Car makers pick a standard for Fast Charging Electronic Vehicles

The car makers are going to unite behind one standard for charging electric cars.  The list is comprised of Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, GM, Porsche and Volkswagen. If you buy an EV from any of them in 2013, you will be able to power up your car within 15 to 20 minutes.  If you live outside of the states, I am sorry.  The ACEA (European vehicle association) will not have the charging stations in place until 2017.

PRESS RELEASE:

Global Automakers to Demo EV Fast Charging at EVS26

Combined Charging System allows AC and DC fast-charging from single inlet port

LOS ANGELES – Global automakers from the United States and Germany will demonstrate fast-charging technology that will enable the recharging of most electrified vehicles with compatible systems in as little as 15-20 minutes.

Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, General Motors, Porsche and Volkswagen have agreed to support a harmonized single-port fast charging approach – called DC Fast Charging with a Combined Charging System – for use on electric vehicles in Europe and the United States.

Live charging demonstrations will be conducted during the Electric Vehicle Symposium 26 (EVS26) May 6-9.

The combined charging system integrates one-phase AC-charging, fast three-phase AC-charging, DC-charging at home and ultra-fast DC-charging at public stations into one vehicle inlet. This will allow customers to charge at most existing charging stations regardless of power source and may speed more affordable adoption of a standardized infrastructure.

The International Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has chosen the Combined Charging System as the fast-charging methodology for a standard that incrementally extends the existing Type 1-based AC charging. The standard is to be officially published this summer. ACEA, the European association of vehicle manufacturers has also selected the Combined Charging System as its AC/DC charging interface for all new vehicle types in Europe beginning in 2017.

The charging system design was based on collaborative reviews and analysis of existing charging strategies, the ergonomics of the connector and preferences of U.S. and European customers. The system was developed for all international vehicle markets and creates a uniform standard with identical electrical systems, charge controllers, package dimensions and safety mechanisms.

The system maximizes capability for integration with future smart grid developments through common broadband communication methods regardless of the global location of the charging system. The combined charging approach will reduce development and infrastructure complexity, improve charging reliability, reduce the total cost-of-ownership for end customers and provide low maintenance costs.

Commercially available combined charging units are projected to be available later this year. All committed OEMs have vehicles in development which will use the Combined Charging System. The first vehicles to use this system will reach the market in 2013.

Who didn’t see that coming? AT&T swallows $4 Billion dollar pill, ends bid for T-Mobile.

AT&T has ended its $39 billion bid to acquire T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telecom. There was very strong opposition from the Department of Justice, Sprint and other companies which rightly said that such a merger would have a negative impact on the U.S. wireless market. The DOJ saw through the ads and smoke about the merger creating more jobs.  AT&T will pay T-Mobile a $4 billion breakup fee as a result of its failed acquisition.

  Sprint says

“Earlier today, AT&T terminated its definitive merger agreement with Deutsche Telekom to acquire T-Mobile USA. This is the right decision for consumers, competition and innovation in the wireless industry.

“From the beginning, Sprint has stood with consumers who spoke loudly and clearly that AT&T’s proposed takeover of T-Mobile would create an undeniable duopoly that would have resulted in higher prices, less innovation and fewer choices for the American consumer.

“Sprint commends the Department of Justice, the Federal Communications Commission and the bi-partisan group of state attorneys general who gave voice to the concerns of consumers across the country. We look forward to competing fiercely in the robust, competitive market that exists today and continuing to deliver the world class service and products that consumers have come to expect from Sprint.”

AT&T Press release: 

Company Reaffirms Its Commitment to Mobile Broadband Leadership

DALLAS, Dec 19, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — AT&T Inc. said today that after a thorough review of options it has agreed with Deutsche Telekom AG to end its bid to acquire T-Mobile USA, which began in March of this year.

The actions by the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice to block this transaction do not change the realities of the U.S. wireless industry. It is one of the most fiercely competitive industries in the world, with a mounting need for more spectrum that has not diminished and must be addressed immediately. The AT&T and T-Mobile USA combination would have offered an interim solution to this spectrum shortage. In the absence of such steps, customers will be harmed and needed investment will be stifled.

“AT&T will continue to be aggressive in leading the mobile Internet revolution,” said Randall Stephenson, AT&T chairman and CEO. “Over the past four years we have invested more in our networks than any other U.S. company. As a result, today we deliver best-in-class mobile broadband speeds — connecting smartphones, tablets and emerging devices at a record pace — and we are well under way with our nationwide 4G LTE deployment.

