Nokia’s N9 handset has made a brief cameo via a one-minute, official-looking video clip. What do we learn from said video? Not a heck of a lot. What we do see is a 12-megapixel camera complete with Carl Zeiss optics flash before our eyes, and the iconography seen suggests that the device will be a Symbian offering complete with the Anna software update. The rumor mill states the N9 will be a pentaband GSM handset that could make an appearance stateside, although… since Nokia is going all-in with Windows Phone, we’re not sure what the fate of this handset is. The video is after the break. Have a look for yourself.

Read

Google has been imposed a fine of $25,000 by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as the Internet giant collected personal information without seeking any official permission from the authority via its Street View Project. According to FCC, Google deliberately didn’t cooperate with the authority and refused to reveal the names of its engineers associated with this Project.

Started in 2007, the Street View Project collected data from Wi-Fi networks across the world which gives users of Google Map and Google Earth the ability to view street-level images of structures and land adjacent to roads and highways. But FCC believes that Google also collected passwords, Internet usage history and other sensitive personal data which was not required for the project followed by which the authority issued an investigation against the giant.

However, Google has challenged the authority saying the company has “provided all the materials the regulators felt they needed to conclude their investigation. We disagree with the FCC’s characterization of our cooperation in their investigation and will be filing a response.”

Read

With only days to the IFA, manufacturers are taking the teaser path to give an idea of what they are going to launch at the event. Sony has teased the Xperia Z1 via its #bestofSony campaign, Samsung announced that it will be launching the Galaxy Gear smartwatch and Galaxy Note III at the event and LG outright announced the G Pad 8.3 tablet ahead of the event. The latest to join this bandwagon is Asus, which has put a teaser image on its Facebook page.

The teaser photo shows a tablet with the words, “We Transform Your Mobility” and “4 Days to Go”. Though there’s no information of the Android tablet, it is most likely to be the latest-generation Transformer Pad powered by Nvidia Tegra 4.

Engadget has spotted a new tablet listed on the Federal Communications Commision (FCC), which could be the new Transformer Pad. The listed tablet codenamed K00C talks about a 10-inch tablet which features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

We only have to wait four days till we know more about the device. Stay tuned.

A popular flashlight Android app with an installed base of between 50 million and 100 million users has also been collecting personal data including location and device ID and sharing it with advertisers even for users who had opted out, the Federal Trade Commission found. GoldenShores Technologies, LLC, the developer behind the “Brightest Flashlight Free” app that currently enjoys a 4.8-star rating from over 1 million reviews, on Thursday settled a case with the FTC, Fast Company reports.

The FTC found that while the app’s privacy policy told users that personal data will be collected by the company, it did not say that data including location and device ID would also be shared with third-parties such as advertising networks. Furthermore, the app was found to collect and send data to advertisers immediately after installation, even before the user could either accept or refuse the End User License Agreement of the app.

“When consumers are given a real, informed choice, they can decide for themselves whether the benefit of a service is worth the information they must share to use it,” Jessica Rich, FTC’s Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection said. “But this flashlight app left them in the dark about how their information was going to be used.”

According to the settlement, the developer will have to fully inform users when, how and why their location data is collected, and to obtain their “affirmative express consent” when it comes to sharing that data. GoldenShores will also have to delete any personal information collected from consumers via the Brightest Flashlight app.

The FCC has reportedly voted to accept “Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet,” a provisional set of rules meant to protect net neutrality, evoking a wide range of reactions worldwide.

According to the BBC, the controversial proposals have drawn an unprecedented level of scrutiny to the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) and its vote, which was passed with three commissioners voting in favor and two against.

Protesters reportedly interrupted the meeting of the five commissioners, following which several of them were removed from the room. Each commissioner gave his or her views on the proposal with both of the Republican commissioners opposing the new rules.

Paid prioritization, also referred to as “fast lanes” is said to be the main reason for the debate among the people. While the rules are meant to prevent Internet providers from intentionally slowing data, the content providers will be allowed to pay for a guaranteed fast lane of service.

People opposing the plan have raised concerns that permitting some content to be sent along a fast lane would discriminate against other content.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler believes that Section 706 is the quickest way to make sure the protections are in place, adding that there are no protections in place right now. However, he says that the FCC is willing to consider regulating the Internet under Title II common carrier rules, as originally laid out by Congress in the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

President Donald Trump has appointed Ajit Pai to head the powerful US communications regulatory agency, becoming the third Indian American picked for key positions in his administration. Pai, 44, will be the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the federal authority regulating cellphone spectrum and services, radio, television, phone, internet and satellite and cable. Pai announced his appointment on Twitter, saying he was told of it on Monday and that “it is a deeply humbling honor”. He added that he would work to bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans.

