-to-be-built-in-kansas-city-kansa/#comments We were just wondering what Google was doing with that super-fast gigabit network it promised to set up in one lucky city and here's finally a fresh development. The winner has been chosen and it's Kansas City, Kansas. Having the winning community in its own state will be quite the bitter pill for the people of Topeka to swallow, as they actually renamed their town to Google, Kansas, just to try and appease the Mountain View overlords. Hey, we're sure Google knows best! An agreement has now been signed to roll out the fiber goodness in Kansas City, which should result in gigabit service becoming available to locals in 2012. A press event is scheduled for 1PM ET, which will be livestreamed at the YouTube link below, and you can check out the announcement video after the break while you wait.

Update: That livestream is rolling, folks! Google's reps just said "this is the beginning and not the end." Kansas City, Kansas, will be just the first market where this 1Gbps goodness will be installed. Guess there's hope for the rest of us yet.

Continue reading Google's gigabit fiber network to be built in Kansas City, Kansas; people of Topeka reportedly crestfallen

Google's gigabit fiber network to be built in Kansas City, Kansas; people of Topeka reportedly crestfallen originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1gbpsaccessbroadbandbroadband accessBroadbandAccessfastfibergigabitgoogleinternetkansaskansas cityKansasCitynetworknetworkingprojectspeedvideowinnerWed, 30 Mar 2011 12:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers manage 448Gbps on commercial hardware, coming soonish to a trunk near you]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/29/researchers-manage-448gbps-on-commercial-hardware-coming-soonis/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/29/researchers-manage-448gbps-on-commercial-hardware-coming-soonis/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/29/researchers-manage-448gbps-on-commercial-hardware-coming-soonis/#commentsResearchers manage 448Gbit/s on commercial hardware, coming soonish to a trunk near you We've seen many a theoretical demonstration of lightning-quick networks, but most use some rather special purpose hardware -- like lasers and such that your average ISP doesn't have hanging around. However, this new benchmark of 448Gbps is a little more impressive because it was achieved on commercial fiber hardware. A few teams of researchers were the ones shoveling the bits, including the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, the National Inter-university Consortium for Telecommunications (CNIT), and good 'ol Ericsson. It's said to be the world's first transmission line operating at that speed, and what's most impressive is that it'll be tested on further network segments in the coming months ahead of becoming an actual product at some point in the not-too-distant future. Not soon enough.

Researchers manage 448Gbps on commercial hardware, coming soonish to a trunk near you originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cnitericssonfiberNational Inter-university Consortium for TelecommunicationsNationalInter-universityConsortiumForTelecommunicationsnetworknetworkingopticalSantAnna School of Advanced StudiesSantannaSchoolOfAdvancedStudiesTue, 29 Mar 2011 11:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Fiber's 1Gbps ISP 'test community' selection delayed until 2011]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/16/google-fibers-1gbps-isp-test-community-selection-delayed-unti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/16/google-fibers-1gbps-isp-test-community-selection-delayed-unti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/16/google-fibers-1gbps-isp-test-community-selection-delayed-unti/#comments
As you can imagine, the call for a community to be the recipient of Google Fiber's 1Gbps network was met by an overwhelming response. Indeed, the response was so great that while the recipient of all that bandwidth was to be announced at the end of this year, it looks like they won't have a decision until early 2011. In the meantime, the project will continue to offer insanely high download speeds to Google's campus and an 850 home beta network in Stanford.

Google Fiber's 1Gbps ISP 'test community' selection delayed until 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 20:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1Gbpsaccessfiberfiber for communitiesFiberForCommunitiesgooglegoogle fibergoogle fiber for communitiesGoogleFiberGoogleFiberForCommunitiesgooglenetInternetInternet accessInternetAccessispstanfordThu, 16 Dec 2010 20:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon bringing 150 / 35Mbps internet to FiOS customers, enraging customers of all other ISPs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/22/verizon-bringing-150-35mbps-internet-to-fios-customers-enraging/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/22/verizon-bringing-150-35mbps-internet-to-fios-customers-enraging/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/22/verizon-bringing-150-35mbps-internet-to-fios-customers-enraging/#commentsYou know, we're pretty stoked for the folks who just so happen to reside within Verizon's relatively minuscule FiOS service footprint, but rather than hooking up those who've already been adequately hooked, why not spread that fiber cheer over to a few extra states? Alas, it looks as if the FiOS rollout is on an indefinite hold, but those lucky enough to have access will soon have the ability to upgrade their existing internet service to this: a 150/35Mbps option. That's 150Mbps down and 35Mbps up, and as far as consumer-grade services in America go, it's pretty much as good as it gets. Verizon is claiming that it'll be available to order by consumers at the end of this year, with small businesses seeing the option shortly thereafter. 'Course, no pricing details are mentioned, but it's not like it matters -- you'll cash in whatever Yuletide gifts you have to in order to get this, right?

