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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?
Anti-surveillance advocates want you to run an open, secure WiFi router
Plenty of WiFi routers have guest modes for visitors; some companies base their entire business models around them. Many of these devices are full of security holes, however, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation doesn't see that as acceptable in an era where widespread government surveillance is a fact of life. To fix this, it has posted a very early version of custom-built open router firmware that promises both easy access and security. While there is a guest mode, the new firmware (based on the existing CenoWRT) should patch common exploits that leave your home network vulnerable. It will even fetch signatures for updates through the anonymizing Tor network to prevent rogue code from posing as a necessary upgrade.
Sprint announces Virgin Mobile hotspot with Spark LTE support, adds six new markets
Most carriers shy away from offering LTE on its prepaid plans, but Sprint is diving right in by making it available on its first Virgin Mobile device. The network will take advantage of Sprint's Spark service, which will offer tri-band LTE support at faster speeds on the company's Broadband2Go plans. The first device to leverage it is the Netgear Mingle, which is essentially a red version of Sprint's Zing (pictured above). You can get the fast service at a cost of $5 per day, or you can choose monthly plans of 1.5GB for $25 or 6GB fof $55. Additionally, Sprint announced that it will launch Spark in six more cities: Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston and Fort Lauderdale.
Netgear's NeoMediacast is an Android-powered TV set-top on a stick
Most of the equipment we get from our telecom providers is nothing to get excited about, but we might make an exception for Netgear's NeoMediacast. The Android-based HDMI dongle lets providers both offer their own services and support third-party apps without having to build their own set-top boxes or go the traditional TV route. Your cable company could let you stream your favorite shows on a bedroom TV, for instance, while making it easy to check social networks or play your local media library. The NeoMediacast is also relatively futureproof with 802.11ac WiFi, Miracast media sharing and support for both microSD and USB storage. Carriers and service operators can start using Netgear's device in the first half of this year, although they'll likely need to customize its software before it reaches your home.
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.
Sprint's tri-band LTE modems go on sale this Friday
Sprint announced its first tri-band 4G LTE devices back in May, and now the recently acquired carrier says they'll start shipping on July 19th. The Novatel MiFi 500, Netgear Zing Mobile Hotspot and Netgear 341U USB dongle all support the 800MHz, 1900MHz and 2.5GHz bands. The hotspots will set you back $49.99 with a new contract, whereas the dongle is $19.99 -- that's after a $50 mail-in-rebate, of course. The Zing can roam on GSM networks and has a 2,500mAh battery and, while we don't know how big the battery is in the MiFi, Sprint says it should last 10 hours on a single charge. Plans start at $34.99 per month for 3GB of combined 3G/4G data, with an extra $15 doubling that and another $30 on top of that quadrupling your bucket to 12GB. Sadly, there's no unlimited data option.
Netgear's R6100 router hits 802.11ac speeds for $100, available now
The R6100 is the latest addition to Netgear's 2013 router lineup and retails for an easier-to-justify price than its siblings. For $100, the 802.11ac-generating square will connect to the new Macbook Air's upgraded wireless, with a dual 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz a/b/g/n antenna ensuring compatibility with your first-gen Zune. Like the R6200, the now-available R6100 hits 1,200 Mbps combined and packs Ethernet for wired connections. It doesn't hit the speeds of the R6300, but, for half the money, what's 550 Mbps among friends?
Sprint announces three tri-band LTE devices landing this summer (hands-on)
If your city is one of the many that's part of Sprints ongoing LTE rollout (or will be soon), then the network's just announced three tri-band mobile broadband devices for your consideration. The hope, it seems, is that as different parts of Sprint's LTE spectrum become available (including spectrum from Clearwire), coverage and network performance of the devices will improve. The hardware offerings are Novatel's MiFi 500 LTE, the Netgear Zing Mobile Hotspot and 341U USB dongle, and are slated to be available by summer. No confirmed availability dates or prices just yet. Sprint also hints at tri-band LTE phones from Samsung and LG to follow. In the meantime, however, you'd better get set up with your Data Link and Static IP. Update: We had a brief run-in with the three new broadband devices and without being able to field test at blazing LTE speeds we can only offer up impressions of their design. In short? They're all essentially what we've seen before with the MiFi's shape being our favorite because of its smaller but taller -- and ultimately more pocketable -- footprint. Gallery is just below. %Gallery-188998% Brad Molen and Sean Cooper contributed to this report.
Netgear 802.11ac update adds beamforming, delivers up to 60 percent faster WiFi
Although Netgear was one of the quickest out of the gates with 802.11ac WiFi hardware, that doesn't mean its hardware is the quickest today: without beamforming to optimize the signal, it risks trailing behind newcomers who've had more time to prepare. Starting with the R6300 router and A6200 USB adapter, the company will soon catch up through a firmware update that rolls in support for the beamforming standard. The upgrade targets wireless signals at devices' specific locations, offering a big speed boost at shorter distances -- Netgear estimates up to a 60 percent improvement at a 50-foot range. R6300 and A6200 owners can swing past the source links today for their tune-up, while those using Netgear's other 802.11ac devices should expect brisker speeds around the early summer.