The FCC also has a major role in controlling the content of television and radio, a sensitive issue given Trump’s contentious relations with the media. The agency sets and enforces certain norms on content like obscenity in TV and conditions like having a certain amount of local news content for stations to keep their licences. Underscoring its importance, Representative Frank Pallone said: “By some measures, the FCC oversees approximately one sixth of the US economy.” Nikki Haley, Trump’s nominee for the cabinet-level post of US ambassador to the UN, is scheduled to be recommended on Tuesday by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for approval by the entire Senate for the job. Another Trump nominee is Seema Verma, who is to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the agency for government health insurance programs. Already a member of the FCC, Pai will succeed Tom Wheeler, a Democrat, who quit recently.

A free enterprise advocate, Pai has been a critic of the functioning of the FCC and clashed with its Democratic Party leadership. Recently he took issue with an FCC report that questioned the legality of offerings given free of charge for people to access online music, videos and other content. He has said he wants to end net neutrality, which prevents internet service providers from giving special preferences to certain web sites or accept payment from a web service to give it priority or better access. Democrats expressed their concern about Pai’s role in a letter to him. The senior Democrat on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce that deals with communications wrote to him saying his success would depend on being responsive to members of Congress from both parties and working for consensus on major decisions. Before his appointment to the FCC in 2012, Pai had worked as a lawyer for the telephone and communications giant Verizon, the Senate Judicial Committee and the Justice Department. Pai’s parents, both doctors, emigrated from India. ALSO READ: Indian IT companies are daunted by Donald Trump’s ‘Buy American-hire American’ vow

Trump has also appointed an expert on strategic communications and political research, Raj Shah, as deputy assistant and research director on the White House staff. Another Indian American, Balaji Srinivasan, is under consideration to head the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), according to Sean Spicer, Trump’s spokesperson. Srinivasan is a biotechnology entrepreneur who has been critical of the connections between large pharmaceutical companies and FDA. He now heads a start-up that deals with bitcoin, the internet-based currency. ALSO READ: Twitter accidentally made half a million users follow Donald Trump

Arul Louis writes for IANS.

BONUS VIDEO: Honor 6X Review

After his press secretary blasted it as an example of rampant government overreach, President Donald Trump has signed a bill into law that could eventually allow internet providers to sell information about their customers’ browsing habits. The bill scraps a Federal Communications Commission online privacy regulation issued in October to give consumers more control over how companies like Comcast, AT&T and Verizon share that information. Critics have argued that the rule would stifle innovation and pick winners and losers among internet companies.

The regulation was scheduled to take effect later this year, but Congress used its authority under the obscure Congressional Review Act to wipe it from the books. With a Republican president in the White House, the GOP-controlled Congress has turned to the 20-year-old law to scrap numerous regulations that Republicans say are costly, burdensome or excessive, many of which were finalized in the closing months of Democrat Barack Obama’s presidency. Internet companies like Google don’t have to ask their users for permission before tracking what sites they visit, a discrepancy that Republicans and industry group have blasted as both unfair to companies and confusing to consumers.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer said last week that the president’s support for the bill was part of a larger effort “to fight Washington red tape that stifles American innovation, job creation and economic growth.” “The president pledged to reverse this type of federal overreach in which bureaucrats in Washington take the interest of one group of companies over the interest of others,” picking the winners and losers, he said.

Supporters of the privacy measure argued that the company that sells an internet connection can see even more about consumers, such as every website they visit and whom they exchange emails with, information that would be particularly useful for advertisers and marketers. Undoing the regulation leaves people’s online information in a murky area. Experts say federal law still requires broadband providers to protect customer information but it doesn’t spell out how or what companies must do, which is what the online privacy rule aimed to do.

The absence of clear privacy rules means companies that supply internet service, and who can monitor how consumers use it, can continue to mine that information for use in their own advertising businesses. Consumer advocates also worry that the companies will be a rich target for hackers. Ajit Pai, the agency chairman appointed by Trump, has said he wanted to roll back the broadband privacy rules. Pai and other Republicans want a different federal agency, the Federal Trade Commission, to police privacy for both broadband companies like AT&T and internet companies like Google. ALSO READ: Facebook, Google and Apple missing from legal battle against Trump’s new travel ban order

Broadband providers don’t fall under the trade commission’s jurisdiction, and advocates say that agency historically has been weaker than the communications commission. Trump signed three other bills yesterday, including one that eliminates a rule that prohibited the use of tactics like baiting and shooting bears from the air on the National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska.

