Gizmodo: wireless internet

Picking up Wi-Fi is Like Picking up a Prostitute

Danny Allen — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:40:00 EDT

This fun video personifies the prowl for Wi-Fi. You could pay the password-pimp for a fast connection, but what about that loose hotspot? Jumping on free Wi-Fi is easy, but only while it lasts, and you gotta watch for viruses:

Two things the video misses:
1. Trying out a bunch of standard passwords before getting bored and moving on.
2. That asshole at every airport pulling the "Free Wi-Fi" ad-hoc network scam. You'll get online, but they'll swipe your passwords. Sort of like a pimp not making you pay, but filming and selling a video of it without you knowing.

By the way, am I the only one that thinks free Wi-Fi looks kinda like Juliette Lewis? Who woulda thunk it.

Quantenna Chips Boosts Wi-Fi Coverage In Every Corner Of Your Castle

Elaine Chow — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 04:30:00 EDT

My parents live in a pretty big house—well, at least it seems big if you've spent the last five years living in various closets in New York. One of the most annoying things about occasionally blogging from there is that sometimes, depending on where you are in the big house, the wireless connection will crap out inexplicably. Luckily for them, a California startup called Quantenna Communications is trying to solve that problem with chipsets that boost Wi-Fi signals and evens out wireless coverage.

The chips—a 2.4 Ghz band, a 5 Ghz band, and a dual-band—can be plugged into walls and use MIMO technology to amplify signals from an existing network. Quantenna is hoping to sell the single-band chips for $20 and the dual-band chip for $40. Chances are, if you live in a big house like my parents', that's not too high a price to pay for all over coverage. [GigaOm]

Chrysler Gearing Up For In-Car Wi-Fi In 2009 Models Via Autonet

Matt Hickey — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:00:18 EDT

Chrysler is poised to be the first car manufacturer to offer built-in internet access in its vehicles. The service, called Uconnect Web, uses existing wireless data networks for internet access it then shares with devices in the car via Wi-Fi, essentially turning your car into one big hot spot. The core device, which costs $499 to install, can take advantage of WiMAX or EV-DO networks where available through a service called Autonet. The service will sell for $29 a month. We like the idea for some things, like getting traffic and weather updates on the fly, but is the world ready for motorists that are even more distracted while driving? [Twice via CG]

Boeing Dreamliner will no longer offer wireless

www.gizmodo.com — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 16:40:26 EST

Boeing is no longer planning to implement a wireless internet service on their 787 Dreamliner planes, due to weight and international wireless frequency issues. The Dreamliner planes will use a wired network instead, which will weigh just 50lbs, a quarter of the weight wireless access would require. Boeing phased out their previous broadband service, Connexion, after a lack of airline interest, but is working with Panasonic to bring broadband access back to the skies in the Dreamliner. – Todd Haselton

Boeing ends Dreamliner wireless network [Reuters]