According to the Associated Press, the military issued a shutdown of the wireless network at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, also blocking access to social media websites, including Twitter and Facebook, via the base’s computers. No cyberattacks have happened thus far; the shutdown was initiated merely as a precaution due to the posted threats.

The threats were made on May 6 via Anon Insiders, where Anonymous published a press release regarding “Operation Guantanamo.” According to the statement, May 18 represented the 100th day the prisoners had been on the hunger strike, the same time the hackers’ 3-day operation would take place. The public was called to initiate “twitterstorms, email bombs, and fax bombs” nonstop to show their support.

The press release also included numbers to the White House, U.S. Southern Command, and Department of Defense, urging the public to call the numbers and demand a change in conditions and eradication of the force-feedings, as well as demands that the Obama Administration close Guantanamo, as was the original plan. People were also asked to call their representatives and senators to petition for its closure.

It is worth noting the press release doesn’t say anything about hacking or cyberattacking the network, instead urging the public to bombard the powers that be with denouncements of the prison’s conditions, actions, and continued existence. As such, it has been pointed out on the Operation Guantanamo’s Twitter account that the base has taken itself offline, with the hacking collective not having to do anything, seemingly fulfilling the purpose it was assumed Anonymous sought to achieve.

There’s no word on when the network will be available again.

SOURCE: Associated Press

Boingo has roughly 600,000 WiFi hotspots located around the world, and if you can’t get free WiFi on your laptop and you dare not choose to pay extra for tethering, you can use Boingo, which charges $7.99 per month. This really only seems reasonable if you travel a lot, but if you need WiFi and don’t just a free public network, Boingo is always an option.

Of course, if you don’t want to use the new method of paying for your monthly Boingo subscription, you can still stick with the old ways of doing things and manage your payments through the Boingo service itself. The iTunes payment method is just a few cents more than the traditional method, but that’s really not a huge deal.

For those wondering, yes, Boingo is most likely giving Apple a 30% cut because of this new feature, since it’s technically an in-app purchase, but it seems the company is willing to take the risk of losing money at the chance of getting more users to hop on board now that they have an easier payment method to take advantage of.

While working with an extended internet connection from your Samsung GALAXY S 4 may not be working straight from your normal menu right this minute, you do have options outside the regular fold. The widget set Extended Controls is one which allows quick-access to your mobile hotspot, Bluetooth, music, and a few other bits and pieces. There’s also the Koush-made USB tether app which makes tethering undetectable by your carrier of choice.

The Samsung GALAXY S 4 has appeared earlier today in the newest CyanogenMod 10.1 release for T-Mobile and has appeared earlier this month for AT&T. This setup allows you internet tethering and mobile hotspot abilities that we’ve not yet gotten the chance to test with this particular bug – but chances are there are good things to be said about the build. If you’re using the AT&T version of the Samsung GALAXY S 4 and CyanogenMod 10.1, be sure to let us know if you’re up and running!

The Samsung GALAXY S 4 is headed out to – or is already on – each of the major mobile device carriers in the United States right now and is spreading abroad as we speak. Have a peek at our full review of the Samsung GALAXY S 4 and let us know if you’re planning on checking one out in the near future!

On the camera side of things, there’s Samsung’s DRIMe IV engine for processing noise reduction and colors, with a maximum shutter speed of 1/4000th of a second and ISO 100-25600. There’s also a smart mode, for macro and panoramic shots, as well as more gimmicky photography like “best face” and “beauty face” which automatically processes those in-frame to smooth out skin and remove blemishes.

For video, there’s 2D capture in 30fps or 24fps and 3D capture – with the right lens – at 30fps. The NX2000 outputs in MPEG4 AVC/H.264 format with AAC audio, saving to microSDXC card.

On the “smart” side, meanwhile, there’s a 3.7-inch WVGA touchscreen to control the camera, and integration with social networks for directly squirting off your images over a WiFi connection. WiFi Direct is supported, over WiFi b/g/n, and an onboard email client can be used for more old-fashioned sending of shots. Pair the NX2000 with Samsung’s SMART CAMERA App – a simple matter of tapping it with an NFC-enabled phone – and you can use the software as a remote viewfinder, as well as take advantage of its data connection.

Samsung will offer the NX2000 in three color variants – white, black, and pink – priced at $649.99.

The free WiFi hotspot is available to Time Warner customers who have a standard internet subscription, or a Business Class subscription. Those who do not have either will be offered a free trial period to test out the hotspots, and will later be required to pay an access fee with packages starting at $2.95 an hour. The hotspots have become available starting today, and customers will be able to find their nearest hotspot using the TWC WiFi app available in both Google Play and the iOS App Store.

Google recently confirmed that it will be deploying its Google Fiber network in the city of Austin, Texas. Its internet service offers customers free internet with speeds of up to 5Mbps as long as the customer is willing to pay the installation fee. Customers can also opt for 1Gbps data speeds for $70 a month, or get both 1Gbps data speeds and the Google Fiber TV service for $120 a month.

