A new product has debuted from Apotop that is specifically designed to help iPhone and iPad users get data to and from their devices with ease. The product is called the DW09 and it is a palm-sized little device described as a Wi-Reader. It’s designed to enable wireless sharing and transferring of video, photographs, and other data between an iPad or iPhone and SD memory card for flash drives.

The DW09 supports up to three iOS devices at the same time allowing the simultaneous sharing and streaming of high-definition movies and other content. The device also allows the streaming of movies and other videos in file formats that iOS devices don’t support natively. The DW09 supports flash drives and self powered external hard drives up to 3 TB capacity.

It works with memory cards including SD, SDHC, and SDXC up to 128 GB in capacity using FAT32, NTFS, and exFAT formats. The device works in conjunction with a Wi-Reader app on the Apple device. The device is also designed to work as a travel size Wi-Fi hotspot supporting 802.11n wireless networks. TheDW09 can be purchased now online and an MSRP of $79.99.

[via Apotop]

EE, Vodafone, and Virgin Media itself have been offering customers access to Wi-Fi at Wi-Fi equipped London Underground stations. O2 says that its customers who happen to be using Wi-Fi equipped tube stations will be able to access the service once they register their details in the web browser when connected to Virgin Media WiFi at one of over 100 Wi-Fi connected stations.

With 02 now giving its customers access to Wi-Fi at participating underground stations, the only major carrier in the UK not offering free Wi-Fi for subway users is Three. Currently the only way Three customers can get access at the stations is to sign up for the Virgin Media pay as you go plan. That plan costs £2 per day’s worth of service.

If you need more than a day, £5 will get you a week worth of service and £15 is good for a month. It’s also worth noting that Version Media announced this week that 12 more underground stations will be getting Wi-Fi this month. The additional stations include Action Town, Baker Street, Bank, Caledonian Road, Earl’s Court, Holland Park, Ladbroke Grove, Maida Vale, Queen’s Park, Shepherd’s Bush, Sloan Square and West Ruislip.

[via The Inquirer]

The device can function in multiple modes including router mode allowing you to connect to the Internet and broadcast wireless signal to create your own Wi-Fi network with in a hotel room or office. The device can also work as a repeater allowing you to connect to an existing wireless network and amplify it for extended range connections.

The router supports 802.11b/g/n connectivity offering up to 300 Mbps wireless throughput. The router also supports WPS security at the push of a button and WLAN security with WPA2, WPA, and WEP(128/64) capability. The router also has QoS functionality ensuring high-quality VoIP and multimedia streaming.

All of the working modes supported by the mini router include client mode, bridge mode, access point mode, router mode, and universal repeater mode. The little mini router measures 2.9 x 0.9 x 2.9-inches and weighs only 2.2 ounces. The router is available now for $39.99.

[via Satechi]

The company has announced plans for a new product that is specifically designed to work with tablets such as the iPad and various Android offerings. The device is called the LTE Clip and is designed to attach onto tablets that are designed to handle Wi-Fi only. The tip on the new product comes via an unnamed source to Forbes.

The LTE connectivity for the device is said to be provided via the Sprint network and the LTE Clip is expected to launch during the second half of 2013. The clip appears to be small and weighs 2.5 ounces. The device promises about six hours of battery life with the battery in the hinge of the LTE Clip.

It doesn’t appear that the LTE Clip has to plug into the tablet in any way. Rather, it seems the device simply clips onto the tablet and creates a local Wi-Fi network that the tablet can then connect to. The product is said to work with most tablets on the market. Users who purchase the LTE Clip will get 500 MB of 4G service at no cost each month. Users can opt to pay for premium service if they need more data. The LTE Clip will support up to eight devices at the same time.

[via Forbes]

Asus briefly mentioned the device in one of its CES press releases, but the details were exceptionally scarce. All Asus let us know was that the device supported 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity, supports various security protocols, and was designed to connect to computers via a USB connection. Asus also noted that the device is capable of receiving Wi-Fi and sharing wireless hotspots with other users via the integrated Ethernet port.

Asus was mum on pricing and availability for the little pocket router. However, the device has now turned up on the Expansys website for pre-order. The Expansys page lists the same specifications that Asus tipped in its CES press release.

The pre-order page also lists the release date as February 14 and while you can pre-order, the price is unknown. Rather than a real pre-order, this is more like reserving the product since we don’t know how much it will cost and no charges are made to your credit card. Expansys says you can cancel at any time with no cancellation charges.

