Broadband

Is Intel developing an online TV service?

Intel looks to be the latest tech company to want a piece of the online TV action. But it's a tough business and judging how others have fared, it's hard to say whether the chipmaker could ever be successful.

On Monday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Intel, the world's largest maker of microsprocessors for computers, is considering offering an online TV service to consumers that would compete with services from cable operators, satellite TV providers, and phone companies.

The Wall Street Journal said the offering would be delivered via an Intel designed set-top box and would … Read more

AT&T goes green with home monitoring service and eco-ratings for cell phones

AT&T is making two announcements in conjunction with the upcoming Mobile World Congress in Barcelona that could help consumers reduce their environmental footprints.

First, the company is announcing a new remote monitoring platform that will ultimately allow users to remotely and automatically adjust energy usage in their homes. The service and technology is being developed for international carriers, who can then develop and sell energy conserving services around the world. The service platform will also allow carriers to offer home security services too.

AT&T is calling the new platform Digital Life. The system, which can be … Read more

European activists meet with Facebook to discuss privacy concerns

As Facebook prepares for its $5 billion initial public offering here in the U.S., European representatives are meeting with student activists from Austria regarding complaints the group has filed over how the company handles private information.

On Monday, Richard Allan, Facebook's European director of policy and a former member of Parliament in Britain, and another California-based Facebook executive are meeting with Max Schrems and other student activists from the group Europe v. Facebook, which filed complaints against Facebook with the Irish Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) in August and September.

Facebook makes money through advertisements on its site. And … Read more

Verizon teams up with Redbox to offer video streaming service

Watch out Netflix, Verizon Communications is getting into the video streaming business.

Today, Verizon announced a deal with Coinstar, the company that owns the Redbox DVD rental business. Redbox allows people to rent movies through kiosks it owns in grocery stores and other retail locations. As part of the new joint venture, the companies will develop an on-demand video streaming service. The companies will introduce the new service in the second half of 2012, they said in a press release.

Verizon will own 65 percent of the new joint venture, and Redbox will own the rest.

So far, neither Verizon … Read more

Ericsson CEO is a human HDMI cable, and he's not afraid

LAS VEGAS - Imagine digitally transferring business cards with a handshake or transferring video shot on your phone to your TV simply by touching your set-top box.

Telecom equipment maker Ericsson is showing off technology at the Consumer Electronics Show here this week that allows your body to act as a connection between devices transmitting bits from a smartphone or other mobile device to a receiver such as a TV or stereo system. The company has a demonstration set up at its booth here.

Hans Vestberg, CEO of Ericsson, who gave a keynote speech here Wednesday, demonstrated how it works … Read more

Lenovo unveils first smartphone, powered by Intel (live blog)

LAS VEGAS--Lenovo will launch its first smartphone--one powered by Intel chips--in China in the second quarter, CEO Liu Jun said during Intel CEO Paul Otellini's CES keynote.

The Lenovo announcement was followed by news of a new Intel-Motorola partnership, a look at Intel's upcoming Ivy Bridge processor, and a cameo appearance by an overly scripted will.i.am.

The Lenovo phone is 10 millimeters thick and will run on China Unicom's network. It has a 4.5-inch screen, an 8-megapixel camera and offers 8 hours of 3G talk time, with 14 hours of standby. Otellini said the … Read more

Nokia CEO talks of Windows Phone foothold in U.S.

LAS VEGAS--Nokia CEO Stephen Elop said this week's announcement of the company's first major Windows Phone for the United States is only the beginning in Nokia's long-term strategy to re-establish itself in the U.S. market.

For several years now, Nokia has largely been absent from the U.S. when it comes to smartphones. Despite its repeated promises to make a comeback in the states, the company has not been able to crack into the market with products that U.S. carriers are willing to subsidize and promote.

But Elop believes that's all about to change, … Read more

Dish lets kangaroo out of pouch at CES (live blog)

LAS VEGAS--At the Consumer Electronics Show here, satellite TV provider Dish Network went kangaroo crazy as it took the wraps off "Hopper," a new multiroom DVR that, with the help of "Joey" units, will let people watch recorded programs on TVs throughout their house.

The new DVR also lets users record prime-time programming on all four major networks at the same time.

The company also announced a new high-speed broadband service with partner ViaSat that will launch in the "first quarter." It's called Dish Broadband and will allegedly provide up to 12 Mbps … Read more

AT&T introduces six new 4G LTE Android devices at CES

LAS VEGAS--AT&T is bulking up its 4G LTE lineup with five new Google Android smartphones and one Google Android tablet. All will operate over the company's upgraded network, the company said at a press event here today.

The new devices will be available in the first part of 2012, the company said.

Samsung

The Galaxy Note is a 5.3-inch device with an HD Super AMOLED screen (1,280x800) that's supposed to offer sharp and clear images both indoors and outside. The Galaxy Note also features the S Pen technology, which allows users to input text via a pen. This allows users to sketch drawings, jot notes, or write e-mails and texts in their own handwriting. The Samsung Galaxy Note will be available in the coming weeks, AT&T said. But it hasn't released pricing information on it yet.

The Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD has a 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED screen, as well as a 1.5GHz dual-core processor. It's about 9.27 millimeters thick and will be available in coming months, AT&T said.… Read more