Now that Verizon has started cranking up its hype machine for its LTE commercial launch next month, it’s fair to wonder just what types of devices will run on the network.

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A massive rocket is expected to launch “the largest satellite in the world” tonight at 6:06 p.m. EST, reports Spaceflight Now.

The clandestine payload, known only by its launch identification number of NROL-32, is widely believed to be an eavesdropping spacecraft carrying an antenna that spans up to 100 meters (328 feet), the size of a football field. It is intended to gather electronic intelligence for the National Security Agency, according to Ted Molczan, a respected sky-watcher who keeps tabs on orbiting spacecraft.

Although NRO satellites are secretive by nature, the spacecraft are visible by just looking up. Molczan is member of Heavens Above, a space tracking group and a mailing list called SeeSat-L that routinely finds and watches spacecraft.

United Launch Alliance‘s Delta 4-Heavy is America’s biggest rocket, capable of lofting the largest and heftiest cargos. The upcoming schedule calls for several more significant launches in the next few months:

• A Delta 4-Heavy rocket for NROL-49 from Vandenberg on January 11
• A Delta 4 rocket for NROL-27 from Cape Canaveral on March 4
• An Atlas 5 for NROL-34 from Vandenberg on March 31

Sigint satellites are interesting because of their engineering innovations, secretive nature, expense, unheralded successes and spectacular failures.

Future Imagery Architecture (FIA) was a program to design a new generation of US reconnaissance satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). In September 2005 the project was canceled after $4B+ was spent.

FIA has been called by The New York Times “perhaps the most spectacular and expensive failure in the 50-year history of American spy satellite projects.” The first launch related to the FIA may have been the infamous USA 193 satellite in 2006, which failed and then was destroyed by a missile. NRO’s projects run billions in the red and years behind schedule, says a 2003 story in US News and World Report.

The previous NROL-26 mission used a Delta 4-Heavy, in January, 2009 to launch an earlier 5-to-6 ton eavesdropping spacecraft with a deployable antenna as wide as 350 feet.

Charles P. Vick has creating some interesting speculative drawings on what some of the larger SIGINT spacecraft could look like.

According to Craig Covalt, instead of remaining parked over one location above the equator, these Vandenberg-launched satellites travel up and down over the northern hemisphere. They can listen into radio communications from different locations or radio waves monitored from different angles, compared with geosynchronous orbit satellites.

The data from these different eavesdroppers is then combined and assessed with other sources of information including that obtained by aircraft such as advanced versions of the U-2.

Besides the U.S. and Russia, China and Japan launch spy satellites. Israel has a spy satellite program, as does NATO, the United Kingdom, and France. See Inside the NSA (FrontLine).

Geosynchronous ELINT satellites are like aircraft carriers. They may need a fleet of spacecraft for support and self-defense.

We all get to watch.

You can follow the action on Visual Satellite Observer’s Home Page, the NASA Spaceflight Forum, Spaceflight Now’s coverage and Twitter Feed or the United Launch Alliance’s own Live Webcast.

Related DailyWireless stories include; Geosync Spies, F.I.A. FUBAR, Space Cold War, Chinese Destroy Satellite – Create Space Debris Field, Space Radar Launch, Satellite Jam, Lockheed CEO: Space is Broken, NRO Rides Again, T-Minus 10 for Space X, Routers in Space, Fiber Crosses the Pond, Canaveral Double Header for DOD, Space Capsule, Another Billion for WIN-T, Small Satellite Conference, SkyNet Satellite Hacked?, Russian Satellite Zapped?, Satellites from Subs, Advanced EHF – Wait for It, EELV Rocket Program Merges, Space Mist, Tracking the NRO, Rocket Welfare, Mapping Santa, GOES-N Launched, Crisis at NOAA, Pacific Satellites Fail and Unwired in Maui.

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The Windows Phone 7 goes on sale today. AT&T and T-Mobile have a variety of models, ranging from the Samsung Focus and HTC Surround debuting on AT&T and the HTC HD7 becoming available on T-Mobile.

They’ve got 1GHz Snapdragon processors and Microsoft requires the hardware to include an accelerometer, compass, GPS, ambient-light sensor and proximity sensor. The devices must have at least 256MB of RAM, 4GB flash storage, 802.11 b/g wireless Internet connectability and a four-point capacitive touch screen. All three phones cost $199 with a two-year contract.

