Wireless

Updating software on smartphones has become a scary proposition. It seems like you never know what glitch or bug might break your device.

But at the same time, new software updates promise all kinds of cool new features. And Apple's iOS 5 is no exception. So it makes sense that iPhone 3GS users, who aren't ready to upgrade to the iPhone 4S, would want to update their phones with the new software. But can two-and-a half year old iPhone 3GS handle the new software? In this week's Ask Maggie, I address this very issue.

I also offer … Read more

Wireless consumers will be alerted in real time when they're about to go over their voice, data, or text-messaging limits thanks to a new voluntary agreement struck between the wireless industry and the Federal Communications Commission.

On Monday, FCC chairman Julius Genachowski and the head of the CTIA, the wireless industry's trade group, Steve Largent, are expected to reveal the new plan at a press conference in Washington, D.C. As part of the deal between the government and industry, wireless operators will send alerts to customers who are in danger of exceeding their monthly voice, data, and … Read more

After a longer than usual wait for Apple iPhone fans, the newest version--the iPhone 4S--finally hit store shelves today all across the U.S. and in six other countries.

At 8 a.m. local time, the iPhone 4S went on sale at Apple stores. And for the first time in the U.S., a new iPhone is on sale for not one but three wireless operators. In addition to AT&T, both Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel are also selling the new iPhone 4S. Retailers including Best Buy, Target, Sam's Club, and Radio Shack are also selling the … Read more

The iPhone 4S hits store shelves today. But some potential customers are already thinking of the future and the resale value of the new device.

Like any smart consumer making an investment, one reader asks whether the resale value of a new iPhone 4S will be better if the device is bought for AT&T's network compared with an iPhone 4S from Verizon Wireless or Sprint Nextel. Another reader wants to know if Apple has killed the Siri personal assistant app in the App store for older iPhones because it is simply trying to get people to pony-up … Read more

The final countdown is on for the launch of the iPhone 4S.

Starting at 8 a.m. local time tomorrow, the new phone will go on sale at Apple stores as well as retail locations for the three carriers offering the device: AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and Sprint. Retailers including Best Buy, Target, Sam's Club, and Radio Shack will also be selling the newest iPhone.

Folks in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and the U.K. will also be able to buy the new iPhone 4S starting at 8 a.m. local time.

The three major carriers and … Read more

In my neighborhood in Portland, Ore., the hipsters all like to ride minimalist fixed-gear bikes (aka fixies). Without a freewheel, a fixie generally requires pedaling forward to move forward and pedaling backward to brake. Brakes with wires are just so last year. Shoot, even handlebars are starting to look a tad frilly.

Good thing, then, that a team out of Saarland University in Germany has devised a wireless braking system that does away with those protruding brake levers and messy wires altogether. What's more, the mathematical calculations the team applied to determine safety--the same used in control systems for aircraft or chemical factories--deem the brake 99.999999999997 percent reliable.… Read more

Research In Motion's BlackBerry service, which had been out since Monday in some parts of the world, has been fully restored, executives at the company said Thursday morning.

Co-CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie informed investors and reporters on a conference call that the service to all BlackBerry customers in all regions of the world had been restored as of the wee hours of Thursday morning.

Lazaridis explained in slightly more detail what caused the problem. And he once again apologized to customers. Earlier on Thursday the company released a taped video apology from Lazaridis.

"Our inability to … Read more

Research In Motion's recent network troubles could be a boon for Apple and Google as frustrated BlackBerry customers consider alternative smartphones.

The worldwide BlackBerry outage that has plagued Research In Motion this week has left millions of subscribers in dozens of countries without access to e-mail and other messaging services for days. And the outage, which is likely one of the biggest in RIM's history, could tempt some of the BlackBerry faithful to ditch their "crackberries" for competing products form Apple and Google.

Angry customers have already taken to social networking sites such as Twitter to vent their frustration. And more than a few have said they're ready to give up on the BlackBerry.

@Gemified Day 3 of #BlackberryOutage. I'm wondering if they have any customers left willing to get a Blackberry again. Dear Blackberry - SORT IT OUT!

@Lkhall buy an iPhone! "@ariannahuff: I'm traveling with AT&T BB, TMobile BB and Verizon BB. What else can a girl do? #blackberryoutage"

@SharonDuceyJam Thank you blackberry for giving yet another reason to shop for a new smart phone. #blackberryoutage

It's hard to say whether customers such as these will actually follow through on their threats to leave the BlackBerry, which is still very popular among corporate customers, government agencies, and other business customers.… Read more

Software developed during a summer course at Stanford University could one day radically shift the way the visually impaired use modern tablets, potentially removing the need for a wireless Braille display.

Adam Duran, a senior at New Mexico State University, has developed a stunning way for blind people to type on tablets. Duran created the touch-screen Braille writer software with Adrian Lew, a Stanford assistant professor of mechanical engineering, and Sohan Dharmaraja, a doctoral candidate.

It's all in the fingertips. The eight keys (similar to a standard Braille keyboard) in the software do not have a predefined position, but rather work with the location of the fingers. A user simply presses eight fingers anywhere on the screen, and voila, the keys are automatically oriented to that location.

If there's a problem, users simply lift their fingers and put them down again. As shown in the video below, typing is a breeze. Curiously missing is the mention of haptic feedback (vibration), or voice support, but for a first version this software is very encouraging. … Read more