Gizmodo: baltimore

Rainbow Trapped for First Time, Using Convex Lens and Glass

Kat Hannaford — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 21:00:00 EST

Baltimore citizens aren't just dealing drugs and installing wiretaps, some of them are busy using convex lenses to trap rainbows, which could be put to good use with optical computing—making hardware faster! Stronger! More powerful!

And pretty on the inside.

University professors coated one side of a 4.5 millimetre diameter lens with a 30 nanometre thick coat of gold film, which they then put on a sheet of glass also splashed with a helping of gold. After shining a laser beam at the space between the curved lens and the glass, a rainbow appeared trapped between the elements when looked down on with a microscope. No pot of gold appeared, but a little dancing McNulty, dressed in a leprechaun costume, could be seen under the rainbow. [Arxiv via New Scientist]

Image credit Carla216

Sprint Dual U300 Modem Will Connect to Both EVDO and WiMax

John Herrman — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:15:00 EST

Sprint's partnership with WiMax provider ClearWire looks to be bearing some hardware fruit, with the release of the first dongle to combine 3G cellular and 4G capabilities.

The modem, called the U300, will be first available to customers of the Sprint/Clearwire "Clear" WiMax network in Baltimore, where their pilot program is under way. The connections will be managed automatically, much in the manner that 3G/2G phones handle them; the modem will connect to the faster WiMax by default, but will switch to the slower EVDO cell network when it's out of range or too weak.

If these work well, they could be a boon to both Sprint and WiMax in general, as the of the appeal admittedly significant speed gain of WiMax over EVDO is dampered by the need to purchase and carry around an extra adapter. Speaking of compromise—the added convenience of the U300 doesn't quite justify its $150 with-contract price. The adapter should ship by the beginning of next week. [Yahoo]

Acer 14-inch, 16-inch Aspires Are Built for WiMAX

Elaine Chow — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:01:00 EDT

Now that the Baltimore's XOHM network is up and running, companies are scrambling to release WiMAX-enabled notebooks to capitalize on faster-than-EVDO internet. One of the first out the door is Acer, with two new WiMAX sporting Aspires. The Aspire 4930 comes with a 14.1-inch 1280x800 resolution CrystalBrite screen, 3GB RAM, a 320GB hard drive, a webcam, and retails for $900. The 6930 is all that (including the $900 price point), but with a 16-inch screen instead. Both use Intel's Centrino 2-based WiMAX/Wi-Fi modules. Happy on-the-go downloading!

Acer Leads the Industry with the Introduction of the

First Wireless 4G WiMAX-Enabled Notebooks for the U.S. Market

Aspire 4930-6862 and Aspire 6930-6771 unveiled at

first U.S. WiMAX network launch in Baltimore

SAN JOSE, Calif. and BALTIMORE, October 8, 2008 – Acer America, part of the world’s third largest PC company (source: Gartner data, 2Q 2008), today unveiled its first WiMAX-enabled notebooks – Aspire 4930-6862 and Aspire 6930-6771 – in support of the nation’s first U.S. WiMAX wireless broadband network launched by XOHM in Baltimore. Demonstrating the company’s focus on delivering innovative technology solutions, the Aspire 4930-6862 and Aspire 6930-6771 are WiMAX-enabled Intel® Centrino 2-based notebooks with the first-ever combined WiMAX/Wi-Fi module, previously codenamed “Echo Peak,” part of the Intel WiMAX/Wi-Fi Link 5050 Series.

WiMAX is a flexible wireless broadband technology that has the ability to deliver rich data experiences for mobile users. With the potential to help bridge the digital divide, WiMAX has the capacity to unwire entire cities, including the most remote and poor communities across the globe. In the U.S., WiMAX offers a third broadband alternative to DSL or cable in the home, with the addition of broadband data and a voice network, which users can utilize on-the-go. WiMAX promises to be the highest performing mobile network in the United States with average downlink speeds of 2-4 Mbps and uplink rate of 1-2 Mbps.

"With the launch of WiMAX in the United States, Acer is building on its commitment to deliver first-to-market cutting-edge PC technology for mobile customers," said Sumit Agnihotry, director of notebook product management for Acer America. "By leveraging Intel Centrino 2 mobile technology and the XOHM wireless network capabilities, users will have the availability for anytime, anywhere wireless connectivity. The Acer Aspire notebooks provide users with perfect combination of mobile and multimedia functionality."

WiMAX subscribers in the Baltimore area can now enjoy free-range wireless connectivity utilizing the Aspire 4930-6862 and Aspire 6930-6771 notebook PCs, with new markets to follow in the coming months. The Aspire 4930-6862 is designed for users seeking portability and power in an eye-catching notebook PC. The 14-inch widescreen multimedia notebook offers portability, style and performance for demanding applications.

The Aspire 6930-6771 is a 16-inch widescreen dream multimedia machine for digital media with exceptional performance. The Aspire 6930-6771 brings a true cinematic experience to movies and gaming, with a 16:9 screen ratio. It also delivers amazing performance for demanding applications with Intel Centrino 2 and Core 2 Duo processor technology, 3GB of memory and a fast 320GB hard drive.

