Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Google said to deploy Wi-Fi blimps in Africa and Asia
How can the Internet be brought to areas that have no infrastructure for high-speed wireless? Beam the Wi-Fi networks down from flying objects, of course.
Google is reportedly working on creating wireless networks for more remote parts of the world, such as countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, with sky-bound balloons and blimps, according to Wired.
Dubbed "high-altitude platforms," these mechanisms will reportedly be able to connect roughly a billion more people to the Internet worldwide, according to Wired. The blimps signals are said to be able to reach people in areas that are hundreds of square miles.
Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Google is going into the cellular business in Africa and Asia in an effort to connect more people to the Internet. Citing anonymous sources, the news source reported that the networks would be available outside of big cities, where service is spotty or not available.
Besides the Wi-Fi blimps, Google is reportedly also considering a satellite-based wireless system, along with testing other kinds of wireless frequencies, according to the Wall Street Journal. "There's not going to be one technology that will be the silver bullet," an anonymous source told the Journal.
It appears that Google has been working on high-altitude platforms for quite some time. In 2000, the company filed a patent application for a "High altitude platform control system," which involved creating an "aerospace vehicle" that could "improve the reliability of a communications system."
Also, Google isn't the only company that has been working on creating communication networks via blimps and balloons. Lockheed Martin and GlobeTel Communications have also been working on such inventions. And, the company Space Data already operates a network of high-altitude, balloon-borne transceivers known as SkySite Platforms, which serve as wireless towers.
The industry's most significant problem is usually that these low-cost
I to start with acquired wind of Home windows Blue from my contacts about
four months in the past and also have considering the fact that composed lots of
PCMag columns with regards to the OS update. As I've stated in advance of, Home
windows eight.1, as it truly is now officially named, extends this new
touch-based OS to tablets inside the 7- to 11.4-inch range. It is also being
used on what are termed ultramobile laptops, or laptops that specifically use an
Intel Atom processor or perhaps a new low-voltage chip from AMD termed
Temash.
The thrust so as to add Home windows eight to lesser tablets will come as no shock as this is certainly a sector that Microsoft has ignored right up until now, though tablets while in the 7- to 8-inch variety will depict just as much as sixty five per cent of all tablets offered worldwide starting this 12 months. That is certainly because these smaller sized tablets are inclined to generally be cheaper-some promote for under $150 presently and some others are predicted to drop to $129 by the vacations. These smaller sized tablets are evidently being used for written content consumption, not productiveness, but evidently Microsoft also thinks that tablets within the 10.1-inch selection also are media intake gadgets and do not cross around to productivity.
But there is something odd about Microsoft's solution to tablets and Home windows eight.one is notable for just a pair of explanations. Initially, it might be utilized on lesser tablets. Second, when used on tablets or laptops that sport Intel's Atom chip or AMD's Temash processor, the OEM rate for Windows 8.one is about $30 in comparison with its rate on laptops and PCs with much more strong processors the place the license cost ranges from $65 to $85 for every device.
But here's the twist: Microsoft has decided that on tablets around 10.1 inches working Windows eight.one and applying these lower-end processors from Intel and AMD, it can toss Microsoft Place of work in without spending a dime. If I'm not mistaken, Workplace is productiveness program. And so the business seems for being expressing that tablets approximately ten.one inches are generally intake devices, not utilized for productivity, nonetheless it is actually giving them Business at no cost. Go figure! To become fair, this almost certainly has some thing to complete with receiving new buyers common with Workplace and hoping to maneuver them to some cloud subscription of Place of work at some time. Nevertheless, to the surface it continue to appears like a odd shift.
As I said above, OEM distributors could get Windows eight.1 for about $30 providing they use these new low-voltage chips from Intel and AMD and will be executed on screens from seven inches as higher as 13.three inches. However, these devices are clearly for productivity so Microsoft will not bundle Business free of charge. If the OEM sellers listened to they could get Windows Blue for $30 when they utilized Atom or Temash and could use it on touch screens as many as 13.three inches, they jumped within the opportunity to make decrease price tag ultramobile laptops. Though they understand that making touch-based laptops during the $399 to $549 array is somewhat dangerous since it could take in into the revenue of far more expensive ultrabooks, all OEMs have continue to embraced this opportunity and can soon offer these ultramobile laptops.
These lower-end ultramobile laptops are obviously designed to go right after the Chromebook current market that is definitely finding up. In truth, NPD analysts reported that Chromebooks comprised twenty five per cent of all laptops sold in retail less than $300 final thirty day period. Our contacts in a regional retailer tell us they get twelve Chromebooks weekly which they may be all bought out in 48 hrs. While these ultramobiles may very well be priced in a $200 to $250 quality more than Chromebooks, they are doing have complete Windows application compatibility and folks who've invested within the Windows atmosphere over the years could uncover this additional expense tolerable. Also note that customers explain to us the highest price they will spend for just a laptop or Pc is $599.
An rising pattern implies that individuals favor low-cost laptops. Our investigate proceeds to verify that consumers can manage about eighty per cent of their computing wants with a pill plus the remaining twenty per cent should nevertheless be completed on a laptop. For that reason, when it comes to a brand new Computer system, they either opt to lengthen the everyday living in their existing product or purchase a cheap model knowing that it is only necessary for about 20 percent from the issues they are doing, these kinds of as residence funds, managing media collections, or other heavy-lifting responsibilities.
