802.11ac
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Nintendo Switch game streaming starts in Japan this week
The Nintendo Switch might not be the most capable piece of gaming hardware on the market today, but it never ceases to surprise us. Case in point: This morning Capcom announced that last year's terrifying Resident Evil 7 biohazard will be available on Nintendo's latest console later this week. The wrinkle here is that unlike Doom or the forthcoming Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus, you'll stream the first-person horror-fest's port rather than downloading the game file all at once.
Linksys boosts the speed of its customizable WRT router
Linksys has launched a new router in its WRT lineup beloved by WiFi tweaking aficionados. The WRT3200ACM has more bandwidth for its Tri-Band 802.11AC tech, amping the max speed to 2.6 Gbps, double the last WRT model. At the same time, it offers open-source firmware support for OpenWRT or DD-WRT, and no parental controls or other bloatware. It also comes with up to 512MB of DDR3 RAM, eSATA and USB like the last model, making it easier to load and run custom firmware.
WiFi spec update promises to double your wireless speeds
You might not have to wait until 802.11ad arrives in earnest to get a big boost in WiFi network speeds. The Wi-Fi Alliance has officially debuted the 802.11ac wave 2 standard, which promises a big leap in speed without reinventing the wheel. It doubles the bandwidth per channel, which could double your performance in good conditions. You're more likely to hit those speeds, too. There's an additional spatial stream and wider 5GHz channel support, and MU-MIMO (multi-user, multiple input multiple output) lets routers send data to multiple devices at the same time -- you're less likely to see your download bog down because someone else in your home is streaming video.
Linksys unveils networked storage and its fastest WiFi router yet
You knew that Linksys wouldn't sit idly by while competitors like ASUS and Netgear rolled out extra-fast WiFi routers -- sure enough, the Belkin-owned networking giant is coming to CES 2015 with some speedy wireless of its own. The company's EA8500 promises brisk, interruption-free 802.11ac at 1.73 Gbps thanks to both multi-user antennas (which keeps the speed up when the network is crowded) and a relatively quick 1.4GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor. It's also loaded with frills, such as four Gigabit Ethernet jacks as well as ports to share your eSATA and USB 3.0 storage. The EA8500 will be expensive at $280 when it ships in the spring, but it'll be accompanied by the $180 WRT1200AC if you're willing to settle for "just" 1.3 Gbps while maintaining similar features and hackable firmware.
Video shows iPhone 6 Plus Wi-Fi speed compared to iPhone 5s
As if we didn't already know that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are awesome, here comes proof from iClarified (via MacRumors) that the devices offer extremely fast Wi-Fi throughput compared to the iPhone 5s. How fast? The iPhone 6 Plus was able to rip through a download at 278.5 Mbps, while the iPhone 5s was limited to 101.1 Mbps. What's the difference? The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus come with the ability to connect to 802.11ac Wi-Fi, which can offer connection speeds of up to three times faster than the 802.11n Wi-Fi found in the iPhone 5s. To test the relative speeds, iClarified restored the devices to iOS 8.0 and connected them to a 2013 Apple AirPort Extreme. That version of Apple's Wi-Fi base station supports 802.11ac. While your ISP connection to the Internet is usually the limiting factor in just how fast you'll be able to surf your favorite sites, anyone using one of the new iPhones on an 802.11ac network should be able to see an improvement.
Netgear's ultimate WiFi router gives you full speed on any frequency
Watch out, ASUS: you're not the only one with an extremely fast WiFi router these days. Netgear has just released the Nighthawk X4, the latest version of its sinister-looking flagship hotspot. The X4's four antennas let it deliver 802.11ac wireless as quickly as possible on any frequency; it offers the same speedy 1.73Gbps as its ASUS rival on the 5GHz band, and a still quick 600Mbps on 2.4GHz. You shouldn't have to worry about your devices starving for bandwidth just because they have to use a less-than-ideal network, in other words. There's also a relatively brawny 1.4GHz dual-core chip inside to keep traffic flowing smoothly, and you can plug hard drives into the eSATA and USB 3.0 ports to share storage throughout your home. This latest Nighthawk is the antithesis of cheap at $280, but you probably can't find a more capable home router right now. Besides, who doesn't want a network box that can masquerade as a stealth fighter?