TWC stated that due to Google’s announcement, the company has to be more aggressive in deploying its free WiFi networks. Not only that, but AT&T also plans on bringing its own 1Gbps fiber service to Austin, Texas as well. The competition is growing dangerously in the city, and in order to keep its subscribers, TWC knows that it needs to step up its game. But we know that its going to take more than free WiFi hotspots to keep customers from switching over to Google Fiber or AT&T, because contrary to what TWC’s CFO might think, customers do want 1Gbps data speeds.

[via Time Warner Cable]

The information comes from CBS, which says the MTA tested WiFi support in 7 different subway stations late last year, and having experienced positive results will begin rolling out the project on a larger scale. By the end of 2016, it is expected that almost all of New York City’s 277 subway stations will have wireless Internet and cell phone coverage.

The wireless service will be provided via several carriers, including Boingo, Transit Wireless, and all four big wireless carriers, with reports that more will be added. While the project is ambitious, it is also slow going, with technical difficulties being presented. The subway system was constructed over 100 years ago, and certainly wasn’t made with eventual wireless service in mind.

Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, among other carriers, have all joined the project to offer cell phone coverage in the 36 planned subways. As might be expected, some concerns about terrorism and the expanded wireless abilities facilitating it have been posed, but word has it the MTA is working alongside New York City’s counter-terrorism task force with the project. Beyond that it is being tight-lipped, and has nothing else to say.

[via Android Community]

According to Bloisi, the next 4 years will be the most crucial years for smartphone companies to begin marketing their devices in Latin America. He also says that having more WiFi connections in Latin America will be crucial to transforming the Latin American market. He believes that manufacturers will need to shell out cheaper phones, because due to “taxes, taxes, and the mystery of the Brazilian economy”, pricing of smartphones is 10x more expensive than other markets.

Bloisi states that the industry moving their focus away from HTML5 was the wrong decision. It sounds like what Bloisi believes is the key to penetrating the Latin American market is exactly what Mozilla is doing with its Firefox OS. While not addressing the “more WiFi connections” factor, Firefox OS does help accommodate all of the other “key” factors Bloisi believes will increase smartphone penetration in Latin America.

Earlier today, Mozilla announced that Firefox OS devices will launch in Venezuela, Poland, Brazil, Portugal, and Spain this June. Firefox OS revolves around HTML5, and the smartphones running the OS will primarily be low-end, affordable devices. Mozilla plans on bringing Firefox OS to at least 18 global operators, most of which are primarily emerging markets. While Firefox OS may not do well in major markets, it has a fighting chance in emerging markets, and is apparently exactly what emerging markets need.

[via All Things D]

According to 9to5Mac, a developer testing out the beta operating system spotted the code in OS X 10.8.4, specifically in the WiFi-frameworks folder deep within the file system. The code clearly reads “802.11ac” and it’s a line of code that is not found in OS X 10.8.3, which is the latest version of OS X that’s currently available to the public.

If you’re not too familiar with 802.11ac wireless, it’s essentially the successor to 802.11n, which is the latest and fastest network protocol to be certified. We’ve seen a few routers with 802.11ac on board, but it has yet to be certified, so we probably won’t be seeing a crop of 802.11ac products pop up just yet.

However, we’ll definitely see 802.11ac sprout up more and more in the near future, but we certainly wouldn’t be surprised if Apple waited a bit to implement it into their Macs. Sure, it may be in the code itself, but it’s possible that Apple won’t enable it in the next batch of MacBooks right away. However, we’ve heard in the past that Apple is partnering up with Broadcom to bring the new protocol to Macs this year.

[via 9to5Mac]

There’s also DLNA streaming and support for guest networks, allowing you to open up select access to visitors. In fact, the functionality is the same as the N750 wireless router-only that Linksys announced last year, only with the addition of ADSL support.

There’s still a WAN port for external modems, in case you subsequently want to use the X3500 with a cable or fiber modem. Linksys also offers mobile apps for iOS and Android, Cisco Connect Express, for remotely tweaking settings, monitoring usage, and upgrading firmware.

Hook up a USB drive, meanwhile, and you can access its contents from any networked device, or indeed stream from it to your PS3, Xbox, or other gadget; a USB printer can also be shared. The Linksys N750 Dual-Band X3500 router is available in the UK now, priced at £139 ($213).

According to the update notes, the April 2013 Surface RT update is cumulative, and concentrates specifically on correcting problems with the device’s Wi-Fi connectivity and reliability, as well as bringing better performance. Specifically among these are three big areas that have been focused upon, dealing with areas that have been frequent sources of complaints.

What are said to be “certain Limited connectivity problems” have been corrected with this update, and so the problem should be resolved for affected users who download the update. In addition, device handling of access points has been improved, as well as the system crashes that have resulted from certain Wi-Fi problems, which weren’t specified.

If a user hasn’t installed the previous updates, they will also be added when the latest one is installed. Those who want to manually install can do so by heading into PC Settings, followed by Settings. From there, it is a simple tap into Change PC Settings > Windows Update. Tap “Check for Updates,” and you’ll be well on your to seeing your Wi-Fi problems resolved.

[via Microsoft]

Qualcomm announced that it’ll be working with the MLB over the next two years to implement WiFi improvements to each of the 30 MLB stadiums to assess the level of WiFi coverage. The company said that select stadium reviews are underway as we speak, with the rest of fleet getting improvements over the next two years.

