KANZ Field Power Desk Helps You Live and Work Well off the Grid

You know that when World War Z happens, you better be prepared because there’s no way that you’ll be able to charge your smartphone when the power grid is down. The KANZ Field Power Desk will help all technological zombie fighters to keep working and playing as long as the sun is still in the sky.

kanz power desk remote satellite

The KANZ Field Power Desk is a portable desk that has integrated power packs, which offer six hours of battery. I know that it doesn’t sound like much, but six hours is better than zero. It also has solar panels to recharge these packs, and a wide array of adapters and ports to support a large number of electronic devices. There’s also an optional Satellite Broadband IP Terminal that will allow you leverage satellite connectivity in the wild.

kanz power desk remote satellite plugs

It’s dust-resistant and can be housed in a durable traveling case. All this tech doesn’t come cheap though, as the Field Power Desk will cost you $2,495(USD), with the additional satellite connection costing you an extra $2,850. Just remember that during World War Z, money won’t matter!

kanz power desk remote satellite top

[via Cool Hunting]


Apple patent application has iPhones text when calls don’t reach spotty coverage areas

Apple patent application has iPhones text when calls don't reach spotty coverage areas

If you're already using Android 4.0 or iOS 6, you're likely familiar with the option to send a pre-made text reply to incoming calls you can't take. But what if it's your own call that won't go through, at no fault of your own? Apple may have that covered through a patent application that could keep the accusations to a minimum. If flaky reception at the destination prevents your call from connecting, the proposed idea has your iPhone automatically send a text message indicating that you've at least tried to get in touch. Recipients with Apple's hardware contribute to their own solution in this world: the message code is a cue to measure the signal strength and flag the location as a weak point in the carrier's network. Whether or not Apple acts on its concept is as much of a mystery as with most other patents, although we're hoping it becomes real. If anything's going to strain a relationship, it shouldn't be dodgy coverage.

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Apple patent application has iPhones text when calls don't reach spotty coverage areas originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 14:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint LTE makes early appearance in Bay Area

Sprint LTE makes early appearance in Bay Area

Sprint's LTE signal is well and truly out there, but it looks like roll-out is going smoother than the Now Network had predicted, appearing (though, not "officially launched") ahead of schedule in the San Francisco Bay Area. Tipsters have told Android Police that they've already managed to connect to the 4G network around both Palo Alto and Mountain View, reaching speeds of over 13MBps down and 8MBps up. Coverage doesn't yet extend across the whole of San Francisco, but bodes well for a swift roll-out -- and for Sprint fulfilling its promise of voice over LTE by the end of next year.

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Sprint LTE makes early appearance in Bay Area originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Aug 2012 05:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Sprint LTE goes live today, honest and for true (update: includes Missouri)

HTC EVO 4G LTE review on table

Sprint's decision to take its LTE live in Kansas City marked a short prelude to a full orchestral performance -- the carrier's upgraded 4G network is now official. Kansas City and St. Joseph in Kansas and Missouri, as well as 13 urban areas in Georgia and Texas, are taking the leap past WiMAX speeds as of today. Senior network VP Bob Azzi has warned the Kansas City Star that the current LTE access is still mostly for use outside until it expands to the 3G network's range, although he adds that there will be a coverage map available from July 16th onwards to let EVO 4G LTE, Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy S III owners know when their phones reach full potential. Just remember that the real party starts in 2013, when Sprint hopes to both flick on voice over LTE and ramp up to extra-speedy LTE-Advanced.

[Thanks, Alex]

Update: As locals in the comments have helpfully reminded us, St. Joseph is in Missouri and just sits along the border with Kansas -- you know what they say about horseshoes, hand grenades and being close enough.

Continue reading PSA: Sprint LTE goes live today, honest and for true (update: includes Missouri)

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PSA: Sprint LTE goes live today, honest and for true (update: includes Missouri) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Jul 2012 11:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon 4G LTE service arrives in 46 new cities, expands coverage in 22 others

DNP Verizon enters into 46 new cities, and expand coverage in 22 others

Unlike many of our friends in Europe, loads more Verizon Wireless customers are about to get turbocharged in time for their new Galaxy S III smartphones to arrive. Big Red is deploying its latest 4G LTE network tech in 46 new cities and expanding coverage in 22 others -- and it's all going down tomorrow. That'll bring VZW's total up to 304 cities across the land of the free two full weeks ahead of the July 4th holiday, giving many people one more reason to celebrate a Hump Day without work. And really, couldn't the world use more reasons to celebrate? Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Verizon 4G LTE service arrives in 46 new cities, expands coverage in 22 others

Verizon 4G LTE service arrives in 46 new cities, expands coverage in 22 others originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 23:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FCC to dole out up to $300 million to help carriers expand service in rural areas

It seems like almost every day that we receive a press release announcing Verizon or AT&T is planning to expand its LTE coverage to three, five, eleven new markets. But in some remote pockets of the country, you'd be lucky to latch onto even a solid 3G signal. In a bid to make sure those folks in the boonies get their due, the Federal Communications Commission is establishing a fund to encourage carriers to roll out 3G and 4G service in sparser areas. All told, the agency plans to award up to $300 million to mobile operators, with funds going to the providers offering the lowest rates. The winners will be decided in a sealed, single-round auction, which opens June 27th and is set to close July 11th. As a condition for receiving the funds, carriers must agree to cover at least 75 percent of the road miles within a given census tract. While it's unclear at this early stage which mobile players will take the bait, the FCC's already signaled which parts of the country will be first in line for upgraded service -- namely, Rocky Mountain states like Utah and Idaho, along with Maine, Appalachia and upstate New York.

FCC to dole out up to $300 million to help carriers expand service in rural areas originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 May 2012 10:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceComputerworld, Eligiblity map (Mobility Fund Phase 1)  | Email this | Comments

Sprint outlines LTE coverage plans at RCA Expo

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Sprint customer? Still supping from the 3G cup? Well if you were wondering if you'll ever get to try the sweet taste of LTE, wonder no more. The Now Network revealed a coverage map at the RCA Expo, and the image above was kindly grabbed by PC Mag's Sascha Segan. Those green areas are the locales that'll be getting LTE, and as you can see it's a fairly comprehensive -- though not altogether surprising -- spread. The rollout is said to be planned for completion by 2014, so you've still got time for that handset upgrade. Those of you in Montana or one of the many other blue areas on the map aren't entirely forgotten, though, as these regions will have roaming agreements in place, so no need for an extra contract just yet.

Sprint outlines LTE coverage plans at RCA Expo originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 05:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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