[via Expansys]

A company called Eyetease will place the hotspots inside city cabs. Eyetease received approval from Transport for London to rollout the high-speed service over the course of next year. The plan to put hotspots inside the cabs, dubbed CabWifi, has been in the works for nearly 2 years.

The hotspots will use an ads for access model requiring passengers to sit through a 15-second advertisement for every 15 minutes they spend using the free Wi-Fi access. According to Eyetease, the average taxi passenger spends about 15 minutes in the cab. That means they should see at least one advertisement.

The service also provides the cabdriver a separate login that allows them to use the hotspot at no cost to offset any data fees that the driver might have to pay for using apps or other web-based information during their day. The hardware inside the cab will automatically change between 3G and 4G networks depending on availability.

[via TheNextWeb]

This particular extender offers enough throughput for e-mail, chat, music, video streaming, and voice calls on your wireless network. It delivers speeds of up to 300 Mbps. The extender also has multiple intelligent antennas to allow you to maximize the speed and range of 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi signals.

The range extender has a Wi-Fi Protected Set up button making it easy to connect to your wireless network. The extender is compatible with any wireless router brand and supports any Wi-Fi equipped device including smartphones, tablets, and computers. The range extender also supports wireless networks that use secure access via WPA or WPA2 security.

The wireless range extender is available right now for $49.99 in online and retail stores. The adapter is small and the entire device hangs off the front of your AC outlet. It does appear that it might block nearby outlets.

The system requires the business to provide Internet service and Facebook provides a free router that will direct users to businesses Facebook page after checking in. Facebook has confirmed that it is conducting a “small test with a few local businesses.” Exactly, which businesses are participating in the test is unknown.

Some stores may also be offering specials where discounts to shoppers who check in using the new service. This could prove to be an interesting way to monetize Facebook access for mobile users in a time when most users are starting to access Facebook via a mobile device rather than a computer.

The special Facebook routers will allow non-Facebook users or people who simply don’t want to check in to access the Internet for free. People who don’t check in with Facebook to access the hotspot for free would have to enter a password provided by the business. It’s unclear right now if this free Wi-Fi service will catch on and be expanded to other areas by Facebook.

[via CNET]

The device is powered by a rechargeable battery good for up to four hours of use. The router creates a local network and generates a personal cloud for mobile device owners to access information, view, and share content between devices. The router also uses D-Link SharePort Technology allowing users to download a free app to be able to access, view, and share the content from a memory stick connected to the router’s USB port.

The app is available for an iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. The router allows the user to not only access data stored on the flash drive plugged into the USB port of the router, but the user can also backup files onto that USB device wirelessly. The USB port can also be used to charge mobile phones and other devices providing up to 5 V/0.8A.

The Pocket Cloud Router has multiple operation modes, including repeater mode, router/access point mode, and Wi-Fi hotspot mode. The repeater mode helps extend Wi-Fi coverage of a home or office while the Wi-Fi hotspot mode allows you to add Wi-Fi connectivity to web connections in a hotel room or other location where a wireless network isn’t available. The Pocket Cloud Router will sell for £64.99 in the UK.

The Wi-Fi Range Extender features a 3 x 3 multiple input multiple output antenna array design. According to Western Digital, most competing products use a smaller 2 x 2 design antenna. By using a 3 x 3 MIMO antenna, Western Digital is able to extend the Wi-Fi signal further than other products. The device is designed to support bandwidth intense activities such as streaming video, online gaming, and video calls.

The range extender promises to be easy to install requiring only a two-step process with no CD or software needed. The device supports Wi-Fi Protected Set up to connect the extender to the existing home network with a single button press. The device has Wi-Fi signal strength indicator lights on the front and a gigabit Ethernet port for devices that don’t have Wi-Fi built in.

The device has a switch on the front allowing you to choose support for 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz networks. Western Digital says that the range extender is compatible with all Wi-Fi certified routers and gateways as well as all Wi-Fi standards from 802.11a to 802.11ac. The My Net Wi-Fi Range Extender is available now for $89.99.

Delta will begin installations in 2012 on its domestic fleet and expects to complete installations to support to Gogo Vision by 2013. Delta Airlines also expects to have a new international Wi-Fi service featuring Gogo Vision completed by the end of 2015. Once Delta completes the new installations, it will have more than 950 aircraft featuring Gogo Wi-Fi connectivity and Gogo Vision.

Delta has also announced that it intends to upgrade its fleet to the next-generation Gogo ATG-4 platform. That upgrade will enhance existing air to ground network and improve user capacity on the aircraft. The Gogo Vision service has an internal server that is stored on the plane, and video is streamed to passengers Wi-Fi enabled devices.

