Posts tagged Wi fi at The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

Posts with tag wi-fi

AT&T WiFi portal for iPhone users shows up at Starbucks

Posted Apr 18th 2008 8:30AM by Cory Bohon
Filed under: iPod Family, Internet, iPhone

It was only a couple months ago that Starbucks announced that AT&T would take over hotspot services from T-Mobile. Now the WiFi hotspots are rolling out to some of the Starbucks stores. David Chartier, of previous TUAW and now ArsTechnica fame, recently posted an article on his personal blog about the portal and what it offers. He also took the picture that you can see above.

According to David, AT&T is giving WiFi users 2 free hours of access per day. But AT&T didn't stop there -- they designed an iPhone-specific portal to sign onto the service. A local Starbucks manager told David that all 7,000+ Starbucks stores in the US should be "finished by summer."

I should note that this iPhone portal isn't specific to Starbucks -- every AT&T WiFi hotspot features the same interface -- and all devices are eligible for the 2 free hours of access (not just iPhones and iPod touches). Any WiFi device should be able to logon to the service. It is nice to see AT&T finally giving connectivity away for free.

[via 1FPS]

TriBand antenna for Time Capsule

Posted Mar 25th 2008 10:30PM by Dave Caolo
Filed under: Accessories, Airport

Quickertek has produced an antenna for the Time Capsule which, according to them, increases the device's range by 50%.

It's compatible with 802.11 A, B, and G, and comes either as a self install kit or an installation service. Or, if you don't have a Time Capsule just yet, you can order one from Quickertek with the antenna pre-installed. It comes with a good amount of cable so you can spend your weekend obsessively placing and replacing it in your home until it's just right. So that will be fun.

The 500GB self-install kit is $129.95US, and the service is $200US. Prices are the same for the 1TB version kit and service. If you want to do it all in one fell swoop, you can order a 500GB Time Capsule + pre-installed kit for $500US, or $700US for the 1TB version.

[Via Engadget]

The Cloud offers UK iPod touch users low cost Wi-Fi access

Posted Sep 28th 2007 3:00PM by Scott McNulty
Filed under: iPod Family, iPhone

The Cloud, which is an awesomely named independent Wi-Fi network in Europe, today announced a special plan made just for iPod touches. The Cloud Unlimited Music gives iPod touch users unlimited access to the Clouds extensive network of Wi-Fi hotspots across the UK for £3.99 per month.

You might wonder why this is exclusive to the iPod touch, why not let iPhone users in on the fun? That's because the iPhone contract with O2 in the UK includes access to the Cloud (which is very cool indeed, why can't AT&T include something like this in the iPhone data plan?).

Visit this website on Monday to register your iPod touch for the Cloud Unlimited Music plan (which includes internet access in addition to access to the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store).

Clarification on the MacBook Wi-Fi hack 'conspiracy'

Posted Mar 20th 2007 4:30PM by David Chartier
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, TUAW Business, Security, MacBook, Blogs

Many say that 'perception is everything,' and this unwritten rule holds true in both journalism and the blogosphere. While I, having no formal journalistic training, will be the first to clarify that I am inarguably a member of the latter, it has come time for me to also clarify a few things concerning my coverage of, and pseudo-involvement with, this MacBook Wi-Fi hack drama.

If you need a refresher: back in early August of 2006, Brian Krebs wrote an article for The Washington Post titled Hijacking a Macbook in 60 Seconds or Less (product misspelling maintained in the name of accuracy). In this video, David Maynor of SecureWorks demonstrated his ability to wirelessly hack into an Intel-based MacBook that was using a 3rd party wireless card. At the beginning of this video and again at the end, Maynor plainly states that he's using a 3rd party card and it is that card's flawed drivers - not Apple's - which allowed him to maliciously take control of Mac OS X. Naturally, some furious debates erupted across the net over just about every imaginable angle one could take on this demonstration.

Continue reading Clarification on the MacBook Wi-Fi hack 'conspiracy'

Rumors: Apple's 802.11n enabler for $5?

Posted Jan 16th 2007 1:00PM by Erica Sadun
Filed under: Hardware, Rumors, Software, Bad Apple

MacFixit reports that Apple plans to offer its 802.11n enabler for a $5 fee. It will enable 802.11n on Intel Core 2 Duo iMacs (except 17-inch, 1.83GHz iMac), Intel Core 2 Duo MacBooks, Intel Core 2 Duo MacBook Pros, and Mac Pros with the AirPort Extreme card option. They will also bundle the enabler with the new Airport Extreme Base stations. This is not a huge amount of money, but one wonders why the enabler wouldn't just be a free download. I'm not sure the "Sarbanes-Oxley Act" explanation offered by one of the comments holds much water. On the other hand, it's not going to be a huge profit item for Apple either.

Rumor: Apple iPhone to come in two models, one with Wi-Fi

Posted Oct 17th 2006 1:00PM by David Chartier
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Rumors, iTunes

Another day, another analyst claiming to have obtained über-exclusive details on the much-rumored iPhone. This time around it's Prudential Equities, and they claim Apple has not one, but two iPhones planned for an early 2007 release (gee, when could that be). One will be a smart phone with keyboard, video and (duh) music capabilities, while the other will be a straight-up iTunes phone. Oh, and 'one' will have Wi-Fi - though PE leaves us hanging in suspense as to which model could sport such a sought-after mobile phone feature.