“To meet the needs of our customers, we will continue to invest,” Stephenson said. “However, adding capacity to meet these needs will require policymakers to do two things. First, in the near term, they should allow the free markets to work so that additional spectrum is available to meet the immediate needs of the U.S. wireless industry, including expeditiously approving our acquisition of unused Qualcomm spectrum currently pending before the FCC. Second, policymakers should enact legislation to meet our nation’s longer-term spectrum needs.

“The mobile Internet is a dynamic industry that can be a critical driver in restoring American economic growth and job creation, but only if companies are allowed to react quickly to customer needs and market forces,” Stephenson said.

To reflect the break-up considerations due Deutsche Telekom, AT&T will recognize a pretax accounting charge of $4 billion in the 4th quarter of 2011. Additionally, AT&T will enter a mutually beneficial roaming agreement with Deutsche Telekom.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

Dear colleagues,

Today AT&T and Deutsche Telekom announced they have mutually decided to terminate their agreement for AT&T to acquire T-Mobile USA. This announcement effectively ends the acquisition process launched March 20, including the regulatory approvals process with the Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission. Additionally, with the termination of the agreement, T-Mobile will receive certain spectrum licenses and a 3G roaming agreement from AT&T, and AT&T will pay $3B to our parent company, Deutsche Telekom.

What does this mean for T-Mobile USA? Our Challenger Strategy continues as before, with energy and focus. We have seen early successes with our great 4G network, affordable unlimited rate plans and strong Android portfolio. We now have an exciting chance to build upon these and other strengths to bring our business to the next level of success and beyond. We have an opportunity to write our own future – making the latest mobile products and services affordable to more people. We call it “4G for All.” We’ll continue on this path through 4G network leadership, affordable smartphones, being a trusted brand, evolving as a multi-segment player, and executing our Challenger business model.

The leadership team and I will be meeting intensively in the next few weeks on our go-forward plans for the business, to identify and map out any and all options to further strengthen our strategy and prospects for the future.

I know you also want to know what this means in terms of retention bonuses and other details that impact you personally. I promise to make that information available to you in the coming days and weeks on OneVoice and through your leaders.

Most importantly, I want to thank you for the amazing effort and focus each of you put into the business over the last nine months following the acquisition announcement. You performed well under extraordinarily unusual circumstances. Thank you for your ongoing commitment and support.

Let’s now go into the new year and show everyone we are, indeed, ready to be Challengers!

With sincere appreciation,

Philipp Humm

CEO & President

T-Mobile USA

T-Mobile USA

Man U goes IPO: Manchester United’s plans $1 billion IPO

 

Arguably the most recognized, loved, hated and successful team in the world is about to offer it’s self up to the open market.  Manchester United’s planned $1 billion public offering has been approved by Singapore’s stock exchange. They will start trading at the end of the year.  The is worth about $1.9 Billion so says Forbes.

What you may not know is that the team though overseas is an American-owned club.  Manchester United is owned by the Glazer family. The same family that owned the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Forbes magazine  has ranked Manchester United as soccer’s most valuable team for the last seven years.

The ipo is welcomed at the team may be worth a lot but they are also in a lot of debt. The club has about $750 million of debt on the books.

Seems that Sprint has friends in high places: The US Government looks to block AT&T + T-Mobile merger

The U.S. government is taking steps to  block AT&T’s deal to buy T-Mobile for $39 billion. The US says the deal would “substantially lessen competition” in the wireless market.  We could not agree more. It’s already kind of a low competition now. You have AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint. AT&T shares fell like a rock on the news. They fell as much as 5%  The U.S. says that a AT&T’s takeover of T-Mobile would violate U.S. antitrust law. The U.S. wants the court order blocking any arrangement implementing the deal. The FCC has given itself more time to study new data presented by AT&T but most U.S. lawmakers have said the deal will reduce competition and raise consumer costs.

“AT&T’s elimination of T-Mobile as an independent, low- priced rival would remove a significant competitive force from the market,” the U.S. said in its filing.