Microsoft will have an up hill climb against entrenched smartphone platforms like Research in Motion’s BlackBerry, the iPhone and Android. Microsoft plans an expensive marketing campaign that promotes features designed “to get you in, and out, and back to life.” Microsoft is spending a billion in advertising the new system.

One of Windows Phone 7′s major differentiators is that it organizes many tasks into six “hubs”: People, Pictures, Music+Video, Games, Office and Marketplace. Things that may require multiple apps on Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android can be done in one hub on Windows Phone 7.

But apps sell smartphones, and Microsoft’s app marketplace currently has only some 2,000 apps. compared to the 100,000 on Google’s Android marketplace and 250,000 on Apple’s App Store.

Windows Phone 7 apps are written in .NET, the same software framework for programs for Windows. .NET is popular, with hundreds of thousands of developers writing to it. Microsoft’s .NET developers also have been willing to pay for Visual Studio and other tools needed for writing Microsoft apps.

“There will be lots of apps, because there are loads of .NET developers who love Visual Studio,” said Al Hilwa, analyst at IDC. “There were lots of developers who learned new platforms to capitalize on the iPhone. That phenomenon may not be repeated, so it’s nice if you can latch onto an existing developer community.”

AT&T will launch with the Samsung Focus first and start selling the HTC Surround and the LG Quantum in the next few weeks. T-Mobile is going to market for the holiday season with the HTC HD7 and Dell Venue Pro. Other devices will launch on Telus in Canada and on America Movil in Mexico.

View full post on dailywireless.org

Microsoft launched its Kinect motion-control system at midnight yesterday with a huge dance party in Times Square.

Kinect has no buttons. The $150 add-on features cameras and sensors that, when paired with Microsoft’s sophisticated software, can identify and listen to people, recognize what they’re doing, pick up on full-body gestures, and translate it all to control games and entertainment.

It sees you move, hears your voice and learns how you play. There are about a half-dozen games available for the launch of the Xbox 360′s Kinect camera peripheral. C/Net tested them all.

It’s context sensitive. If a river-rafting game requires jumping and leaning, it’s going to look for jumping and leaning. If navigating a Netflix “Watch Instantly” menu requires horizontal and vertical hand-waving, that’s what will register on the screen.

The camera and IR-light projector — and its firmware have an on-board processor which is using algorithms to process the data to render the three-dimensional image.

The all-in-one Xbox 360 4GB Console with Kinect costs $299.99 (U.S.). Or for those who have an Xbox 360 console2, the stand-alone Kinect for Xbox 360, is priced at $149.99 (U.S.), and works with the 45 million Xbox 360 consoles currently in homes worldwide.

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Sure looks that way. First, James sent us an email to the tips line letting us know that his "email setup application" was asking to upgrade. Then, after that we got a few more folks asking the same thing so we know it wasn’t just a one off fluke that it happened. BlackBerry 6 for the Bold 9650 and Curve 3G is inevitable but is this a sign that Verizon is finally getting closer to an actual release? All users who reported the upgrade were running the previously leaked OS 6.0.0.280. Anyone else get this update as well? Seems it only happens when setting up a new BIS email account. Thanks everyone who sent this in!

Image Source: BerryReview

CrackBerry.com‘s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Verizon preparing for launch of BlackBerry 6?!

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We mentioned back on the 20th that Research In Motion had finally enabled online purchases of apps from BlackBerry App Word but, today was actually the official launch of the storefront. Within the official announcement Research In Motion gave us some of the feature list currently enabled on the site right now:

• Purchase apps directly from the website
• Edit My World accounts to sync app downloads directly to the BlackBerry smartphone
• Read and write reviews and recommend items to peers
• Access purchased or downloaded apps from a computer  via the My World page in the  BlackBerry App World storefront 

Since we first mentioned the update to the site, Research In Motion has put a lot of changes into effect as well. Better browser support has been impplemented and things seem a whole lot smoother know overall. How do you guys feel about it though? Will you use it more often now?

• Click Here To Get Started With The BlackBerry App World Storefront>>

CrackBerry.com‘s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. BlackBerry App World storefront gets an official launch

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Moblicity has already sold out of the Google Nexus One after listing it for sale 24 hours ago. Moblicity now shows that the Nexus One is “Sold Out”, therefore asking desperate ones to “Check Back Soon For Availability”. We’re sure however that they’ll be restocking shortly due to the extremely high demand.

Nexus One Sells Out in 24 hours at Moblicity Launch

View full post on Android News, Rumours, and Updates

When the Advent Vega launches tomorrow, it’ll be a little shy on the amount of apps available to it through the market. That’s because, like many other tablets coming out soon, the Advent Vega will not ship with the Android market, but rather the Archos AppsLib store.

