Time Warner Cable (TWC) is to upgrade its network in Austin, Texas over the summer to allow internet speeds of up to 300Mbps, but says this has nothing to do with Google's decision to make the city its third installation of 1Gbps fiber.
"It's not driving it, it's more about customer demand," a company spokeswoman told The Register today.
"What we've seeing from customers in the Austin area, it's a fast growing market and a lot of interest in faster internet there. We're bringing it now because our network there allows us to do that."
She explained that the decision was part of an initiative the company is calling TWC Maxx, announced on January 30, that will triple internet connection speeds in four districts: two in New York and two in Los Angeles. More locations are under consideration. The service is set to launch under a new brand later in the year.
“With ‘TWC Maxx,’ we’re going to essentially reinvent the TWC experience market-by-market,” said TWC chairman Robert Marcus.
“We’ll triple Internet speeds for customers with our most popular tiers of service, add more community WiFi, dramatically improve the TV product and, perhaps most importantly, we’ll set a high bar in our industry for differentiated exceptional customer service. We’re focused on providing the features and benefits that matter most to our customers.”
The Austin upgrade will cover all districts of the Texan capital, which is good news for consumers, business, and the annual South by South West digital egostroking hobnobbing festival held there each year. By contrast Google hasn't committed to cover all areas of Austin in 1Gbps (and eventually 10Gbps) fiber connections, just those where enough residents sign up for the service.
The upgrade program by TWC is however a quick change of heart. Last year the company's chief financial officer Irene Esteves told the Morgan Stanley Technology Conference that Google's fiber plans were an extravagance and her company would not be pursuing such high speeds.
"We're in the business of delivering what consumers want, and to stay a little ahead of what we think they will want," she said. "We just don't see the need of delivering that [ultra high-speed broadband] to consumers."
TWC isn’t the only one upping its game in the Lone Star State. Just hours after Google announced its fiber plans for Austin another network provider, AT&T, announced plans to install a 1Gbps network in the city, although it has yet to fully commit to the area.
Google set up its Fiber network with the explicit plan to shake up the US broadband market, which is lamentably slow and expensive in comparison to the rest of the developed world. Based on what's going on down in Austin, the program is working so far. ®
Breaking News
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Magnets to stick stuff to tablets: Yup, there's an Apple patent application for that
Apple has filed a sweeping patent application with the US Patent and Trademark Office for a "magnetic attachment mechanism" that allows two electronic components to be attached to one another to "augment the functionality of usefulness" of the primary electronic device.
'Kitchen Sink' is not among the
patent's possible embodiments
That primary electronic device, as described in the examples presented in the 59-page "Magnetic Attachment Unit", is the iPad – although the patent filing itself allows itself some leeway, referring only to "hand held electronic devices and computing platforms along the lines of the iPad™ tablet."
One might at first blush assume that the magnetic attachment of accessories would not be patentable, since one might also assume that prior art surely exists, but Apple's patent lawyers have given it a go in any case. After all, the USPTO is a bit of a black box – pop something into it, and you never really know what will come out the other end.
A patent's Claims are its heart and soul, being the basis for the protection sought by the application, and – if granted – the parts of the document upon which patent lawsuits are based. That being the case, Apple's legal eagles have written up one of the finest example of patentese that this Reg hack has had to wade through during his years of examining such documents.
Here is Claim 1 of United States Patent Application #20140049911, in its entirety – and no, you don't have to read it all; we'll see you again in a few column inches:
A magnetic attachment unit for magnetically attaching together at least individual first electronic and second electronic devices each having an associated magnetic attachment feature, comprising: a body comprising: a first side, a second side opposite the first side, electronic circuitry arranged to at least provide a communication channel between the first and second electronic devices and processing resources, and a data storage unit arranged to store data; a first magnetic attachment system at a first side of the body comprising at least a first magnet arranged to provide a first activation force for activating the corresponding magnetic attachment feature in the first electronic device; and a second magnetic attachment system at a second side of the body comprising at least a second magnet arranged to provide a second activation force for activating the corresponding magnetic attachment feature in the second electronic device, wherein a magnetic attachment force generated between the activated first and second magnetic systems and the corresponding magnets in the magnetic attachment unit causes the first and second individual electronic devices to operate together as a cooperating electronic device.
Got that? If your eyes glazed over after the first comma, or even if you made it all the way to the first semicolon before bailing, here's a layman's summarization: Apple is seeking patent protection for sticking two devices together magnetically and having them communicate with one another.
That communication, additional Claims note, can be done through wireless or wired connections. The magnetic connector can be flexible or rigid, and if rigid it can be equipped with a clutch that can be adjusted to rotate to different angles.