In the midst of terrible hurricanes occurring in the US, Apple is currently under fire for not activating the FM radio chip on iPhones. Ajit Pai, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been constantly urging Apple to do the needful so that affected people can be aware and informed via broadcasts when cellular connectivity cannot be relied upon. Apple has replied saying that the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 series do not have FM radio chips installed.

Apple‘s statement reads, “Apple cares deeply about the safety of our users, especially during times of crisis and that’s why we have engineered modern safety solutions into our products. Users can dial emergency services and access Medical ID card information directly from the Lock Screen, and we enable government emergency notifications, ranging from Weather Advisories to AMBER alerts. iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 models do not have FM radio chips in them nor do they have antennas designed to support FM signals, so it is not possible to enable FM reception in these products.”

Although Apple has clarified that the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 do not have FM radio chips installed, it hasn’t given an update on the older iPhones. Normally smartphones use wired earphones as antennas for FM radio. ArsTechnica suggests that the lack of a 3.5mm audio jack on the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 could be the reason behind this. however, it is also known that Intel and Qualcomm install FM tuners in their chipsets for Wi-Fi connectivity, but smartphone manufacturers manually disable it. Speculations suggest that doing so would drive customers to switch to paid subscription services such as the company’s own Apple Music for listening to music. ALSO READ: Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus Hands-On and First Impressions: Incremental upgrades over the iPhone 7 duo

In Pai’s latest statement, he stressed on the need for people being informed through broadcasts and even singled out Apple. Pai said, “Apple is the one major phone manufacturer that has resisted doing so. But I hope the company will reconsider its position, given the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. That’s why I am asking Apple to activate the FM chips that are in its iPhones.”

While pressure is given on Apple, the company will possibly not be forced to do so going by Pai’s guidelines. Being a believer in free markets and law, Pai says that he “cannot support a government mandate requiring activation of these chips”. This issue, he believes, can be best sorted out in the marketplace. ALSO READ: Apple transparency report: Requests for user data by Indian government on a rise

The US Senate has approved the nomination of Indian American Ajit Varadaraj Pai for a second term as the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Chairman. Pai, whose term was to end later this year, was reappointed on Monday for a five-year term after getting a majority of 52-41, with most of the Democrats voting against him as they complained that Pai will undermine net neutrality.

Pai has served as a Commissioner at the FCC since 2012. President Donald Trump had earlier nominated him for another term as Republicans aim at further accelerating their ambitious tech agenda, the American Bazaar online reported. The FCC is the federal authority regulating cellphone spectrum and services, radio, television, phone, internet and satellite and cable. It also has a major role in controlling the content of television and radio.

Pai was appointed by the new administration as the Chairman of FCC in the wake of Tom Wheeler demitting the office earlier this year. His tenure with the FCC as commissioner received a one-year extension in July 2016, giving him an opportunity to become the FCC Chairman. Pai, during the beginning of his tenure as FCC Chairman, faced criticism as he said he wanted to end net neutrality, which prevents internet service providers from giving special preferences to certain websites or accept payment from a web service to give it the priority or better access. ALSO READ: Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime with 16-megapixel selfie camera spotted online

After getting re-elected, Pai said he was “deeply grateful to the US Senate and to President (Donald) Trump”. Democratic Senator Ron Wyden warned that Pai “will do an enormous amount of damage to one of the foundational principles of the internet — net neutrality”. Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito said: “He truly understands the need to bring more rural communities online and has shown a real commitment to closing the digital divide in America.” ALSO READ: Honor smartphone with 4 cameras, edge-to-edge display to launch on October 5 in India, exclusively via Flipkart

Republican Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi said: “He (Pai) is working to establish the light-touch regulatory framework that allowed the internet to become the marvel of the modern age.” Pai was born on January 10, 1973, in Buffalo, New York, to Konkani immigrants from India. He attended Harvard University in 1994 and the University of Chicago in 1997.

The online world’s popular principle of net neutrality suffered a major setback in the United States. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 to repeal an Obama-era net neutrality rules that imposed restrictions on U.S. broadband providers to prioritize one service’s data over another.

What exactly is net neutrality?

For starters, it’s a principle that ensures ISPs don’t interfere with how internet users consume data via their connections. It believes and advocates that ISPs be technically restricted from influencing the behavior of internet consumers. It also ensures there’s a level playing field for media platforms, and that user choice is not affected by the availability of one service. In simple terms, net neutrality emphasizes that ISPs prevent one service from loading faster or slower than another on the basis of the nature of content being consumed.

