Android OS 2.2 To Include Built-in Wi-Fi Router, USB Tethering

The next version of Google's Android OS will reportedly consist of software that will allow smartphones running it to share their wireless Internet connections with other computers, such as laptops.

Many people who are often on the go use tethering software, which allows them to hook a PC to their smartphone with a USB cable and share the phone's Internet connection. Some phones can also be used as wireless routers, which allow them to share their Internet connection with several other devices over Wi-Fi.

Google is supposedly going to add both these features to Android OS 2.2.

This should be welcome news to those who use phones based on this operating system. While tethering software is available for Android-based devices, there is no simple solution for converting one into a Wi-Fi router.

However, not all wireless carriers support of tethering PCs to their phones, as laptops tend to use far more data than smartphones. It's possible some Android devices will have this capability stripped out.

Google has begun leaking the details on the next version of its smartphone operating system, but the company has not yet officially announced it or the features it will include.

Andy Rubin, Google's vice president of engineering, has said that this version will have Adobe Flash Player 10.1 included. Unconfirmed reports shows that it will enable users to automatically download and install new versions of third-party applications.

At this point, a likely time for the official unveiling of Android OS 2.2 -- code-named "Froyo" -- is at the Google I/O conference in San Franciso on May 19 and 20.

Sprint to Make HTC's Evo 4G Phone Available in June

Sprint has announced a date and the price to world’s first 4G-enabled Android device. The 4G radio toting powerhouse will be available in stores starting from June 4 for a decent $199.99 with a mail-in rebate and two year contract.

In addition to boasting faster cellular connectivity than 3G, the Evo 4G features a humongous 4.3-inch WVGA touchscreen display, 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, 8MP main camera with dual LED flash and 720p video recording, 1.3MP front facing camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM Radio, 3.5mm audio jack, microSD card slot and the ability to turn the phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to 8 Wi-Fi devices.

Palm Pixi Plus for Verizon Wireless Now Free

The Palm Pixi Plus is now available free on Verizon Wireless. At launch, the Palm Pixi Plus was rated at $99. Then, Verizon Wireless dropped its price from $99 to just $30. Ultimately, the carrier is now offering the device for absolutely nothing.

Now, there could be two reasons as to why Verizon Wireless is basically giving away the Pixi Plus:

1. It’s not selling well — which we all know is a big influencing factor.
2. Considering the price of the more advance Palm Pre Plus was also dropped to $30 recently, it only made sense to lower the price of the Pixi Plus. In this case, there was no way other than to make the device free.

It also looks like Verizon Wireless is no longer offering the Buy-One-Get-One [BOGO] free deal for evident reasons. At this point, it only remains to be seen whether Verizon Wireless will make a decision to discontinue the Palm devices in the near future, or if they will begin offering the Pre Plus for free as well.

WiGig group opens way to gigabit wireless devices

Wireless devices that run at speeds of gigabits rather than megabits have been given the green light to hit the consumer market.

The Wireless Gigabit Alliance (WiGig) announced on Monday that its 60GHz multi-gigabit wireless technology is now available for member companies to start turning out products that use the new high-speed standard.

Operating at the unused frequency of 60GHz, the WiGig standard can theoretically offer speeds of up to 7 gigabits per second (Gbps), more than 10 times faster than the current 802.11n Wi-Fi, or Wireless N, rate.

Finalized last December, WiGig is not meant to replace existing Wi-Fi technology but rather complement it. Though WiGig will be faster than traditional Wi-Fi, its range will be shorter.

To further cement the push for high-speed wireless, the WiGig Alliance also announced Monday an agreement with the Wi-Fi Alliance, a nonprofit wireless industry group whose goal is to ensure that different wireless products can talk to each other. The two groups will share technology specifications to create a certification program that can push the development of new Wi-Fi products operating in the 60GHz frequency.

Formed a year ago to promote the need for faster speed connections between different wireless devices, the Wireless Gigabit Alliance counts Intel, Nokia, Dell, Microsoft and Samsung among the members of its board of directors. Networking powerhouse Cisco Systems recently joined as a board member.