Update, Verizon pinged us with a few points -- for starters new speed is available today to the majority of our FiOS customers in 12 states and the District of Columbia, with more and more to get it in due time. As for pricing? The 150/35 Mbps residential offer will be available to the majority of FiOS-eligible households, and sold as a stand-alone service starting at $194.99 a month when purchased with a one-year service agreement and Verizon wireline voice service. Not exactly a "bargain," but like we said, you're still finding a way to make this happen.

Continue reading Verizon bringing 150 / 35Mbps internet to FiOS customers, enraging customers of all other ISPs

Verizon bringing 150 / 35Mbps internet to FiOS customers, enraging customers of all other ISPs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 12:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>broadbandfiberfiosftthfttphigh-speed internetHigh-speedInternetinternetVerizonverizon communicationsVerizonCommunicationsvideoMon, 22 Nov 2010 12:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Google to beta test 1Gbps fiber internet service at Stanford's Residential Subdivision]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/22/google-to-beta-test-1gbps-fiber-internet-service-at-stanfords-r/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/22/google-to-beta-test-1gbps-fiber-internet-service-at-stanfords-r/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/22/google-to-beta-test-1gbps-fiber-internet-service-at-stanfords-r/#comments Right after having a giant Christmas tree as your mascot comes the next best reason to be a Cardinal: the chance to have 1Gbps internet from Google. If you'll recall, the Big G announced earlier this year that it was planning to rollout a 1Gbps fiber connection to between 50,000 and 500,000 homes in a given community, and while the search is still ongoing for the perfect fit (that's expected to be announced by the year's end), Google's using a sliver of Stanford's campus to trial things before heading public. The university's Residential Subdivision -- a group of approximately 850 faculty- and staff-owned homes on campus -- will be the testing grounds for the aforesaid internet service, and the current plan is to break ground on the initiative in early 2011. El Goog chose Stanford for a couple of reasons: first, it's bright enough to realize how awesome of a PR move this is, and second, this chunk of campus is spitting distance from Mountain View. Third, the Cardinal mascot was down with it -- and seriously, who is Google to question that thing?

Google to beta test 1Gbps fiber internet service at Stanford's Residential Subdivision originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1gbpsbroadbandcollegefiberftthfttpGoogleGoogle FiberGoogleFiberinternetispstanfordstanford universityStanfordUniversityuniversityFri, 22 Oct 2010 10:35:00 EST<![CDATA[BT offering British broadband users free fiber upgrade -- when the rollout reaches them]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/19/bt-offering-british-broadband-users-free-fiber-upgrade-when-t/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/19/bt-offering-british-broadband-users-free-fiber-upgrade-when-t/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/19/bt-offering-british-broadband-users-free-fiber-upgrade-when-t/#commentsWell now, isn't this nice? British Telecom has come out with a sweet and loving promise to subscribers who partake in its current broadband and landline telephony bundles -- stick with us, says BT, and we'll upgrade you to our fiber (or fibre, as the Brits call it) optic network free of charge. Of course, this wouldn't be BT if there weren't some gnarly details to the bargain, which include 40GB a month usage limits and £25 setup fees for users on the cheapest monthly bundles. Still, at least the upgrade to 40Mbit is something to look forward to and BT's saying you won't have to pay any additional levies for it on a monthly basis. See its press release after the break or check out the map below to see when the rollout might be hitting your particular corner of the Queen's home isles.