Although the tablet will still have access to over 5,000 apps, its no 80,000+ apps. When asked about this, Advent product manager Adam Lockyer stated “The plan is that when you get to January time, there’s a new release of Android and you’ll be able to get the marketplace on this product,” suggesting that the hope is Android 3.0 (Gingerbread) will update the tablet adding the Android Market then.

Read More…

No Android Market for Advent Vega Tablet at launch

View full post on Google Android News Android Forums

The folks over at Engadget have divulged, via Electricpig, that the Advent Vega shan’t launch with the Android Market. Instead its app fix will have to come from from the Archos AppsLib store, and its 5,000 apps, for the time being. Advent product manager was quoted as saying “The plan is that when you get to January time, there’s a new release of Android and you’ll be able to get the marketplace on this product.” This hints strongly that the fragmentation issue that is beginning to plague Android is at the forefront of Google’s train of thought with new Android releases.

Side comment: Totally digging Engadget’s Vega image.

[via Engadget]

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You read the title right folks, the Motorola Flip Out has launched today via the AndroidSPIN phone store. You can pick up this device for $00.00 ( ZERO ).  It is sporting Moto Blur 1.5 running on Android 2.1 with a 3 mega pixel camera, twist out qwerty keyboard, and so much more. This device is said to be aimed more toward the teen users, however I would recommend this phone for anyone looking for a very basic Android experience, and social connectivity.

Below you can find the full specs for this device.

• Touch Screen w. Twist-out QWERTY keyboard
• MOTOBLUR
  
• 3MP Camera
• Bluetooth
• GPS
• 3G
• Unique swivel with dedicated number row
• Blur 1.5
• Android 2.1
• Friends widget
• Voice to text
• and much more.
  

Go ahead and head to the AndroidSPIN cell phone store to pick up this device today.

View full post on AndroidSPIN | Your No.1 source for Everything Android.

There have been rumors that the HTC Desire Z may be coming to Canada this year, specifically to Bell. Rumors are becoming reality as we see in the photo above.

This confirms that Bell will be selling the HTC Desire Z for $499CAN. One can only assume it’ll be available very soon, but rumors dictate an early November launch.

The HTC Desire Z ships with Android 2.2, full QWERTY keyboard under screen hinge, 5 megapixel camera with flash, 720p HD video, Wi-Fi and an 800MHz Qualcomm CPU.

Bell Canada to launch HTC Desire Z

View full post on Google Android News Android Forums

The guys at Droid-Life got a sneak peak at the “work in progress” user guide for the Samsung Galaxy Tab and while we know that the US version of the Tab won’t have voicecall features, the user guide suggests that it would. During the recent Verizon event at CTIA, Verizon said that you’ll only be able to make voice calls using VOIP services.

The user guide also mentions Google Search on multiple occasions so that’s good news, right? A list of the Verizon applications that will bloat this device include the following:

• VZ Navigator
• VCAST Music and Videos
• NFL Mobile

The Galaxy Tab has already been rooted, so if you’re not a fan of this Verizon bloatware you’ll have your chance to lighten the bloatware load immediately after this device launch which is now rumored to be November 1st according to the Droid-Life’s source. According to recent rumors, it’s looking like Sprint and T-Mobile will be launching the Galaxy Tab for $399 on contract, so we’ll assume Verizon’s will be the same.

Check out some of the user guide images below and hit up the source link for more. Enjoy!

Anyone looking to scoop up the Galaxy Tab on launch day?

Via: Droid-Life

Microsoft launch new Windows Phone 7 smartphone to compete with Apple’s iPhone
The company wants its new operating system, Windows Phone 7, to put its mobile business back in the running against not just Apple, but also Google and others.

Read more on Daily Mail

An "interactive launch" is better than no launch at all right? Well kind of. The boys at BGR got a hold of this invite to Verizon’s interactive launch of BlackBerry 6 that takes place on October 14th. From the looks of things it’s most likey a bit of a demo more than an actual software launch, but it still gives us hope. It’s doubtful that an official software release will drop the same day, but this is still a good sign that BlackBerry 6 shouldn’t be too far off for the Bold 9650 and/or Curve 9330. 

