Bell

Tapping 'noise canceling' data signals for faster Internet

At the moment, sending data via fiber means blasting a light signal down the line. The farther you want the data to travel, the more power you need to put into the light beam. However, higher-power data signals can actually interact with the material of the fiber line, getting noise degradation into the signal.

The researchers, working out of Bell Laboratories and led by Xiang Liu, tried a technique similar to the way noise-cancelling headphones work to improve the data signal quality across longer distances.

Instead of one light beam, two beams that are mirror images of each other are sent through the fiber. Each beam will gather noise per usual, but that distortion will also be mirrored, so when the two beams are recombined at their destination, the noise is cancelled out. … Read more

Mike Bell to lead Intel's 'new devices' unit

Former Apple and Palm executive Mike Bell has been picked by Intel to steer the company's newly-formed new devices division.

AllThingsD is reporting that Bell, previously the co-leader of Intel's mobile chip group, will be focusing on "ultra-mobile" products.

The move comes as part of a bigger internal Intel organizational juggling by the company's new CEO Brian Krzanich. Hermann Eul, Bell's co-leader of the mobile chip unit, will now be running the unit solo.

Despite its 2011 purchase of Infineon to get into the mobile chip market, and the inclusion of Intel's Atom … Read more

Alexander Graham Bell's voice captured from old recordings

Alexander Graham Bell is known for inventing the telephone; but for someone so associated with sound, it's curious that no one living has actually ever heard the tenor of his voice.

However, as of Wednesday, anyone can hear what he sounded like. New technology has brought a 128-year-old recording made by Bell back to life, according to Smithsonian magazine.

The artifact, a wax and cardboard disc, has most likely been unplayable for at least a century. According to Smithsonian, Bell worked on several different ways to record sound, including using foil, wax, glass, paper, plaster, metal, and cardboard. Not … Read more

The 404 1,249: Where we get the senior discount (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Ever wondered how Apple employees travel around the Cupertino campus?

- Taking New York's upcoming Citi Bike Share plan for a test ride.

- Why don't cell phones have a dial tone?

- Forget following teens, your new favorite Tweeter is 94 years old.

- Speaking of old people, here's Jeff's dear, old granny with a 404 sticker on her walker.

- Speaking of speaking of old people, here's a soul-cuddling video of an older landlady lip-syncing her favorite song from the 1930s.… Read more

The 404 1,241: Where we rip from the rich and seed to the poor (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- The first call from a cell phone was made 40 years ago today.

- The Verge interviews Marty Cooper, father of the cell phone.

- Recalling 1993: Step back 20 years in NYC's past.

- Catching up with the TV show release group responsible for recording, distributing torrents.… Read more

Features we want in an Apple iWatch

Does the world really need an Apple iWatch?

Probably not, but the only thing I'm sure of is that I've been consistently wrong when it comes to guessing what people will buy. I still remember when Apple launched the iPad and I was absolutely certain that the name "iPad" was a kiss of death. I also remember believing in my heart that the Microsoft Zune would eventually win people over.

If Apple does release a smartwatch this year (and the jury's still out on that one), it would have to solve a number of problems … Read more

Top 5 Facebook flops

After Facebook's recent update to the Newsfeed, I got to thinking about how many Facebook features have failed over the years. And I don't mean the now-typical Terms of Service disasters. I mean new ideas, new features, and new products that took developers months or years of work, and just flat-out bombed.

Now, this is one of my lists that's completely subjective. I didn't rate these based on estimates of Facebook's time invested or profit loss or some ridiculous calculation of "flop" factor. If you disagree with my selections or ranking, you won'… Read more

Hottest tech products (winter 2013)

I don't know why I make this job harder than it needs to be. Every week I wrack my brain trying to think of a topic that will tap into the collective CNET zeitgeist. Sometimes I hit it just right, and sometimes I get nothing. But I could save myself a lot of trouble.

Without fail, the most popular Top 5 videos we produce here are the "Hottest Product" roundups. I think you guys get a voyeuristic kick out of knowing what everyone else is looking at.

Well, who am I to deprive you? This time around … Read more

The 404 1,218: Where we order off the secret menu (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- The mystery behind Chipotle's secret 1,500-calorie monstrosity.

- The ultimate In-N-Out secret menu survival guide.

- I used to smoke pot every time I played a video game. Here's why I stopped..

- SUNY adds a hip-hop anthem to its marketing set list.

- 404 listener Kulastar made this infographic comparing Bill Murray to Jim Carrey.… Read more

TiVo says Taco Bell won the Super Bowl

The morning after the Super Bowl, there is a constant discussion about the dropped passes, the unnecessary roughness and the terrible calls.

Yes, of course I'm talking about the commercials.

Many media companies weigh in and declare that they know which of them moved the populace to wild emotions and untold paroxysms of brand loyalty.

TiVo, meanwhile, constantly checked the pulses and sweat glands of its subscribers and came out with a simple declaration: the most engaging ad of the Super Bowl was the one for Taco Bell.

Yes, the one where the older people behaved like younger people … Read more