Continue reading BT offering British broadband users free fiber upgrade -- when the rollout reaches them

BT offering British broadband users free fiber upgrade -- when the rollout reaches them originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Sep 2010 05:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>40mbitbritainbritish telecomBritishTelecombroadbandbtbt infinityBtInfinityconnectivityfastfiberfiber opticfibereFiberOpticfreefree upgradeFreeUpgradeinfinitynetworkrolloutspeedukunited kingdomUnitedKingdomupgradeSun, 19 Sep 2010 05:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Auto-tune nabs new lease on life, kills phase noise in long-haul fiber transmissions]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/14/auto-tune-nabs-new-lease-on-life-kills-phase-noise-in-long-haul/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/14/auto-tune-nabs-new-lease-on-life-kills-phase-noise-in-long-haul/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/14/auto-tune-nabs-new-lease-on-life-kills-phase-noise-in-long-haul/#comments Digg It's probably advisable to not mention this to T-Pain or anyone even closely related to him, but it looks as if auto-tune may have finally found a legitimate use. You know -- aside from crafting one of the most hilarious Bud Light commercials in the history of Bud Light commercials. An EU-funded team has crafted a prototype device that uses a technology similar to auto-tune in order to nix cross-talk on signals that travel down fiber optic cabling. Currently, the clean up process on phase noise ends up decimating the total capacity available to travel, so far less information actually gets through the end than what you started with. Now, this here device is claiming to spit shine the noisy signals and "re-transmit them with fuller capacity." Periklis Petropoulos, a researcher on the project from the University of Southampton's Optoelectronics Research Centre, summed it up as such: "With this demonstration we've shown that it is possible to use the capabilities of the optical fiber to the full without being restricted by the capabilities of the electronics; you could say that in its final functionality, it is like auto-tune." Obligatory video demonstration is after the break.

Continue reading Auto-tune nabs new lease on life, kills phase noise in long-haul fiber transmissions

Auto-tune nabs new lease on life, kills phase noise in long-haul fiber transmissions originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 09:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto tuneauto-tuneAutoTunecross talkcross-talkCrossTalkeuropaEuropean unionEuropeanUnionfiberfiber opticfiber opticsFiberOpticFiberOpticsnetworknetworkingphase noisePhaseNoiseprototypesciencesignalsspeedtransmissionvideoTue, 14 Sep 2010 09:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Intel's Light Peak optical interconnect shrinks slightly, LaCie, WD, Compal and Avid begin prototyping]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/14/intels-light-peak-optical-interconnect-shrinks-slightly-while/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/14/intels-light-peak-optical-interconnect-shrinks-slightly-while/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/14/intels-light-peak-optical-interconnect-shrinks-slightly-while/#comments Intel's Light Peak isn't setting any new speed records at IDF 2010 -- it's still rated at 10Gbps for now -- but the optical data transfer system is finally looking like it might appear in some actual products. As you can see immediately above, a Light Peak to HDMI converter has shrunk considerably since May, and a number of optically-infused sample products were on display at Intel's Light Peak booth. Compal's got a laptop with the optical interconnect built in, while Western Digital showed an external hard drive, from which the Compal could pull and edit multimedia in real-time using a Light Peak-enabled Avid rackmount. Meanwhile, LaCie showed off what appeared to be a 4big Quadra RAID array with two Light Peak ports catapulting high-definition video content at 770MB/s to a nearby Samsung TV, though we should warn you that the TV itself was a bit of a hack job, and not a collaboration with Samsung -- note the big, honking EVGA video card sticking out of the back. Though obviously a good bit of work went into these prototypes, Intel reps told us none would necessarily become a reality. Either way, don't expect to see Light Peak products until sometime next year.

