Superfast satellite internet coming to UK trains, planes and boats

Ofcom has just announced it's going to free up satellite bandwidth to allow superfast internet access on trains, planes and boats in the UK.

The new broadband speeds should deliver ten times faster connections than are currently available while also being more stable. That means around 10Mbit/sec for each passenger.

The technology works using earth stations on vehicles which recieve large amounts of data from satellites in geostationary orbit. This method of connection will track the satellite closely for a stable connection, even at high speeds. Each earth station can receive up to 50Mbit/sec.

Philip Marnick, group director of spectrum at Ofcom, said: "We want travellers to benefit from superfast broadband on the move at the kind of speeds they expect from their connection at home."

"Today’s decision means that operators of trains, boats and planes will soon be able to begin the process of making these valuable services available to their passengers."

Ofcom expects to accept applications to license ship-mounted earth stations by February, and is working on aircraft versions now for a similar release time. Train based earth stations should be good to go by this summer.

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Google's smart contact lens will measure glucose levels in your tears

The wearables trend just got ridiculously intense, thanks to Google's new smart contact lens for diabetics.

That's right. Google's Google X team has developed a smart contact lens that can measure your glucose levels. It uses miniaturised electronics like chips, sensors, and a hair-thin antenna to test your tears for glucose.

"We’re now testing a smart contact lens that’s built to measure glucose levels in tears using a tiny wireless chip and miniaturized glucose sensor that are embedded between two layers of soft contact lens material," announced Google on its blog. "We’re testing prototypes that can generate a reading once per second."

Google revealed it also working toward embedding tiny LED lights, among other things, which would light up to notify you of low or high glucose. The possibilities are endless, really,. Google said it is even looking for partners who are "experts" in bringing a product like a smart lens contact to market.

"These partners will use our technology for a smart contact lens and develop apps that would make the measurements available to the wearer and their doctor," added Google.

As for whether this contact lens prototype is safe health-wise, Google confirmed that it has already completed multiple clinical research studies. The company also said it is in "discussions with the FDA," though it still has a long way to go before this product can go mainstream.

While Google's wearable prototype is cool, keep in mind that a smart contact lens is not new. We're not talking about a half-baked idea from a Sci-Fi novel; Microsoft and the University of Washington actually worked on a similar project in 2011.
Source: Google 1
Source: Google 2
Source: Microsoft

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What is Amazon’s ‘bigger than Kindle’ mystery product? Here's a look at the candidates‏

Gaming, Phones, Gadgets, Amazon, Set-top boxes, Tablets, Kindle

Amazon's got a new device up its sleeve.

A job recruitment invite has indicated the Seattle-based company is developing a "revolutionary" product that'll be "bigger than Kindle." It'll also "deliver digital media" and "disrupt the current marketplace." That's a lot of hopes piled on top of one device. So, what is it?

Well, what that product will do or what category it will fit into hasn't been revealed. Speculation is therefore at an all-time-high. To help get to the bottom of this mystery, Pocket-lint has compiled a rumour round-up of potential candidates.

Everything you want or need to know about Amazon's latest crop of hardware rumours is spelled out below. We've even considered some of the far-out products currently on Amazon's road map. Although we can't say for sure what Amazon is working on, this should definitely get your interest piqued (if it isn't already).

Rumours about an Amazon-branded handset have continually popped up in recent years. It's well-known that Amazon and HTC, for instance, are working on a line of Android handsets that'll supposedly launch in 2014. However, other rumours have claimed that Amazon and Foxconn Technology Group also worked on a smartphone in 2012. The Kindle-branded device was supposedly meant to serve up Amazon Prime content.

The hearsay doesn't end with Foxconn, though. Word slipped out via DigiTimes in October 2013 that Amazon was partnering with compact camera manufacturers Primax, Liteon, and Sunny Optical for advanced sensors that would allow 3D gesture and eye-tracking control in its first smartphone due in the second quarter of 2014.

The smartphone will supposedly boast six compact camera modules. Four of which are VGA cameras that'll sit along the device's four corners, enabling highly accurate 3D-gesture and eye-tracking control. There will also be a 13- megapixel rear-facing camera and a huge 12-megapixel front-facing camera.