Apple's reasoning behind the filing is straightforward: handheld devices are small, and therefore building accessory-attachment systems onto them is a problem. Additionally – this is Apple, after all – the filing notes that "The presence of the external attaching feature can detract from the overall look and feel of the handheld computing device as well as add unwanted weight and complexity as well as degrade the appearance of the hand held computing device."
This magnetic link-up is accomplished by building a series of strong magnets – rare-earth magnets should do the trick – into the cases of the handheld device and the accessory. When the two pieces are brought close to one another, they'll snap together securely and precisely aligned.
A simple idea, to be sure, but that simplicity didn't slow Apple's idea men and women in their efforts to think up a plethora of "embodiments" in which to employ the magnetic connector – everything from external memory modules for expanded storage to game controllers to automotive dashboard and headrest mounts to hooks and suction cups for hanging or wall mounting to credit card–swiping slots to ... well, you get the idea.
In addition to the two devices – iPad and accessory, for example – being able to communicate either directly or wirelessly, the filing envisions them being able to communicate magnetically as well. The trick here is to electrically isolate the magnets from the case's ground circuit, then build a sensing circuit that can recognize when two magnets are aligned with one another.
That magnet-recognition system could pass information about the accessory's type to the iPad by simply varying the number and placement of the magnets on the accessory. For example, if a row of magnet positions on the accessory varied à la "magnet, no-magnet, magnet, magnet, no-magnet, magnet," that could transmit a simple binary 101101 to the host device, and 101101 could be known to the host to be the binary code for, say, "game controller."
Alternatively, the game controller could simply signify its presence through an electrical signal passed through a garden-variety port, but what's the fun in that? In a patent application filing, the more embodiments, the merrier.
The filing continues on in this "More Fun with Embodiments" mode by suggesting that magnets could be configured so that an application of an alternating current could temporarily demagnetize them – or, for that matter, the magnets could be electromagnets from the get-go, and so would only be magnetized when current was applied.
This means that hands-free detachment of an accessory could be achieved by simply applying a suitable current – press or click a button, and your keyboard is released, no muss no fuss. If an alternating current is required for magnetization, the opposite would be true – damn the battery life, full speed ahead.
Patent Application #20140049911 isn't Apple's first foray into magnets, of course. For example, Cook & Co. currently offer an iPad Smart Cover which connects and aligns itself via magnets, and both the Smart Cover and iPad Smart Case put Cupertinian fondleslabs to sleep and awaken them by means of magnetic control.
Also, Apple patent-watchers may remember the Unibody Magnet patent application published last July, which envisioned using magnets to attach iDevices to "a number of different surfaces, including for example, refrigerators, metallic armbands, or even a wall mounted docking station."
iPad-equipped treadmills and iPad refrigerator magnets? As Apple marketing headman Phil Schiller famously said when introducing the Mac-in-a-can Mac Pro, "Can't innovate anymore, my ass." ®
'Kitchen Sink' is not among the
patent's possible embodiments
That primary electronic device, as described in the examples presented in the 59-page "Magnetic Attachment Unit", is the iPad – although the patent filing itself allows itself some leeway, referring only to "hand held electronic devices and computing platforms along the lines of the iPad™ tablet."
One might at first blush assume that the magnetic attachment of accessories would not be patentable, since one might also assume that prior art surely exists, but Apple's patent lawyers have given it a go in any case. After all, the USPTO is a bit of a black box – pop something into it, and you never really know what will come out the other end.
A patent's Claims are its heart and soul, being the basis for the protection sought by the application, and – if granted – the parts of the document upon which patent lawsuits are based. That being the case, Apple's legal eagles have written up one of the finest example of patentese that this Reg hack has had to wade through during his years of examining such documents.
Here is Claim 1 of United States Patent Application #20140049911, in its entirety – and no, you don't have to read it all; we'll see you again in a few column inches:
A magnetic attachment unit for magnetically attaching together at least individual first electronic and second electronic devices each having an associated magnetic attachment feature, comprising: a body comprising: a first side, a second side opposite the first side, electronic circuitry arranged to at least provide a communication channel between the first and second electronic devices and processing resources, and a data storage unit arranged to store data; a first magnetic attachment system at a first side of the body comprising at least a first magnet arranged to provide a first activation force for activating the corresponding magnetic attachment feature in the first electronic device; and a second magnetic attachment system at a second side of the body comprising at least a second magnet arranged to provide a second activation force for activating the corresponding magnetic attachment feature in the second electronic device, wherein a magnetic attachment force generated between the activated first and second magnetic systems and the corresponding magnets in the magnetic attachment unit causes the first and second individual electronic devices to operate together as a cooperating electronic device.