Gallery: Intel's Light Peak prototype hardware

Intel's Light Peak optical interconnect shrinks slightly, LaCie, WD, Compal and Avid begin prototyping originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 07:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AVIDCompalexternal hard driveExternalHardDrivefiberfiber opticfiber optic cablefiber opticsFiberOpticFiberOpticCableFiberOpticsIDFIDF 2010Idf2010IntelinterconnectLaCielaptopLight PeakLightPeakopticaloptical interconnectOpticalInterconnectprototypeprototypesraidWDWestern DigitalWesternDigitalTue, 14 Sep 2010 07:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Chattanooga becomes home to 1Gbps internet service, just $350 per month]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/chattanooga-becomes-home-to-1gbps-internet-service-just-350-pe/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/chattanooga-becomes-home-to-1gbps-internet-service-just-350-pe/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/chattanooga-becomes-home-to-1gbps-internet-service-just-350-pe/#comments It pales in comparison to Sigbritt Löthberg's home internet connection, but it sure makes Comcast's Extreme 105Mbps broadband package look downright sluggish. EPB Fiber Optics (Chattanooga's municipally-owned fiber-to-the-premises network) and Alcatel-Lucent have teamed up to offer America's "fastest" home broadband service -- a service that brings 1Gbps (or 1000Mbps, if that strikes you better) directly to your PC. Best of all, the service is actually on sale starting today, and every single home and business within EPB's 600 square-mile, nine-county service area will be able to access the network. Oh, and in case you're wondering, this actually isn't affiliated in any way with Google's own proposed 1Gbps service, which likely means that this record will only sit in southeast Tennessee for a few months. Still, we hear this place is some kind of beautiful in the fall, but make sure you're cool with a $350 monthly charge before pulling the trigger on a relocation.

Update: Tipster Jens notes that he can get a 1Gbps connection for 900 SEK per month in Stockholm, or around $126. Baby steps, we Americans are taking.

Continue reading Chattanooga becomes home to 1Gbps internet service, just $350 per month

Chattanooga becomes home to 1Gbps internet service, just $350 per month originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>americabroadbandbroadband accessBroadbandAccesschattanoogafiberfiber opticFiberOpticftthfttpgigabithigh-speed internetHigh-speedInternetISPtennesseetransmissionususaMon, 13 Sep 2010 11:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon can almost serve GigE on existing FiOS platform, which means you'll soon be relocating]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/16/verizon-can-almost-serve-gige-on-existing-fios-platform-which-m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/16/verizon-can-almost-serve-gige-on-existing-fios-platform-which-m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/16/verizon-can-almost-serve-gige-on-existing-fios-platform-which-m/#comments It's not like we're holding Verizon to its word or anything, but the company purportedly decided to shelve all future FiOS rollout plans back in March. Since then, however, Big Red has been talking up its fiber-based services, leaving us to wonder why it would put a stop to laying more of it. Whatever the case, the company is now gloating about hitting "near Gigabit-per-second" speeds on the existing FiOS GPON platform. For those who aren't as technically savvy, that means that FiOS can essentially saturate your Gigabit Ethernet jack, and if things got much faster, you'd need a port that's not even available on consumer machines to handle the extra data. The nitty-gritty details of the test are just past the break, but the long and short of it is this -- Verizon saw speeds of 925Mbps to a local server and over 800Mbps to a regional speed test server located some 400 miles away. Better still, this black magic was all done with very little magic at all, requiring just minor tweaks to the system in order to uncap all sorts of extra headroom. Meanwhile, your YouTube upload is being capped by Time Warner Cable at a speed too sluggish to mention. Awesome.

Continue reading Verizon can almost serve GigE on existing FiOS platform, which means you'll soon be relocating

Verizon can almost serve GigE on existing FiOS platform, which means you'll soon be relocating originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BPONbroadbandfiberFIOSftthfttpGigabit EthernetGigabitEthernetgigettoGPONhigh-speed internetHigh-speedInternetinternetMotorolaPONVerizonMon, 16 Aug 2010 12:18:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T bonds two phone lines to extend U-verse's reach, ensure it is the 98th caller]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/17/atandt-bonds-two-phone-lines-to-extend-u-verses-reach-ensure-it/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/17/atandt-bonds-two-phone-lines-to-extend-u-verses-reach-ensure-it/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/17/atandt-bonds-two-phone-lines-to-extend-u-verses-reach-ensure-it/#comments Like your average teenager, AT&T has recognized the power in using two phone lines to cheaply extend its reach and influence. Pair bonding technology expands U-verse's reach by sending the signal over two copper phone lines at once and was supposed to roll out back in '08. No word what caused the delay, but that it's a cheaper option than putting more "shovels in the ground" should keep costs down and Randall Stephenson happy. According to AT&T, that extra distance (about 1,000 to 2,000 extra feet from neighborhood nodes) will help expand availability to 30 million households by the end of next year, so if you've been waiting for some Total Home DVR / Xbox 360 Mediaroom / mobile U-verse (once the latter two actually launch, of course) action but live a block or two too far outside the radius then things are looking up. The bad news? It won't add bandwidth for the compression issues or lack of additional HD streams Home Theater Review noted, and definitely won't help you score concert tickets during the top 8 at 8.

