Microsoft Leverages White Space For Huge WiFi Hotspot
Converting all television signals to digital has brought about some interesting opportunities. Because digital signals require less space, there are now gaps in the spectrum of available radio waves. This has opened the door for companies like Microsoft, Google, Motorola, Sprint Nextel, and Dell to push for access to these “white spaces.”
“White spaces technology could free new unlicensed radio frequencies for consumers in every community and generate investment in innovation, much as we observed with Wi-Fi,” wrote Dan Reed, VP of technology strategy and policy at Microsoft, in a company blog. Deploying new communication technologies, he said, would “create opportunities to more efficiently manage congestion and offload capacity onto other spectrum bands to deliver higher quality, more robust services for government, business, and consumer use.” — InformationWeek
Microsoft’s white space system provides “White-Fi” network access to most of the 500-acre campus using two transmitters. To duplicate this coverage area using standard Wi-Fi, you would need thousands of routers.
HTC Sense Evolves. Threatens Google.
HTC has announced the latest version of their Sense UI and stress that it is not simply a skin for Android, but a “holistic experience filled with moments of delight.” Many Android users may disagree there, but HTC is still planning to take things to the next level. They’ve created HTCSense.com (which doesn’t yet work) as a MobileMe-like companion to the Sense UI. It will allow you to backup your SMS and email, locate your phone, do a remote wipe, and many other interesting features.
HTC Sense is replacing core functionality of the Android OS, which may be a problem for Google in the long run. They stress that it’s not a Google phone, but an HTC phone. At this point, the two are still playing nice, but it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Especially given how Google handled Skyhook.
via SlashGear, ArsTechnica
Sketchy Groupon Deal Highlights Flaws
The very features that have propelled Groupon to success could also be its downfall. The site allows you to get awesome deals based on the volume of users that buy it. A recent Atlanta photography deal from Dana Dawes stated “$65 for a one-hour photo shoot, a DVD of the images, an 8×10 print, and 20% off additional prints.” One Groupon user said that it ” cannot be physically fulfilled by a true professional photographer” and that “it is physically impossible for a pro photog full time to do 1,000 sessions in a year and that’s why people is choosing to use photo boots for their events now a days or at least that’s what people are saying.”
The problem is that, while these deals help drum up business for mom and pop shops, they can easily get overwhelmed. In this instance, Groupon had to issue refunds. Not only do customers end up dissatisfied, but some businesses end up taking a loss because they over-extend themselves. While Groupon does allow advertisers to place limits on the number of responses to a deal, it seems this feature is not being used effectively.
via TechCrunch