Source: BGR

CrackBerry.com‘s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Verizon having interactive launch of BlackBerry 6 on October 14th

View full post on CrackBerry.com blogs

A quick little rumor for this Friday afternoon has popped up placing the HTC Merge (or is it Lexicon?) right around a November 11th release date. That sounds about right to us, but of course as a rumor don’t be marking this one down on your calendar just yet. A whole list of Verizon Android devices are slated for the time period spanning the end of October through November, so don’t expect this to be the only option appearing in just about a month.

[via DroidLife]

View full post on Android Phone Fans

This device is starting to hit high on the leaked information chart as we’ve seen plenty of images of this full-QWERTY slider that will also be capable of world roaming. The HTC Merge/Lexikon is one of the sleekest slider devices we’ve seen to date as far as design, but this HTC device poses a striking resemblance to the other sliders coming out of the labs of HTC, the T-Mobile G2 and the Desire Z which features a different keyboard layout.

How would you guys feel about a rumored launch date for this Bing’d out device? According to Droid-Life, who received a nice little weekend tip, that the HTC Merge/Lexikon will be hitting shelves in just over a month on November 11th.

Pricing and name confirmation has not been leaked yet, but we would suspect this device might go for the going smartphone rate of $199 after rebated or possibly $249 due to its dual GSM/CDMA capabilities.

Known specs of the HTC Merge/Lexikon include:

• Android 2.2
• HTC Sense UI
• 5-megapixel camera
  • LED flash
  • 720p HD recording
• Slide out full-QWERTY keyboard

Until we get some confirmation, we’ll go ahead and mark this as rumor for now. If you want to get your HTC Merge/Lexikon features today, be sure and check out some leaked images, the leaked user guide or some benchmark results to hold you over until this device drops hopefully next month.

Anyone looking for an HTC full-QWERTY slider on Big Red?

Via: Droid-Life

View full post on AndroidSPIN | Your No.1 source for Everything Android.

Google has made a significant upgrade to the Google TV website in anticipation for this months likely launch.

The new site features a visual tour, showcasing some of the various features of the Android powered Internet TV platform. For example, a page highlighting some of the various apps that will be initially available reveals that Netflix, Pandora, Twitter, Amazon Video on Demand, CNBC, and many others will come built in to Google TV.

View full post on Google Android News Android Forums

We just heard from a very reliable source that Clearwire will be release an Android Superphone in december manufactured by Samsung.  The phone looks very similar to the Samsung Galaxy S series and is reported to be running Android 2.2 on the current test devices.  The device will also feature a front facing camera with software in partnership with OOVOO for internet calling similar to Skype.  One other possibility mentioned was the inclusion of a fee FREE portable hotspot for all you tetherers out there.

The device will apparently be called the Samsung Notion and also includes a full Keyboard.

Sounds good! well it get’s even better as our source also indicated that they will be releasing the EVO in January and more Android phones will follow.

As we get more info and hopefully some pictures, we’ll be sure to let you know.

View full post on AndroidSPIN | Your No.1 source for Everything Android.

Problem: You like launching explosives in physics-based puzzle-worlds to kill enemies.

Solution: Angry Birds.
Residual problem: You really want to kill people, not pigs.

Better Solution: Fragger.

Fragger’s a smooth-playing, cute, physics-based slaughterhouse a la Angry Birds, but you’re throwing grenades instead of slingshotting feathered furies, at enemy people rather than pigs. Well, mainly people anyway. Sometimes your arc-enemies are bipedal aliens, but either way, you aren’t just makin’ bacon, you’re snuffing out thinking, emotive, sentient life, presumeably with families, fond recollections of childhood, favorite sports and amusement park rides, and all the rest. (…)
Read the rest of Fragger: Launch Your Attack

All App Reviews © AppCraver.com, 2010. |
Fragger: Launch Your Attack | Best iPad Apps | Best Free Apps

View full post on AppCraver

If you are geeking out at the chance to wrap up two of your favorite pastimes into one device (assuming Star Wars and Android are two of your favorite pastimes) then you probably don’t want to miss out on your chance to hang out with other like-minded individuals and even get your picture taken with some of your favorite characters from the Star Wars Universe. Verizon will be hosting a series of launch parties for the Droid R2-D2 come September 30th, and all are welcome to attend. Unfortunately for us right coasters it looks like all of the stores that will be having midnight launches or early openings are located in the left half of the States, but anyone who can make it out and purchases a new Droid (any Droid) will receive an R2-D2 shirt and poster.

See the full list below. If you plan on going feel free to hook-up with others who will be attending in the comments below, and if you get some good pics or stories from the launch don’t be afraid to share them with us!

