Archive for November 6th, 2009

Most wireless cards today give you access to the Internet, but not much else.  Telit’s NetStick does wireless Internet and lots more.  The device allows you to send and receive text messages, manage contacts and monitor web activity all through the included PC Manager application.

I see how this can be useful if you’re using a single SIM card for a phone and a USB modem.  However, my experience with USB modem apps has been generally bad – I’ve had apps from Verizon and AT&T crash my computer pretty badly in the past few months.

The NetStick supports 850/900/1800 and 2100 GSM/WCDMA bands.

This tiny Bluetooth receiver from Belkin plays audio from your iPhone or other A2DP device.  Pretty simple, right?

The device, which is currently known as the F8Z492, uses an AC adapter for power, and plugs into your stereo system with a standard 3.5mm jack.  Then you can just pair the device with your Bluetooth device, and you’re set.

I like the idea of walking into a room, and streaming audio from your iPhone to your stereo with the push of a button.  And the F8Z492 looks small enough not to take a whole bunch of room in your AV cabinet.

I’ve seen a bunch of Internet radio streamers pass through the FCC lately, and here’s another one from VTech called the IS9181.  The device uses WiFi to give you access to thousands of Internet radio stations.  The IS9181 also streams music from PCs on your wireless network, and displays weather information from the net.

That’s a pretty nice feature set, and I can see the IS9181 replacing my old alarm clock.  But at $175, the IS9181 isn’t cheap.

Dell passed the Mini 3iX smartphone through the FCC today.  This device is the US version of Dell’s Mini 3i, a similar Android device that the company is selling in China.

While the FCC filing does not reveal much, the test report does show that the phone will run on 850/1900 GSM/UMTS bands, a good indication that the phone is headed for AT&T.

Other specs that have been leaked around the net include a 3.5” capacitive touchscreen, 3MP camera and LED Flash.

Today Tivo passed a wireless-N adapter called the AN0100 through the FCC.  Currently, the company sells the AG0100, a wireless-G adapter, but it looks like Tivo is bumping up its specs to include wireless-N.

FCC filings don’t show much however, they’re limited to label-placement pics and a test report.