Netgear PTV3000 updated, supports Miracast-ready Android devices
Interested in Miracast-ing from an Andoid phone via your Netgear Push2TV PTV3000 adapter? Want to know what all that meant? It's understandable -- Miracast is a very recent open standard that lets you echo the display from an enabled device like a smartphone or tablet onto your TV (think Apple's AirPlay Mirroring). You'll now be able to officially do that with the PTV3000 from the few Android devices that support Miracast: Samsung's Galaxy S III, Note II and Note 10.1, LG's Optimus G, the Google / LG Nexus 4, and various Sony Xperia models -- all with Android 4.04 or higher. The PTV3000 also supports Intel's WiDi standard, and actually brought Miracast support in an earlier beta firmware upgrade, though testers saw significant bugginess at the time. Many of those nags have been squelched with the new update, though, and you'll also see a single interface for Intel WiDi and Miracast, both PIN and PBC support, 5GHz Miracast operation and faster bootup times, too. So, if you've been looking to get all those pixels crammed into your smartphone over to a bigger medium, hit the source or check the details after the break.
Netgear buys Sierra Wireless' AirCard unit, delves deeper into LTE
Sierra Wireless will be a very familiar name to many travelers who've depended on a hotspot or modem to keep their laptop online. Let's hope they aren't overly comfortable with the brand: Netgear just snapped up the assets of Sierra Wireless' AirCard business, which covers many of the portable 3G and 4G devices we hold dear. The $138 million, 160-employee deal gives Netgear the resources it wants to make a big push into LTE access devices. Sierra Wireless, meanwhile, is blunt in describing the handover as a cash grab: the agreement gives it "significant financial resources" for improving its embedded modules and machine-to-machine devices. The deal should thus make sense for both sides as long as it completes in March, although we can't help but feel that it's the end of an era for jet set data users.
SlingPlayer, TuneIn and other channels added to Netgear's NeoTV lineup
If the release of Netgear's new NeoTV PRIME has left you feeling like your earlier model is a bit dated, then maybe some fresh software for that streaming box will ease those woes. Announced today at CES, several new channels are now available on the NeoTV range, with the biggest names being TuneIn Radio -- if you want to rest those eyes for a while -- and SlingPlayer. You'll need a Slingbox at home to take advantage of SlingPlayer, of course, but it means you can pipe live TV to another room in your house or, if you're in the habit of carting your NeoTV box around, wherever else you take it. WKNTV has also been added, giving you access to live and on-demand content from Korea, and ShopNBC for live feeds of a bunch of hypnotic shopping channels -- you know, for when you wanna watch overly charismatic presenters earn their keep. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Netgear's NeoTV PRIME with Google TV gets official at CES
We didn't doubt the reality of Netgear's NeoTV PRIME (GTV100) Google TV box after the candid shots of it we saw last month, but as expected, the company has chosen to make it official at CES. In addition to providing access to your favorite on-demand streaming services, just like the standard, PRO and MAX NeoTV models, the PRIME adds all the Google goodies -- live TV, the Chrome browser (Flash supported), Primetime, full access to the Play store and, of course, search. It's also DLNA compatible and, with the pre-installed aVia app, can push media to your TV from USB drives and other storage sources hooked up to the same network, including Android devices. The PRIME is available from today for a cent under $130, making it less than Sony's Google box, and $30 more than Vizio's. Hopefully, a decent dual-sided remote will justify that extra $30 (we didn't like Vizio's attempt), but if you'd rather use your phone or tablet, a remote control app is available for anything running iOS or Android, too. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Netgear's NeoTV Prime (GTV100) is the latest Google TV box outed by FCC filings (update: pictures!)
Just like the suddenly inescapable 4K, it appears Google TV will be a buzzword for multiple new devices at CES like this Netgear NeoTV Prime (model # GTV100) which GTV Hacker discovered via a pair of curious FCC testing documents. It actually snuck through the FCC before the just-leaked ASUS Qube (more on that in a moment), revealed via a documents for both its Bluetooth-connected remote control and a wireless component, although the box itself remains under wraps. The remote packs a QWERTY keyboard, while up front there's a touchpad plus the usual assortment of control buttons augmented with several app shortcuts for Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, Vudu, HBO Go and Crackle. It may be wishful thinking, but here's hoping the inclusion of Amazon and HBO Go buttons mean dedicated apps are on the way, instead of the current website shortcuts. The wireless module is less revealing, only confirming the name, 802.11n, Bluetooth 3.0 and a lack of ad-hoc wireless network support. Check after the break for a couple of more pics, and info on where Google TV may be headed. Update: We've heard a bit more about the box which is apparently in beta testing. At least at the moment, those button shortcuts are still tied to the webapps and some testers are complaining about overheating. We also have pictures of the box itself next to its remote, although it's possible the design could change before launch. [Thanks, anonymous]
Netgear announces Push2TV WiDi adapter and three new NeoTV units
Today, Netgear is unveiling three more Roku-troubling NeoTV boxes and Push2TV, a wireless display adapter letting you harness WiDi (it's also Miracast pre-standard compliant) to push content from smartphones, laptops or tablets to your TV. The trio of NeoTVs are so similar to the last generation that it's a little hard to tell the difference, except that the new flagship NeoTV MAX now comes with the long-desired addition of DLNA and a custom remote that has navigation buttons on one side and a QWERTY keyboard on the other. All four devices are available from today, the Push2Tv costing $60, while the new NeoTVs are priced at $50, $60 and $70, respectively -- and if you'd like to know more, then we've got some more info down below.