“Intel is pleased to see WiMAX-enabled notebooks available today from Acer that leverage the accessibility of this powerful 4G wireless network,” said Julie Coppernoll, director of marketing for WiMAX at Intel Corporation. “By offering these systems with the Intel WiMAX/Wi-Fi Link 505 Series module, residents of Baltimore have the ability to share and download videos and photos, as well as access social media networks seamlessly anywhere they go in the coverage area.”

Specifications for Aspire 4930-6862

* Intel® Centrino® 2 Processor Technology
* Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7350

(3GB L2 Cache | 2.0GHz | 106600MHz FSB)

* 14.1" WXGA Acer CrystalBrite™ TFT LCD (1280 x 800)
* 3GB DDR 667MHz Memory
* Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500HMHD
* 320GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
* Super Multi Double-Layer Drive
* 5-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
* WiMAX Forum Certified™ WAN/802.11a/b/g/n
* Acer Crystal Eye Webcam
* Dolby Home Theater®
* Windows Vista® Premium
* MSRP $899.99

Specifications for Aspire 6930-6771

* Intel® Centrino® 2 Processor Technology
* Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7350

(3GB L2 Cache | 2.0GHz | 1066MHz FSB)

* 16" WXGA Acer CrystalBrite™ TFT LCD (1366 x 768)
* 3GB DDR 667MHz Memory
* Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500HMHD
* 320GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
* Super Multi Double-Layer Drive
* 5-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
* WiMAX Forum Certified™ WAN/802.11a/b/g/n
* Acer Crystal Eye Webcam
* Dolby Home Theater®
* Windows Vista® Premium
* MSRP $899.99

The Aspire 4930-6862 and Aspire 6930-6771 will be available to customers in Baltimore through Newegg.com and TigerDirect.com.

Xohm Tested Out in Baltimore: Beats EVDO, Unsurprisingly

Kit Eaton — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:49:00 EDT

Laptopmag went ahead and tested out Xohm WiMax goodness, now that it's live in Baltimore. They jammed an ExpressCard Xohm into a Sony Vaio laptop, and compared it to a Kyocera EVDO card running on Verizon, at a spot where both signals were strong. The conclusion? Xohm beats EVDO for speed when doing intensive downloading, such as streaming video, or large file transfers—the top download speed they found for Xohm was 3.05Mbps while EVDO managed just 1.43MBps. So far so groovy, and Laptopmag gave a few more thumbs up to the system, like how it auto-connects when you plug in the adapter, and the daily subscription options. But this isn't much of a surprise—it's designed to be faster—and for now Xohm's coverage is severely limited, to say the least. Check out the link for the full picture. [Laptopmag]

Sprint XOHM WiMax Quietly Goes Live In Baltimore

John Herrman — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 05:40:00 EDT

Just over a week ago the word was that Baltimore, the first city in a pilot program for the new wireless tech, might not see WiMax until October. With a minimal announcement and little fanfare, though, it looks like the service has gone live in select parts of the city. The pricing options are interesting though already controversial, as there are different fees for unlimited monthly access depending on whether or not that access comes from one or many locations.

Home access is $25 a month (on promotion, down from $35) but only allows you access from one place. A full monthly package is available for $30 (from $45), which gives you citywide access to the network. Lastly, there is the $10 one-off option for 24 hours of access. There are no long-term contracts available, which is actually kind of refreshing for a service that could theoretically be used as a primary connection. Not refreshing: the website warns that the sky-high expectations for WiMax bandwidth won't quite be met, with the network capable of enabling an "average 2-4 Mbps download speed and 0.5-1.5 Mbps upload speed." Check the via for a coverage map, and let us know if you try it out. [XOHM]

Sprint's XOHM WiMax Service Launching Soon?

Jason Chen — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 13:00:47 EST

According to Phone Scoop, residents of Chicago, Baltimore and DC will be able to get online via Sprint's XOHM WiMax initiative some time in the next few days. It's going to be a soft launch, with not too much promotion, with an official wide launch in the second quarter of 2008. Chicago and Baltimore are going to be able to get laptops and cellphones equipped with WiMax, and DC residents will be able to get WiMax on their guns and narcotics. [Phonescoop]

Baltimore Teaches Streetlight Cameras to Shout At, Take Pictures of Anything That Moves

Charlie White — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 10:12:59 EST

Bold thievery runs rampant in the streets of Baltimore, where 136 streetlights have been stolen in the past few months. How to deal with this larceny? That's easy, do something indiscriminate and stupid. Train five solar-powered cameras on the remaining streetlights, and teach those cameras to cry out when they see anything moving around them. Stop!, shouts the camera at passersby. We have taken your photograph. We will use this photograph to prosecute you. Leave the area now!

"But Mr. Streetlight Camera, I was just tying my shoe."

How would you like to have one of these things outside your window, shouting down anything that moves all night long?

Talking Street Lights [Chip Chick, from Wired]