Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Well screw us — T-Mobile’s 3G network debut tomorrow? It’s going to be voice only. That’s right, you heard us, VOICE ONLY. So trepidatious is this company to actually get their 3G data rollout, um, rolled out, they’re launching first with kneecapped voice-only service, keeping only EDGE for those demanding data. Here’s the snippet from the memo we received:

“3G is the next generation of our wireless network, following our current GSM network. In this early phase of our network evolution, 3G is a new technology for carrying wireless voice calls and supporting existing data capabilities on our network. In future phases, this next generation network will power ‘high-speed’ (3G) products and services that connect customers in new and exciting ways. … Inform customers who are interested in high-speed data that the first phase of our 3G roll out supports voice only.” [Emphasis ours]

No word on when T-Mobile actually plans to turn on the faster data, but for everyone who hasn’t already jumped ship — hoping against hope — the wait continues.

P.S. -Don’t believe everything you hear about this kind of thing being status quo. Every single major US 3G network — including Cingular, Verizon, and Sprint — went live as either data card-only (with phones added later), or data and voice together.

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Okay, so we’ve been playing with the Psystar Open Computer for a few hours now, and we’ve formed some early impressions and put together a short video of it in action. We haven’t really tried to stress the system yet, but based on our other experiences with OSx86 machines, we’re expecting things to generally go smoothly. That said, there are some definite rough patches and issues, all mostly having to do with the fact that OS X isn’t really built for this hardware. Here’s what we know so far:

Continue reading Psystar Open Computer notes, benchmarks and video

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TmoNews has gotten their hands on a seemingly internal T-Mobile doc discussing their imminent 3G plans. As tipped, it’ll launch in NYC tomorrow and 20+ major markets by the end of the year. One thing to note, in the doc it discusses the “great call quality” and “more network availability” 3G will offer, not hot, melty data. Well, we’ve been told that the first phones won’t be using the 3G network for data, but voice only, to offload capacity from their older network. Hence the batch of bizarrely 3G mid-rangers that aren’t exactly browsing or email monsters. Hit the jump to see if you’re gonna get in on this by the end of the year.

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[TmoNews, Thanks Ash]

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This plastic and metal husky with baby blue sneakers is one of the many weird and wonderful robotic entries at Chiba’s Techno-Frontier 2008 symposium. Doesn’t work as complex and chilling as the mindblowing BigDog, but at least the robo-husky won’t try to poop everywhere. [Robot Watch]

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The RC-12 Mini Camera is essentially a 1.2 GHz wireless camera with a 30 meter range, a 2.7 MP CMOS sensor and waterproof housing. It looks about as big as a lego brick and can shoot 45 minutes of video on a single charge. This camera isn’t anything I have any practical use for, but it’s the type of gadget I would find a non-practical use for (and no, I won’t drop some lame girls’ locker room reference here — wait…shit). I’d probably have this thing express shipped to my doorstep if it didn’t cost $270. That hurts. [Killian Nakamura via Ubergizmo via Oh Gizmo!]

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