Have Laptop Will Travel

Google Wireless Mobile Phone

Originally posted on March 14, 2007 @ 8:35 am

Could Google be looking to build or design a wireless mobile phone?

This job posting titled “Analog Designer/Engineer” would lead me to believe Google is at least considering it.

According to the job posting (copied here for archive purposes):

Google organizes information and makes it accessible and useful. To improve accessibility, Google is experimenting with a few wireless communications systems including some completely novel concepts.

We are building a small team of top-notch Logic Designers and Analog Designers aimed at nothing less than making the entire world’s information accessible from anywhere for free. Are you in?

Here is the list of skills and requirements that Google is looking for in a Analog Designer:

  • Electrical Engineering or related technical degree.
  • First-rate Analog Designer with more than 5 years experience.
  • Extensive circuit modeling and analysis experience.
  • Excellent programming skills.
  • Experience with switching power supply design a plus.
  • Ham radio license a plus.

Although rumors of a Google phone have been circulating for quite some time, this is the best evidence so far that Google is really considering such a device.

You can bet we’ll hear more rumors about this mobile or wireless Google device in the next few weeks. Stay tuned, this rumor has a lot of potential.

AT&T’s ‘Experience Store’

Originally posted on March 12, 2007 @ 4:20 pm

Customers of the disappearing Cingular Wireless who are interested in learning where the AT&T unit is headed should check out the re-branding of a Cingular retail store in Houston.

The store, now called “The AT&T Experience Store,” gives a few hints on the direction AT&T will take the company’s wireless operation.

The AT&T Experience Store in Houston is what the new AT&T is all about.

All of the communications and entertainment products consumers want are in one place and under one roof.

– Stan Sigman, AT&T wireless unit president and CEO

Entertainment is a major store theme and a music station will include Apple’s highly-anticipated iPhone, due out in June.

Visitors can listen to XM Satellite Radio on various wireless and Bluetooth-equipped devices.

Throughout the store, the Cingular brand is being downplayed in favor of the AT&T brand.

If you see this happening at a Cingular store near you, I’d like to hear about it.

The re branding seems to be going a little slower on the West Coast but sources tell me that on March 15, 2007 the complete roll out of AT&T will be done and all the Cingular branding will be gone.

Skype 3.0.0.214 Released

Originally posted on February 1, 2007 @ 8:41 am

Skype LogoThe Skype development team has been busy the past week as they’ve now done two bug fix releases.

If you use Skype like me, be sure to grab the latest version for your Operating System of choice.

Here’s what changed in the last two Skype releases:

31.01.2007 version 3.0.0.214

  • Known issue: Skype Extras Manager displays error messages on launching some of the plug-ins under Windows’ Limited User account
  • bugfix: SkypePM.exe crashes on first start after installation
  • bugfix: Russian language display problems in updater
  • bugfix: Groups panel stayed open when user was changed
  • bugfix: Contact list focus was lost when using some toolbar buttons

24.01.2007 version 3.0.0.209

  • bugfix: Cannot send SMS from contact menu in Chat window
  • bugfix: Updated Internet Explorer and Firefox plugins
  • bugfix: ActiveX objects cannot be created in eBay tab
  • bugfix: SkypeCheck did not work on clean 3.0 install

Skype has come a long way in the past 2.5 years that I’ve been using it and I only see more good things to come from the Skype development team.

I’ve got pretty much all my clients, friends and family using it now and with all the cool new phones and accessories they have for sale, Skype is becoming a really good solution for many home and business VOIP users.

Apple Confirms 802.11n Download Fee

Originally posted on January 19, 2007 @ 9:59 am

Apple Inc. confirmed this morning that it will charge Mac users a small fee to switch on faster and longer-range wireless technology already tucked into their machines.

The company will charge customers $1.99 to download software that will enable 802.11n wireless functionality in the chipsets of most of its Intel Core 2 Duo- and Xeon-based computers.

Last week, when Apple announced its new AirPort Extreme wireless base station, it said the software would be included with the $179.00 USD device.

According to Apple spokesperson Teresa Brewer:

For those customers who wish to enable their 802.11n functionality but do not wish to buy a new Airport Extreme base station, we are making the software available for download from the Apple Online Store.

The enabling software will be posted to the Apple site for download when AirPort Extreme ships in early February 2007.

Teresa Brewer also said “Eventually the 802.11n software will be included with all new Macs that contain the appropriate hardware.”

To keep up-to-date on all things Apple, check out their press release page.

More On AT&T and Cingular

Originally posted on January 20, 2007 @ 10:45 am

On January 16, 2007 I posted about Cingular becoming the new AT&T.

Thanks to my friend Felix, I have a great video to explain in a little more detail of exactly what’s taken place.

Ok, to recap, AT&T just bought Cingular and Cingular was already owned by AT&T. BellSouth owns who?!

Let Stephen Colbert from Comedy Central help you figure this out:

Did the video make your head spin? Can you name off all the companies that were mentioned in the video?

C’mon, strut your stuff by leaving a comment :)