Qualcomm noted that WiFi traffic has been on the rise at MLB ballparks, and the company will not only figure out ways to improve WiFi coverage in stadiums, but also figure out new ways to deliver helpful and interesting content to spectators during the game. Financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed, and it’s not said how much upgrades will cost.

Qualcomm will also be working with carriers to improve 3G and 4G coverage in and around MLB stadiums. Frankly, improved wireless coverage is becoming more of a must at high-traffic areas like sports stadiums. With the growing amount of connected smartphones making their way into the hands of sports fans, stadiums will need to compensate by offering better WiFi coverage during the games.

John Roukema, the Director of Silicon Valley Power, stated, “This is just one of the major benefits our community will enjoy as a result of our advanced metering technology.” Silicon Valley Power expects there to be over 5,000 connections to its public WiFi network a day. However, because users will be accessing an unencrypted WiFi network, they are encouraged to browse with extreme caution, and have a firewall and antivirus installed on their devices.

Santa Clara’s free public WiFi is a positive step forward for the city and will provide great convenience for its residents. Santa Clara’s WiFi network is aimed more at casual internet browsing rather than data-intensive services such as online gaming and HD video streaming because users will be limited to speeds of about 1Mbps.

Many other Bay Area cities are also working on providing free public WiFi for its residents. Earlier this month, San Jose announced that it will be launching free, high-speed public WiFi for its entire downtown area. San Jose is working together with Ruckus Wireless Inc. to provide free public WiFi to specific locations in its city. Because San Jose, like many other cities, already has fiber-optic cables installed throughout its city, the cost of creating a free wireless network isn’t too expensive. Vijay Sammeta, San Jose’s Chief Information Officer, stated that San Jose’s network only cost about $100,000 to install and $20,000 to maintain annually.

[via The Wall Street Journal]

T-Mobile’s WiFi Calling is a lifesaver for many people, especially considering how T-Mobile doesn’t have the best network coverage around. If you have poor-to-no reception in your office, or at your friend’s home, or at a Starbucks, you can switch on your WiFi and use a nearby WiFi network as a coverage extender (for compatible phones). The service makes sure that you can get coverage indoors at all times.

While T-Mobile’s iPhone 5 won’t have support for WiFi calling, it will be the only iPhone 5 from any major carrier to offer HD Voice calling. The feature delivers crystal clear phone calls between two HD Voice compatible phones. Background noise will be reduced drastically and you’ll be experiencing calls as if the person you’re talking to is right next to you. With the iPhone 5′s LTE capabilities, as well as its 4G HSPA+ capabilities, you can be assured that you will be HD Voice-capable at all times.

T-Mobile now has LTE coverage in Phoenix, San Jose, Baltimore, Kansa City, Las Vegas, Washington D.C., and Houston. You will be able to experience an average download speed of 25Mbps and an average upload speed of 8Mbps on T-Mobile’s LTE network. Some screenshots have shown, however, that T-Mobile’s LTE speeds can reach up to 60Mbps download speeds. To take advantage of T-Mobile’s new LTE network, you should check out the carrier’s new Simple Choice plans.

Have a peek at our full iPhone 5 review now and get ready for the full T-Mobile release soon!

Sources stated that Apple purchased the small startup for $20 million. The news was later confirmed by an Apple spokesman who said that Apple “buys smaller technology companies from time to time.” Google has already jumped into the indoor-mapping game and it currently offers indoor mapping services for several locations, including certain airports, retail venues, and sports venues.

WifiSLAM works by allowing mobile apps to detect the user’s locations using the WiFi signals in the building. The service says that by only using ambient WiFi signals, your smartphone can pinpoint you to 2.5m accuracy. Not only is the startup used to help with indoor navigation, but it is also used to help create proximity-based social networking apps, and improve retail customer engagement.

Apple will most likely use the startup to add an indoor-mapping feature to its Maps app, but there are also many other possibilities that the startup can offer. Apple may also have a difficult time convincing customers to use its Maps app again. The app was notorious for giving bad directions, something that several people in Australia can account for. But of course, it’s Apple, so I’m sure the company will find some way to convince consumers to give Maps a second chance.

[via The Wall Street Journal]

During an analyst event, JetBlue announced that they will be calling their in-flight WiFi service “Fly-Fi,” a clever play on words with “Fly” and “WiFi.” The service will be powered by Exede Internet, which is owned by ViaSat. JetBlue hasn’t given a launch date yet, but they hope to have their first WiFi-enabled flight take off sometime later this year.

JetBlue also teased the new service, by releasing a video that demonstrates the speed of their new WiFi service compared to other top WiFi providers like Gogo, Row 44, and Panasonic’s own service. Of course, JetBlue boasts that their Fly-Fi option surfs the web at a much quicker rate than the other three providers.

The airline says that there’s still a lot of testing to be done, and the FAA still needs to come in and do a series of certification tests before the service can be put to public use. Currently, a large number of airlines have WiFi available, but you usually have to pay a small fee in order to get it. JetBlue will be one of the few airlines to offer free WiFi on board.