[via DroidLife]

Self-proclaimed Jedi rejoice, for the Star Wars™: The Empire Strikes Back™ DROID™ R2-D2™ is a Special Edition DROID 2 coming September 30! Apologies if that’s too many trademarks for your eyes to handle.

Below is the list of store for the official Verizon Wireless launch party. Have a look, post a Buzz, Twitter, Facebook status, etc, etc. to ensure you’re all there in fine form (in costume hopefully) to pick your own R2-D2 Droid 2 up.

Don’t worry, we all think it’s cool on the inside! Seriously, I’m actually envious it’s not in Canada!

View full post on Google Android News Android Forums

The FCC has adopted final rules allowing use of white spaces in the United States (pdf order). White spaces are unused broadcast television channels, between 54-698 MHz (TV Channels 2-51). Google believes they will pave the way for “Wi-Fi on steroids”.

It is the FCC’s first significant release of unlicensed spectrum in 25 years, said Chairman Julius Genachowski.

The decision paves the way for service providers and device makers to begin designing products that take advantage of the spectrum.

In a unanimous vote, the five-member FCC said the airwaves — unused channels between TV stations — will be used for mobile broadband services. Google and Microsoft are among companies that have advocated using whitespaces.

The FCC ditched the expensive “spectrum sensing” technology it initially required back in 2008, says Ars Technica. Google, Dell, and Public Knowledge worried that a requirement to include both the database check and spectrum-sensing hardware would make the new white space devices too costly and too difficult to build.

The FCC’s order, instead, would allow for two channels to be reserved for wireless microphones. New devices would have to meet technological standards set by the FCC that would prevent interference of broadcast shows. Each channel should accommodate 12-16 wireless mics, but large productions can petition the FCC for more spectrum in advance

Google, Microsoft and Dell have long lobbied to use white spaces, reports the Washington Post. Google envisions rural networks and remote meter reading. Microsoft has experimented with its own white-spaces network on its campus in Redmond. Dell believes white spaces will spawn innovations for the home.

FCC chairman Julius Genachowski predicted (pdf) the white spaces would become a “powerful platform for innovation” and said the U.S. would be the first country to deploy the technology. He also cited an analyst’s estimate that the release could eventually add more than $7 billion to the U.S. economy annually.

Google hopes the FCC soon will name one or more administrators of the geolocation database, and establish the ground rules for its operation. Once the database is up and running, new white spaces devices and tools can begin to roll out to consumers.

White spaces aren’t likely to unset the balance of power anytime soon. Mobile devices will be limited to 100 mW and fixed transceivers to 1 Watt (EIRP). But frequencies in the 500MHz range are likely to penetrate walls and concrete much better than 1900/2100 Mhz cellular or WiFi signals (at 2400 Mhz). They may also be used for Smart Meters and in-home communications. While WiFi uses 20 MHz channels, White Spaces would be restricted to 6 MHz channels, so speed is likely to be under 1 Mbps.

Whether the FCC ruling will launch a new era in broadband remains to be seen.

TV white spaces availability can be found for any location in the US by using the free search tool at Spectrum Bridge’s ShowMyWhiteSpace.com website, or by downloading the company’s free iPhone application.

Who will administer the database is still an open question. Google and Spectrum Bridge are among the companies that haves applied for the job.

A new IEEE committee dubbed 802.11AF, has been formed to develop the standard.

Related DailyWireless stories include; Hospital Tests White Spaces, FCC to Decide on White Spaces, White Spaces Tested in Wilmington NC , First White Space Trial for “Smart Grid”, White Spaces Trialed in North Carolina, White Spaces Heating Up, FCC Moves Forward with White Space Databases, White Spaces Trialed in North Carolina, Study: White Spaces Worth $100B, Microsoft’s WhiteFi: Wi-Fi Using Whitespaces, NAB to FCC: White Spaces Illegal, Free White Space Mapping, White Spaces: It’s The Law, TV White Spaces: New Era for Wi-Fi?, NAB: Blowblack on Whitespace, White Spaces: Green Light from FCC Report, White Space Field Testing, Welcome to the White Space, Microsoft Disputes FCC Unlicensed Finding, FCC: License-free 700MHz Devices Failed Test, Broadcasters: Portable Devices Kill DTV, Mud Fight in White Space, Pushing for “White Space”, Google Launches White Space Offensive, Motorola on Whites Spaces: We’re Good, White Space Field Testing, Google Pitches White Spaces, White Spaces: Now It’s GE, CTIA: Unlicensed White Spaces Bad.

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