Cisco to sell Linksys home networking business to Belkin

Cisco Systems plans to sell its Linksys home networking business to Belkin International for an undisclosed sum under an agreement that includes cooperation between the companies on software, service-provider products and other areas.

Belkin will keep the Linksys brand alive and honor warranties for customers who bought Linksys products, it said in a press release Thursday.

Cisco acquired Linksys in 2003 and has used it to deliver several generations of Wi-Fi routers and other consumer networking equipment into homes. But Cisco is now pulling back from its consumer business as it focuses on becoming one of the top enterprise IT vendors.

Belkin makes consumer and small-business networking gear as well as accessories and peripherals and is based in Playa Vista, in Southern California. That’s not far from Irvine, where Linksys is based. Belkin plans to bring in the Linksys workforce as part of the deal, which is expected to close in March.

The combined company is set to be a powerful force in home networking. After the acquisition closes, Belkin will have about 30 percent of the U.S. market for home and small business networking, it said.

“Belkin’s ultimate goal is to be the global leader in the connected home and wireless networking space and this acquisition is an important step to realizing that vision,” CEO Chet Pipkin said in a statement.

Linksys gear will not be totally cut off from its Cisco origins. The companies plan to build a relationship in retail distribution, marketing, and products for service providers.

“Having access to Cisco’s specialized software solutions across all of Belkin’s product lines will bring a more seamless user experience for customers,” Belkin said.

New server can be parachuted into war zones

A rugged server from NCS Technologies introduced on Friday can withstand drops, will work in extreme temperatures and can be deployed via parachute into crisis areas or war zones if needed.

The Bunker XRV-5241 is a 1U rack server designed for organizations such as the military and first responders that need servers in rugged environments. The server has been tested to meet U.S. Department of Defense specifications for environmental, temperature and shock requirements.

"This equipment, in a transit case, will likely be parachuted into service in tactical deployments," said John Callahan, director of marketing at NCST. The Bunker XRV-5241 can withstand a free-fall drop of around 1 meter, but for parachute deployment it needs to be packaged into the case for additional protection.

Servers are not known for their ruggedness, but many laptops such as Panasonic's Toughbook are tested to the U.S. military's ruggedness specifications and can withstand drops and resist the elements while keeping components and data intact. The server was designed to be ready for extreme cases such as remote military deployments and could also be used on a truck or a ship in a combat situation.

The server can withstand temperatures between 32 degrees and 122 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees to 50 degrees Celsius) when in operation and between minus 40 degrees and 158 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 40 degrees to 70 degrees Celsius) when not running. It can withstand an altitude of up to 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) when operational and up to 25,000 feet when it is off. The server can also withstand a certain level of shock when falling from vehicles.

A rugged chassis is built around the server and the hard drives have been shock mounted, Callahan said. The server weighs 35 pounds (15.9 kilograms).

The server chassis is primarily made of thick steel constructed over two walls, and there are other "proprietary features" to protect the server from folding or bending over, Callahan said.

"In addition, to further protect the hard drives, we have a tool-less mechanism that prevents ejection or removal of the hard drive," Callahan said.

Additionally, the components have been secured to make sure nothing falls apart. A retention system allows expansion cards such as RAID controllers, network cards and graphics cards to stay in place. Add-on cards can easily fall out of place in the event of shock.

Servers need cooling, but the ability to withstand high temperatures means it can stay on racks without an air conditioner for long periods of time. The server comes with a 750-watt power supply, but kits allow it to operate via other power sources such as vehicles without the need for extra equipment.

The two-socket server runs on Intel's E5-2600 server chip, which is based on the Sandy Bridge microarchitecture. The server has eight memory slots to support up to 256GB of RAM. Other features include four storage slots, Ethernet LAN and PCI-Express 3.0 support.

The server is priced starting at US$3,699. It will be sold directly into the vertical markets.

Facebook event speculation turns to phones, mobile, search

With Facebook preparing for its mysterious press conference on Tuesday, speculation is surging that the announcement could be about anything from a new smartphone, a new mobile plan to a new search feature.