If regulators reject the deal, which they should; AT&T would have to pay Deutsche Telekom $3 billion in cash. AT&T would also have to provide T-Mobile USA with wireless spectrum in some regions and reduced charges for calls into AT&T’s network. So in total AT&T stands to lose as much as $7 billion if the deal does not go through. Just looking at the amount of the cancellation fee that was negotiated into his agreement; makes it clear that AT&T has the incentive to fight. Deutsche Telekom (T-Mobile), AT&T and the Justice Department spokeswoman declined to immediately comment.

AT&T fell 3.4% New York Stock Exchange.  Deutsche Telekom dropped 6.4% The purchase of T-Mobile would combine the 2nd and 4th largest carriers to create a new market leader. That would mean current #1 Verizon Wireless would take a drop.  Current # 3 carrier Sprint Nextel Corp which argued against the deal would be a non factor if the deal goes through. The news helped Sprint’s shares jumped about 9.9%

AT&T sent the FCC new economic models that showed the merger would lower prices and increase service in some markets. The report of course is not fact that can be relied on as it makes no sense. Less companies can not equal more competition. Andrew Gavil, a law professor at Howard University in Washington “The fact that the Justice Department is challenging the deal doesn’t mean they won’t negotiate a resolution at some point”

iPhone 5 + Sprint = Apple Dominance of US Market. iPhone on every major carrier

If the rumors are to be believed, Apple is about to present Sprint subscribers with an early holiday gift. WSJ is reporting that the Apple iPhone will be on Sprint the same time as AT&T and Verizon Wireless.  Wall Street Journal sources “familiar with the matter”  tend to be off on dates but usually get the information on the product right.

They say mid October and that Sprint will also get the iPhone 4 for those that don’t want to get the new iPhone 5. Correction, for those that did not save enough to get the iPhone 5. As the iPhone 4 will be marked down a lot by that time. I do however wonder if Sprint will be able to keep it’s Truly Unlimited plan going with the new data hungry device.

Apple would be adding  Sprint’s 52 million subscribers add that to the number of official users it would get from the sale of T-Mobile to AT&T. That would bring the iPhone to every major cell phone service in the USA.  In other words dominance.

Japan wins World Cup: The underdog rises to the top by beating USA

Japan did what no one thought they could do; make it to the simi finals. They didn’t listen to the voice and analyst. Once they did it. The same people said great job but that is the end of them. Japan again ignored them and fought on. They made it to the finals not as on the shoulders of one super star. They did it as a team. That team today was a clear example of why you should never count out the underdog.

Japan defeated the United States in a penalty kick shootout to win. They took out a US team that had been looked at as the clear front runner for the Women’s World Cup.  Today that was not meant to be in Frankfurt, Germany. The US missed three of four penalty kicks; Japan on the other hand-made three of four. USA’s Shannon Boxx and Tobin Heath were both denied by Japan’s goalie Ayumi Kaihori.  Saki Kumagai scored on Japan’s fourth and that ended the game for them. USA played the second half and overtime without star player Lauren Cheney. She had suffered an ankle injury.

That howerver was not the reason they lost. The first 30 minutes the US team had 12 shots at the goal and connected with 0. That would come back to bite them in the end. This game did not have to go to a shoot out. US coach PIa Sundhage said it best “We made a couple of mistakes, we let them in the game. I still think we did pretty good out there,” Japan’s Azusa Iwashimizu was given a red card in the 119th minute but the US was unable to convert the ensuing free kick.

• Morgan put the US up 1-0
• Aya Miyama tied it 1-1
• Wambach put the US up 2-1
• Homare Sawa tied the score for Japan at 2-2

Than the shoot out happen like this:

• USA: Shannon Boxx denied Japan’s goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori
• Japan: Aya Miyama scored for Japan
• USA: Carli Lloyd blasted her shot high over the crossbar
• Japan: Yuki Nagasoto’s denied by Solo
• USA: Tobin Heath denied Japan’s goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori
• Japan: Mizuho Sakaguchi scored for Japan
• USA: Wambach scored to keep the U.S. alive
• Japan: Saki Kumagai scored for Japan and made Japan world champion.

Spotify is here in the USA. Here is a run down of what the big deal is

Hello America. Spotify here.

Spotify, the largest and fastest growing music service of its kind, is available from today in the US. We’re massively excited to be here.

Spotify is a new way to manage your music, discover new tracks and share songs and playlists with your friends. Now you can enjoy music whenever and wherever you like.

One lean, green, music machine

• Spotify gives you on-demand access (with no buffering) to a library of more than 15 million songs. What’s more, you can import the MP3s you already own with just one click, to create a mighty music player. And with Spotify, there’s no need to skip tracks you don’t like. Why? Because you choose the music in the first place.