ASUS has the world's fastest WiFi router... for now
Hey look, a new router from ASUS and, apparently, it is super, super fast. According to the Taiwanese company, its RT-AC87 is "the world's first" with Wave 2 features, which bring better reliability, major speed boosts and overall performance improvements to the 802.11ac generation of WiFi routers -- one that, by the way, has yet to break through to the mainstream. Thanks to this novel technology, ASUS' RT-AC87 can beam out 5 GHz signals with up to 1.73 Gbps speeds, making it a great option for someone who has a lot of different 802.11ac-equipped devices under a single roof. People that, you know, love watching stuff on Netflix, like to livestream games to the internet or just have too many connected things happening all at once. The RT-AC87 will be available "shortly" for $270, though it'll be limited to North America. For the time being, ASUS can enjoy having the speediest router in town, at least until D-Link, Netgear, Belkin and the rest of them show up to the party.
The government is about to make outdoor WiFi faster
Just over a year ago, the FCC said it was working on a proposal to make outdoor and public WiFi faster, and, well, it's finally come to pass. Today, the outfit announced that it has freed some 100 megahertz of spectrum in the 5 gigahertz band, which will make wireless connections faster. By how much? Well, this could allow transfer rates of up to a gigabit per second for the likes of laptops, smartphones and tablets. It'd also immediately benefit beefy 802.11ac networks, according to Gigaom. If you're thinking that your favorite coffee shop's network could get faster as a result, that's only part of the plan: the ruling also allows for the deployment of speedier outdoor WiFi hot spots. As FCC commissioner Ajit Pai tells it, this could push the price of related gizmos down, too. If you want to see government employees liken licensed and unlicensed spectrums to peanut butter and jelly, or data transfers to Tom Selleck's moustache (yes, really), hit the source links.
Broadcom's new 5G WiFi chip promises up to twice the real-world speed
It's great to have speedy 802.11ac WiFi in a smartphone, but the technology doesn't always live up to the promise; busy hotspots and walls often slow it down. They may not be as much of a problem once Broadcom's new BCM4354 system-on-chip reaches handsets, though. It's the first mobile part to combine 802.11ac with 2x2 MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) antennas, giving the wireless signal a more reliable path when there's a lot of interference. In other words, you're more likely to get close to the chip's 867Mbps peak speed -- Broadcom reckons that the hardware is up to twice as fast as a 1x1 MIMO design. Whether or not the BCM4354 is that quick in practice, you may not have to wait very long to try it out when the chip is already in production. Just who's using it isn't clear, but Samsung is boasting that the Galaxy S5 is the first smartphone to support 802.11ac with MIMO. We've reached out to Broadcom to check whether or not the 4354 is inside Samsung's latest flagship, and we'll let you know if it can confirm anything.
Netgear's new 802.11ac WiFi range extenders laugh at walls, distances
The 802.11ac WiFi standard is a spring chicken no longer, making us curious as to why there's a lack of range extenders supporting it -- barring Amped Wireless' efforts, of course. Looking to capitalize on the situation, Netgear's launching a pair of such extenders at CES, starting with the AC750 (aka the EX6100). This wall-plug model bounces up to 750 Mbps of dual-band WiFi to underserved areas, as well as playing host to one Ethernet port. The beefier AC1200 (aka EX6200) looks more like a router and packs five Ethernet ports, one USB 3.0 port, beamforming capabilities and can deliver up to 1,200 Mbps. Both are available now for $90 and $130, respectively, putting Amped Wireless' $200 option into fairly uncompetitive territory.
Broadcom's new WiFi chips aim to keep your video streams flowing
All that hardware strewn throughout your crib is only as good as the sum of its parts. Broadcom is one of the firms bent on evolving those parts, and today at CES the company's introducing two new chips that'll pervade the tech of 2014 (even though you likely won't know it). First up is the BCM43569 (2x2 MIMO), which blends 5G WiFi, aka 802.11ac, and Bluetooth 4.1 standards with a USB 3.0 interface. The combo SoC is intended for the next generation of smart TVs and set-top boxes, allowing simultaneous WiFi/BT connections to other devices and ensuring solid video-streaming performance in your airwave-saturated home. The BCM43602 (3x3 MIMO) 5G WiFi chip, which instead uses a PCI Express interface, is destined for future routers and set-top boxes. It, too, is slated to improve the reliability of video streaming over 802.11ac by assuming the brunt of wireless processing work usually executed by those products' internal CPUs. Both new chips also support beamforming for maintaining stronger connections, and are available for OEMs to play with right now.