Last week, Facebook invited members of the press to a news event at its Menlo Park, Calif., headquarters. “Come and see what we’re building,” the invitation read.

While rumors are swirling that the social network will throw its hat into the smartphone ring, Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said repeatedly that he has no intention of coming out with a Facebook phone.

During an on-stage interview last September, Zuckerberg said he couldn’t emphasize enough that there will be no Facebook phone.

“That’s always been the wrong strategy for us,” he said at the time. “We’ll have 950 million users soon. Let’s say we built a phone, theoretically — we’re not — but we get 10 million people to use it. That doesn’t move the needle for us…. The phone just doesn’t make any sense.”

However, at the same event, he did talk about the importance of mobile and the company’s plans for search.

When asked about his interest in getting into search and how much Google’s entrance into the world of social networking annoyed him, Zuckerberg said, “We do on the order of a billion queries a day now and we’re not even trying… I think there’s a lot of opportunity there and we’ll have to some day go after that.”

On Monday, industry analysts were betting on an announcement on a possible mobile ad strategy or search over a Facebook entry into the crowded and competitive phone market.

“Facebook has been wise to distance itself from the mobile device business, and I expect them to stick to that strategy,” said IDC analyst Hadley Reynolds, who is betting more on Facebook’s making a mobile app or search announcement. “There are more downsides than you can list there, with no redeeming opportunity, in my view,” he said, referring to a Facebook smartphone.

Brad Shimmin, an analyst with Current Analysis, said he’s expecting Facebook to introduce more, and better, mobile software supporting a wider range of devices, possibly focusing on real-time communications across Android, iOS, and possible Windows 8 devices.

“Facebook has been both late to market and limited in demonstrating an understanding of the importance of mobility,” Shimmin said. “Even with its recently introduced native applications for Android, Facebook has revealed the comparative immaturity of its engineering efforts. The new Android client, for example, has been shown to consume excessive system resources while running in the background. But the company can and most certainly will overcome such missteps.”

Other analysts, including Patrick Moorhead with Moor Insights & Strategy, and Jack Gold with J. Gold Associates, said they view talk of a Facebook smartphone as a tired, old rumor that resurfaces every time the company is going to make another announcement.

“In my opinion, it would be a mistake for them to offer a phone,” said Gold. “They don’t have the ecosystem that an Amazon has for releasing its own devices… How do you make any significant revenues? Will existing users really switch to a Facebook-branded phone? I just can’t see Facebook being successful with its own branded devices.”

Lenovo and EMC partner on storage for SMBs

You’re probably familiar with Lenovo and EMC, both more or less household names in the tech industry. Well, now the two have joined forces to form a joint venture, LenovoEMC.

The Iomega network storage portfolio includes desktop, tower, and rack mount products ranging from diskless up to 48TB of storage. The Iomega (now LenovoEMC) product line includes home office devices like the StorCenter ix2-dl, as well as much more advanced offerings like the StorCenter px12-450r (LenovoEMC might want to consider some simpler, catchier naming).LenovoEMC was originally announced last August as a part of a larger strategic partnership between the two companies. It will make use of business-class products from EMC’s Iomega line to provide co-branded network storage products for small and medium businesses, remote branches, and distributed enterprise scenarios.

The new partnership is tailored to a market segment that could definitely use more attention. Small and medium businesses typically don’t have the budget or personnel resources for a dedicated IT staff, and can’t afford the exorbitant price tag of enterprise-class storage solutions.LenovoEMC's NAS (network attached storage) solutions include the EMC LifeLine operating system, meant to provide SMBs with tools and features for managing storage without a full-time IT staff to administer it. LenovoEMC will pitch its line of storage options as a perfect match, of course, for Lenovo ThinkServer servers and ThinkStation workstations.

LenovoEMC isn’t the only option, though—especially on the smaller end of the SMB spectrum, as smaller businesses often turn to consumer technologies. There are SOHO (small office / home office) NAS offerings like the Seagate BlackArmor, and fortified, disaster-proof storage options like the ioSafe SoloPro. Or, for a more scalable solution, SMBs can also turn to cloud-based options like Box or Dropbox.

