Gadget Space

As more and more people are now using mobile broadband cards or “aircards” to get their laptops on the Internet while on the go an adjunct invention that is very cool and for a select few probably very useful has come along - The Mobile Router.  I have had the opportunity to try out the Kyocera KR2 Mobile Router and quite frankly, it is very cool.    In fact I liked it so much I am keeping the sample unit I have and using it as a backup for my Verizon FIOS connection at home and for the occasional roadtrip with friends.  Essentially all you do is place your broadband card into this router and give the router power (it even comes with a cigarette lighter adapter if you don’t have a standard power outlet available) and you have a wireless hotspot that you can leave open or password protect.  Temporary office setup, camping, tailgating, or as a backup to your home wireless network these mobile routers create a instant hotspot that is easy to set up and take down and works very well. 

Here are the Kyocera KR2 Mobile Router specs from Kyocera:

The KR2 Mobile Router allows you to create a Wi-Fi® hotspot virtually anywhere. It uses 1xEV-DO as its WAN backhaul and serves as an access point supporting multiple computers and devices with wireless broadband connectivity. All you need is a PCMCIA Express card, 1xEV-DO card, USB (phone or modem) or cable modem connection. The KR2 Mobile Router is especially useful for mobile work groups such as emergency mobile deployments, dispatch teams, consultants, road-warrior sales groups, satellite offices, command posts, in RV’s or public transportation, and more.

Features
• 802.11 b/g/n for longer range and faster connections
• Flexible broadband connectivity with a PCMCIA, Express card, or USB connection (phone or modem) enables you to set up a Wi-Fi hotspot virtually anywhere*
• Multiple users can share high-speed connections with rates up to 3.1 Mbps
• Fail-over capabilities for use as a conventional router with wireless EV-DO as a backup.
• Smooth migration to future EV-DO releases and upgradeable firmware
• Wi-Fi Protected Setup for improved security when pairing with another Wi-Fi device, preventing unauthorized devices from connecting

Technical Specifications

LAN Interface: WiFi® - 802.11b, g, & n with 3 antennas and 4 Ethernet ports
Indicator LEDs: Power, WAN (cable), WLAN (Wi-Fi), EVDO (Phone, PC Card, Express Card),WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Service)

Device Management:
Web-based Browser - Internet Explorer, Firefox, or other JavaScript-enabled browsers

Wireless Security:
64-bit or 128-bit WEP encryption, WPA-PSK authentication (Wi-Fi Protected Access - Pre-shared Key Mode)

LAN Security:
NAT with DHCP, PPTP VPN Pass-through, MAC Filtering, IP Filtering, Filter Scheduling

Size:
8.5 in x 5.3 in x 1.3 in (215 mm x 135 mm x 32 mm)

Weight:
0.9 lb (450 g)

Operating Temperature:
32° to 122°F (0° to 50°C)

If you have a need it really works well, and if you don’t have a need this is still a very cool device that a gadget geek just ought to have.

US wireless powerhouse Verizon Wireless has gotten behind 2 rugged phones from Casio the new Type-S and the Boulder.  Here is a video of a Type-S spending some time under water and coming through to ring another day.

These are newer models of the Verizon Casio G’zOne Type-V Cell Phone which can be seen being through the ringer in this fun YouTube video and another Casio commercial.

According to Verizon Wireless site the G’zOne Boulder is built to military specifications to survive extreme shock, water and dust environments.  Casio’s website claims it “can stay underwater at a depth of one meter with the ports closed”. 

We see it can survive what looks like some office pranksters but wonder if it can survive a 2 year contract and a teenager?

Watching the 2008 Opening Ceremony last night, and doing my AM web reading today it struck me that new mobile and web-based technology is just as much on display with these 2008 Summer Games as are the athletes.  Many of the athletes, from almost every nation involved, walked into the now famous Birds Nest carrying state of the art digital cameras, hot new mobile phones with both camera and video features, and the almost standard olympic gear - micro size digital camcorders. These devices recorded the spectacular event from the Olympians point of view, many of which will ultimately post to blogs, and You Tube. The folks at home are also now able to use technology that puts them closer than ever before.   Mobile websites with streaming video, timely text alerts with medal updates, mobile TV is streaming live 24/7, and mobile recap videos are available all day as well, check out NBC.com for nice examples of all of this.  Sadly, there is even a web cam setup showing the smog conditions 24/7 live from a spot in Beijing posted on Camvista.com.  The 2008 Beijing Olympics is a wonderful showcase of mobile and Internet technology.  People all over the world will not only be able to see these 2008 Beijing Olympics via the unprecedented global television coverage, there are numerous websites streaming live video, and updates to the global citizenry. 

Showing off all this new mobile, web, and digital technology is not only great for the Olympics, it is great for Technology.  Why?  Just like each Christmas buying season seems to break in a new crop of online shoppers who make their first purchase online, like it,  and never turn back, this huge push to show these 2008 Beijing games will break in a new crop of web cam viewers, steaming video watchers, text mesagers and mobile video veiwers.  All over the world, the Olympics are in effect pushing technology, showing it off, and the adoption by millions will not stop in 16 days.  The global adoption of these technologies will undoubtedly increase as a result of these games.  As a tech-geek, I love it and you should too

-GadgetMan