Got that? If your eyes glazed over after the first comma, or even if you made it all the way to the first semicolon before bailing, here's a layman's summarization: Apple is seeking patent protection for sticking two devices together magnetically and having them communicate with one another.
That communication, additional Claims note, can be done through wireless or wired connections. The magnetic connector can be flexible or rigid, and if rigid it can be equipped with a clutch that can be adjusted to rotate to different angles.
Apple's reasoning behind the filing is straightforward: handheld devices are small, and therefore building accessory-attachment systems onto them is a problem. Additionally – this is Apple, after all – the filing notes that "The presence of the external attaching feature can detract from the overall look and feel of the handheld computing device as well as add unwanted weight and complexity as well as degrade the appearance of the hand held computing device."
This magnetic link-up is accomplished by building a series of strong magnets – rare-earth magnets should do the trick – into the cases of the handheld device and the accessory. When the two pieces are brought close to one another, they'll snap together securely and precisely aligned.
A simple idea, to be sure, but that simplicity didn't slow Apple's idea men and women in their efforts to think up a plethora of "embodiments" in which to employ the magnetic connector – everything from external memory modules for expanded storage to game controllers to automotive dashboard and headrest mounts to hooks and suction cups for hanging or wall mounting to credit card–swiping slots to ... well, you get the idea.
In addition to the two devices – iPad and accessory, for example – being able to communicate either directly or wirelessly, the filing envisions them being able to communicate magnetically as well. The trick here is to electrically isolate the magnets from the case's ground circuit, then build a sensing circuit that can recognize when two magnets are aligned with one another.
That magnet-recognition system could pass information about the accessory's type to the iPad by simply varying the number and placement of the magnets on the accessory. For example, if a row of magnet positions on the accessory varied à la "magnet, no-magnet, magnet, magnet, no-magnet, magnet," that could transmit a simple binary 101101 to the host device, and 101101 could be known to the host to be the binary code for, say, "game controller."
Alternatively, the game controller could simply signify its presence through an electrical signal passed through a garden-variety port, but what's the fun in that? In a patent application filing, the more embodiments, the merrier.
The filing continues on in this "More Fun with Embodiments" mode by suggesting that magnets could be configured so that an application of an alternating current could temporarily demagnetize them – or, for that matter, the magnets could be electromagnets from the get-go, and so would only be magnetized when current was applied.
This means that hands-free detachment of an accessory could be achieved by simply applying a suitable current – press or click a button, and your keyboard is released, no muss no fuss. If an alternating current is required for magnetization, the opposite would be true – damn the battery life, full speed ahead.
Patent Application #20140049911 isn't Apple's first foray into magnets, of course. For example, Cook & Co. currently offer an iPad Smart Cover which connects and aligns itself via magnets, and both the Smart Cover and iPad Smart Case put Cupertinian fondleslabs to sleep and awaken them by means of magnetic control.
Also, Apple patent-watchers may remember the Unibody Magnet patent application published last July, which envisioned using magnets to attach iDevices to "a number of different surfaces, including for example, refrigerators, metallic armbands, or even a wall mounted docking station."
iPad-equipped treadmills and iPad refrigerator magnets? As Apple marketing headman Phil Schiller famously said when introducing the Mac-in-a-can Mac Pro, "Can't innovate anymore, my ass." ®
Apple promises SSL snooping fix for Mac OS X 10.9 users 'very soon'
Apple has admitted a bug in Mac OS X 10.9.1 could allow hackers to intercept and decrypt SSL-encrypted connections – and has vowed to release a fix "very soon."
Sensitive information, such as bank card numbers and account passwords, sent over HTTPS and other SSL-protected channels from vulnerable Mac computers could easily end up in the hands of snoopers as a result of this security hole.
The Cupertino giant issued updates for versions 7 and 6 of its mobile operating system iOS on Friday to address the same flaw in iPhones, iPads and iPods.
But it quickly became apparent that the vulnerability also exists in desktop and laptop computers running Mac OS X Mavericks, the latest public release of Apple's desktop OS.
The security hole was created by a trivial programming cock-up, which causes Apple's SSL/TLS library to skip over vital verification checks of a server's authenticity when establishing a connection.
A malicious router, Wi-Fi access point or other man-in-the-middle system could exploit this to silently masquerade as a legit website or online service, and thus intercept, read and tamper with the private contents of a victim's supposedly secure connection.
Apple's Safari web browser and Mail client running on OS X 10.9.1 are vulnerable to SSL snoopers because they rely on the broken crypto-library; other Cupertino apps such as Facetime, Messages, iTunes and iCloud, and third-party programs using Apple's crocked code, are feared to be faulty as well. Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox are not vulnerable because they don't use the busted SSL library, for example.