The privacy case at hand has 38 states across the USA and the District of Columbia saying Google’s “Wifi-poaching” Street View cars – which we’ve heard from many times before – are going out of their way NOT to keep to themselves. As these cars roam through your neighborhood, they take photos that are used for Google’s Street View portion of Google Maps – accessible by anyone with an internet connection. The part that regulators are not happy about has to do with Google also seeking open wifi networks to better pinpoint the location of their vehicles as they take said photos.

But as the settlement against Google here in the USA shines down a $7 million dollar fine against the big G, so too did the public raise their voices in freak-out mode to Google, telling them to “stop all the downloadin”.

Only that didn’t happen. There was no massive public outcry, nor was there a large call for citizens across the USA – or anywhere else, for that matter – to take better care to secure their own wireless network. That’s why this week’s directive has Google creating a consumer campaign to educate everyday users on how they might secure themselves against… well… Google.

Sound like a life-changing experience for you? Will a set of Google Public Service Announcements change the way you secure your home internet network? Or is this just an exercise in absurdity?

Have a peek at the timeline below to follow this Street View story back several months (and years) and see how we’re all handling this modern not-quite-so-private world of ours.

The settlement requires Google to pay $7 million split across the 37 states and the District of Columbia. Google is also required to delete the personal data it has collected and start a new employee training program. The training program will educate its employees about the importance of consumer privacy and how to protect their personal information. The program will stay in effect for at least the next 10 years.

Google stated that it is very adamant at getting privacy right, but “in this case we didn’t, which is why we quickly tightened up our systems to address the issue.” Google has assured everyone that it didn’t use the data or look at it. Alongside the new training program, Google will also start a national ad campaign that will educate consumers on how to better protect their private information in order to prevent incidents like this from ever happening again.

Eric Schneiderman, the New York State Attorney General, made a statement saying that this settlement “addresses privacy issues and protects the rights of people whose information was collected without their permission.” This Street View debacle should be a lesson to all consumers to always protect their information by using an encrypted WiFi network. Apple knows very well about the consequences of unsecured wireless networks.

[via CNET]

Google is said to be nearing a $7 million settlement in order to resolve the issue and the investigations surrounding it. Over 30 State Attorney Generals initiated investigations over the issue. The $7 million settlement would be split across those states. A Google’s spokesperson, Nadia Blagojevic, stated,

“We work hard to get privacy right at Google. But in this case we didn’t, which is why we quickly tightened up our systems to address the issue.”

This issue has affected many countries, including France, Norway, Belgium, Finland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria and Australia, and Ireland. The data was collected from unencrypted Wi-Fi networks. Alongside the $7 million payment Google may have to pay, the FCC had also imposed a $25,000 fine on the company regarding the Street View privacy breaches, a fine that only amounted to .001 percent of company’s revenue for a single day.

Google’s Street View cars are only supposed to collect images to be used for Google Maps, but due to an engineering issue, the cars collected a lot more information. Google intended to delete all of the private data in 2010, but some of the information still lingered in its system. Various privacy agencies all over the world began reviewing Google’s data in order to find out the appropriate fine the search-engine juggernaut would have to pay. Now Google has to wait to see if the agencies accept its $7 million settlement. We’ll keep you posted.

[via Washington Post]

The last time you were on a flight how many Android tablets did you see compared to the iPad or iPad mini? Whether you’re a fan or not Apple still reigns supremacy in this regard. According to the number of devices connecting to Gogo’s services, the iPad is the device of choice above all others for in-flight entertainment.

Overall tablets take up 35% of all connected devices with laptops coming in at 33%. Then smartphones come in a very close 3rd and will soon pass laptops, currently sitting at 32% of all in-flight connected devices. Then the folks from Gogo break this down even further to reveal how far ahead in the sky Apple is over the competition.

In 2013 out of all mobile devices being used to connect through Gogo, 84% are running Apple’s iOS while only a small 16% are being powered by Google’s Android OS. If you single it down to smartphones the iPhone holds 73% of all users, while Android sits around 26%. Oh, and we can’t forget about BlackBerry and Windows Phone. The two combined only make up around 1% and aren’t even in the infographic. While this shows great numbers for Apple, in 2011 Android was only being used in 3.2% so they are certainly on the rise.

So when you’re 36,000 feet in the air what are you doing? Aside from checking destination weather or entertainment options, Gogo states most are just doing general web browsing. Mobile has certainly taken over the traditional laptop when it comes to travel WiFi needs, and Apple’s iOS is at the top of that list.

[via Gogo]

If you take a peek on your smartphone, tablet, notebook, or what-have-you in your list of wifi hotspots, you should be able to see FREEWiFiGOWEX on the list no matter where you are in New York City. Right this minute they’ve got their network up for NYC, the first of many “Wireless Smart Cities” on the GOWEX map. They’re doing this with a total of 1,953 WiFi Smart Zones across the city in neighborhoods in all five boroughs: Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and the Bronx.

While you are able to connect to FREEWiFiGOWEX without any additional commitment – at this moment, anyway – you can also download an app that will show you where signals are stronger throughout the city. This app goes by the name of GOWEX WiFi Free and is available for both iOS and Android. With this app you’ll get a lovely set of “Smart City services” including news channels, local information on venues, and of course, advertisements.

