Many would agree that Facebook's mobile apps, in addition to the social network as a whole, is a bit bloated with useless, unnecessary features. Fortunately the newest one will definitely be handy when in a pinch. Called "Find Wifi," the feature lets users search for nearby businesses and locations that offer free WiFi for public use.
No good idea in the tech world goes without replication, and while eero may have started the home mesh networking segment, it can't afford to rest on its laurels. Throw open your doors, therefore, to the second-generation eero and the new eero Beacon, promising more flexibility, a more competitive price, and more speed. Indeed, performance is said be as much as twice that of the original eero, which launched back in 2015.
AT&T's Fixed Wireless Internet service has just expanded into 8 new states, extending connectivity options in more rural regions through the US. Fixed Wireless Internet is designed specifically for AT&T's rural customers, and involves the company installing an antenna on the customer's property that then works with the closest cell tower. The result is wireless Internet that is at least 10Mbps in speed.
eero kick-started the home mesh WiFi revolution, now it's rolling out two new models and a subscription based filtering and security service to keep its edge. The 2nd-generation eero, eero Beacon, and optional eero Plus network protection package promise more speed, more safety, and even more flexibility. Still, they also take pains not to undermine the reputation for plug-and-play ease that eero has become known for.
Routers may not be sexy but they can definitely be ambitious, with Qualcomm looking to replace your Echo, router, and smart home bridges with a single unit. The company unveiled its Mesh Networking Platform and Reference Design at Computex 2017 this week, an all-in-one that combines mesh networking, self-healing and -organizing configuration, voice agents like Alexa and Google Assistant, and all the radios to talk to your connected lights, locks, speakers, and more, in a single box.
TP-Link has announced a new home WiFi system that seems to take security just as seriously as providing a consistent WiFi signal. Like many other WiFi systems these days, the Deco M5 creates a mesh network to keep your WiFi signal strong in every room of your home. While mesh networking may not be as new and exciting as it once was, TP-Link is hoping that Deco M5's built-in security features will pull customers away from the competition.
A new collection of NETGEAR Orbi home internet hardware has been revealed with packages including routers and wall plug satellites. To make this extremely simple: the router sends the internet out into the users’ home, while the satellite picks up the signal and bounces it back, making it stronger throughout the area. Two new Orbi Tri-band WiFi Systems are coming to stores very soon, both made by NETGEAR.
Mesh networking favorite Eero has cut the price of its router system, aiming to get its distributed WiFi system in as many homes as possible before adding more ambitious functionality. Launched a year ago, the unimposing white boxes led the charge in domestic mesh networks where, rather than a single router being the point of contact for every WiFi device, several act as nodes for broader coverage. That way, both speed and network availability is improved.
Modern WiFi is fast, but Qualcomm's latest range of chips is all about getting best performance in the increasingly crowded wireless spectrum. The new Qualcomm 802.11ax chips - one for network infrastructure like routers and cars, and another for client devices like laptops and smartphones - promise up to four times the capacity for WiFi traffic. That more efficient use of the spectrum has big potential pay-offs, with the possibility of up to 4x the throughput and longer battery life from your device overall.
Smarter routers with swifter response to malware and IoT exploits are a growing segment now, and Norton is wading in with its own striking wireless router. The Norton Core not only looks like a miniature Spaceship Earth from Epcot, but inside the geodesic dome there's a mixture of parental filters, real-time security scans, and automatic updates. Even the shape has been designed with practicality in mind.
Linksys has joined the mesh networking club, launching Velop, a multi-unit WiFi router system at CES 2017 this week. Aiming to blanket your home in wireless coverage, each of the Velop units - a white, 7-inch tall monolith - interconnects with each other, forming a mesh of connectivity. Meanwhile, there's the promise of automatic firmware updates should security loopholes be spotted down the line.
With its focus on the cloud it's in Google's best interest to get you online as fast, and as consistently as possible, and now that's down to Google Wifi. Handiwork of the same team responsible for OnHub, the system you see today is more than three years in the making. Its goal isn't just raw throughput but addressing what the company claims is the number one pain-point users complain about: inconsistent network coverage.
