As we mentioned in March, Harbinger Capital Partners is building a new nationwide LTE network dubbed “Lightsquared” using spectrum owned a satellite subsidiary by the name of SkyTerra. Leaked launch information indicates that the company should have 20 markets live by 2012. While they may not have built any cell cites yet the company this week announced that they’ve launched their SkyTerra 1 satellite, which will provide the satellite half of their network build equation.

According to the company, the new bird is one of the largest ever built:

The satellite, a Boeing 702HP built by Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems, is designed to provide wireless mobile services to millions of subscribers. LightSquared’s SkyTerra 1 satellite features a 22-meter L-band reflector-based antenna the largest commercial antenna reflector to be put into service. The satellite, among the most powerful commercial satellites ever built, will provide ubiquitous nationwide coverage and enable integrated satellite-terrestrial service using products that are similar to today s typical mobile devices in terms of size, capabilities and build costs.

Lightsquared plans to sell wholesale access to their LTE network, which will use this new satellite for rural coverage and emergency communication services. The LTE portion of the network will cost about $7 billion and will be built by Nokia. On the more terrestrial news front, it was revealed this week that Harbinger is being investigated by the SEC for a $113 million loan taken out by Harbinger founder Philip Falcone to pay personal taxes and potential “preferential treatment” of certain investors.

Link to the original article…

For once… I’m speechless. The B.O.N.D. (Built of Notorious Deterrents) bicycle has a bulldozer type track, an ejector seat and a flamethrower. Yep… a flamethrower.

Bicycle designed to combat the things that most annoy the urban cyclist. Handlebar-mounted flamethrower to stop motorists overtaking too close, ejection seat to deal with bike thieves and a caterpillar track to tackle potholes and snow. The B.O.N.D (Built of Notorious Deterrents) bike will be on show at Cycle 2010 on the ilovemybike.co.uk stand

Forget a fixie. I’ll take one of these bad boys.

[ Links: Gadget Review ]

In what looks a cross between the old Nike ACG water socks from the mid-1990′s and a hole puncher accident, the Nike Zvezdochka LAF – which actually are inspired by design of the Russian cosmonaut socks so they can get around whilst in space and is named after the dog that got blasted in space in the Sputnik 10 mission – is an interesting sneaker design by Australian designer, Marc Newson.

Two new colorways are available, Mahogany (burgundy) and Aegean Blue paired off with Neutral Grey. The Zvezdochka LAF will be made available at the 21 Mercer Nike Store, which is located in New York City’s historic SoHo neighborhood, between Grand and Howard.

[ Links: SneakerFreaker via Nike Sportswear ]

After seeing such Apple iPad and iPod Touch accessories like a jacket just for carrying an iPad or even putting an iPad into the front of a shirt, I figured it was going to be no time that it would be used as a wall-mount.

I didn’t have to wait long:

iPort®, the inventor of the world’s first in-wall system for the Apple iPod®, is once again poised to advance the integration of Apple products into the home. Since its inception, the iPort brand has helped consumers experience Apple’s products in new and exciting ways allowing them to listen to, and experience their music and video libraries throughout their home. As Apple’s products have evolved from entertainment sources to intuitive touchscreens with the iPhone® and iPad™, iPort has continued to innovate new ways to incorporate them into consumers’ lifestyles.

Continuing the tradition, iPort has introduced two new products in its Control Mount Series for the Apple iPad and iPod touch®. The CM2000 Control Mount for iPad and the iPort CM100 Control Mount for iPod touch both integrate the handheld Apple touchscreen products in an attractive in-wall frame, transforming them into in-wall touchscreens for display of weather, news, stocks and many other preferred Apps.

The CM100 also transforms the iPod touch into an in-wall Internet radio source, and easily connects to any stereo or audio/video receiver. Users can download their choice of any Internet radio apps available in the App Store and play the audio back through any connected stereo system.

The CM100 for the Apple iPod Touch mount kit costs $250 and the CM2000 mount kit for the Apple iPad costs $499.

[ Link: iPort ]

Blogger Dave Zatz directs our attention to the fact that Comcast and Blockbuster have teamed up for a venture called DVDs By Mail, which does exactly what its name suggests.

From the looks of things, this appears to be little more than a marketing effort created by Blockbuster aimed at temping Comcast’s 47.7 million customers with slightly reduced rates. The deal certainly falls in line with Blockbuster’s MO: here you have a company that’s teetering on bankruptcy in large part because they’ve failed to adapt to the broadband age, partnering with the nation’s biggest and fastest broadband ISP to use the U.S. Postal Service to deliver movies.

Link to the original article…

Some things just “go together”. Peanut butter and chocolate. Toast and vegemite. Leather, studs and booze.