It’s unclear at the moment how deep the advertisement aspect of this project goes, as GOWEX will be profiting from not just cash from mobile carriers that find the service lightening their load, but advertising dollars as well. GOWEX lets the public (and potential advertisers) know that with their “Smart Advertising platform”, they’ll be reaching users from both the American market and tourists all the same – massive amounts of them in NYC, too, of course.

GOWEX is now live, they say they’re offering 1Mb speed connection for free users, and you can connect right this second. Let us know how it goes if you do live in NYC, and we’ll be sure to let you know if and when they expand!

This technology is working via a wi-fi connection – especially amazing here at Mobile World Congress as massive amounts of connections are being blasted to and fro from device to device without end. The transmission of graphics here are said by LG to be superior to all other similar technologies that’ve appeared in the past – we’ll have to see about Miracast when it takes hold in the near future to compare. LG also maintains that it uses “less than 50 percent” of the power that competing services offer.

LG makes this claim saying that the amount of power needed by the smartphone’s processor and associated hardware is less with their solution, therefor draining the battery slower. They also say that the picture looks correct each time you connect because of instant screen formatting – no matter what display you’re connected to, your picture will be optimized. A compression of video is also claimed between the camera and the television – though how it works when it’s a live-in-action game, it’s not quite clear.

We’ve seen some rather beastly things coming from LG this week, and more than just phones, mind you. Have a peek at the timeline below as well as at the LG tag portal for more information on LG’s releases in the recent past. And don’t forget to check the Mobile World Congress 2013 portal for more up to the minute news blasts and hands-on action than you can handle!

This call to action (or call to stop action, as it were), comes after FCC Chairman Julius Genachoski spoke up at CES 2013 about cracking open unlicensed spectrum for a speed boost in wireless internet across the USA. It was then that Genachowski let it be known that this move would “free up a substantial amount of spectrum for wifi to relieve wifi congestion and improve wifi speeds” across the country – conferences, airports, and homes included.

Image above via SlashGear Chevrolet Sonic post about Siri integration and other wireless-related technologies therein. Slightly different from what the future holds with car-to-car communications.

The FCC’s plan includes a clearing of 195 MHz of spectrum in the 5GHz band to be used by wifi networks exclusively. The ITSA has spoken up this week with a note that their future plans for a highly secure wireless technology connecting network-ready cars could be interfered with by the FCC’s new move. This technology would allow cars to get information about their speed, acceleration, breaking, trajectories, and destinations to allow them better knowledge on how they’ll be getting where they’re going.

Instead of asking that this wifi expansion be stopped before its started, the auto group has asked that the FCC put safeguards in place to guarantee their future networks would not be hindered in any way. If the two sets of wireless technology did cross over in one way or another, the auto industry would be on the short end of the stick. Any sign of safety being at risk in vehicles using this up and coming short-range technology would be a big boon for the whole collection of auto makers hoping to make usage widespread.

The Intelligent Transportation Society of America is made up of members such as Chrysler, Hyundai, and Mercedes-Benz – not to mention AAA. This should be an interesting battle (or kind, gentle, measured talk between friends) that you’ll want to follow!

[via GigaOM]

As part of Samsung’s SMART CAMERA 2.0 range, it’s the WiFi connectivity that’s arguably most interesting. The integrated connection can be used to automatically upload shots and video to social networks or online galleries, navigated via the touchscreen each camera is equipped with.

Alternatively, there are apps for iOS and Android, which can be used with the AutoShare feature that instantly backs up multimedia to a nearby phone or tablet. The SMART CAMERA App also includes remote streaming viewfinder functionality, making for easier control when the cameras are on a tripod.

Neither the WB250F nor the DV150F are going to offer the same smart functionality as Samsung’s own Galaxy Camera, which runs a full Android install, but then neither are they quite so expensive. More on the DV150F and its DualView functionality in our hands-on from CES.

According to the Washington Post, the FCC is thinking about buying back spectrum from TV stations that would allow for “super WiFi,” that would blanket the country with wide-ranging, highly-penetrative networks. While ISPs are furious about the proposition, the large tech companies like Google and Microsoft are all for the idea.

This free WiFi network would work similarly to how cellular networks work now. You would have constant connection to the internet no matter where you were, and while you can easily achieve this through LTE, that obviously costs quite a bit per month, while this new WiFi network would be absolutely free, and potentially faster than LTE.

Pretty much all wireless providers, including handset manufacturers, and those invested in the mobile phone industry are not liking the idea one bit, and they don’t want their lucrative business interrupted. However, Google and Microsoft both said that increased internet access means more potential users, and it would open up to a massive boom in innovation if more people could access the internet anywhere.

It’s not said exactly when the free nationwide WiFi could be set up. It would have to get approval first, and even after that’s done, it would take several years for the network to be completely built. So, while it may come in the future, don’t expect it anytime soon.

[via The Washington Post]

As The Register notes, two of the stranger fixes have involved heat and/or cooling of the device – and this isn’t the first nor will it be the last time in this post that we warn you: these fixes are done of your own accord, and SlashGear does not assume any responsibility for you destroying or otherwise changing the way your iPhone functions (or stops functioning). That said, you may very well have wi-fi again very soon – have at it!