The service will feature both television programs at a per show charge and full-length movies from major Hollywood studios. Individual television episodes will sell for $0.99 with a full-length Hollywood movie costing $3.99. Passengers will be able to sort through titles by genre, length, and search for specific movies or shows and can preview before purchasing.

The Monostrip is available for $49 plus shipping during its introductory pricing period. The device is a dual plug smart electrical outlet that is Wi-Fi enabled. The device can be controlled using an app available for iOS devices. Users can also access the outlets to control things plugged into the Monostrip over the Internet.

Control of the Monostrip over the Internet is accomplished using Visible Energy’s cloud-based energy management platform. The app is called EnergyUFO, and allows the user to monitor energy usage of the outlet and its connected devices and the app also provides remote control and programming capabilities. The Monostrip offers the first year of secure use for the device over the web and remote energy data collection at no cost.

After the first year of service expires, users can sign up again for $4 per year. Visible Energy has a similar device with four power outlets called the UFO Power Center that has been on the market for almost a year. The smaller and cheaper Monostrip should make it easier for users to get basic home automation and remote control of lighting and other devices.

New York City announced in April that some of those phone books would become digital kiosks with SmartScreens instead of phones inside. The smart screens would provide information on the local neighborhood, restaurants, and landmarks to visit. I think most citizens will get more use out of free Wi-Fi than a SmartScreen. The first hotspot booths were activated yesterday with Wi-Fi routers attached to the top of the phone booth.

Six of the phone booths are located in Manhattan. Two are in Brooklyn, and one is in Queens. The city plans to roll out additional locations in the Bronx and Staten Island soon. The city worked with two companies, Van Wagner and Titan, to deploy the Wi-Fi hotspots and provide ads of the booths. Those companies paid for the cost of the project including installation, management, and customer service. The cities pay nothing extra for the hotspots. The hotspots have a range of 100 to 200 feet around the phone booth.

[via ABC News]

Today New York City began rolling out a plan that will see many of the city’s old payphone kiosks turned into wireless access points. So far, only 10 kiosks have been converted to 24/7 hotspots across Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn, with the plan being to eventually set up many more hotspots across all five boroughs. Have a look at the list of locations where these hotspots are now up and running, courtesy of Gothamist:

Brooklyn

• 545 Albee Square
• 2 Smith Street

Queens

• 30-94 Steinway Street

Manhattan

• 402 West Broadway
• 458 Seventh Avenue
• 28 West 48th Street
• 410 Madison Avenue
• 1609 Broadway
• 1790 Broadway
• 230 West 95th Street

Kiosks equipped with Wi-Fi service will have the words “Free Wi-Fi” plastered all over them, and once you’re within range of the signal (100-200 feet), all you need to do is select the “Free Wi-Fi” option on your device and agree to the terms of use. When you’re finished with that, you’re free to browse the internet at your leisure.

It also has a wireless remote control capability to allow users to adjust the heating and cooling system over the web or via a smartphone. The thermostat communicates with the heating, and cooling system to provide alerts to the user and to the installing service provider on repairs or maintenance needs. The thermostat can also integrate with existing air purification system and dehumidifier.

The thermostat also has a section of the display for real-time weather information, and it can adjust the air-conditioning system for better indoor air quality. The skin on the outside of the thermostat can be customized to help it blend with the wall decor in your home. Pricing and availability are unannounced at this time.

It can also be used to monitor when something is open or closed such as a gun cabinet or liquor cabinet. The Knut is also able to monitor vibration and can be placed inside a box with something sensitive or fragile you might be shipping to monitor if the package is being treated appropriately. You can even use it to remind you to water plants.

The device is controlled by an app that would run on the smart phone or computer and receive the data the Wi-Fi enabled sensor spits out. The device will also e-mail the information to a specific e-mail address so you can check it without bothering with your phone. The user can control how frequently Knut checks sensors, with some sensors such as accelerometers and switches checked anytime they change. This project is seeking $25,000 and has so far racked up $39,834 with seven days to go before funding. It will cost you $80 or more to get one Knut sensor during the Kickstarter project. Delivery is estimated for September.

The pavement runs an operating system called VIACITIES OS. That operating system integrates all sorts of services, including maps of the city, and public transportation along with virtual libraries, promotions for local businesses, and more. The tiles also provide access to the Internet and information about events going on in the city.

The maker of the pavement also says that the tiles can be used to send messages directly to mobile phones and tablets. I could see that being a significant help for emergencies and things such as Amber alerts. The smart pavement has several main integrated apps, including VIA-Books, VIA-Maps, VIA-Sound, VIA-Coupons, MS-Alert, MS-Blue, and Analytical iPavement. That last allows the city to get statistics on the use, access, pedestrian traffic, and occupation public spaces from the tile.