AT&T bonds two phone lines to extend U-verse's reach, ensure it is the 98th caller originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Jul 2010 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attcopper wiringCopperWiringcoveragefiberfttniptvmediaroompair bondingPairBondingu-verseSat, 17 Jul 2010 08:01:00 EST<![CDATA[MIT's piezoelectric fibers can act as speaker or microphone, don't mind auto-tune]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/13/mits-piezoelectric-fibers-can-act-as-speaker-or-microphone-don/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/13/mits-piezoelectric-fibers-can-act-as-speaker-or-microphone-don/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/13/mits-piezoelectric-fibers-can-act-as-speaker-or-microphone-don/#comments Piezoelectric materials work quite simply, in theory -- motion in, electricity out, or vice versa -- and since that's just how speakers and microphones transmit their sound, it's not much of a stretch to imagine someone would figure out audio on a micron scale. That someone is MIT's Yoel Fink, who's reportedly engineered a marvelous process for producing fibers that can detect and emit sound. Following up their famous work on flexible cameras, Fink's team discovered they could keep piezoelectric strands rigid enough to produce audible vibrations by inserting graphite, AKA pencil lead. Better yet, the lab process can apparently make the threads on a fairly large scale, "yielding tens of metres of piezoelectric fibre" at a single draw. The potential for fabric made from such fibers is fantastic, of course -- especially combined with this particular scientist's previous research into camera cloth.

MIT's piezoelectric fibers can act as speaker or microphone, don't mind auto-tune originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 07:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audible fiberaudible fibreAudibleFiberAudibleFibreaudiofiberfibreflexiblegraphiteMITpiezopiezoelectricpiezoelectricsPZTsoundYoel FinkYoelFinkTue, 13 Jul 2010 07:27:00 EST<![CDATA[NAD to Time Warner Cable and Cox: stop lying about your so-called 'fiber' networks]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/18/nad-to-time-warner-cable-and-cox-stop-lying-about-your-so-calle/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/18/nad-to-time-warner-cable-and-cox-stop-lying-about-your-so-calle/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/18/nad-to-time-warner-cable-and-cox-stop-lying-about-your-so-calle/#comments Ouch. For the past few months, both Time Warner Cable and Cox had been airing advertisements that slipped the word "fiber" in there in some form or fashion, and while that's partially true, it's completely bogus according to the National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. The watchdog group is now asking both of these cable carriers to drop claims that they each run fiber-optic networks, noting that the accusations could indeed fool consumers into believing that hybrid-fiber networks are the same as a full-fiber one, like -- you know -- Verizon's FiOS footprint. Among the claims being disputed is this gem from TWC -- "Road Runner Turbo is zooming across the advanced fiber network." -- and Cox calling its service the "New Face of Fiber." Needless to say, both TWC and Cox were peeved, and while the former is exercising its right to appeal, Cox is cowering and taking the advice to heart. As you'd expect, Verizon was utterly elated to hear the news, with spokesman Jim Smith stating that the ruling is "great news for consumers, who've been misled for too long by Cox and Time Warner [Cable]'s false and deliberately misleading ads." Ah, nothing like a little drama between a trifecta of carriers who should probably focus their attention on things like Hulu, market slippage and creeping irrelevance.

[Image courtesy of Lafayette Pro Fiber]

NAD to Time Warner Cable and Cox: stop lying about your so-called 'fiber' networks originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadsadvertisingcoaxcomercialcoxfiberfiosfios tvFiosTvFTTHfttphdmarketingNADtime warner cableTimeWarnerCableTWCverizonTue, 18 May 2010 17:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Comcast only wants to share 3D feed of The Masters with cable]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/08/comcast-only-wants-to-share-3d-feed-of-the-masters-with-cable/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/08/comcast-only-wants-to-share-3d-feed-of-the-masters-with-cable/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/08/comcast-only-wants-to-share-3d-feed-of-the-masters-with-cable/#commentsThe Masters in 3D Verizon and DirecTV aren't too happy with Comcast today -- the first national 3D broadcast is upon us and it isn't on satellite and it isn't on fiber. Some might call this competition, but regardless it is no coincidence that cable operators around the country are the only ones delivering 8 hours of 3D coverage. Cable companies have always stuck together as they don't really compete with each other, so it is in their best interest to keep something like this within their fave five. Not cool if you're one of the few who picked up a 3DTV already, and want to watch more than just a demo disc, or Monsters vs Aliens again. In the grand scheme of things this isn't that big of a deal, it isn't like they are holding back on a full time 3D channel or something.

