Hasta La Gadget!

If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in the only corner of a hotel room where the WiFi actually works, then Satechi may be able to get you back to the desk. Its Multifunction Mini-Router not only gives you a private, 300 Mbps WiFi access point from a hotel’s wired internet, but functions as a repeater that can distribute a weak wireless signal elsewhere in the room, too. It also works as a standard home router, of course, and even has a bridge mode which lets you take an existing WiFi network and re-transmit it with a different name (and security), useful for combo networks like those in a cafe, for instance. Finally, the client mode lets you plug the Satechi box into a wired device like a Smart TV or set top box to give it WiFi capability — letting you dodge the hefty freight of proprietary WiFi dongles often not included with such devices. That’s a lot of functionality for $40, but if we had you at “WiFi repeater,” check the PR and video after the break.

Filed under: Peripherals, Internet

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Source: Satechi

This week the FCC’s proposal for opening up a new large bit of spectrum in the USA reserved for wifi internet having some car trouble. The auto industry – via the Transportation Society of America (ITSA) has sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission asking them to to heed their warning. Their warning, in this case, was that these new wifi networks could potentially interfere with vehicle-to-vehicle communications networks coming in the near future.

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]

FCC Wifi expansion sees slight Auto Industry hold-up is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Samsung‘s new smart point-and-shoot cameras for 2013 have begun to turn up in stores, with the WB250F and DV150F revealed at CES last month already hitting shelves. The WB250F, which has an 18x optical zoom and 14.2-megapixel sensor, and the DualView DV150F, which has displays front and back for easier vanity shots, are each on sale from today, priced at $249.99 and $149.99 respectively.

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.

Samsung WB250F and DV150F WiFi smart cameras hit stores is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

If you like the very best, you’ll be happy to hear that the biggest capacity, most expensive iPad yet has now landed at the Apple Store online. US customers can pick from AT&T, Sprint or Verizon to power their 128GB LTE model ($929), although AT&T has a reduced waiting time of 1-3 days, compared to 3-5 business days for the other two carriers. Expect the WiFi iteration ($799) to arrive within three days — that is, if you place your order at the source today.

Filed under: Tablets, Apple

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Via: 9to5Mac

Source: Apple Store

A government that moves with the times would know how to soothe and make themselves appealing to the voting public with populist policies, and it seems that our government might be on the cusp of an interesting technological wooing point – to develop free and public Super WiFi networks not in just one state, but across the US. The FCC is mulling over such a proposal, where it will then require local TV stations and broadcasters to sell wireless spectrum to the government. Subsequently, the government will make use of that spectrum in order to build public Wi-Fi networks.

Needless to say, these will not be any ordinary Wi-Fi network, but rather, would be a whole lot stronger compared to the average one due to the spectrum used to build them. On paper, their signal would travel across long distances without missing a beat, while being able to penetrate thick walls and other objects. Should it be successful, do you think that many folks would proceed to cancel their cellular and Internet plans? After all, if something is freely available and works just fine as a paid product, why not settle for the former?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Sony Vaio T Ultrabooks Hit Online Stores, Raspberry Pi “Model A” Now Available In Europe,