BearExtender Turbo equips older Macs with 802.11ac WiFi
BearExtender today announced the availability of the BearExtender Turbo (US$79.97, special launch pricing on Amazon of $69.97), which is a high-speed USB WiFi adapter for Mac that operates at up to 867 Mbps on the 5 Ghz 802.11ac band. While only 2013 model MacBook Airs, MacBook Pros and iMacs come with built-in 802.11ac support, the BearExtender Turbo makes it possible to give older Macs a way to take advantage of 802.11ac routers like the 2013 AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule. The BearExtender Turbo plugs into a USB 3.0 or 2.0 port, and can work with Macs running OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard through 10.9 Mavericks. Roland Saekow of BearExtender noted that "BearExtender Turbo nearly triples the bandwidth available to earlier 802.11n equipped Macs, and doubles the speed for 2012 Mac models with 450 Mbps 802.11n." TUAW readers are reminded that their internet speeds and bandwidth may be limited by their internet service provider and not by their WiFi network.
BearExtender Turbo starts shipping today for $80, brings 802.11ac WiFi to older Macs
Yes, it took a little longer than we originally expected. But, starting today, BearExtender is finally making its 802.11ac WiFi adapter available to Apple laptop and desktop owners who are missing out on the novel wireless standard. Much like the company's BearExtender 1200, the Turbo is also designed to add WiFi functionality to Mac computers. However, the BearExtender Turbo differentiates itself by supporting USB 3.0 and dual-band 802.11ac connectivity (2.4 and 5GHz), which is said to allow it to handle up to 867Mbps throughput speeds on the 5Ghz band. Naturally, BearExtender notes that this will depend on your internet service provider and the router being used -- for example, it recommends this year's AirPort Extreme or Time Capsule to achieve maximum performance. At $80, BearExtender's Turbo has potential to be a decent solution, one that could, perhaps, hold you over until you finally decide to upgrade to a new, 802.11ac-equipped machine.
Amped Wireless announces APA-20 long-range access point
Ready for another Amped Wireless announcement? The company's 802.11ac revolution continues with the APA-20 long-range access point. The unit brings Amped's trademark high-power WiFi know-how to your existing setup, promising to configure itself as soon as it's plugged in. Available for pre-order starting today, the APA-20 will set you back $190 and will ship to customers on October 29th.
Broadcom announces WiFi and Bluetooth combo chips for in-car connectivity
Be it PCs, phones, televisions or wearables, if it can go wireless, Broadcom wants in on the action. Today the company has added one more category to that list, and it's the car. Indeed, its new line of wireless chips is specifically catered for automotive use, and is decked out with the latest 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth Smart Ready technologies for smoother streaming between mobile devices and in-car displays. But the technology's scope doesn't stop there. You could also use it for smartphone remote control of your vehicle's settings, high-speed connectivity via LTE hot spots, vehicle-to-infrastructure communications and even the syncing of biometric data to make sure the driver isn't fatigued or drunk when he or she's behind the wheel. Broadcom's current automotive portfolio consists of the BCM89335 5G WiFi / Bluetooth Smart Ready combo chip and the BCM89071 Bluetooth and Bluetooth Smart Ready chip, which are now in the sampling stage. Of course, as this is still in development, we're not sure just which cars will incorporate such tech just yet. Seeing as how more cars are getting connected, however, you'll probably see it in action at your local auto dealership sooner than you think. For more on Broadcom's automotive initiative, check out the press release after the break.