I call foul here, primarily because I'm willing to bet information about the iPhone is under lock and key, and leaks are punishable most likely by being drawn & quartered (not to mention that any two-bit analyst can claim anything they want these days - hooray for the Dvorak method). However, one good point I can agree with from this IBS article is that Apple is being very cautious with this product, because mobile phones aren't iPods or personal computers, and there are a lot of new factors and features Apple needs to learn how to juggle in a device like this (let's not forget the most battery-hungry of them all: Wi-Fi). That being the case, I don't think Apple is going to offer multiple models - this is too new a market for them, and these devices are complicated enough without them trying to take on the very heated smart phone industry - for now.

Ultimately, we'll see whether Prudential Equities is bluffing soon enough - January 8th is fast approaching.

[via digg]

Crazy Apple Rumors explains Apple Wireless Controversy

Posted Sep 26th 2006 9:00AM by David Chartier
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Humor, Software, MacBook

This MacBook Wi-Fi Hack drama has been quite a rollercoaster ride over the last couple of months. Brian Krebs kicked off by publishing the controversial "Hijacking a MacBook in 60 seconds or less" story, then SecureWorks felt the need to clarify they weren't using the built-in drivers for the demo. John Gruber helped to debunk the situation and then offered a challenge to help settle it, while the entire time, SecureWorks maintained that they had submitted evidence and code to Apple, and everything would soon be revealed.

To what was likely at least a few surprised reactions, Apple ultimately released a wireless security update, patching flaws that sound similar to those that David Maynor and John Ellch claimed to have found, while telling Macworld's Jim Dalrymple that the dynamic duo didn't actually lend a hand in finding or solving the exploits, save for making quite a public stink that they might exist. Apple says the situation inspired an internal audit which led them to find the exploits on their own. As many have already pointed out: either these two hackers - one of whom has an affinity for lit cigarettes and Mac users' eyes - are lying, or Apple - an international corporation with billions staked on their reputation for security - is lying.

Fortunately, Crazy Apple Rumors is up to their humorous selves again, and this time they've found the thorn in this entire situation's side. Their conclusion is surprising, and it's unfortunate no one caught this sooner, but this can hopefully let us put the matter to rest, or at least have a laugh until the next episode.

Core 2 Duo Macs including 802.11n Wi-Fi cards?

Posted Sep 25th 2006 9:30AM by David Chartier
Filed under: Hardware, Rumors, iMac

Upon installing and booting into Windows Vista on his new 20-inch Core 2 Duo iMac, a forum poster known as Peace at Mac Rumors noticed that Vista identified the wireless card in the iMac as a Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter. Check out the Wikipedia's entry on 802.11n for some details, but it is essentially the next generation in wireless standards, offering increased range (reportedly up to 1/4 mile) and a much faster data thoroughput, up to 50x greater than 802.11b and 10x faster than 802.11a/g.

If this is true, and Windows isn't simply mistaking the hardware it's reporting (like that's never happened before), this is quite an intriguing move for Apple, as the actual 802.11n protocol has quite a ways to go on its journey to becoming ratified as an industry standard. Further, this is dumping fuel on the rumor fire that Apple will be using 802.11n in the iTV to achieve HD streaming. After all, the upcoming device has all the fixins for handling HDTV, and Mac Rumors is also observant in pointing out that Mr. J said the device uses "802.11" on stage, without specifying which version.

That's about all we have for now. We'll keep our eyes out for iMac and Mac Pro dissections to see if anyone can find cold hard evidence.

[via digg]

Jim Thompson adds second MacBook to Gruber's Wi-Fi hack challenge

Posted Sep 6th 2006 8:30AM by David Chartier
Filed under: Hardware, OS, Books and Blogs, Security, MacBook

Maynor and Elich's rewards just doubled, though the odds remain the same: Jim Thompson, a blogger who has been doing a knock-out job of dissecting this MacBook Wi-Fi hack fiasco, has offered a second MacBook on top of John Gruber's challenge to the dynamic duo. After all, what are two guys going to do with one MacBook?

In an update post, Mr. Gruber announced the doubled prize for the challenge (which hasn't been accepted yet, by the way), and apparently had to publicly explain why he believes the challenge is actually fair. Check out the post for some key snippets that lay the breadcrumbs for what could likely be one of the most significant security-related showdowns of Mac OS X's career - if the visiting team ever actually makes it to the field, that is.

#	Blogger	Posts	Cmts
1	Dave Caolo	51	0
2	Cory Bohon	43	4
3	Mat Lu	39	5
4	Scott McNulty	34	2
5	Erica Sadun	33	1
6	Michael Rose	28	19
7	Brett Terpstra	23	0
8	Mike Schramm	20	4
9	Steven Sande	19	9
10	Robert Palmer	17	27
11	Joshua Ellis	7	4
12	Christina Warren	6	19
13	Nik Fletcher	4	1
14	Chris Ullrich	3	2
15	Jason Clarke	1	1
16	Lisa Hoover	1	1
17	Victor Agreda, Jr.	1	4

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AT&T WiFi portal for iPhone users shows up at Starbucks

TriBand antenna for Time Capsule

The Cloud offers UK iPod touch users low cost Wi-Fi access

Clarification on the MacBook Wi-Fi hack 'conspiracy'

Rumors: Apple's 802.11n enabler for $5?

Rumor: Apple iPhone to come in two models, one with Wi-Fi

Crazy Apple Rumors explains Apple Wireless Controversy

Core 2 Duo Macs including 802.11n Wi-Fi cards?

Jim Thompson adds second MacBook to Gruber's Wi-Fi hack challenge

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