The first of these fixes includes blasting your iPhone 5 with a hairdryer. You’ll be heating up the area directly below the lens of the camera on the back of the device while you avoid the area on the phone that includes the battery, that being basically the whole right side of the phone. The right side of the phone is in this case the side of the Apple logo with the bite taken out of it. If you heat up your battery, it will expand and break.

This heating fix requires that you heat up the area below the lens on the camera on the back of the device for a while (no time specified) and allow it to cool back down completely before you begin using the device once more. The image you see above is a replica of one posted in the Apple support forums by a user by the name of Ibrahim, showing the yellow area as the area you want to heat (with more caution than you can possibly muster) and the red marking the area you want to avoid completely.

The other major fix for the device is simply wrapping your iPhone in a towel and putting it in the freezer. While there’s a much smaller chance in that case that your device will be busted than it would with the heat, there’s still some caution to be had – don’t expect an immediate fix, and do so at your own risk. This isn’t magic, and physical “fixes” for gadgets are often less helpful than they are full of breaking action.

Sound like a good couple of fixes to you? Both are dangerous enough that you’ll probably want to avoid using them and wait for a real fix from Apple. The major point here is that wifi, while some people end up skipping using it at this point altogether, is still a beast of a component for your modern smart devices, and it’s not going away any time soon – wireless forever!

Those on Vodafone, EE – or its Orange or T-Mobile UK brands – or Virgin Media will all be able to get online free, having inked wholesale access agreements to the WiFi network back in November 2012. Those on O2 and 3, however, will have to pay, as will those users wanting to connect with their WiFi-only tablets, notebooks, portable games consoles, and other devices.

Three tariff options are available, varying in price and length of access. Daily plans are £2 ($3) while a week’s access is £5 ($8); finally, a month’s access to the WiFi network is £15 ($24). Virgin Media says that those opting for the full monthly package in February will get three months access for the price of one.

Eleven new locations have been lit up today, and Virgin Media is apparently on track for 120 stations to be connected by the time March 2013 is through. You can find details on all the WiFi stations here, as well as price plan information. Those logging on without a plan will have access to up-to-date Tube timetables and service status.

What we’re seeing here is a palm-sized device that works with a single-core processor (Cortex A9 for the curious) and works with 1GB of RAM and keeps all its captured media on a microSD card. It has the ability to connect to your smartphone device with Bluetooth and wi-fi, and will be bringing on streaming video, video capture, and an automatic panorama photo mode. Inside this device you’ve got 14 sensors, 3 stabilization algorithms and more from the developers at Morpho – magicians of this modern mobile age.

The thing about the MeCam is that it’s not going to be made unless someone with the manufacturing power to make it takes on the investment. The team at Always Innovating is made up of developers and inventors, lacking the manufacturing connections to make this project a reality on their own. Always Innovating’s team is confident that they will find someone soon, however, and aim for a Q1 2014 release date – so you can keep your fifty dollar bill in your pocket for now.

This machine will almost certainly be working with connections to iOS and Android machines when it is lunched, as well as instant sharing abilities for YouTube, Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and the rest. Streaming video from this little gadget is not being pegged for any definite quality at the moment, nor is the quality of the camera as of yet. We’ll see more as the actual device comes around in a few months – we hope!

[via Liliputing]

This service will be working with your wireless device galore, including but not limited to your laptop, smartphone, and tablet. You’ll be able to get internet on the flight starting at $3.99 ranging all the way up to $19.99 depending on the service you’d like to work with. Standard prices range from $3.99 to $14.99 depending on how far you’ll be flying – that including basic speeds (the exact internet speed not being shared at the moment by United).

If you’re working with Accelerated internet, you’ll be paying between $5.99 and $19.99 USD – these prices also based on the length of flight you’ll be taking. The hardware being installed to make this all a reality is none other than Panasonic Avionics Corporation’s Ku-band satellite technology – this is different from air-to-ground technology being used by many national companies today.

The roll-out of this tech for you and I will be starting with two Airbus 319 aircraft right here at the start of 2013 with connectivity hitting 300 mainline aircraft by the end of this year – that’s a whole lot of connectivity! You’ll be able to work with this tech on Airbus 319 and 320 aircraft for starters as well as Boeing 737, 747, 757, 767, 777 and 787 sooner than later!

The NetCam HD touts 720p video capabilities, as well as digital audio capture for monitoring while your on the road. It also boasts easy setup with an Android or iOS smartphone with your home’s wireless router, so there’s no need to get on your computer to configure the device, which is incredible convenient, especially for those who use their smartphones the most.

If you need to monitor your house at night, Belkin included night vision capabilities in the NetCam HD, just like the device’s predecessor. A companion mobile app handles most of the workload, and email alerts can be pushed to your inbox when motion is detected, complete with a screenshot of the culprit passing through.

Additionally, the NetCam HD will launch with the recently outed WeMo SMART platform that adds to Belkin’s home automation tools for a variety of in-home uses with electronics and appliances. The NetCam HD is slated to hit shelves this spring at a price of $149, which is just a tad more than the original NetCam.

The NX300 is Samsung’s replacement for the NX210, bringing this beastly 20.3 MP APS-C CMOS sensor to replace that last-generation machine along with a set of features that are not to be missed. You’ll be getting a full-on 3.31-inch AMOLED touch display, 1080p video shooting abilities at 60 frames per second, and of course a massive ISO range of 100 to 25600. You can take burst shots at 8.6 photos per second too – snap em up!

