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HTC Vive goes wire-free with $220 TPCast add-on

Just a day after MSI started selling the first VR-ready gaming PC in a backpack, HTC has unveiled a device that could make the whole idea of a gaming backpack unnecessary. Here’s the thing: high-end virtual reality headsets like the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift currently need to have a wired connection to a PC […]

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FCC settlement means TP-Link routers might support third-party firmware after all

Remember how TP-Link decided that the simplest way to comply with FCC’s new rules for wireless routers was to make it difficult for users to load third-party firmware on the company’s products? Yeah, it looks like the company has agreed to “work with the open-source community and Wi-Fi chipset manufacturers to enable third-party firmware.” So […]

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Qualcomm introduces Snapdragon Wear 1100 chip for wearables

There are an awful lot of smartwatches using Qualcomm’s processors, but most of them are using the Snapdragon 400 family of chips that were originally designed for phones. Earlier this year Qualcomm introduced a new chip designed specifically for wearables, called the Snapdragon Wear 2100. And now the company is adding a Snapdragon Wear 1100 […]

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Coming soon: Flash custom Android ROMs over WiFi?

Want to flash a custom ROM on your phone or perform other actions using the fastboot tool? Then you’ll need to plug your phone into a computer with a USB cable… for now. But Android Police notes that there’s plenty of evidence that Google will add support for using fastboot over a wireless connection soon. […]

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Bluetooth to get faster, longer range in 2016

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) is outlining some of its plans for the coming year and, among other things, it looks like next-gen Bluetooth hardware should support higher data transfer speeds and wireless connections across longer distances. Mesh networking is also on the table, allowing Bluetooth devices to connect to a network by connecting […]

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New tech transmits wirelesss signals via your body

Researchers at the University of California San Diego are working on a wireless transmission system that uses the human body’s magnetic waves to send a data signal to a device. “What’s that, again?” you might be thinking. You’ve read it right. The research team has already created a proof of concept prototype to send transmissions […]

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Ubuntu on the 32GB Intel Compute Stick: You have to install it yourself

Intel launched a tiny computer called the Intel Compute Stick earlier this year. It looks like a chunky USB flash drive, but instead of plugging it into your computer to add storage, you plug it into the HDMI port of your TV or monitor to add a full-fledged computer. The first model to ship featured […]

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Lilbits (6-04-2014): The future looks bright… with 1000 nit displays

Japan Display has been busy unveiling high-resolution screens recently. Now the company’s got something a little different: a crazy-bright screen. The company’s new 7 inch, 1920 x 1200 pixel tablet screen supports peak brightness of 1000 nits for outdoor visibility, although it’ll probably run down your battery pretty quickly at that level. Indoors it can […]

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FreedomPop offers unlimited talk, text for under $5 per month

FreedomPop has been offering some of the cheapest wireless phone plans in the US since the company launched its phone service in October. Basic service with up to 200 minutes and 500 texts was available for free, with unlimited talk and text plans running $11 per month. Now there’s an even cheaper option for unlimited plans […]