This dongle works with wi-fi, and connects to your HTC One X or HTC One S – or any other HTC Sense 4.0 or higher device equipped with wi-fi capabilities. The connection itself, syncing between the dongle and your HTC smartphone or otherwise mobile device takes only a moment, and using it is easy as pie. Once you’ve got this device connected to your TV (or any other monitor with HDMI input) you’ll be using your HTC smartphone to “fling” images, video, and more to the larger display.

NOTE: This is an upgraded version of a device that HTC released back in 2010, a device known as the HTC Media Link (without the HD). Check that link for our hands-on back in the days when it was silvery.

Your HTC device will be able to work as normal (though using some of its processing power on the media display of course) as this device allows for dual-screen action. Dual-screen mode means you’ll have the media in front of you on your phone, you fling it up and out with a simple gesture with three fingers toward your larger display with the Link, and there the media will play while you keep your smartphone open for web browsing, texting, whatever else you need to do.

We’ll be giving this device a full review sometime in the very near future. For now you’ll have to check out the demonstration we’ve got coming your way via video. It works just like you think it does – connect and go!

The Intel chip is called the Rosepoint and at least for now it’s a research project only. However, Wired reports that we could see this on the chip inside laptops and mobile phones by the end of the decade. Rosepoint is a big deal because engineers and researchers at Intel have been able to miniaturize the components of the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi radio to the point where they can be placed directly beside an Atom CPU.

Intel is able to miniaturize the components to the point where they can be made using the latest chipmaking processes available today. Intel is promising when the chips finally hit market they will pack state of the art power efficiency and superior signal quality compared to separate processors and Wi-Fi radios. Intel also has its eyes set on building a digital cellular radio chip as well. Having an Atom CPU with an integrated 3G or 4G modem would be impressive indeed.

[via Wired]

And as anyone living in the US in the 2010s knows, being able to do something from your house is always better than going out to do it. Yes, perhaps it is sad that someone might not have the energe to go to the local McDonald’s to connect to Nintendo Zone, but we’re not judging. A user who goes by the online handle DarkWish found out that this hack is actually one of extreme ease. In fact, it’s so simple it almost boggles the mind. Anyone can do it, and here’s how:

“If you set your wireless network to be named attwifi and make it unsecured, then add that network on your 3DS… you can access the Nintendo Zone from home! So whatever demos (right now it’s just Mario & Sonic), Pokémon TV show episodes, and other content they have on there is now accessible from home.” So the Nintendo Zone is not exactly set up with proprietary restrictions. It’s kind of interesting that no one figured this out sooner. Here’s a video so you can see for yourself:

[via Escapist]

The slim set-top device is designed to sit on top of your television set and hooks up to it via an HDMI cable. The camera in the device features a 5-megapixel resolution and can digitally tilt, pan, and zoom. Given enough bandwidth, videos can be viewed in up to 720p resolution, while audio is 16KHz wideband.

The 802.11n WiFi connection supports download and upload speeds of up to 1Mbps and requires at least 256Kbps for both. Calls can be made to another person who also has a Biscotti TV Phone or has a smartphone, tablet, or computer that can use Google Talk.

Since Google Talk is a free service, this means no monthly subscription charges. You pay just one time for the device, which costs $199 and will begin shipping by the end of the month.

[via Engadget]

But before you jump on that claim, pointing to the Eye-Fi as a pre-existing WiFi-enabled SD card, the FlashAir works a bit differently. Whereas the Eye-Fi could only transmit files from a camera directly to a computer or smartphone, the FlashAir can do the same but also receive and transfer peer-to-peer.

The FlashAir lets users transfer photos and other data to and from computers and smartphones over WiFi, but also can transfer wirelessly to and from other digital cameras that are FlashAir compliant. The 8GB Class 6 card will be sampled starting November but will not begin sales until February 2012. Also, no pricing information has been announced yet.

The card will be shown off during IFA 2011, where there’s been a deluge of exciting announcements this morning, including the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7, the Galaxy Note, and the Toshiba AT200. More cool gadgets are sure to come throughout this week so stay tuned here on SlashGear as we’re in Berlin covering the event from September 2-7.

The image above shows how the wireless connectivity dropdown menu looks like in Snow Leopard (left) and Lion (right). The “AirPort” name has clearly been replaced with simply “Wi-Fi.” This change could save some trouble for new Mac users when setting up their first mac. Often times, they search in vain for Wi-Fi controls only to find something called AirPort.