The US development, in the Indian context

The US FCC voted to repeal net neutrality rules introduced under President Barack Obama undermining free and open internet to consumers. The immediate ramifications of the ruling would mean that ISPs in the U.S. can now speed up or slow down data for one service over another. It also allows service providers to charge consumers according to the service they use, rather than making the whole world wide web available as an open platform. The changes in net neutrality rules effectively means death of the open web as we know it today.

Also Read

Federal Communications Commission repeals Obama's net neutrality rules

FCC chairman Ajit Pai celebrated the rollback by saying it will “help consumers and promote competition.” The immediate change could lead to one service provider offering high speed while accessing Netflix, but lowering speed on Hulu. The vice versa would be relevant too in the case of another service provider. The change in net neutrality rules don’t seem to encourage competition, but rather eliminates competition when Americans select their next ISP.

The end to open internet

The ruling is widely seen as the way to make internet less open and accessible. The decision is already facing legal challenges with New York attorney general, Eric Schneiderman, announcing his plans to file a lawsuit challenging FCC’s decision. Schneiderman is also joined by attorneys from other states including Washington, California and Delaware.

What US can learn from India?

The end to net neutrality rules compromising fair competition among ISPs was avoided by India in 2016. A ruling in November 2017 enforced that ISPs have no authority to speed up or slow down access to particular websites or services. It also made it clear that ISPs can’t market bundles of websites or applications. The ruling set a strong precedent for governments around the world when it comes to advocating and offering fair and open internet to people.

The debate around net neutrality in India originated with Facebook’s launch of Free Basics, a zero-rated programme that makes Facebook available for free in partnership with telecom service provider. The operator, in effect, will charge users whenever they access internet outside of Facebook. The programme introduced Indians to Facebook but clearly violated the founding principles of web which weighed every service or website on the same scale.

Also Read

Internet services should be non-discriminatory: TRAI on Net Neutrality

Free Basics and its closed access to internet led to activists calling for implementation of net neutrality rules in the country. TRAI, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, came up with a draft recommendation that effectively ensured that there is no change in internet access regardless of your service provider or data pack that you are subscribed.

While TRAI established a strong policy for net neutrality, it’s important to know how we got there. The policy was drafted primarily on the basis of strong advocacy from people and organizations. Efforts by entities such as SaveTheInternet.in and many vocal advocates of internet freedom led to policy formation that supports an open internet. The campaign highlighted how abuse of net neutrality by tech companies such as Facebook led to the abuse of power, and killed freedom of speech. The positive dialogue led to creation of draft in 2016 and a formal ruling this year totally supporting same internet access across service provider.

In U.S., the FCC argues that there are very few ISPs in certain states and net neutrality restricts them from innovating or investing in faster connections. But the argument undermines the principle which differentiates between connectivity and content. “If the US allows the internet to become like the old cable TV model — with the same firms controlling the cables and the content — competition in both markets will suffer,” Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of World Wide Web, wrote in a Medium post early this week.

While FCC has voted in favour of recalling net neutrality rules, it has also argued that ISPs will have to disclose when they throttle data or prioritise traffic on their service. The recall is similar to President Trump announcing his government’s plan to withdraw from Paris Climate change agreement. While the government has withdrawn, states can continue to cut down on their emissions leading to a positive impact on the environment.

Similarly, the states can argue that net neutrality recall affects the distribution of fair internet access and even go to court and file lawsuit against FCC, which is already happening. The activists, on the other hand, can write to their elected representatives to argue in favor of net neutrality and effectively lead to reinstating the existing rules. The recall is not the end of internet, but basically serves as a new beginning for the argument that web is open and cannot be discriminated.

Consumer Exhibition Show (CES) is less than a week away, and there’s a lot of excitement around new product launches. At the expo, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Ajit Pai was slated for a ‘candid conversation’ with FTC acting chairwoman Maureen Ohlhausen. However, according to reports, Pai has cancelled his CES 2018 appearance.

The session could have been Pai’s first appearance as FCC chairman. This will also be the first time in last five years when Pai will miss the expo. As of now, there is no word on why Pai cancelled his appearance at the show, but it seems like the net neutrality controversy could be a reason for the same. At CES, the audience was likely to strongly oppose Pai’s rulings.

The cancellation was announced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) in an email that reads, “Unfortunately, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai is unable to attend CES 2018. We look forward to our next opportunity to host a technology policy discussion with him before a public audience.” However, a spokesperson from CTA confirmed The Verge that Ohlhausen would still be appearing at CES.

