The FCC and US wireless carriers are close to agreeing on blanket rules for cellphone unlocking, Reuters reports. Sources say that the deal, expected “soon,” will likely require telecoms to make sure customers know if their phone is eligible to be unlocked and used on another carrier, process requests for unlocking within two days, and establish rules for prepaid phones that don’t fall inside the normal contract-based system. Right now, the FCC is apparently hammering out final details, including how exactly people will get prepaid phones unlocked and how to avoid “black markets” of unlocked phones bought with subsidies and then sold at a discount. If an agreement is reached, it could mark a significant step forward in establishing best…
A group of scientists recently released a complete Open-source metal 3-D printer:
This paper reports on the development of a <$2000 open-source metal 3-D printer. The metal 3-D printer is controlled with an open-source micro-controller and is a combination of a low-cost commercial gas-metal arc welder and a derivative of the Rostock, a deltabot RepRap. The bill of materials, electrical and mechanical design schematics, and basic construction and operating procedures are provided. A preliminary technical analysis of the properties of the 3-D printer and the resultant steel products are performed. The results of printing customized functional metal parts are discussed and conclusions are drawn about the potential for the technology and the future work necessary for the mass distribution of this technology.
read the original on Open-source metal 3-D printer – Appropedia: The sustainability wiki.
Read the news also on Science Daily http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/12/131202171920.htm