• It’s super simple to create and manage all your playlists with Spotify – our users have made and shared over 250 million of them so far. You can also discover the most popular playlists on sites like www.sharemyplaylists.com and www.bbcify.com, or use clever sites like www.spotiseek.com to create playlists of new music based on your favorite artists.

• Music is made for sharing. Simply drag and drop music to your Spotify friends, or share with them via Facebook, Twitter, email and SMS. See your friends’ top tracks, artists and playlists via their Spotify profiles, subscribe to their playlists and drop tracks into their Spotify inbox. How very sociable.

• Take your music with you by installing Spotify on your cellphone or iPod Touch. Wirelessly sync your MP3 playlists to listen offline and subscribe to Spotify Premium to combine your own music with access to our catalogue of over 15 million tracks. It’s the perfect music player.

The Land of the Free, the Unlimited and the Premium

During our invite-only beta phase, Spotify offers three great services, from absolutely free to paid subscriptions. All of Spotify’s services include the features listed above.

 

• Spotify Free – the unsurpassed free music service. With an invite, enjoy on-demand, buffer-free access to over 15 million songs on your computer, great social features, manage your own music files through Spotify, and sync with your cellphone or iPod. Features occasional advertising.

• Spotify Unlimited – all the special features of our free service but with uninterrupted, ad-free access to Spotify on your computer. All for only $4.99 a month.

• Spotify Premium – the all-singing, all-dancing, top-of-the-range Spotify experience. Premium gives you access to all the music, all the time. Listen online or offline, on your computer, your cellphone and a whole heap of other devices. Enjoy enhanced sound quality and access to exclusive content, competitions and special offers. Premium costs just $9.99 a month (that’s the equivalent of a few fancy coffees).

Daniel Ek, Founder and CEO of Spotify, said:

 

“We believe that music is the most social thing there is and that’s why we’ve built the best social features into Spotify for easy sharing and the ultimate in music discovery. Even if you aren’t a total music freak, chances are you have a friend who is and whose taste you admire. I’m looking forward to connecting with some of you in Spotify and discovering some cool new tracks.”

Spotify’s US launch is in partnership with some of the biggest and most pioneering brands in the world, who want to help us spread the word of Spotify in the USA. Our exclusive launch partners are Coca-Cola and Sprite, Chevrolet, Motorola, Reebok, Sonos and The Daily. These brands will all be launching innovative campaigns in partnership with Spotify in the coming weeks and months.

Ken Parks, Chief Content Officer and Managing Director of Spotify North America, said: “Spotify was founded as a better, simpler alternative to piracy. So making sure that the people who create the music prosper is hugely important to us. We have full catalogues from all the major labels and a raft of independent labels including those represented by Merlin, which means all of their artists are being fairly compensated for their creativity every time people enjoy music through Spotify.”

Supreme Court overturns California law restricting the sale of video games

The United States Supreme Court voted 7 to 2 to overturn a California law restricting the sale of computer and video games–declaring those games to be protected speech like any other form of creative expression.

Justice Scalia writes:

Video games qualify for First Amendment protection. Like protected books, plays, and movies, they communicate ideas through familiar literary devices and features distinctive to the medium. And “the basic principles of freedom of speech . . . do not vary” with a new and different communication medium.

LulzSec: 6 Hackers + 50 days = Wake up call companies & Governments

After 50 Days Of Attacks on almost everyone out there. The group LulzSec puts up its hacker top hat.  LulzSec last released a torrent of data that had hundreds of classified documents of personal emails, names and phone numbers from Arizona law enforcement.

The group of  just only 6 people were able to hack the servers of  Sony, PBS, the US Senate, the CIA, top gaming sites like  EVE Online, Minecraft and League of Legends. Since the group was doing all this because they could, there is no reason to believe they are lying about being behind hacks on  Scotland Yards and the UK Census.

The group has been doing what it wants when it wants without anyone being able to stop them. I think this is the best thing that could have happened. Am I anti establishment? No, but it does show how vulnerable are public and private establishments are. This group was doing this for fun. We should be very thankful for that. It should be interesting to see how companies and governments reinforce their servers after this.

This was a best case scenario. It was a group just out for fun and to open eyes to the lack of security of organisations. Now had this been a malicious group out for harm, it could have been a horrible outcome.