Also Read

CES 2018: From AI-powered TVs to smartphones, here’s what to expect this year

Over the past one year, Pai has been no stranger to controversy. In fact, his name has become synonymous with rollback of net neutrality, a major decision that hasn’t gone well with the consumers. The rollback of “net neutrality” rules in December last year means that internet providers no longer need to treat all traffic equally.

Also Read

Well done India, you’re now an inspiration for net neutrality in the US

With FCC killing net neutrality in the US, internet service providers can now create so-called “internet fast lanes” along with paid prioritization for companies that can afford it. This could mean that despite having high bandwidth, some ‘paid’ sites may load faster than others.

Also Read

Should we be worried about the FCC possibly ending net neutrality in the US?

For those hoping to express strong opinions about net neutrality at CES, Pai’s fellow FCC commissioners Brendan Carr, Mignon Clyburn, Michael O’Reilly and Jessica Rosenworcel are still scheduled to attend the expo, Mashable reports.

In the midst of terrible hurricanes occurring in the US, Apple is currently under fire for not activating the FM radio chip on iPhones. Ajit Pai, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been constantly urging Apple to do the needful so that affected people can be aware and informed via broadcasts when cellular connectivity cannot be relied upon. Apple has replied saying that the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 series do not have FM radio chips installed.

Apple‘s statement reads, “Apple cares deeply about the safety of our users, especially during times of crisis and that’s why we have engineered modern safety solutions into our products. Users can dial emergency services and access Medical ID card information directly from the Lock Screen, and we enable government emergency notifications, ranging from Weather Advisories to AMBER alerts. iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 models do not have FM radio chips in them nor do they have antennas designed to support FM signals, so it is not possible to enable FM reception in these products.”

Although Apple has clarified that the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 do not have FM radio chips installed, it hasn’t given an update on the older iPhones. Normally smartphones use wired earphones as antennas for FM radio. ArsTechnica suggests that the lack of a 3.5mm audio jack on the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 could be the reason behind this. however, it is also known that Intel and Qualcomm install FM tuners in their chipsets for Wi-Fi connectivity, but smartphone manufacturers manually disable it. Speculations suggest that doing so would drive customers to switch to paid subscription services such as the company’s own Apple Music for listening to music. ALSO READ: Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus Hands-On and First Impressions: Incremental upgrades over the iPhone 7 duo

In Pai’s latest statement, he stressed on the need for people being informed through broadcasts and even singled out Apple. Pai said, “Apple is the one major phone manufacturer that has resisted doing so. But I hope the company will reconsider its position, given the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. That’s why I am asking Apple to activate the FM chips that are in its iPhones.”

While pressure is given on Apple, the company will possibly not be forced to do so going by Pai’s guidelines. Being a believer in free markets and law, Pai says that he “cannot support a government mandate requiring activation of these chips”. This issue, he believes, can be best sorted out in the marketplace. ALSO READ: Apple transparency report: Requests for user data by Indian government on a rise

The US Senate has approved the nomination of Indian American Ajit Varadaraj Pai for a second term as the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Chairman. Pai, whose term was to end later this year, was reappointed on Monday for a five-year term after getting a majority of 52-41, with most of the Democrats voting against him as they complained that Pai will undermine net neutrality.

Pai has served as a Commissioner at the FCC since 2012. President Donald Trump had earlier nominated him for another term as Republicans aim at further accelerating their ambitious tech agenda, the American Bazaar online reported. The FCC is the federal authority regulating cellphone spectrum and services, radio, television, phone, internet and satellite and cable. It also has a major role in controlling the content of television and radio.

Pai was appointed by the new administration as the Chairman of FCC in the wake of Tom Wheeler demitting the office earlier this year. His tenure with the FCC as commissioner received a one-year extension in July 2016, giving him an opportunity to become the FCC Chairman. Pai, during the beginning of his tenure as FCC Chairman, faced criticism as he said he wanted to end net neutrality, which prevents internet service providers from giving special preferences to certain websites or accept payment from a web service to give it the priority or better access. ALSO READ: Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Prime with 16-megapixel selfie camera spotted online

After getting re-elected, Pai said he was “deeply grateful to the US Senate and to President (Donald) Trump”. Democratic Senator Ron Wyden warned that Pai “will do an enormous amount of damage to one of the foundational principles of the internet — net neutrality”. Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito said: “He truly understands the need to bring more rural communities online and has shown a real commitment to closing the digital divide in America.” ALSO READ: Honor smartphone with 4 cameras, edge-to-edge display to launch on October 5 in India, exclusively via Flipkart

Republican Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi said: “He (Pai) is working to establish the light-touch regulatory framework that allowed the internet to become the marvel of the modern age.” Pai was born on January 10, 1973, in Buffalo, New York, to Konkani immigrants from India. He attended Harvard University in 1994 and the University of Chicago in 1997.