Still, LenovoEMC appears to be providing a more robust range of products to serve the “business” part of SMB instead of the “small and medium” part. Lenovo, EMC, and Iomega are all brands with established credibility, and SMBs will likely welcome mid-range storage options that are both affordable and easy to manage.

iHome focuses on Lightning, Bluetooth, and fitness

LAS VEGAS—iHome makes so many different audio products that even the PR people have a hard time keeping them straight. The new lineup introduced at CES is no exception, and here for your enjoyment are some highlights from my personal tour of the company’s 2013 products.

Lightning docks

The $150 iDL100 is a triple-charging stereo clock radio with dual Lightning docks—one an iPhone or iPod touch, the other for and iPad or iPad mini—plus a USB port to connect older iOS devices (or even a third Lightning-based product if you’ve got on). You can charge and play music from any of the devices—there’s even an auxiliary jack for playing from other hardware—and you can set multiple alarms to wake you to music or playlists from your devices or from the built-in FM radio.

A step down is the $100 iDL45, which is basically the same product but with a single Lightning dock instead.

Bluetooth speakers

iHome’s $200 iBT44 is a follow-up to 2011’s iP4 boombox-styled dockable speaker. But this time around, it’s all about Bluetooth, which lets you wirelessly stream music from iOS, Android, or other Bluetooth-enabled hardware. (The dock slot is still there, but now just as a place to rest your weary portable device.) It runs on six D batteries or wall power, features a five-band EQ, and comes with a magnetic remote that gloms onto the metal front so you won’t lose it.

The iBT30 is a Bluetooth version of the company’s iW3 AirPlay speaker. Like the iW3, the iBT30 is a rechargeable speaker that sits atop it charging base. Stream your music to it wirelessly and then you can just pick it up and move it around the house until the battery runs out. It also includes an auxiliary jack for direct playback and a USB port to charge one of your devices.

The $80 iBT20 is a Bluetooth clock radio that also includes a USB charging port. It’s got an FM radio built-in with six presets, SRS TruBass for better sound, and a backup battery to make sure your alarm goes off even when your power goes out.

Headphones

The $100 iB85 are Bluetooth headphones with a built-in mic and on-ear remote control functions. They feature a padded headband and ear cushions, charge via a Micro-USB connection, and fold up for better portability (especially using the included travel pouch).

The $20 iB10 sport earhooks with “cord cruncher” cable designed for active (read: exercising) audio lovers. These are fairly standard earbud with sport hooks to keep them from falling off while running and the like. The neat (or gimmicky, depending on your point of view) feature is the retracting, sheathed cable that prevents tangles and limits cable length for when you, say, have your player in an arm band.

Turn any display into a virtual PC with Dell's HDMI stick

Dell this week unveiled a prototype of a pocket-sized HDMI stick that can turn any compatible display into a virtual PC capable of running Android apps or remotely accessing Windows apps on a cloud service or remote PC.

The concept device, called Project Ophelia, is the creation of Dell Wyse, the business unit formed from Dell’s recent acquisition of Wyse Technology. Former Wyse CEO Tarken Maner, now VP and general manager of Cloud Client Computing at Dell, expects the device to cost under $100 at launch.

The HDMI interface allows its use with big-screen displays such as HDTVs, making Project Ophelia a relatively inexpensive way to create a computer anywhere the stick can connect to a network via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Maner believes telecommunications companies wishing to sell cloud services (for example, access to Microsoft Office apps or data centers) might subsidize the device much the way they discount cell phones to customers who commit to service contracts.

However, Project Ophelia does face some significant potential obstacles. While many hotel rooms have TV sets with HDMI ports, keyboards and mice are not typically available—and if you have to bring them with you, you’ve now added both cost and bulk.

