The FCC comes across many smartphones in its daily routine, but it's hardly an everyday occurrence for one of those handsets to rock a miniature projector. That's the claim to fame of the Samsung Galaxy Beam, which just made its way through the regulatory body with full 3G support for AT&T's 1900MHz and 850MHz bands. We were first introduced to this updated version of the original Galaxy Beam at Mobile World Congress, and for a quick refresher, the Android 2.3 device packs a dual-core 1GHz CPU, 768MB of RAM, a 4-inch WVGA display and a projector that'll toss 50-inch imagery onto the wall. Naturally, whether AT&T chooses to sell the smartphone is another consideration entirely, but this certification will keep users in proper standing with the feds, and that's a good thing.

Samsung Galaxy Beam crosses paths with FCC, sports 3G connectivity for AT&T originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The FBI seems to be having a bit of trouble accessing electronic evidence lately. First there was the case of the forgotten encryption key, and now the Bureau is unable to prosecute a notorious San Diego pimp because they can't break his Android's screen lock. More »

Remember the defendant in that fraud case who claimed to have forgotten the password for her encrypted laptop? Well, the Feds have gone ahead and cracked it right open, without her permission. More »

Since the feds shut down Megaupload, there's been concern about what would happen to the user data stored using the service. Turns out that it may just be deleted, as early as this Thursday. More »

Well that didn't take long. Pirate Parties International is assembling a list of users who had lost data in MU's shutdown last week as it builds a case for an upcoming lawsuit against the Feds. More »

In what looks like a preventive measure in reaction to the Megaupload shutdown, FileSonic has disabled all file sharing capabilities and is now nothing more than a personal storage solution. It looks like the Feds' tactic of going after the big fish in Megaupload is beginning to scare other file sharing sites into shutting down. More »

It is no secret that Microsoft is on a warpath. The company has garnered Android patent licensing deals from major industry tech players like HTC, Samsung and ViewSonic, just to name a few, and has chosen to sue those that resist, such as Barnes & Noble. The book seller, which recently announced its second Android tablet, has sent a letter to the Justice Department’s chief counsel for competition policy Gene Kimmelman that calls on the U.S. government to probe Microsoft over monopoly concerns. “Microsoft is embarking on a campaign of asserting trivial and outmoded patents against manufacturers of Android devices,” Barnes & Noble said in the letter. “Microsoft is attempting to raise its rivals’ costs in order to drive out competition and to deter innovation in mobile devices.” Read on for more.

The Redmond-based company reportedly makes $444 million annually from Android royalties, which is estimated to be at least three times the revenue it makes from its own Windows Phone operating system. “All modern operating systems include many patented technologies,” Microsoft said recently. “Microsoft has taken licenses to patents for Windows and we make our patents available on reasonable terms for other operating systems, like Android. We would be pleased to extend a license to Barnes & Noble.”

Barnes & Noble told Bloomberg that Microsoft was asking it to pay the same fees that it charges companies who license its Windows Phone operating system. Microsoft’s case against Barnes & Noble is scheduled to be heard beginning in February 2012.

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Continue reading DoJ: Stingray cellphone tracking device falls under Fourth Amendment, but don't ask about it

DoJ: Stingray cellphone tracking device falls under Fourth Amendment, but don't ask about it originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Nov 2011 14:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MetroPCS may be top contender for AT&T's post-acquisition assets originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T will pay T-Mobile $3 billion in cash, a $1 billion roaming agreement, and $2 billion in spectrum if the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice reject AT&T’s proposed $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile. The agreement’s 15% breakup fee would shatter global records, Reuters said, noting that the 7.7% breakup cash agreement is already high. On Wednesday, AT&T’s CEO Randall Stephenson met with the Senate Judiciary Committee to discuss the acquisition. AT&T’s CEO Randall Stephenson has argued that there’s already plenty of competition in the U.S. wireless market and that the deal will actually create jobs. Similarly, the Communications Workers of America backs the deal and believes it will be a “victory for broadband proponents. AT&T’s competition isn’t so sure. Sprint’s CEO, Dan Hesse said the deal would “stifle innovation” and the carrier believes it would create a “vertically integrated duopoly.” Verizon has kept to itself, but did note that, if confirmed, the deal could be “an excuse for the government to insert itself into the marketplace.”

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The WSJ reports that Feds are looking into whether apps are taking—and sharing—your information without your permission. So far Pandora, an app that the WSJ previously outed as an untrustworthy steward of your private data, has received a subpoena, presumably along with several others. More »

The U.S. government proposed a new mandate today requiring backup cameras on all new vehicles by 2014. It's the latest front in Ray LaHood's war to protect us from ourselves. You know what else works? Paying attention. [AP] More »

Yeah, we've been to this rodeo before... kind of. If you'll recall, prisons have had one heck of a time getting the Feds to sign off on a new law that would allow cellphone jamming equipment to be installed on their premises, and due to a 1934 law that allows only federal agencies to jam public airways, they've had little choice but to sit and wait. A bill is resting in the House right now that would allow pilot jamming programs to commence, but given that it's unlikely to go anywhere anytime soon, South Carolina's prison director (Jon Ozmint) is eying something else. In fact, he's already trying something else. A "managed access" trial has begun in the Palmetto State (as well as Mississippi), which routes mobile calls originating in the prison to a third-party provider that check's each number to see if it's on a whitelist; if it doesn't make the cut, the call is blocked. Jon's still pushing for jamming, but it looks as if this second-rate system may just be good enough to convince most criminals to stop trying to reach the outside world. Or at least add yet another level of frustration to their lives.

[Image courtesy of Wired]

'Managed access' trial screens prison phone calls without jamming the airwaves originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 20:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here's today's jarring news from the NY Times: federal law enforcement and national security officials want to force companies like Facebook, Skype, and BlackBerry to let them wiretap your accounts. More »

Just a few days after earning its all-important GFC wings, the European flavor of Palm's Pixi Plus has caught a jet plane over to the good ol' US of A where it's picking up FCC approval -- you know, just in case an owner or two ends up deciding to spend some time in the States. Model number P121UEU (as opposed to the AT&T variant, the P121UNA) now has the full blessing of the boys and girls at the Feds -- so when you pick up a Pixi Plus from your O2 shop on the next few weeks, take comfort in the knowledge that you won't be Tased, tackled, and placed under arrest for attempting to use one on American soil. That's a good thing, we'd reckon.

Palm Pixi Plus for Europe granted student visa, hangs out at FCC HQ originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Apr 2010 05:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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