Borders launches $150 Kobo eReader

Borders Group Inc has entered the rather crowded eReader space with the launch of a $150 device dubbed "Kobo."

Kobo, which is likely to compete against Amazon's Kindle and B&N's Nook, offers users access to over a million eBooks via USB or a wireless Bluetooth connection. However, it does not support WiFi.

Borders launches $150 Kobo eReader. The eReader also comes pre-loaded with 100 classic titles and is capable of storing up to 1,000 eBooks on 1GB of flash memory.

In addition, Kobo boasts a two week battery life and also supports a number of eReader formats, such as ePUB, PDF and Adobe DRM.

"The Kobo eReader is the eReader for everyone. It was created by booklovers, for booklovers," said Kobo CEO Michael Serbinis.

"[And] at $149.99 the Kobo eReader is roughly $100 less than the other eReading devices out there, so it provides a great way to start eReading without breaking the bank.

Serbinis added that Kobo offered free apps for a slew of mobile devices, including the iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry, Palm Pre and Android.

Epson’s new Stylus NX420 wireless printer is only $99

Epson unveiled the Stylus NX420, the industry’s first all-in-one inkjet printer with built-in wireless and priced under $100.

The Stylus NX420 offers three devices (printer, scanner, copier ) in one compact machine for $99.99. Other features include scan resolution up to 2400 dpi, a 1.5-inch LCD, built-in memory card reader, ISO print speeds up to 6.4 ppm in black and 3.3 ppm in color.

And with low cost individual DURABrite Ultra ink cartridges starting at $8.99, Stacey Tieu, an associate product manager at Consumer Ink Jets, Epson America, Inc. said, “Consumers definitely get more for their money with the feature-rich NX420 all-in-one.”

The latest addition to the Stylus line is also Energy Star qualified and RoHS compliant and the NX420 is designed to be recycled at end of life along with the ink cartridges.

The Epson Stylus NX420 is available now on Epson.com and authorized vendors for $99.99.

Bell Recalls Its Novatel MiFi 2372 3G Routers Due To Battery Issues

Novatel Wireless’ MiFi 2372 has been making headlines today after reports surfaced claiming the Bell Mobility version of the portable wireless hotspot had been recalled over safety issues. According to Hadley, Novatel’s CMO, only two incidents of user-induced damage have been recorded – the Novatel labs suggest that one MiFi 2372 owner used a knife or other sharp object to open the battery compartment, while another used “excessive force” and damaged the battery due to over-compression – and, since damaged lithium ion batteries can overheat, the company decided to redesign the battery door assembly so as to make it easier for customers to remove.

The incidents, Hadley says, are “very isolated” and there have been “zero reports of any harm” caused by the battery damage. Contrary to speculation that the MiFi units could blow up, Novatel says the worst-case scenario their labs have been able to predict is part of the portable router’s case melting if left unchecked. That given, the MiFi 2372 hasn’t been recalled; this is, they say, a replacement program for the battery door as a preventative measure.

Owners are being asked to return both the battery door and the MiFi’s battery, the latter being so that Novatel can test for any damage it may have incurred while the compartment is opened. As for the physical changes to the door section itself, they’ll make the latch easier to press so as to “reduce the incentive” to apply undue pressure or reach for a sharp object.

Bell Mobility has quoted a 6 to 8 week turnaround for the redesigned battery door, though Hadley says Novatel are expecting it to be more like 10 days. In the meantime, owners will be loaned a Novatel Wireless U998 Turbo Stick USB modem to hopefully keep them online. As for now, all new shipping Bell Mobility MiFi 2372 units have the redesigned battery door, so new buyers will get the latest model.

Bell Mobility is shutting off the MiFi 2372’s service as of today, and will be sending out return envelopes and loaner USB sticks over the next few days. The carrier has said that customers with questions regarding the process should contact customer services at 1-800-611-6600.