The online world’s popular principle of net neutrality suffered a major setback in the United States. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 to repeal an Obama-era net neutrality rules that imposed restrictions on U.S. broadband providers to prioritize one service’s data over another.

What exactly is net neutrality?

For starters, it’s a principle that ensures ISPs don’t interfere with how internet users consume data via their connections. It believes and advocates that ISPs be technically restricted from influencing the behavior of internet consumers. It also ensures there’s a level playing field for media platforms, and that user choice is not affected by the availability of one service. In simple terms, net neutrality emphasizes that ISPs prevent one service from loading faster or slower than another on the basis of the nature of content being consumed.

The US development, in the Indian context

The US FCC voted to repeal net neutrality rules introduced under President Barack Obama undermining free and open internet to consumers. The immediate ramifications of the ruling would mean that ISPs in the U.S. can now speed up or slow down data for one service over another. It also allows service providers to charge consumers according to the service they use, rather than making the whole world wide web available as an open platform. The changes in net neutrality rules effectively means death of the open web as we know it today.

Also Read

Federal Communications Commission repeals Obama’s net neutrality rules

FCC chairman Ajit Pai celebrated the rollback by saying it will “help consumers and promote competition.” The immediate change could lead to one service provider offering high speed while accessing Netflix, but lowering speed on Hulu. The vice versa would be relevant too in the case of another service provider. The change in net neutrality rules don’t seem to encourage competition, but rather eliminates competition when Americans select their next ISP.

The end to open internet

The ruling is widely seen as the way to make internet less open and accessible. The decision is already facing legal challenges with New York attorney general, Eric Schneiderman, announcing his plans to file a lawsuit challenging FCC’s decision. Schneiderman is also joined by attorneys from other states including Washington, California and Delaware.

What US can learn from India?

The end to net neutrality rules compromising fair competition among ISPs was avoided by India in 2016. A ruling in November 2017 enforced that ISPs have no authority to speed up or slow down access to particular websites or services. It also made it clear that ISPs can’t market bundles of websites or applications. The ruling set a strong precedent for governments around the world when it comes to advocating and offering fair and open internet to people.

The debate around net neutrality in India originated with Facebook’s launch of Free Basics, a zero-rated programme that makes Facebook available for free in partnership with telecom service provider. The operator, in effect, will charge users whenever they access internet outside of Facebook. The programme introduced Indians to Facebook but clearly violated the founding principles of web which weighed every service or website on the same scale.

Also Read

Internet services should be non-discriminatory: TRAI on Net Neutrality

Free Basics and its closed access to internet led to activists calling for implementation of net neutrality rules in the country. TRAI, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, came up with a draft recommendation that effectively ensured that there is no change in internet access regardless of your service provider or data pack that you are subscribed.

While TRAI established a strong policy for net neutrality, it’s important to know how we got there. The policy was drafted primarily on the basis of strong advocacy from people and organizations. Efforts by entities such as SaveTheInternet.in and many vocal advocates of internet freedom led to policy formation that supports an open internet. The campaign highlighted how abuse of net neutrality by tech companies such as Facebook led to the abuse of power, and killed freedom of speech. The positive dialogue led to creation of draft in 2016 and a formal ruling this year totally supporting same internet access across service provider.

In U.S., the FCC argues that there are very few ISPs in certain states and net neutrality restricts them from innovating or investing in faster connections. But the argument undermines the principle which differentiates between connectivity and content. “If the US allows the internet to become like the old cable TV model — with the same firms controlling the cables and the content — competition in both markets will suffer,” Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of World Wide Web, wrote in a Medium post early this week.

While FCC has voted in favour of recalling net neutrality rules, it has also argued that ISPs will have to disclose when they throttle data or prioritise traffic on their service. The recall is similar to President Trump announcing his government’s plan to withdraw from Paris Climate change agreement. While the government has withdrawn, states can continue to cut down on their emissions leading to a positive impact on the environment.

Similarly, the states can argue that net neutrality recall affects the distribution of fair internet access and even go to court and file lawsuit against FCC, which is already happening. The activists, on the other hand, can write to their elected representatives to argue in favor of net neutrality and effectively lead to reinstating the existing rules. The recall is not the end of internet, but basically serves as a new beginning for the argument that web is open and cannot be discriminated.