Other rumoured specs include a 3D display, quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, and 4.7-inch display. While all that sounds fine and dandy, it's important to remember that Amazon emphasised its bigger-than-Kindle device will allow it to deliver digital media to customers "in new ways and disrupt the current marketplace."

Amazon's recruitment invite seemed to tease a new, revolutionary, and innovative device rather than a smartphone. A Kindle smartphone, even if it's decked out with 3D capabilities, wouldn't likely deliver digital media in new ways. And it certainly would have to be revolutionary in order to de-throne Samsung from the No. 1 spot in the Android handset marketplace.

Reports first claimed in April 2013 that Amazon was developing a set-top box that could stream video over the Internet.

The device, reportedly born under Amazon's Lab126 division, was meant to rival Apple TV, Roku, and Google TV, and Bloomberg said it would launch in autumn 2013. Well, that timeframe has now passed. Still, rumours persist.

The Wall Street Journal claimed Amazon's set-top box would be available for purchase during the run-up to Christmas 2013 so that children and adults alike could wake up and see a shiny, new video-streaming device under their trees. That didn't happen.

Beyond release-date nonsense, The Wall Street Journal revealed the device's platform will give the other set-top boxes a run for their money. Previously assumed to be a vehicle for the Amazon Prime video service, Amazon's set-top box will reportedly have third-party apps and content from a variety of sources.

Amazon has allegedly met with developers about designing streaming media apps and games for the device, which currently goes by the codename Cinnamon. Those developers apparently had a mid-October deadline. That is, until AllThingsD claimed Amazon won't launch its foray into the living room until 2014.

Amazon is now aiming for spring 2014. Other details, like price, haven't been reported. However, if Amazon's recruitment invite is indeed about a set-top box, we will know all the details within the coming months. After all, an Amazon set-top box would deliver digital media, and, if developed well enough, could disrupt the marketplace.

There hasn't been much talk about this as of late, but reports claimed in August 2013 that Amazon was working an Android-based console that would release by Black Friday (29 November). Like the Amazon set-top box, that didn't happen.

The Amazon console was supposed to include a controller and work with Amazon's digital library of Android apps. Amazon even showed off this bundle to anonymous developer, though equally-anonymous sources told various publications like GameBeat that they weren't sure if Amazon considered the game console a serious product.

There's not much else to go on here. It's clear however that such a console would directly rival other Android-based consoles like Kickstarter darling Ouya, Mad Catz M.O.J.O., and BluStacks GamePop. With such heavy competition, Amazon would really need to bring it in order to disrupt the marketplace. It might even sport a forked version of Android, much like its Kindle line of eReaders.

We don't really think a drone is Amazon's mystery, bigger-than-Kindle device, but it's worth considering in a rumour round-up. Especially because Amazon itself revealed in December 2013 that it is testing Prime Air drones that can deliver packages to customers within 30 minutes after orders are placed.

Jeff Bezos, CEO and founder of Amazon, revealed on CBS's 60 Minutes that Amazon has developed prototypes of autonomous drones that can deliver a 5lb package up to 10 miles away from an Amazon warehouse. Amazon has 96 warehouses scattered across the US.

Bezos said the drones could take to the air within the next few years, though the US Federal Aviation Administration hasn't approved their official use yet. In fact, the FAA can't even change its regulations to accommodate the drones until 2015 at the earliest, according to Bezos. So, for now, Amazon is still testing the reliability and safety of its drones.

Amazon's mystery device is in the development stage and will be able to deliver digital media. Although Amazon's drones are in testing and can make deliveries, it seems unlikely that Amazon is talking about them. Autonomous drones can certainly deliver media, but we're safely assuming they'll carry physical orders rather than digital.

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Sony introduces two new Handycam models with projectors at CES 2014

For shooting videos, nothing comes in handier than a small camcorder. For actually viewing those videos, nothing is more frustrating. We’re often left to huddle around the small screen, or fumble with cables in an attempt to tether it to a TV or monitor. Sony has an interesting new take on viewing video, which we got the chance to check out at CES 2014.Their new lineup of Camcorders with projectors built right in seems like unnecessary novelty, but we’re not so sure about that.

