Filed under: Cellphones

We know, you’re just dying to say this is a complete shock, but we’re here to inform you that it’s not. If you’ll recall, Cox dug deep to snatch up a decent block of spectrum in this year’s 700MHz auction, and it even went so far as to promise a differentiated product that would eventually integrate with its other content and services. Sure enough, it’s keeping its word. After spending $500 million on wireless capacity in its markets, president Pat Esser says it’s time to turn things on. By relying on Cox’s own 3G network (along with Sprint’s, initially), the carrier will offer up an undisclosed amount of handsets that will “include a network address book that automatically synchronizes with home PCs” and allow remote programming of one’s DVR. Furthermore, users will be able to access e-mail and voicemail that they receive at home right on their mobile, and ideally, subscribers could watch TV shows right on their handsets. Get ready for an awkward new rival in the wireless space beginning, um, anytime now.

Cox to enter cellphone biz, link handsets to other cable-related services originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Simmer down folks — everything is going to be a-okay. Yes, ’tis true — Microsoft has indeed scheduled for Xbox Live service maintenance and Zune service tweakage to take place at the exact same time this coming Monday, but it’s probably not worth losing your mind over. In fact, Major Nelson goes out of his way to affirm that “when [Xbox Live] service returns, you will not have any new features and you will not have the new Xbox experience update.” Point being, your Zune Social, Zune.net forums, all of the Zune Marketplace and Xbox Live services will be offline for up to 24 hours (48 hours for the Zune suite) starting at 12:01 PST on September 29th, but don’t expect a Zunephone to pop out of your now-forgotten HD DVD add-on when things come back on. Or you can, but we’d be prepared for unprecedented disappointment.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Read - Xbox Live down time
Read - Zune services down time

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Far from being the first time Time Warner Cable has upset its subscriber base, the Los Angeles city attorney’s office is pulling a Dee Snider and refusing to take the carrier’s lackluster service anymore. In a 25-page lawsuit, the city is alleging that the operator “caused major havoc and distress” two years ago when it “failed to live up to its part of the franchise cable agreement requiring that a company answer subscribers’ calls within 30 seconds and begin repairs of service interruptions within 24 hours of notification in 90% of its calls for service.” The suit claims that no more than 60% of customer calls were answered in time, and cable / internet service was said to be “so intermittent and inferior in quality that it was not much better than no service at all.” Not surprisingly, TWC representatives chose not to comment on the whole ordeal, but the outfit could face civil penalties of tens of millions of crisp US dollars in the case. Should’ve picked up the phone, TWC — it would’ve been easier than picking up this tab.

[Image courtesy of Web 2 Concepts, thanks Scott]

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Filed under: Cellphones

It’s hard for us to be sure about this stuff for sure in the early stages, but since last night we’ve gotten a flood of reports from readers that BlackBerry services are down on T-Mobile and possibly also Bell Mobility (if not other providers). What’s the story, are you having any trouble? Shout it out in comments — if you are, do us all a solid and leave your location and provider. Even if it’s just an isolated outage, you know you desperately need to get your act together when Palm, of all companies, is taking potshots.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: We’ve heard that there was indeed a planned outage scheduled for last night, but it was due to end 6 hours ago. And curiously we continue to get feedback that services are still down.

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Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Well screw us — T-Mobile’s 3G network debut tomorrow? It’s going to be voice only. That’s right, you heard us, VOICE ONLY. So trepidatious is this company to actually get their 3G data rollout, um, rolled out, they’re launching first with kneecapped voice-only service, keeping only EDGE for those demanding data. Here’s the snippet from the memo we received:

“3G is the next generation of our wireless network, following our current GSM network. In this early phase of our network evolution, 3G is a new technology for carrying wireless voice calls and supporting existing data capabilities on our network. In future phases, this next generation network will power ‘high-speed’ (3G) products and services that connect customers in new and exciting ways. … Inform customers who are interested in high-speed data that the first phase of our 3G roll out supports voice only.” [Emphasis ours]

No word on when T-Mobile actually plans to turn on the faster data, but for everyone who hasn’t already jumped ship — hoping against hope — the wait continues.