Consumer Exhibition Show (CES) is less than a week away, and there’s a lot of excitement around new product launches. At the expo, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Ajit Pai was slated for a ‘candid conversation’ with FTC acting chairwoman Maureen Ohlhausen. However, according to reports, Pai has cancelled his CES 2018 appearance.

The session could have been Pai’s first appearance as FCC chairman. This will also be the first time in last five years when Pai will miss the expo. As of now, there is no word on why Pai cancelled his appearance at the show, but it seems like the net neutrality controversy could be a reason for the same. At CES, the audience was likely to strongly oppose Pai’s rulings.

The cancellation was announced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) in an email that reads, “Unfortunately, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai is unable to attend CES 2018. We look forward to our next opportunity to host a technology policy discussion with him before a public audience.” However, a spokesperson from CTA confirmed The Verge that Ohlhausen would still be appearing at CES.

Also Read

CES 2018: From AI-powered TVs to smartphones, here’s what to expect this year

Over the past one year, Pai has been no stranger to controversy. In fact, his name has become synonymous with rollback of net neutrality, a major decision that hasn’t gone well with the consumers. The rollback of “net neutrality” rules in December last year means that internet providers no longer need to treat all traffic equally.

Also Read

Well done India, you’re now an inspiration for net neutrality in the US

With FCC killing net neutrality in the US, internet service providers can now create so-called “internet fast lanes” along with paid prioritization for companies that can afford it. This could mean that despite having high bandwidth, some ‘paid’ sites may load faster than others.

Also Read

Should we be worried about the FCC possibly ending net neutrality in the US?

For those hoping to express strong opinions about net neutrality at CES, Pai’s fellow FCC commissioners Brendan Carr, Mignon Clyburn, Michael O’Reilly and Jessica Rosenworcel are still scheduled to attend the expo, Mashable reports.

Honor launched the V10 (globally known as Honor View 10) last year. The smartphone carried high-end specifications and was well received in almost all markets. The company now seems to be getting ready to launch a successor of the phone, which has been spotted on two certification websites. However, based on the listings, it looks like Honor is skipping a generation and going straight to call its new smartphone Honor V12 instead of  V11.

91mobiles spotted the smartphone on both Chinese TENAA and American FCC certification websites. If we have to consider the past, even the Honor V10 was leaked on both websites prior to its Chinese launch, which was followed by a global launch event in UK. However, the thing worth noting here is that the Honor V10 hadn’t showed up on these websites till November. So, the Honor V12 making an appearance so early in the year could only mean that Honor plans on launching the device much ahead of its usual timeline.

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There’s not much information in terms of specifications, but TENAA did update its listing with an image of the smartphone, which gives us an idea of its design. It doesn’t look like the Honor V12 will be featuring a fancy design. There is no notch display and even the bezels look quite thick. The fingerprint sensor is placed at the back.

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In terms of specifications, it looks like the Honor V12 will be coming with a 5.5-inch display and 1,900mAh battery. It was also mentioned that the phone will be supporting LTE, dual-SIMs and an Android operating system. However, it’s still too early to confirm these details and we’d like you to take the information with a pinch of salt.

Software and services giant Microsoft seems to be planning to launch a new cheaper Surface-branded tablet in the market. The reason we know about the upcoming device is that it passed through the FCC certification this week and it was spotted by German website Winfuture.de. According to the report by the publication, the device will come with a low-powered 24-wall charger and 7.66 volts battery when compared to the original Surface Pro lineup of tablets that comes with 36-watt charger and 7.5 volts battery. The device comes with “Model 1924” as the identification marker.

The device will run Windows 10 Pro out of the box along with Qualcomm manufactured Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules ruling out an ARM-based CPU. It is likely that the company will continue to use Intel chips for the upcoming tablet. This report comes in line with previous reports about Microsoft planning to launch a 10-inch Surface tablet along with USB Type-C charging port. The report also indicated that the company is planning LTE versions of the cheaper tablet and the integrated radio in the SoC could be used for connectivity.

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According to a report by The Verge, Microsoft may also be planning to launch cheaper keyboard covers, mouse, and a stylus to go with the tablet. We believe that this is likely to be in response to the cheaper device iPad that Apple launched back in March this year. This device is likely to appeal to students and customers who are not willing to shell out money to buy the more powerful and expensive device.