The maximum shutter speed on this next-generation camera is an undeniable 1/6000th of a second, meaning you’ll be able to capture a lion leaping in for the kill on your favorite zebra this summer season without a hassle. This this device isn’t technically part of the same push for Samsung’s SMART CAMERA lineup, you’ll still be rolling out with built-in dual-band wi-fi and you’ll have the ability to connect to the device with your smartphone, too. The NX300 is part of Samsung’s line of devices that have their own Android and iOS app to rock and roll remotely – upload at will and use a remote viewfinder as well!

Have a peek at the Samsung tag to see what else Samsung has presented this week and check out the full details of the company’s excellent offering for web-ready cameras for 2013. Also be sure to jump in on our CES 2013 hub to see all of our hands-on action and up to the minute updates all week long!

The Samsung DV150F is a rather tiny device, certainly small enough to fit in your front pocket on any average ol’ day. It’s got a 16.2 megapixel CCD image sensor with the ability to capture 720p HD video, and it brings on wi-fi connectivity like the rest of the new wave of Samsung SMART CAMERA devices. The button on the back quick-toggles your connection to a local wireless network and you’re able to share like a maniac at will.

The term Live View is used here to brand the ability to see yourself while you’re taking a photo of your own face with the front-facing camera. This camera’s shots are certainly going to be fine and high quality enough for you to upload and use on your favorite social networks and even print should you feel the need to capture a series of photos at a party that you don’t just want to post to Facebook. You’ve also got a microSD/SDHC/SDXC card slot and several color casings to choose from.

This is but one of several Samsung SMART CAMERA machines we’ve seen this week – have a peek at our Samsung tag portal to see the full set and jump on in to the next generation of Samsung’s glorious connection to the share-friendly web. Also make sure you’re glued to our giant CES Hub for more CES 2013 than your eyeballs can possibly need!

Sony already showed us its easy-pairing approach using NFC on the Xperia Z, but the system has more uses than just streaming audio over Bluetooth to a speaker or headset. The TV controller – which Sony is calling the One-touch Remote – when tapped briefly against your compatible Xperia phone automatically pairs up a WiFi Direct connection, and begins screen mirroring.

That means photos, videos, music, and apps on the big screen, and in a way that’s probably so straightforward that we can even envisage the mass-market adopting it. Tapping the phone against the remote a second time cuts the connection, with a little haptic-feedback buzz from the Xperia to let you know it’s worked.

In fact, the limiting factor is likely to be the fact that it’s Sony-only right now. Just as with other customized NFC-based systems we’ve seen – Samsung’s S Beam comes to mind, on the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II – there’s no playing nicely between the technologies. Being able to hand your friends and family the remote and have their content almost instantly appear on the big-screen is great; having to frisk them to make sure they have a Sony Xperia first is less impressive.

The app pairs with the Drift Datalink system found in the Drift HD Ghost action camera, and it provides remote control capabilities, allowing users to use their mobile device to set up camera angles, stream video playback, and share content instantly on different social media platforms.

The HD Ghost camera can communicate with mobile devices to a distance of up to 295 feet (90m) using its built-in WiFi network. When the app is paired to the camera’s Drift Datalink system, users have the ability to control their Drift HD Ghost remotely and set up and different types of shots within the view screen.

Users can also monitor the camera’s battery life, and the app filters content by media type for playback in the gallery, which makes it easy to find the videos you want to watch and share. The app is currently only available for iOS devices, with Android compatibility coming soon.

802.11ac offers faster throughput, higher capacity, wider coverage, and improved power efficiency. Products offering 802.11n connectivity (found in most consumer electronics, and is the current standard) provide connections up to 450Mbps, while 802.11ac equivalents start at 450Mbps and are capable of almost tripling its predecessor with 1.3Gbps.

Broadcom is currently just one out of a small number of chip makers currently providing 802.11ac chipsets, which are aimed at the smartphone, tablet, and router markets. Some manufacturers have introduced 802.11ac networking in notebooks recently, but large-scale notebook support is still ultimately lacking.

According to anonymous sources, the 802.11ac WiFi chip is still in development, so it’s actually not really a thing yet, but it’s said that if everything goes according to schedule, the new chips should be ready in time to be put in the new line of Mac computers later this year.

[via The Next Web]

Although initial suggestions around 802.11ac indicated throughput rates of up to 6.9Gbps, the initial products are more likely to top out at 1.3Gbps at most. “First-generation 802.11ac products will achieve up to 1.3 Gbps through the use of three spatial streams,” Aerohive Networks’ Andrew vonNagy explains, “80-MHz-wide channels (double the largest 40 MHz channel width with 802.11n), and use of better hardware components that allow higher levels of modulation and encoding (up to 256-QAM).”

In fact, it could be “another three years or so until 11ac becomes compelling” as a must-have upgrade to WiFi 11n systems, Spain suggests. Even then, rather than speed, it may be overall capacity that proves the biggest draw. All 802.11n hardware will have support for both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, helping shift devices out of the congested 2.4GHz range.

