Your Guide To Wireless

Nationwide Wimax Back On?

Clearwire and Sprint have apparently reconsidered their decision to abandon a joint WiMax venture. Last fall the two companies ceased work on a network build-out that would have brought wireless connectivity to even remote parts of the country. Now, with a recent infusion of cash reported at $2 billion from Intel, a major WiMax supporter, the partnership between the two service providers is back on.

Starbucks Serves AT&T WI-FI

Beginning this spring, more than 7,000 Starbucks across the U.S. will offer AT&T Wi-Fi service. For existing AT&T broadband and U-verse customers, this means free Wi-Fi when visiting a Starbucks store. Starbucks cardholders will be eligible for two hours of free Wi-Fi per day at participating stores, and all other Starbucks customers will be able to purchase two-hour installments of Wi-Fi time for $3.99 or monthly access for $19.99.

Trendnet Easy-N-Upgrader TEW-637AP

If you can't afford to upgrade your network to 802.11n Draft N 2.0, you might consider purchasing Trendnet's Easy-N-Upgrader TEW-637AP. Instead of throwing your existing router in the trash, plug it into the Easy-N-Upgrader access point to gain many of the benefits of a Draft N router for about half the price. True dual-band routers operate one radio on the 2.4GHz band and the other on the 5GHz band, the ones we've tested have built-in gigabit switches. Trendnet's device, however, ...

Wifi Classmate

Intel unveiled a new-look Wifi-enabled Classmate PC at IDF. It is designed to provide schools with a low-cost educational platform. The company was accused last year of undermining the One Laptop Per Child project to produce $100 laptops for schools in poor countries by offering first-generation Classmate at below-cost price to gain market share. It later joined the project. Elonex is selling an educational mobile in the UK for just £99.

Free Security Software for Your Systems

EULAlyzer Wonder what you're agreeing to when you click I Accept? Don't worry; just drag EULAlyzer's target icon onto the EULA for a quick report on any troublesome language. Hotspot Shield Create an instant virtual private network (VPN) tunnel between your laptop and the router at any Wi-Fi hot spot to protect your data from snoops on the public airwaves, even if you are using extra encryption. If you’re on a network that limits the use of certain applications, such as Skype, the VPN cou...

Using Bluetooth

The amazing technology of Bluetooth presents a great way of exchanging data between two wireless devices. Unlike telephones, there are no wires or messy leads to worry about. You can enjoy wireless communications with short distances of up to thirty feet. Bluetooth also offers interoperability, meaning that you can use your portable Bluetooth device to connect with existing Bluetooth points. This way, you won't have to carry a data lead or CDs of drivers around with you everywhere you...