Netgear D6300 mates 802.11ac WiFi with ADSL, risks one heck of a mismatch
When Netgear teased a next-generation cable gateway with 802.11ac WiFi, it seemed like a natural fit: WiFi that was a perfect complement to 100Mbps-plus internet speeds. Its new D6300 (not pictured here) isn't necessarily in quite in such equilibrium, depending on just who you have as an internet provider. The hardware is billed as the first ADSL modem and router combo with 802.11ac built-in, but you'll need to use the gigabit Ethernet WAN jack with a fiber or cable internet link to get the most out of that fast wireless at home -- stick to the ADSL2+ and you'll face the wonderfully lopsided combination of a 1.3Gbps WiFi router with a maximum 24Mbps internet pipe. If home network speeds trump what you'll need for the outside world, you'll still get many of the benefits of Netgear's flagship R6300, including USB printer and storage sharing. Netgear starts selling the D6300 through stores in October, although it may be just as likely to come in the arms of a DSL install technician as your own.
Netgear intros sharing-savvy N750 Premium Edition router, powerline and WiFi adapters for media fans
Netgear is giving its home networking the same sort of tuneup going into the fall that you'd give your car -- not a complete overhaul, but enough to keep it running in top form. Headlining the pack, the N750 Premium Edition router you're looking at above upgrades the original N750 through a better ability to play with others: the dual-band WiFi hotspot's ReadyShare file access expands to the cloud, while its USB support now envelops Apple's AirPrint and Time Machine as well as TiVo Storage. Media sharing mavens also get their own, more specific add-ons. The Powerline Media Extender can pipe audio (and USB printing or storage) over a 200Mbps link, with a major emphasis on AirPlay streaming; the N900 4-port WiFi Adapter is a slightly less exotic, 450Mbps wireless-to-Ethernet bridge for multi-device home theaters. If Netgear's refresh is tempting enough to prompt a trade-up, you can snag the N750 Premium Edition immediately for $120 or wait until September and October for the respective launches of the N900 adapter for $80 and the Powerline Music Extender in its single pack ($99) or dual-device starter kit ($139) editions.
Netgear WiFi Booster for Mobile keeps handhelds connected for $39.99, back porch streamers rejoice
Ah, yes. We all dread the fickle beasts known as WiFi deadspots. Luckily, Netgear wants you to keep that comfy seat or maneuver around the homestead without losing that Breaking Bad stream. The outfit has unveiled its WiFi Booster for Mobile that pairs up with your home or office router to increase network reach for smartphones, tablets, laptops and other mobile gadgets. Touting universal compatibility with your existing 2.4GHz wireless equipment, the add-on uses a strategically selected outlet in order to flex its muscle boosting 802.11 b/g/n signals. Once you've plugged the unit, a WPS connection is merely a button push away. Netgear didn't offer any details on what kind of range increase you can expect. However, you'll be able to pick one up sometime this summer for $40 if you could use the help.
Netgear's R6200 802.11ac router visits the FCC
A router, is a router, is a router, right? Well, things get a little bit more interesting when they're of the 802.11ac variety at least. Netgear's R6200 won't sit at the top of its WiFi heap when it hits shelves, but the 1,200Mbps dual band offering will be nothing to sneeze at. And, best of all, it's almost here... we think. When it was announced in mid May we were given a vague Q3 shipping date. As we enter the third quarter, Uncle Sam has given the wireless base station a stamp of approval, moving it one step closer to a spot in your home. Unfortunately, the FCC filing doesn't reveal any surprises or even a nifty tear down but, if you're wondering just how much radiation it'll be pumping through your airwaves, check out the source.
Netgear melds 802.11ac WiFi with cable modem, gives us a cable gateway we'd actually like
If you're reading this, you're likely the sort who looks down on the hybrid cable modem and WiFi gateway your cable company foists upon you: it's like setting your wireless network in stone. Netgear is hoping to make that all-in-one experience a little more pleasurable by merging the best of two very fast worlds. It's planning to show a cable gateway (not pictured yet) that unites a DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem, no slouch in itself, with even speedier 802.11ac WiFi to share the connection in the home. The router side has all the familiar extras, such as DLNA media sharing, guest networks and shared USB storage, but it's clear the real perk is simply making sure the hundreds of megabits per second in bandwidth from that cable pipe carry through to your future laptops and tablets. Netgear hasn't said how close it might be to shipping the cable gateway, but it'll be showing the practical device at the ANGA Cable trade show this week -- along with a 1.2Gbps download, 320Mbps upload cable modem that could give even Google Fiber a run for its money.