“What’s not being talked about enough is that 11ac clients will free up more 2.4-GHz space for clients that can’t upgrade,” Spain says, “and that advanced features like multiuser MIMO will provide wireless performance that is more switch-like compared to the shared media nature of 11n.”

As Qualcomm explained to us back in February, when the 11ac ratification was still around a year away, co-existing 11ac and legacy WiFi networks will also introduce a hindrance on speed; the biggest advantages will of course be seen when the network is 11ac-only. Routers supporting the new standard but working with b/g/n hardware will use a “round robin” distribution method in that case, rapidly connecting and disconnecting with each client in turn; each connection will negotiate the fastest possible speeds supported by router and client.

In contrast, 11ac supports concurrent operations, with a resulting increase in throughput. Nonetheless, it’ll be some time – even with early hardware getting the jump on sales pre-ratification – before 11ac is the dominant wireless system, and perhaps longer still before we see the key benefits from its on-paper potential.

[via Slashdot]

According to some critics of the current process, the hassle involved in obtaining licensing for in-flight wireless Internet is the reason why it is not more widely available. According to the FCC’s Chairman Julius Genachowski, once the application process is in place, the amount of time it takes for an airline to get in-flight Internet approval will be cut in half.

The Federal Aviation Administration requires in-flight wireless Internet to be thoroughly tested for possible navigation/piloting interference. Says the Washington Post, while the FAA acknowledged that the FCC’s application process will indeed speed up the time it takes to get an in-flight wifi system in place on planes, it did not specify anything pertaining to its own involvement and requirements.

This comes at a time when the FAA has been reviewing its regulations about the use of certain devices that do not interfere with the safe operation of an aircraft, such as ereaders. Internet and gadgets are becoming a staple of society, and as such, both airlines and government agencies are being forced to adjust to keep pace. Says the FCC, “Whether traveling for work or leisure, Americans increasingly expect broadband access everywhere they go.”

[via Washington Post]

“The financial structure of the agreement includes a lump sum €50 million (approximately $65 million) one-time payment,” RIM reveals in the document, “which has been recorded in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations in the third quarter of fiscal 2013.”

What isn’t confirmed is how much the on-going fees will be for RIM to use Nokia’s WLAN networking technology. However, there are suggestions by some industry watchers that the two firms have settled on a figure in the $2-$5 per device range.

That could mean RIM’s annual payout will near this one-time fee, though it obviously depends on the success of BlackBerry 10 and the ongoing performance of the company. The likelihood of that won’t be known until early in the new year, when the first smartphones running the new OS will be released.

Nokia’s legal success had initially been limited to the Swedish courts, though the case was seen as a landmark ruling which would likely be followed by similar decisions in other jurisdictions.

[via AllThingsD]

Boeing must check that onboard wireless signals don’t interfere with navigation and communication systems, and in order to get the best possible results, they use what they cleverly call SPUDS (Synthetic Personnel Using Dielectric Substitution) to help replicate how airborne signals are bounced and absorbed by real-life passengers, but without the need for Boeing to go out and find real people who will sit for hours on end.

Boeing spokesman Adam Tischler said that the sacks of potatoes accurately replicate the way human passengers reflect and absorb electronic signals. Furthermore, this strange method has dramatically shortened testing times for Boeing. What usually took two weeks now only takes a few hours, thanks to SPUDS.

It turns out that there are a lot of considerations for optimizing WiFi in an aircraft. The company explains how signal variations can shift dramatically even in a small area, and there’s also the difficult task of finding the best WiFi signal strength for passengers without interrupting critical communication systems in the cockpit.

[via LA Times]

Image via Flickr

The adapter can be connected to either a micro or standard USB port, and is plug-and-play. Depending on the device it is being connected to, the TAN1 can be attached to a lid or chassis via a clip or can be left to lay flat. The clip is adjustable, and according to the announcement, can also be attached to tablet cases, such as a protective cover.

The TAN1 boasts a combination of low-noise amplifiers and high-power wifi amplifiers for improved wireless transmitting and receiving. The device utilizes high gain antennas, and in combination with the amplifiers, all ultimately come together to provide exceptional range when compared to what you get with embedded options.

Amped Wireless’s CEO Jason Owen offered this statement. “With the TAN1, Windows 8 users can now have uncompromised long range Wi-Fi performance to connect to Wi-Fi networks from much greater distances. Home users can roam freely throughout their home without worrying about disconnects or buffering, while business users can connect to Wi-Fi hotspots with ease while at airports or hotels.”

Unlike traditional DSL or cable broadband, however, FreedomPop is sticking with wireless options for its connection. The Hub Burst unit itself is basically a fixed WiMAX modem, complete with WiFi and ethernet connectivity, meaning installation is as straightforward as plugging it into the mains.

If 1GB of data isn’t enough for you, there will be paid plans starting at $9.99 per month for 10GB. Alternatively, FreedomPop will allow you to pay for what excess you use, at $0.005/MB. The modem itself will be $89, and assuming you don’t use any more than 1GB, that’s all you’ll need to pay.

Up for preorder from today, Hub Burst is expected to begin shipping in January 2013. It appears to be a rebadge of the Clear Hub Express, complete with two ethernet ports and WiFi b/g/n.