The industry's most significant problem is usually that these low-cost, touch-based laptops not only become wildly well-known, but that they build what we call "the new normal." Because of this though we'll nonetheless promote laptops higher than $599, the change in customer need will increase the amount bought at decreased price tag details. The income margin on these less costly laptops is way lesser than on costly machines and if they take off, they may diminish the desire for higher-priced laptops, that have been the bread and butter on the Computer system industry for decades.
Home windows 8.1 will essentially be a very important edition of Home windows eight as a consequence of this major drive with lower-cost, touch-based laptops. I think that they are going to be a massive hit this back-to-school and holiday season. A far more tricky query to reply is whether or not Windows eight.1 on compact tablets will find any demand. It truly is up from iOS and Android, which each have application outlets boasting more than 800,000 applications. And while we could see some 7-inch Windows 8.one tablets as little as $249 through the holidays, Windows-based tablets may have an uphill climb supplied the present level of competition.
The thrust so as to add Home windows eight to lesser tablets will come as no shock as this is certainly a sector that Microsoft has ignored right up until now, though tablets while in the 7- to 8-inch variety will depict just as much as sixty five per cent of all tablets offered worldwide starting this 12 months. That is certainly because these smaller sized tablets are inclined to generally be cheaper-some promote for under $150 presently and some others are predicted to drop to $129 by the vacations. These smaller sized tablets are evidently being used for written content consumption, not productiveness, but evidently Microsoft also thinks that tablets within the 10.1-inch selection also are media intake gadgets and do not cross around to productivity.
But there is something odd about Microsoft's solution to tablets and Home windows eight.one is notable for just a pair of explanations. Initially, it might be utilized on lesser tablets. Second, when used on tablets or laptops that sport Intel's Atom chip or AMD's Temash processor, the OEM rate for Windows 8.one is about $30 in comparison with its rate on laptops and PCs with much more strong processors the place the license cost ranges from $65 to $85 for every device.
But here's the twist: Microsoft has decided that on tablets around 10.1 inches working Windows eight.one and applying these lower-end processors from Intel and AMD, it can toss Microsoft Place of work in without spending a dime. If I'm not mistaken, Workplace is productiveness program. And so the business seems for being expressing that tablets approximately ten.one inches are generally intake devices, not utilized for productivity, nonetheless it is actually giving them Business at no cost. Go figure! To become fair, this almost certainly has some thing to complete with receiving new buyers common with Workplace and hoping to maneuver them to some cloud subscription of Place of work at some time. Nevertheless, to the surface it continue to appears like a odd shift.
As I said above, OEM distributors could get Windows eight.1 for about $30 providing they use these new low-voltage chips from Intel and AMD and will be executed on screens from seven inches as higher as 13.three inches. However, these devices are clearly for productivity so Microsoft will not bundle Business free of charge. If the OEM sellers listened to they could get Windows Blue for $30 when they utilized Atom or Temash and could use it on touch screens as many as 13.three inches, they jumped within the opportunity to make decrease price tag ultramobile laptops. Though they understand that making touch-based laptops during the $399 to $549 array is somewhat dangerous since it could take in into the revenue of far more expensive ultrabooks, all OEMs have continue to embraced this opportunity and can soon offer these ultramobile laptops.
These lower-end ultramobile laptops are obviously designed to go right after the Chromebook current market that is definitely finding up. In truth, NPD analysts reported that Chromebooks comprised twenty five per cent of all laptops sold in retail less than $300 final thirty day period. Our contacts in a regional retailer tell us they get twelve Chromebooks weekly which they may be all bought out in 48 hrs. While these ultramobiles may very well be priced in a $200 to $250 quality more than Chromebooks, they are doing have complete Windows application compatibility and folks who've invested within the Windows atmosphere over the years could uncover this additional expense tolerable. Also note that customers explain to us the highest price they will spend for just a laptop or Pc is $599.
An rising pattern implies that individuals favor low-cost laptops. Our investigate proceeds to verify that consumers can manage about eighty per cent of their computing wants with a pill plus the remaining twenty per cent should nevertheless be completed on a laptop. For that reason, when it comes to a brand new Computer system, they either opt to lengthen the everyday living in their existing product or purchase a cheap model knowing that it is only necessary for about 20 percent from the issues they are doing, these kinds of as residence funds, managing media collections, or other heavy-lifting responsibilities.
The industry's most significant problem is usually that these low-cost, touch-based laptops not only become wildly well-known, but that they build what we call "the new normal." Because of this though we'll nonetheless promote laptops higher than $599, the change in customer need will increase the amount bought at decreased price tag details. The income margin on these less costly laptops is way lesser than on costly machines and if they take off, they may diminish the desire for higher-priced laptops, that have been the bread and butter on the Computer system industry for decades.
Home windows 8.1 will essentially be a very important edition of Home windows eight as a consequence of this major drive with lower-cost, touch-based laptops. I think that they are going to be a massive hit this back-to-school and holiday season. A far more tricky query to reply is whether or not Windows eight.1 on compact tablets will find any demand. It truly is up from iOS and Android, which each have application outlets boasting more than 800,000 applications. And while we could see some 7-inch Windows 8.one tablets as little as $249 through the holidays, Windows-based tablets may have an uphill climb supplied the present level of competition.
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