Connected to an MHL-compatible display, the stick requires no additional power (MHL, which stands for Mobile High-Definition Link, is technology that delivers power from the display to the device while displaying its contents). However, MHL is a relatively new technology and HDTVs that have it are just now starting to appear on the market. Without MHL, Project Ophelia must be charged via a USB connection.

Finally, inexpensive tablets can do much of what Dell’s dongle can—and they don’t involve the hassle of finding and setting up monitors, keyboards and mice since they already have a display and navigation functions. True, a good tablet with a decent sized screen is likely to cost more, but the tradeoffs may be worth it to many.

Damage Control: Durable devices will let gadget makers stand out

LAS VEGAS—You didn't have to walk very far on the showfloor at CES 2013 before you ran into someone who wanted to do some very serious damage to your smartphone.

Tech21 was ready to take a mallet to your phone. At the G-Form booth, death by bowling ball was the order of the day. And steer clear of the Invisible Phone Guard booth unless you've always wanted to see a phone used as a makeshift cutting board.

Protection was very much on the mind of CES exhibitors this year—and not just when it comes to cases. (Though as always, plenty of vendors could be found hawking assorted sleeves, snapcases, and other gear for stashing your smartphone.) Instead, third-party suppliers and even a few device makers want to make your devices more durable before they ever wind up in your hands.

"Handheld electronics have become such an integral part for everyone," said Felipe Pimineto of Drywired, which was showing off its nano-coating technology to protect mobile devices from accidents and spills. "Anything one can do to protect these devices, it's worth looking into." That meant companies like DryWired, Liquipel, and several others could be found around CES showcase technology that protects phones, tablets, and other gadgets from water damage.

Companies who weren't focusing on fighting off water damage instead spent CES trying to make devices more scratch-resistant. Corning took the wraps off a new version of Gorilla Glass—the second consecutive CES where the glass supplier has rolled out an update to the glass used in smartphones and tablets. This version boasts a three-times improvement in the amount of force required to make a crack. Gorilla Glass 3 also reduces the visibility of scratches and reduces the amount of residual stress throughout the glass. That makes the overall screen less likely to shatter the next time your phone or tablet absorbs a blow.

Device makers got into act as well with the torture tests. When showing off Huawei's Ascend Mate smartphone, the CEO of the company's consumer business group dumped a pitcher on top of it to highlight how water-resistant the new phone is. Similarly, Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai made specific mention of Xperia Z's ability to withstand a 30-minute dip in water afterunveiling that phone. The Sony booth included a few fish bowls with submerged Xperia Z models.

Why the sudden focus on making mobile devices more durable? Because there are more of them out there in the hands of more people. A survey last year by the Pew Internet & American Life Project contends that nearly half of American adults own a smartphone; that same group says a quarter of American adults own a tablet of some sort.

Mobile devices are not just more prevalent, they're also more sophisticated, says Paul Beaulieu, vice president of the sapphire materials group for materials and equipment provider GT Advanced Technologies. "Certainly one of the trends in mobile devices is that they're thinner, lighter, and more widespread," Bealieu said. "All of those things contribute to higher breakage rates, given current materials."

Security agency recommends disabling Java, due to exploit

Internet users should consider disabling Java in their browsers because of an exploit that can allow remote attackers to execute code on a vulnerable system, the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) recommended late Thursday.

Security researchers reported this week that cybercriminals were using a zero-day vulnerability in Java to attack computer systems. Attackers were using the vulnerability to stealthily install malware on the computers of users who visit compromised websites, researchers said.

The US-CERT security warning said the agency is "unaware of a practical solution to this problem."

Instead, US-CERT recommended Internet users disable Java in browsers. US-CERT is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The problem can allow an untrusted Java applet to escalate its privileges, without requiring code signing. Oracle Java 7 update 10 and earlier are affected, US-CERT said.

"This vulnerability is being attacked in the wild, and is reported to be incorporated into exploit kits," US-CERT added. "Exploit code for this vulnerability is also publicly available."