 

Below is the statement from the group:

Friends around the globe,

We are Lulz Security, and this is our final release, as today marks something meaningful to us. 50 days ago, we set sail with our humble ship on an uneasy and brutal ocean: the Internet. The hate machine, the love machine, the machine powered by many machines. We are all part of it, helping it grow, and helping it grow on us.

For the past 50 days we’ve been disrupting and exposing corporations, governments, often the general population itself, and quite possibly everything in between, just because we could. All to selflessly entertain others – vanity, fame, recognition, all of these things are shadowed by our desire for that which we all love. The raw, uninterrupted, chaotic thrill of entertainment and anarchy. It’s what we all crave, even the seemingly lifeless politicians and emotionless, middle-aged self-titled failures. You are not failures. You have not blown away. You can get what you want and you are worth having it, believe in yourself.

While we are responsible for everything that The Lulz Boat is, we are not tied to this identity permanently. Behind this jolly visage of rainbows and top hats, we are people. People with a preference for music, a preference for food; we have varying taste in clothes and television, we are just like you. Even Hitler and Osama Bin Laden had these unique variations and style, and isn’t that interesting to know? The mediocre painter turned supervillain liked cats more than we did.

Again, behind the mask, behind the insanity and mayhem, we truly believe in the AntiSec movement. We believe in it so strongly that we brought it back, much to the dismay of those looking for more anarchic lulz. We hope, wish, even beg, that the movement manifests itself into a revolution that can continue on without us. The support we’ve gathered for it in such a short space of time is truly overwhelming, and not to mention humbling. Please don’t stop. Together, united, we can stomp down our common oppressors and imbue ourselves with the power and freedom we deserve.

So with those last thoughts, it’s time to say bon voyage. Our planned 50 day cruise has expired, and we must now sail into the distance, leaving behind – we hope – inspiration, fear, denial, happiness, approval, disapproval, mockery, embarrassment, thoughtfulness, jealousy, hate, even love. If anything, we hope we had a microscopic impact on someone, somewhere. Anywhere.

Thank you for sailing with us. The breeze is fresh and the sun is setting, so now we head for the horizon.

Lulz Security – our crew of six wishes you a happy 2011, and a shout-out to all of our battlefleet members and supporters across the globe

Let it flow…

Apple gives you one less reason to Jailbreak. You can not buy a unlocked iPhone direct from Apple.

We knew it was coming. We just didn’t know it would be today. Apple has unlocked their own phone. That is right you can walk to the Apple store or order an Unlocked iPhone online on the website. This is just one less reason to jailbreak your iPhone but those that want extra features or apps that are just never going to make it to the established AppStore are still going to want to jailbreak. Yes, that was a run on sentence but it worked well together.  The unlocked iPhone 4 requires an active micro-SIM card that you have to get from your GSM wireless carrier. (ie T-Mobile) For now you will still have to connect to iTunes to complete the setup. With iOS 5 due in the fall; I wonder if that is going to still be necessary.

Apple States the following:

“Get all the features of iPhone 4 — FaceTime video calling, Retina display, HD video recording, and more — in a phone that you can activate and use on the supported GSM wireless carrier of your choice, such as AT&T in the United States.¹If you don’t want a multiyear service contract or if you prefer to use a local carrier when traveling abroad, the unlocked iPhone 4 is the best choice. It arrives without a micro-SIM card, so you’ll need an active micro-SIM card from any supported GSM carrier.”

FAQs

Does the unlocked iPhone 4 work with any SIM card or carrier worldwide?

iPhone 4 works with micro-SIM cards from supported GSM carriers. Contact your carrier for a micro-SIM card.

Can I use an unlocked iPhone outside the United States?

Yes. The unlocked iPhone will work on supported GSM carrier networks around the world. Because the unlocked iPhone is sold without a contract commitment, you can establish service and use a micro-SIM card from a local carrier at your destination. Or check with your U.S. carrier regarding international roaming and associated charges.

Are iPhone 4 and iPad micro-SIM cards interchangeable?

No. An iPad micro-SIM card will not work with your iPhone.

Why does the price of the unlocked iPhone differ from the price of a contract-based iPhone?

Carriers typically subsidize the purchase price of the phone when purchased with a service contract. By purchasing your iPhone unlocked, you are not committing to a service contract up front, so you can use any micro-SIM card from a supported GSM carrier, including your current one.