From Gizmodo: China’s DF-21D Missile Is a One-Shot Aircraft Carrier Killer

Since the end of WWII, America’s naval might has been undisputed and our aircraft carriers have been its crown jewels. However, the days of dominance could end with China’s new DF-21D ballistic missile—the only device on Earth capable of sinking an aircraft carrier—four and a half acres of sovereign US territory—with one shot. More »



 

from Gizmodo

From Ars Technica: NTP to get patent cash from “pretty much” entire cell phone industry

Cell phone makers are paying dearly for the right to patents covering “wireless e-mail” technology.

NTP Inc., a patent-holding company that won a $612.5 million settlement from RIM in 2006, has struck again with a settlement involving 13 of the biggest companies in the tech industry.

NTP, noting that it holds eight US patents “relating to the delivery of electronic mail over wireless systems,” today said it reached a settlement with 13 companies representing just about everyone involved in building and selling smartphones or delivering e-mail to them. The 13 companies are AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, Apple, HTC, Motorola Mobility, Palm, LG, Samsung, Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo.

“The signed agreement provides broad coverage under NTP’s patent portfolio to all of the companies,” NTP said. Consequently, “all pending litigation between NTP and these companies will be dismissed.”

from Ars Technica

From Ars Technica: Tri-band WiFi chips for 7Gbps speed coming from Marvell, Wilocity

One of the biggest changes ever made to WiFi is coming in the next year with a new standard supporting the 60GHz band, powering much faster transmissions than are possible in the existing 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. All that’s needed are some chips, and products to put them in.

Slowly but surely, the chipmakers embracing 60GHz technology are making their plans known. The latest is Marvell, which today announced a partnership with startup Wilocity to make tri-band chips that will use all three bands. That will allow consumer devices to connect to existing WiFi networks while also taking advantage of the super-fast 60GHz band for high-speed data transfer and high-quality media streaming. Under the developing 802.11ad standard, 60GHz transmissions can hit 7Gbps.

Wilocity already has a partnership with Qualcomm Atheros, Qualcomm’s networking subsidiary, to build tri-band chips. Those are expected to come out by the end of this year and focus on the PC notebook market—for example a laptop bundled with a remote docking station. The partnership with Marvell won’t result in shipping products until 2013, but Wilocity’s VP of Marketing, Mark Grodzinsky, told us that the Marvell/Wilocity chips will focus on a broader range of products including tablets, Ultrabooks, and phones. The two companies are also targeting access points, residential gateways, and media center devices.

 

from Ars Technica