Comcast only wants to share 3D feed of The Masters with cable originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3DcableComcastDirecTVESPNfiberFiOS TVFiosTvhdThe MastersTheMastersVerizonThu, 08 Apr 2010 15:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon hopes to bring 3D programming to FiOS TV customers by year-end 2010]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/02/verizon-hopes-to-bring-3d-programming-to-fios-tv-customers-by-ye/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/02/verizon-hopes-to-bring-3d-programming-to-fios-tv-customers-by-ye/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/02/verizon-hopes-to-bring-3d-programming-to-fios-tv-customers-by-ye/#comments A smattering of pay-TV providers have already announced their intentions to start piping out 3D programming to their users (starting next week with The Masters), but up until now, neither of America's (two) major fiber operators had bit the three-dee bullet. Verizon's own Shawn Strickland, vice president of FiOS product management, has come forward today with a bit of news on the matter, and it's the kind of stuff you want to hear if you're a) lucky enough to already be in a FiOS TV market and b) one who cares about the third dimension. He notes that his company is "monitoring the early sales of 3D TVs and expects to announce a 3D offering well in advance of the holiday TV-shopping season," further saying that Verizon is already in "active discussions with a number of companies in the emerging 3D value chain." He makes no bones about the hurdles along the way, suggesting that "technological challenges remain, as technology that enables TVs and set-top boxes to adjust the set to display 3D content has not been perfected or distributed, causing a major viewing hassle for consumers." That said, we're pretty stoked about having a 3D FiOS TV offering "in the market in time for the holiday," with the company aiming for a product that has "fully automated HDMI format-switching capability that switches between 2D and 3D, not via ponderous access to the TV's setup menu." Now, let's see how many of these wishes come true, cool?

Verizon hopes to bring 3D programming to FiOS TV customers by year-end 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d fios3d tv3dFios3dTvcontentfiberfiosfios 3dfios tvFios3dFiosTvftthfttpprogrammingVerizonFri, 02 Apr 2010 13:01:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T's 24Mbps U-verse broadband hits 22 new states, 120 new markets]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/30/atandts-24mbps-u-verse-broadband-hits-22-new-states-120-new-mark/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/30/atandts-24mbps-u-verse-broadband-hits-22-new-states-120-new-mark/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/30/atandts-24mbps-u-verse-broadband-hits-22-new-states-120-new-mark/#comments
Maybe you're sick of waiting for FiOS, maybe Time Warner or Comcast have rubbed you the wrong way, or maybe you just really want in on that mobile DVR action AT&T announced last week. Whatever the reason, if you're interested in U-verse the Max Turbo broadband service now available in 120 new markets across 22 states. That entails maximum download speeds of 24Mbps with 3Mbps upstream -- less than half the maximum speed offered by Verizon or most cable companies, but its cost of $65 per month actually makes it quite competitive against mid-tier broadband plans. What AT&T hasn't said is exactly which new states and markets can now join in the fun, but there's an availability checker on the site that will quickly tell you the good or bad news.

AT&T's 24Mbps U-verse broadband hits 22 new states, 120 new markets originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 09:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24mbpsATTatT u-verseAttU-versebroadbandfibermax turboMaxTurbou-verseu-verse max turboU-verseMaxTurboTue, 30 Mar 2010 09:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Google receives 'more than 1,100 community responses' for gigabit fiber network]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/28/google-receives-more-than-1-100-community-responses-for-gigabi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/28/google-receives-more-than-1-100-community-responses-for-gigabi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/28/google-receives-more-than-1-100-community-responses-for-gigabi/#comments Ever wondered what it looks like when the entire nation wants a piece of Google? Well, we've already seen some crazy action in a few cities, but here's a bigger picture -- a map showing the vast lot of locations that have signed up for Google's experimental 1Gbps fiber network service. What's more, the number of community submissions almost doubled between 10am and the 5pm deadline, resulting "more than 1,100 community responses and more than 194,000 responses from individuals." Yep, that sure is a lot of paperwork to go through, but Google reckons it'll have a location or two picked "by the end of the year." Meanwhile, let's hope that these Googletown-wannabes will churn out enough nutso videos to keep us entertained.