P.S. -Don’t believe everything you hear about this kind of thing being status quo. Every single major US 3G network — including Cingular, Verizon, and Sprint — went live as either data card-only (with phones added later), or data and voice together.

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Filed under: Cellphones

One of the things we’ve always most loved about Sprint is their dirt-cheap EV-DO, but it looks like they’re out to make back some of that $100m they’re about to blow on marketing the Instinct. Unlike the phone-that-shan’t-be-named, according to Sprint’s site their new hotness requires an all-in Everything plan, which starts at $100 and goes up from there. Pretty lame if you ask us, Sprint has way more advanced devices than the Instinct already out in the market that have no such requirements — and did we mention AT&T and the fruit company’s plans start at $60?

[Thanks, Adam]

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Filed under: Cellphones

We’ve been receiving a steady stream of tips from users around the country today reporting that that AT&T, which supposedly just got back up from some apparent sporadic outages spread across the nation, was (is?) back down again today. We haven’t seen or heard much, and have yet to confirm whether things ever even fully came back up at all, but what say you? Still experiencing issues? We’ll let you know what we hear back from AT&T — as you may have heard, we had them build a Batline to Ralph’s office for just such an occasion.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Filed under: Robots

While we thoroughly enjoyed hearing of EMIEW’s (presumably) short-lived career as a hotel clerk, it looks like Hitachi’s EMIEW 2 has some seriously large aspirations. In a recent demonstration in Hitachinaka, the two-wheeled robot wowed onlookers as it received commands wirelessly and happily ran office errands without too much trouble. The creation, which stands some 31.5-inches tall and weighs 29-pounds, did crash into a desk and stand motionless momentarily while being previewed, but developers didn’t hesitate to inform the crowd that kinks were still being ironed out. Nevertheless, it was able to avoid obstacles while rolling about, understand and respond to human speech and move around for an hour before needing a recharge. The company refused to spill details surrounding its eventual price and release date, but we’re hearing there may soon be an open spot in Scranton that this fellow could certainly fill.

[Via Inquirer]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Robots

Japan’s no stranger to a wide variety of service-oriented robots, and it looks like it could soon become home to yet another mechanical being that does our dirty work. The Lady Bird prototype, which is set to hit production sometime in 2009, would scour the floors of public restrooms and keep things looking clean throughout the day. Reportedly, the bot stands about 1-meter in height and is equipped with amenities such as a water tank, brushes and a few other grime-busting tools to boot. Furthermore, it boasts obstacle detection sensors to avoid patrons while on the clock, and it even includes voice recognition software along with access to current traffic information in case someone has the urge to spark up a conversation. There’s no word on what this thing will do should someone try to stuff it in their trunk for at-home use, but if all goes well, the creature is expected to sell for around ¥3.5 million ($31,713) when it goes commercial.

[Via PinkTentacle]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Networking

You may have heard the hubbub in the last 24 hours about AT&T’s new Terms of Service for its DSL accounts, and its apparent hardline approach to customers who may criticize the company. For those of you not up to speed, the long and short of it is that the TOS stipulates that AT&T can and does reserve the right to disconnect any user’s account if the telco believes said user is utilizing the connection to “damage the name or reputation of AT&T, or its parents, affiliates and subsidiaries.” Sounds doomy and gloomy, doesn’t it? Well, AT&T issued a statement in response to the backlash it’s been getting, making it explicitly clear that it is not the company’s policy to axe users who take it to task. Here’s what they had to say:

“AT&T respects its subscribers’ rights to voice their opinions and concerns over any matter they wish. However, we retain the right to disassociate ourselves from websites and messages explicitly advocating violence, or any message that poses a threat to children (e.g. child pornography or exploitation). We do not terminate customer service solely because a customer speaks negatively about AT&T. This policy is not new and it’s not unique to AT&T.”

So, according to The Man, you can talk all the smack you want about AT&T and its screwball policies / high prices / use of dental implants to monitor your conversations — without the fear of having the lines snipped… or so they say.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!