Two spokeswomen for Oracle, the company that distributes Java, weren't immediately available for comment.

mRobo shows off dance moves that far surpass my own

LAS VEGAS—When it comes to any sort of dancing, I normally just turn around and run right away. But not mRobo, the dancing robot made by Tosy that has a speaker firmly embedded in its torso. When it's activated, mRobo comes out of its shell to show off its talents, expanding to form a full-fledged dancing robot. mRobo will not only play music, but it'll dance along to it, making it one of the more entertaining ways to listen to music of almost any kind.

mRobo isn't limited in its dance moves, either, as you can upload your own music using either a Mac or PC. From there, you can even use Tosy's Tune Robo software to program a custom set of dance moves for said music.

If you want, you can also upload your choreography settings to the Internet for others to download, as well as grab some of the moves set up by other mRobo owners. This means that if you don't exactly know much about dancing, you can still keep your mRobo up to date with the latest songs and dances to go along with them.

mRobo will start at $199, and it will probably dance better than you. There will also be a number of accessories that you can purchase as well, including a fedora-style hat that looks like something Michael Jackson would have worn. It should be out later this year.

HMDX gets jamming with six new Bluetooth audio products

LAS VEGAS—Located in a super colorful booth that sort of makes you feel like you're outside is HMDX and its Jam lineup of speakers and headphones. The JAM line offers a modest selection of speakers—all of which are Bluetooth-enabled for wireless connection. But in case you want to use them without Bluetooth, JAM speakers feature a line-in cable that lets you use them with anything that has an headphone port.

Not only that, but all of the Jam devices include rechargeable batteries so you won't have to stock up on D-cells before your next vacation.

A few of the devices, specifically HMDX's Jam Fusion headphones and Jam Plus wireless speaker, include the ability to bridge any two of the devices in question to share the same audio across them. That means that if you and your buddy both have Jam Fusion headphones on, you can listen to the same tunes off of one device.

The Jam Plus wireless speaker lets you link two devices as well, and also features a switch on the underside so that you can set them up as dedicated left and right side speakers. This can do a lot to enhance the quality of your stereo sound when on the go, or even just help fill a larger space with music.

The Jam Splash is HMDX's water-resistant speaker, aimed at use in the shower or by the pool. Note that it's water-resistant, not waterproof, and it doesn't seem like it would survive long completely submerged. Thanks to its Bluetooth connection, if you like music in the shower, your phone can be a safe 30 feet away from the splashing and steam, and you can listen to all the One Direction you want (we won't judge). The Jam Splash also has a built-in speakerphone that lets you take calls in the shower—just make sure it isn't your boss calling first.

Other new products include a Bluetooth alarm clock dubbed the Jam Zzz, which, according to HMDX, is able to dock any smartphone. It also has all the features you would expect to come with an alarm clock, such as a snooze feature. The Jam Party is HMDX's biggest portable speaker, and it's capable of going 8 hours between charges. It features 4 stereo speakers, making it louder than any of the company's other portable speaker systems.

 The new Jam collection will become available in the spring and summer of 2013, and will cost anywhere from $50 for the Jam Classic to $120 for the Jam Party.

Here's a quick look at the new Jam products:

• The $60 Jam Plus, a Bluetooth speaker that can be paired with a second Jam Plus to create true stereo sound
• The $80 Jam Splash, a water-resistant speaker for shower or poolside
• The rechargeable $90 Jam Fusion headphones, which can be paired to a second set of headphones
• The rugged $70 Jam XT speaker
• The $120 Jam Party, which integrates four separate speakers for your portable party music

The World’s First Tablet Designed for PC Gamers

The Razer™ Edge is the most powerful tablet in the world with the capability to run all PC games and applications. Powered by Intel® Core™ processors and NVIDIA® GeForce™ graphics powering an 10.1” high definition multi-touch display, and a rugged high-speed solid state drive that screams incredible performance in a portable form-factor.

Attach the gamepad for a true handheld experience or snap it into the dock and bring the big picture to your TV or connect to the keyboard dock for a more traditional notebook feel and get your WASD on. Vote for your favorite Edge mode and enter for your chance to win the first Razer Edge Pro.