Google receives 'more than 1,100 community responses' for gigabit fiber network originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Mar 2010 15:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1gbpsaccessfiberfiber for communitiesFiberForCommunitiesgbpsgigabitgooglegoogle fiber for communitiesGoogleFiberForCommunitiesgooglenetInternetInternet accessInternetAccessispSun, 28 Mar 2010 15:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon shelves plans for future FiOS rollouts, relocations to Massachusetts set to boom]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/27/verizon-shelves-plans-for-future-fios-rollouts-relocations-to-m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/27/verizon-shelves-plans-for-future-fios-rollouts-relocations-to-m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/27/verizon-shelves-plans-for-future-fios-rollouts-relocations-to-m/#comments'Tis fun while it lasted, yeah? Verizon's FiOS has provided a much-wanted (or much-needed, some would argue) sliver of competition in markets that were previously offered just one or two ISP options, and the wicked fast speeds available through the fiber-based service were just one big stream of cherries-on-top. We've personally noticed that the company has slowed down the rate at which it blasts out releases trumpeting new FiOS and FiOS TV markets, and now we know why: an Associated Press report notes that the operator has canned all public plans about expanding its FTTH home network, though it will continue to build-out where it had previously announced service (Washington, D.C., New York City and Philadelphia, namely). Of course, Verizon never stated that it would be making FiOS a nationwide service, but after hitting at least some sections of 18 states, we had high hopes that it would keep on keepin' on. Unfortunately, it looks like you'll be forced to move to FiOS-heavy Massachusetts, or simply gaze endlessly from your apartment window knowing that you'll never feel the warm glow of a FiOS wire. Sniffle.

Verizon shelves plans for future FiOS rollouts, relocations to Massachusetts set to boom originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Mar 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansionfiberfiber to the homeFiberToTheHomefiosfios tvFiosTvftthfttpinternetnetworkrolloutverizonVerizon FiOSVerizonFiosSat, 27 Mar 2010 08:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Google's 1Gbps broadband offer brings out the crazy in municipal officers around the States (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/22/googles-1gbps-broadband-offer-brings-out-the-crazy-in-municipal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/22/googles-1gbps-broadband-offer-brings-out-the-crazy-in-municipal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/22/googles-1gbps-broadband-offer-brings-out-the-crazy-in-municipal/#comments You'll be aware by now that Google's cooking up an experimental high speed broadband network, which is currently in the process of collecting applications and nominations from interested communities. Given the limited coverage planned -- anywhere between 50,000 and 500,000 people -- there's understandably a lot of competition to get your small town on Google's radar, and city officials all around the USA have been doing their utmost to grab some publicity for their locale. Duluth mayor Don Ness can be seen above taking a dip in Minnesota's icy Lake Superior (with his unfortunate underling Richard Brown taking a fish to the face), while others have held parades, danced, invented a "Google Fiber" flavor of ice cream, and even swam with sharks for the sake of that precious fiber. Duluth, however, is the only place officially endorsed by a senator, and you can see Al Franken promote the city's virtues on video after the break.

[Thanks, b3ast]

Update: We've now also got video of the actual dip in the water, slide past the break to see it [Thanks, TheLostSwede].

Continue reading Google's 1Gbps broadband offer brings out the crazy in municipal officers around the States (video)

Google's 1Gbps broadband offer brings out the crazy in municipal officers around the States (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 06:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1gbpsaccessal frankenAlFrankenbroadbandbroadband accessBroadbandAccesscity mayorsCityMayorsduluthfiberfiber to the homeFiberToTheHomegoogleinfrastructureinternetinternet accessInternetAccessmayormayorsminnesotanetworknetworkingpublicitypublicity stuntPublicityStuntstuntMon, 22 Mar 2010 06:14:00 EST