"We are aware of this issue and already have a software fix that will be released very soon," Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller told Reuters earlier today.
Meanwhile, someone's set up a website called gotofail.com, a reference to the C code bug at the heart of the problem, so that users can check whether their web browsers running on OS X 10.9.1 are vulnerable. ®
Sensitive information, such as bank card numbers and account passwords, sent over HTTPS and other SSL-protected channels from vulnerable Mac computers could easily end up in the hands of snoopers as a result of this security hole.
The Cupertino giant issued updates for versions 7 and 6 of its mobile operating system iOS on Friday to address the same flaw in iPhones, iPads and iPods.
But it quickly became apparent that the vulnerability also exists in desktop and laptop computers running Mac OS X Mavericks, the latest public release of Apple's desktop OS.
The security hole was created by a trivial programming cock-up, which causes Apple's SSL/TLS library to skip over vital verification checks of a server's authenticity when establishing a connection.
A malicious router, Wi-Fi access point or other man-in-the-middle system could exploit this to silently masquerade as a legit website or online service, and thus intercept, read and tamper with the private contents of a victim's supposedly secure connection.
Apple's Safari web browser and Mail client running on OS X 10.9.1 are vulnerable to SSL snoopers because they rely on the broken crypto-library; other Cupertino apps such as Facetime, Messages, iTunes and iCloud, and third-party programs using Apple's crocked code, are feared to be faulty as well. Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox are not vulnerable because they don't use the busted SSL library, for example.
"We are aware of this issue and already have a software fix that will be released very soon," Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller told Reuters earlier today.
Meanwhile, someone's set up a website called gotofail.com, a reference to the C code bug at the heart of the problem, so that users can check whether their web browsers running on OS X 10.9.1 are vulnerable. ®
Microsoft to mobe-makers: Yes, Nokia is ours but we love you all
MWC In a pre-show presentation in Barcelona, where Mobile World Congress starts this week, Microsoft has confirmed some new features coming in Windows Phone 8.1 and the Windows 8.1 update coming this (northern) spring and assured phone makers it won't hang them out to dry.
Redmond has let it be know that Windows desktop/tablet and Windows Phone will target lower-specced hardware, while the requirement for Windows Phone hard keys has been dropped - so phone makers can make cheaper devices. Dual SIM devices will be supported and a range of home grown Chinese radio standards (eg, TD LTE) will be supported in WP 8.1.
But phone makers concerned that Microsoft doesn't love them any more - an understandable concern with Redmond currently swallowing Nokia's phone division - are getting renewed attention. Microsoft is making it easier for OEMs to get up and running with Qualcomm's hardware reference design, so operators and brands can pick up a white label device and get it out quickly. Anyone logging in to a new portal oem.windowsphone.com should be able to sign up.
Microsoft announced partnerships with many manufacturers unfamiliar in the West: Gionee; Karbonn, Xolo, JSR and Longcheer; others like Foxconn, LG and Lenovo are better known - if not always for the right reasons. LG is a cheeky inclusion - it was already signed up to Windows Phone.
Snapdragon 200 8x10 and 8x12 chipsets will be supported for much cheaper devices. The requirement to include a camera has also been dropped.
The absence of dual SIM support had kept Microsoft from competing well in major markets like China and India, VP of Operating Systems Joe Belfiore said. There were no hints about licensing and pricing cuts to make price sensitive phones more competitive.
Belfiore spent plenty of time answering criticism that Windows Phone team had done little for end users in 2013. The way he described it, it was all part of the master plan.
Belfiore said Windows Phone had started as a system with limited functionality, almost as a kind of test. In 2013 it had achieved scale - growing 91pc year-on-year and outselling iPhone in some markets (India and Brazil). Microsoft was particularly pleased to reach No.3 in the UK market in December, outselling all Android devices with the Nokia Lumia 520. That's the nearest thing to a hit Nokia has had in years.
"There was a lot of blocking and tackling that needed to be done in WP (windows Phone) for it to reach escape velocity," said Belfiore. He also added, mystifyingly, that "2013 was the year we ate our vegetables." Nobody was sure what this meant. He may as well have said, "2013 was the year we finally dealt with that ingrowing toe nail" - it would have made as much sense. Still, everybody wrote it down.
Microsoft is sensitive to the charge that it's walking away from the Sinofsky era - although running away would be more accurate. It just wanted to make Windows desktop less user-hostile. So he confirmed Modern apps get a title bar and a close button. They really are widgets now, just very big widgets.
"We love touch, we don't want to degrade the touch experience, none of our work has a negative impact on touch experience ... but we think we can improve it". Windows 8 will be more mouse-friendly, have better management and Windows Phone gets long-overdue enterprise features like VPN and S/MIME. That, we already knew. ®
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