wifi

This week the folks at Philips have revealed that their next-generation 6000 Series 4K TVs will be adopting smartphone casting abilities via Google. Also known as "Google Cast", this technology allows the owner of an Android smartphone, Android tablet, or desktop (or laptop) computer with Chrome web browser to send media to their television over a Wi-Fi connection. This content is then played independent of the original device or controlled by the original device, dependent on the application used to do the casting.

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A new WiFi router is on Kickstarter seeking funding called Portal. This WiFi router claims to use spectrum turbocharger technology inside to bring access to 300% more airwaves than any other router out there. The maker claims that extra airwave coverage brings as much as 300x more range and coverage. If you live in a location that has lots of WiFi signals flying around, portal still claims to improve your performance by 2x.

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Way back in January we talked a bit about what TP-Links claims is the world's first wireless AD router called the Talon AD7200. In January, the router had been announced and it is now available to purchase online and in some retail outlets. The AD7200 router runs on a 60GHz band that is able to reach much faster speeds than Gigabit Ethernet. It will allow users to download 200 photos in less than a second.

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When you're in a big city, sometimes it's hard to get a good cell phone signal. Between the sheer number of people, and the skyscrapers, it can be frustrating to even try and load a webpage on your phone. Thankfully the people of New York City won't have to worry too much about that, at least not while riding the bus.

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Home security is one of the cornerstones of the Internet of Things, and seeing who is at the door - and then optionally letting them in - is a growing market. August is following up its popular Smart Lock with the August Doorbell Cam, a handsome WiFi-connected streaming video camera which gives you a sneaky eye on the front door frame. At $199, though, before you've even bought the Smart Lock, it's not a cheap upgrade for your home security, but does the convenience make it worth it?

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This week the folks at Amazon have had their second-generation Amazon Dash Button appear in the FCC. This device appears to be rolling with the same capabilities as its predecessor, able to connect to its web-based functions via 802.11 WiFi - but this time adds Bluetooth. What might a device like this need with Bluetooth? Why, to connect via your smartphone, of course. Or perhaps to go Echo on us all?

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Alongside the new iPhone and iPad announcement event on Monday, Apple finally released the iOS 9.3 software update. While the most noticeable change is the new Night Shift feature for adjusting color temperatures at night, users on AT&T that make frequent trips overseas and still need to place phone calls will be happy to hear about improved WiFi calling support. The carrier has announced that iOS 9.3 includes support for international WiFi calling, as opposed to just in the US as it was before the update.

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Four years after the launch of the original Raspberry Pi, the new Raspberry Pi 3 has appeared with several very important new features. This version of the device - the $35 computer, that is to say - comes with two essential features that've been relegated to accessories until now. Both Bluetooth 4.1 and Wi-Fi are now built-in with this Raspberry Pi 3, freeing up room for more ports for more projects and more freedom for the device on its own!

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A group of researchers at the University of Washington has made a WiFi breakthrough that could result in wireless networks that consume much less power. As it is now, WiFi-enabled devices give up a significant amount of their battery life to stay connected to wireless networks. The researchers have made a passive WiFi discovery that uses 10,000 times less power than current WiFi methods.

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TP-LINK has rolled out a pair of new range extenders including the RE590T AC1900 Touch Screen WiFi Range Extender and the RE350K AC1200 WiFi Range Extender. The coolest of the duo is the RE590T with its wild color scheme that looks like some sort of tile mosaic on top and the large touchscreen for controlling the settings and accessing menus of the extender. That screen is 4.3-inches and the range extender can expand WiFi up to 10,000 square feet.

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Nokia may be out of the phone business but the next step for the storied brand might see have an impact on more pockets than ever before. The company has brought new devices to Mobile World Congress 2016, but unlike previous years they're not smartphones. Instead, It's Nokia AirScale, a 5G-ready ecosystem that, while you may never hear the name in daily life, could end up gluing together your future handsets, IoT devices, cars, smart homes, and more.

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New York City residents now have much easier access to free, public WiFi hotspots. The city has launched its LinkNYC service throughout the five boroughs, with terminals replacing old pay phones, capable not only of free WiFi, but free domestic calls and access to the web via built-in tablet display. It's all supported with built-in advertising, and city officials say it's the start of what will become the world's largest municipal network.

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