To start, their lineup of full HD camcorders are really nice offerings on their own. Optical Steady Shot and 60x zoom bring the best Sony has to offer in camcorder technology, and has all the Sony acoutremants like the BIONZ X processor and Exmor sensor. Bump up to the PJ540 from the PJ340 and you get a better viewfinder, 5.1 channel microphone, and lighting. Both models come with a 25-lumen projector, which Sony has cobbled into a camcorder before, but these are a step up from their previous offerings.

Projectors can be suspect, especially in such a small package, but Sony has a pleasant offering here. We displayed video up to about 10 feet away with no problem, but you shouldn’t expect the best of both worlds with this one. The projector lacks things like focus we’d find with a standalone, but in such a small package, we’re impressed nonetheless.

Sony tells us these will be available this summer, but you should probably be sure you need them. We’re told the PJ340 will check in around $499, and the upgraded PJ540 will hit the $699 mark. Good camcorders in their own right, these are two that have the interesting projector added on, which is reflected in the price.

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Galaxy Note 3 mini (or Neo) brings line back a couple steps

A device with the (code) name Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo has appeared this week with specifications and a look that suggest Samsung is going back to basics. It’s like a combination of the Galaxy Note 3’s pen and back panel and he rest coming from the original Galaxy Note - even the camera and the LED flash are in the same place. Inspect these leaked images while you can.
You’ll find this device appearing through a leaked set of images from SamMobile where they suggest this device may be revealed in full at Mobile World Congress 2014. We’re not even a day out of CES 2014 and it’s time to move on, it would seem.

This device is tipped as working with a 5.55-inch display with Super AMOLED technology and 1280 x 720 pixels across it. That’s 265PPI, if you’re counting, and it’s attached to an 8-megapixel camera as well. Supposing you’ve not already agreed that this machine is made up of the parts of the original Galaxy Note, you’ll love it when it’s revealed that you’ve got a 3100mAh battery and what’s likely to be some sort of Qualcomm Snapdragon processor due to its ability to roll with 4G LTE.

Inside you can work with a microSD for memory expansion, or you can stick with this machine’s 16GB of internal storage right out of the box. It’s got four CPU cores and a couple of GPU cores at least. THere’s NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, and an IR-blaster in this machine as well - and USB 3.0 for good measure.

UPDATE: It would now appear that we’re actually working with the Samsung-made Exynos 5260 hexa-core processor in this device. That means “Heterogeneous Multi-Processing”, or HMP, which also means the ability to roll with 6 cores at once. Strange stuff indeed.

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iPhone 6 camera tipped to retain 8-megapixel sensor

It’s been suggested this week by suppliers overseas that Apple’s next iPhone will continue to work with an 8-megapixel sensor. While this - for those of you only counting these megapixels - means that the end resulting photos will be the same amount of pixels wide and tall, there’s still plenty of room left for improving the resulting images therein. It’s also been suggested that Apple’s current OIS - optical image stabilization - will be improved in their upcoming engine.

The tip comes from Nomura Securities in China where the China Post reports their chat with the team - apparently there’s been a rumor of similar parts being used in the next iPhone compared to the one that’s out right this minute. This bit of news apparently had adverse effects on Largan Precision, suppliers of Apple’s camera module.

Stocks “tumbled” for Largan once it was suggested in China that Apple’s next iPhone will not work with a 16-megapixel camera as it’s been anticipated by “industry observers”. Instead it could very well be that Apple’s improvements in the camera environment will be to the image quality, not the size of the image

In other words - the misconception that the amount of megapixels you’ve got is the most important factor in the quality of your camera prevails. Apple’s mod recent camera works with larger pixels and a new and improved flash module - next we’ll likely see tweaking in the pixels and the delivery once again. Stick around as the iPhone 6 rumors and leaks continue for the next several months at least!

VIA: MacRumors

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