“AirPort” has been the name of Apple’s 802.11 wireless connectivity since 1999, but Apple is the only one that uses it to refer to Wi-Fi. Now with the increasing popularity of the name Wi-Fi and the confusion that AirPort can cause it appears that Apple will be dropping the name when the Mac OS X 10.7 Lion arrives. The recent reports of supply shortage for the Apple AirPort devices may also have something to do with this. Perhaps, the rumored AirPort refresh may also be rebranded as Wi-Fi.

[via MacRumors]

It’s not certain when Samsung will officially announce this, but the unveiling is very likely to happen at CTIA in Orlando, Florida later this month. The device should have the same specs as the 3G-enabled version featuring a single-core 1GHz Hummingbird processor running Android 2.2 with dual cameras, 16GB storage, and Flash 10.1 support.

The price point of $399 is much more appealing than the high priced 3G version Samsung pushed previously that failed to gain traction. However, if the specs listed above are true, the device will be left in the dust again by its competitors. Especially with the launch of the iPad 2 today featuring a dual-core processor and the Motorola Xoom already running Android Honeycomb.

[via Droid-Life]

In order to create a visualization of the WiFi terrain, the artists created a 4 meter tall pole attached with lights that lit up according to a location’s WiFi signal strength. Then using long exposure photography, they were able to capture the cross sections of a network’s signal strength as the pole was moved across a landscape.

The resulting images are like cross sections of the WiFi signal topography materialized in the actual landscape. Having photographed these topographies in various locations, they noticed enormous differences in the way networks spilled out from large institutions versus, say, an old apartment building and that the behavior of the network very much depended on the architecture and how the city around it is built.

[via YourBan]

The store will be over 6,000 square feet, have a storefront over 55 feet wide, and feature a stainless steel and stone floor design that have become a trademark of Apple stores everywhere. Not only will the St. Louis Galleria Apple store be the first to offer this unique lounge concept, but it will also be the largest mall-based Apple store in the U.S.

Although it is true that Microsoft’s retail store in Mission Viejo, California has a similar lounge idea with bench seats, planter boxes and a double-sided video screen that is occasionally used for customer training. However, sources claim that the design of the new Apple store lounge will feature a permanent kiosk used as a lounge area that will not only offer free Wi-Fi, but will also be a “check-in” area for Genius bar appointments. Perhaps if Apple plays their cards right and makes the lounge area comfortable enough with some nice white leather sofas and maybe adds an espresso bar to the mix (or perhaps some free Starbucks coffee) they could hit the jackpot big time with this store!

[via AppleInsider]

ASI Entertainment reports that ASiQ Ltd has successfully tested the MMS capability of the SafeCell system on the latest Thuraya network and the existing Inmarsat network. I’m not sure what all that means, but the closer we get to giving me all the connected features I have on the ground in the air the better.

There is nothing worse than being on a plane for hours with nothing to do by wish you were at your destination already. The MMS service promises to be cheap with in-flight MMS messages costing about 50 cents each globally. This will be a good addition to the in-flight Wi-Fi we already enjoy.

Verizon will provide free Wi-Fi service to more than 500 Borders stores around the country. The two firms are now in the process of installing the needed equipment in the Borders locations and the service is expected to be available by mid-October.

The Verizon platform will offer a splash page to customers who log on in the store that allows Borders to show new releases and special offers to users. The agreement for Wi-Fi in the stores is an extension of an agreement already in place with Borders and Verizon covering WAN and VoIP services.

The router features ReadyShare USB drive access from any device on the network and offers broadband usage metering, DLNA support, and video QoS. Inside the router is a 680Mhz processor and support for 500Mbps WAN to LAN speeds and 350 Mbps wireless throughput.

The router allows the operation of dual wireless networks at the same time on 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies. Gigabit Ethernet ports are features for optimum data speeds. Security features of the router include WPA-Enterprise and WPA2-Enterpise and set up is simplified with Push ‘N’ Connect technology. The router is available now for pre-order at $189.99.

ABI Research has announced the results of a study that shows Wi-Fi equipped handset sales are doubling every two years. The research firm also reports that it believes the number of Wi-Fi handsets may more than double between 2009 and 2011 with over 300 million expected to ship in 2011.

About 144 million Wi-Fi handsets are expected to ship in 2009. Wi-Fi is more than a good feature for mobile phone users; Wi-Fi can also lessen the load on a carrier’s network. This is one of the biggest reasons Wi-Fi equipped handsets are growing so rapidly.