Amped Wireless 802.11ac line makes WiFi go faster and further
If you have a wireless router that is more than 5 years old, you may want to start looking for a new one. I have several friends who have asked me why their brand-new computer seems to have such bad internet performance over WiFi. After some investigation, I found a range of old and outdated wireless routers to be the culprit. The team at Amped Wireless has the perfect solution for you. Modernizing your Network with Amped Wireless Amped Wireless offers a high-power dual-band WiFi router dubbed the RTA15. This router is an extremely fast (1 gigabit per second) extended-range connectivity center designed for the home and office. The RTA15 features the latest 802.11ac WiFi technology delivering up to 3x faster speeds than standard 802.11n. With a combination of 10 high-powered signal amplifiers and three discrete band antennas, you will never find yourself playing Twister or duct taping your router to the ceiling trying to get a good solid connection. How many wireless devices in your household? When most of us crafted our home wireless networks, we set them up for one or two home computer configurations; slightly more for the office. Now for each person in the space, there are on average three to four signal hitchhikers. The RTA15 is designed to handle multiple HD media streams simultaneously and not be slowed down by a gaggle of WiFi enabled signal hungry devices in your space. What if your computer doesn't natively support 802.11ac? Amped Wireless has you covered here too with the RTA15's companion ACA1 WiFi USB Adaptor. This adaptor features dual high-gain 5dBi antennas, a high-powered signal amplifier and fast data transfer via USB 3.0 connectivity. This adaptor is compatible with any WiFi router if you're just looking to gain a significant signal boost from your current setup. I tested these devices for a month and I give them a solid stamp of approval together as a bundle and equally strong as individual products. Just for posterity, a few improvements could include some adjustments in the installation process, a better design of the UI for the dashboard and a more attractive router (but I'm spoiled by Apple aesthetics). The RTA15 and ACA1 retail for US$189.99 and $89.99, respectively, or as a bundle at $269.99
DisplayLink's adaptor streams 4K content over USB 2.0 and 3.0 (eyes-on)
DisplayLink's been wringing all kinds of connectivity out of our computer's USB ports for years, turning one connection into many. It should come as no surprise, then, that the company's using its considerable compression expertise to send high-resolution 4K video through that very same pipe. Ideally, the system shoots video over USB 3.0, while still giving users the full connectivity options of any compatible DisplayLink device -- but it can also function using USB 2.0, though the dynamically compensating data compression at work may cause some frames to drop. We chatted with Displaylink's Director of Marketing, Andy Davis, about the feature and he informed us that the new 4K capability comes courtesy of a chip design first revealed back at CES that, while upping the max resolution of transmitted video, has no trouble driving multiple displays. In theory,the number of 4K screens the chip can drive is only limited by the graphics drivers and video decoding capabilities of the computer it's connected to. And, the new architecture also enables wireless streaming of 4K video using 802.11ad and can stream 1080p video over 802.11ac (4K over 802.11ac is in the works). We got to see a brief demo of the technology in action, and the video played back flawlessly over USB 3.0 for the few minutes we saw it work. Using 2.0, we noticed a slight flicker once or twice during playback, but the feed was still quite watchable. All in all, its a nice addition to the DisplayLink feature set. Now if they'd just let us know when we'll actually see it implemented in something we can buy.
BT Infinity customers to get 320Mbps top speed, 802.11ac HomeHub 5 by end of the year
The BT HomeHub 4 router has barely had time to settle in, and yet already a prototype of its replacement is being callously shown off at PR events in London. It'll support the still-maturing 802.11ac standard, should you come to own any compatible devices, and is to become the default router shipped to new Infinity fiber customers -- we're just not sure exactly when, as BT execs have only indicated that it'll be towards the end of the year. Equally exciting (and equally imprecise) is a second promise that the current 160Mbps max speed on the top-end Infinity plan will be increased to 320Mbps, at a cost of £50 per month. Though the new service tier and Home Hub may be slow in coming, they'll at least be fast once they get here.
PC Mag loves the new Airport Base Station
PCMag.com has run a review of Apple's new AirPort Extreme Base Station and they're very impressed. In keeping with Apple tradition they found the router featured the company's standard easy installation, complete with wireless setup. The base station is an upgrade from previous models that boasts 802.11ac support and marked excellent performance particularly in the 2.4 GHz band. In addition, the AirPort Extreme's sleek redesign gives it improved wireless speed while staying fashionable. When stacked against of some of its competition the AirPort Extreme Base Station 802.11ac wireless wasn't quite as fast, but it's worth noting that PCMag still got 90 to 102 Mbps out of the base station. The reviewers were annoyed that the router lacked stronger data transfer from a USB-connected hard drive and networked laptops. The lack of a web management interface and granular control over the WiFi network was also a sticking point. Still the router provides high speeds, a plethora of data sharing options and quick out-of-the-box setup. This isn't a base for industrial power users, but for standard home and office usage the AirPort Extreme Base Station is an attractive, easy-to-set up WiFi option. Head over to PCMag to read their in-depth coverage.
Apple allegedly looking into MacBook Air WiFi issue, replacing machines
Over the last few days we've been hearing from several of our readers about WiFi instability on new Haswell-equipped MacBook Airs, which also happen to be Apple's first computers with 802.11ac. Despite those rare reports, the company's new laptops impressed us in our recent review with solid performance and incredible battery life. Today 9to5Mac learned that Apple is supposedly aware of the issue and working on a fix, while some customers have also reported getting their systems replaced. In the meantime, the company's apparently directed its Genius Bar employees to "capture" machines experiencing the problem -- i.e. return them to Cupertino for testing. We've contacted Apple for comment and will keep you posted if there's any official response.