IN AN ABSOLUT WORLD, you’re with the band. To pay tribute to rock-and-roll — ABSOLUT is launching a limited edition bottle wrapped in a leather and studs gift pack.

On second thought, it looks like a fetish version… but that also seems to go with booze too. This limited edition Absolut vodka was a collaboration with designer Natalia Brilli.

[ Links: Absolute Rock Edition ]

Gamers sometimes entertain other gamers away from their consoles and LAN parties; so why not entertain them with a pack of Super Mario playing cards?

Nintendo is releasing in late July three renditions of their playing cards featuring the imagery of the old, pixelated NES version of Super Mario Bros., then their updated, more cartoon-y versions of Mario and company and finally their more recent 3D iterations of Mario, Bowser – he’s the joker card. Just for nostalgia sake, I’m willing to bet that the retro-NES version of the playing cards will be the best seller.

Available for pre-order for late July delivery at NCSX.com for $12.90.

[ Links: NCSX, Super Mario Playing Cards ]

Price: $4.99

Link to the original article…

Back in February, BroadbandReports noted how Baltimore was one of a number of cities upset that they were overlooked by the Verizon FiOS installation fairies. As they’ve discussed at length, the company is stopping deployment in any market where a franchise agreement hasn’t already been signed. There’s a number of reasons for this, including the fact that Verizon wants to market the service to deployed areas and ramp up adoption, the company is eager to see if they can grab stimulus bucks, and Verizon CEO (and FiOS’s biggest champion) Ivan Seidenberg is on the way out – and his replacements aren’t as bullish on this whole “future” thing.

Baltimore this week decided to hold a public hearing exploring why they weren’t part of Verizon’s $23 Billion FiOS plans. The city denies that they were in any way the cause of Verizon’s decision, either by being difficult franchise negotiation partners or by imposing heavy conditions on Verizon. Many in the city continue to think Baltimore was ignored because of its lower income and minority neighborhoods – but Verizon again denied such “redlining” allegations at the hearing, according to attendee and Baltimore Sun blogger Gus Sentementes. Still, Verizon’s not disclosing the secret formula used to determine FiOS worthiness:

We still have not heard Verizon’s rationale for avoiding Baltimore and heck, while we’re at it: Boston and Buffalo and Syracuse and Albany, too. Specifically, by what standards did Verizon choose who would get FiOS and who would not? Did they throw darts at a map of the United States? It’s not enough to say “we can’t be everywhere” — I think people generally understand that. But why is Baltimore the hole in the donut, to use Kraft’s analogy? Choices were made probably following a set of criteria. Verizon must have made a business decision (one hopes) on a set of facts, and the city wants more clarification on how they reached that decision.

Obviously Verizon didn’t find installation there to be a profitable equation, but Baltimore still would like to see the math – and Verizon likely felt telling Baltimoreans Verizon felt their city isn’t very nice wasn’t in the cards. To try and calm the locals, Verizon sent a letter to the Baltimore Sun insisting that they remain “committed to Baltimore.” Just not when it comes to actually upgrading the network there:

Although FiOS video may not be available, it’s important to remember that Verizon is able to offer Baltimore consumers High Speed Internet (HSI) service (using DSL technology) at speeds up to 7 megabits per second in much of the city, and DIRECTV with a network that is second to none, our infrastructure keeps residents and businesses communicating. And we’ll continue to make that infrastructure better, faster and more robust.

As for Baltimore figuring out Verizon’s secret formula, the city is probably going to be waiting for a while. Cities like Boston, Alexandria, Binghamton, Albany and many others are asking the same questions but getting no answer. Of course Verizon looked at a huge variety of economic, logistical, competition (or more specifically a lack thereof) and other factors, but Verizon’s never going to let the public see the real data behind their decisions. Perhaps Baltimore (or local businesses) can begin building a Baltimore fiber network, and see if that gets Verizon’s attention?

Link to the original article…

Ultraseven vs. Aron

Ultraman vs. Gabula & Rigger

Alien Goron vs. Gumonga

Kaiju Ebanashi

Alien Godola, Alien Borg, Alien Baltan, Alien Zarab, Alien Icarus, Alien Bado

Eleking, Dino-Tank

Capsule Monsters: Windam, Agira, Miclas

Ultraseven

Alien Baltan // Magular

Garamon // Kanegon

Litra & Gomess // Peter & Todora

Ultraseven, Alien Icarus, Alien Pega, Alien Cool

Ultraseven, Bostang, Starbem Gyeron

Kaiju Ebanashi

Ultraman vs. Jirass

Seabozu & Zaragas

Peguila & Kanegon

Jamila & Alien Mephilas

Kaiju Ebanashi

Aboras, Banila, Zambolar

Ultraman vs. Jamila

Ultraman, Alien Baltan, Bemular

[Link: Takayoshi Mizuki]

Link to the original article…