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This is not the first time that Microsoft has worked on a smaller, cheaper version of the Surface. It was planning to launch a smaller Surface tablet along with the launch of Surface Pro 3 but ended up canceling the launch of the even right before the launch event. Microsoft has not issued any official statement at the time of writing but that is nothing out of ordinary.

Chinese smartphone maker and electronics giant Xiaomi may be planning to launch a new smartphone brand in the market. According to a leak by Slash Leaks, the device was spotted on the FCC website for certification. This comes weeks after it was certified by the Taiwanese certification agency, the NCC. According to the listing, Xiaomi POCOPHONE comes with the model number M1805E10A though the model number that Xiaomi has given in the letter to FCC is M1805D1SG as reported by GizmoChina. FCC listing pointed out that both the models are same. FCC listing means that the company is planning to launch the device in the US market also.

The listing also pointed out that the device will come with dual-band Wi-Fi with support for 2.4GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands along with a Bluetooth module. It pointed out that the device will support Band 40 LTE but the company will disable the band as it is not used in the US market. The illustration of the device along with the FCC documents pointed out that the device will come with a dual camera setup on the back. The dimensions of the device will be the 76mm width, 151mm height, and 163mm diagonal distance.

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For perspective, these dimensions put the device somewhat smaller in height to the OnePlus 6 and 0.6mm wider than the latest flagship smartphone from OnePlus. Since the device has been certified, it is likely that we may see the code name or brand name POCOPHONE at the Chinese certification authority TENNA or bench-marking websites.

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Xiaomi has not issued any official statement about the leaked device or revealed any additional information about the device. However, considering the timing of the leak, it is likely that the company may launch the device in the coming months. This news comes just days after the company was listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange.

Remember the Hydrogen One smartphone that RED announced last year? If you are still not aware of the announcement then to recap, RED, a company behind high-end cinematography and photography sensors and accessories announced that it is planning to enter the smartphone market. RED is known for its sensors which are modular in nature so that users can add different types of accessories to make sure that the camera can do exactly what they need. The company teased that it will enter the smartphone market with its first smartphone, the RED Hydrogen One.

The company even started taking pre-orders for the smartphone even before it was made. Its been almost a year and RED is not sure about the launch date of the Hydrogen One. But, according to the latest report by PhoneScoop, it is likely that we are near the launch date of the device. We are certain about this information because Hydrogen One visited FCC for certification. FCC certification is a necessary step for all electronic makers to ensure that they can sell their devices in the United States.

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According to the report, Hydrogen One will come with 4,510mAh battery, dual-SIM slot, support for all LTE bands in the United States, and the holographic screen that the company initially teased at the announcement and at the preview event earlier this year. A report by The Verge also pointed out that RED founder Jim Jannard revealed a week back that there may be some additional delays to the final launch date because of a “pushed back” certification.

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This comes weeks after the device was allegedly spotted on Geekbench. According to the listing, the device comes with a model number RED H1A1000 while running on Android 8.1 Oreo. It sports 6GB RAM along with MSM8998 chipset, which is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC.

Remember USA-based camera hardware maker RED and its first smartphone that the company announced last year, the RED Hydrogen One? We won’t blame you if it slipped out of your mind as it’s been too long since any significant update from the company. However, the lack of updates ends today as RED founder Jim Jannard just posted six high-resolution real-world images of the RED Hydrogen One on H4V.user.net. These images are well-lit and give us a clear glimpse at what to expect from the device when it actually lands in the market.

Looking closely at the images, the device looks unlike any other smartphone in the market with a design that seems alien in origin. The images do confirm that the device is likely to come with a dual camera setup on the back of the device and we can also see bolts throughout the body along with the attachment pins at the bottom on the back side of the device confirming that the device is likely to be modular in nature. The images also show a red button on the side of the device which is likely to be the dedicated camera shutter button of the Hydrogen One. We can also see a USB Type-C port along with front-facing speakers on the device.

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This is not the first time that we have seen the images of the Hydrogen One as the device was previously spotted during FCC certification.

Image credit: RED

Image credit: RED

To recap, this is the first smartphone that Red is working on and the company announced it almost a year back promising technology that has not been seen on any other smartphone.

Image credit: RED

Image credit: RED

During the initial announcement, the company promised that the device will come with a holographic display on the front.

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As previously reported, the device is expected to come with a model number RED H1A1000 and runs on Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box. According to a benchmark listing, it was indicated that the device will come with 6GB RAM along with MSM8998 chipset, which is the model number for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC.

Image credit: RED

The device is also expected to come with a 4,510mAh battery, dual-SIM slot, support for all LTE bands in the United States.