wi-fi
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ASUS' take on mesh WiFi is now available
Mesh networking is all the rage for people who want to fill every bit of their home with sweet high-speed Wi-Fi. Lynksys, Google, Netgear, TP-Link and Eero all have devices that use the new technology to smooth out the dead spots in your home. Now Asus has joined the crowd with its Lyra Home WiFi System. Initially announced in January, the new routers are finally available for $400.
Comcast's new 'Gateway' will manage your smart home
Comcast already dominates many people's living rooms, and now it's looking to expand its reach to the rest of your house. Today at CES, the company announced it will release a series of Gateway smart-home hubs throughout the year. In particular, as you might expect, these hubs will allow Comcast's Xfinity customers to manage the menagerie of Internet of Things devices that inhabit the modern home.
Garmin's watch-app store finally gets Uber and a few other big names
Garmin already offers a bunch of cycling computers and fitness wearables like the Forerunner series and newly updated Fenix line, which can help guide you through your workout with minimal trauma. That said, the smartwatches in particular have yet to find much love beyond their original niche use as fitness-first wearables. The company hopes to change that at this year's CES by announcing the release of a number of third-party apps from big-name players including Uber and Trek. But is that enough to catch the industry-leading Apple Watch and all those Android Wear watches?
Garmin's newest 'Drive' navigation systems focus on road safety
Whether you're on the open road or just trying to make it to work in one piece, getting where you're going is hassle enough -- even when there isn't traffic to be stuck in. Garmin's latest iterations of its Drive GPS navigation systems will soon be receiving a host of features that will deliver live updates and easier-to-follow directions in hopes of changing driver behaviors for the safer.
All New York City underground subway stations now have WiFi
Officials vowed that all of New York City's underground subway stations would have WiFi by the end of 2016, and they're meeting that goal... if only at the very last minute. As of New Year's Eve, every one of the 279 stations now has internet access thanks to Transit Wireless. WiFi is a long time in coming (the first stations went online in 2011), but it's important if you either have spotty phone reception or a WiFi-only device that would otherwise go dark.
Apple reportedly stops making WiFi routers
We hope you weren't dead set on getting a new AirPort Extreme any time soon. Bloomberg sources claim that Apple has "disbanded" its WiFi router division, quietly ramping it down over the past year as team members joined other divisions (including the Apple TV group). Reportedly, the shutdown is meant to "sharpen the company's focus" on those devices that make up the bulk of its revenue. A spokesperson wouldn't confirm the move, but Apple hasn't introduced a new router since 2013 -- it's not as if they had a lot of work on their plate.
After Math: The new normal
This week sure went sideways in a hurry. After Hillary Clinton's stunning election night collapse, the American people are now faced with four years of well, whatever sorts of fresh hell the President-elect's administration unleashes upon us. Gitmo is getting better Wi-Fi, Facebook denied all responsibility in spreading FUD throughout the election, the internet's worst people are bolder than ever and the Navy can't even afford bullets for its brand-new destroyer. Numbers, what are they good for? Not predicting presidential elections, apparently.
Google WiFi is a router that simplifies whole-home wireless
Those rumors of Google giving WiFi routers another shot? They're true. Meet Google WiFi, a router designed entirely in-house... and with a few nice advantages over the OnHub line. Apart from being much smaller (no vase-like design here), its big trick is its ability to create an Eero-style mesh network. You only have to add additional units to your network to improve coverage -- there's a Network Assistant app that makes it easy to add more routers and improve your signal.
EU digital rules promise 5G, free WiFi and tougher copyright
The European Union isn't done stepping up its digital initiatives. Officials have outlined proposed policies that are focused on dramatically increasing access to both the internet and the content you'll find on it. Most of the proposals will be helpful, although not everyone is a fan -- there are copyright changes that are rubbing Google the wrong way.
TP-Link settles with the FCC over risky WiFi router power levels
When the FCC said it was cracking down on WiFi routers that can operate at power levels that might cause interference, it wasn't kidding around. TP-Link has agreed to a settlement with the FCC that will have the company both keep its router power levels in check and shell out a relatively small $200,000 fine. As with Linksys, though, it's not asking TP-Link to block unofficial firmware that could break the rules. Just the opposite, in fact -- TP-Link has agreed to talk to both open source teams (think OpenWrt) and wireless chipset makers to enable third-party firmware that abides by FCC guidelines. While this isn't exactly a back-breaking penalty for TP-Link, it could serve as a warning to other router makers that might veer from the straight and narrow.
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.
AT&T brings WiFi calling to Android phones
Hey, AT&T subscribers: you no longer need an iPhone to make calls over WiFi. The carrier has introduced WiFi calling for Android. If you have a supporting device (currently limited to the LG G4), a postpaid plan and HD Voice support, you can grab an update that lets you make calls over the internet when cell service just isn't an option. As on the iPhone, what you pay for a call only depends on who you're calling -- you can reach a US number at no extra charge while you're abroad. AT&T certainly isn't the first out of the gate with WiFi calling on Android, but this will definitely make a difference if you'd rather not switch networks just to get the improved coverage.
Apple faces Caltech lawsuit over WiFi patents
Apple's legal troubles with schools aren't over yet: Caltech has sued Apple and chipmaker Broadcom for allegedly violating four WiFi-related patents. Supposedly, most Apple devices (including the iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch) from the iPhone 5 onward use Broadcom chips that copy Caltech decoding and encoding technology to improve data flow. As with most such lawsuits, the institute is calling for both damages and a ban on offending hardware.
New York City rolls out its first WiFi-equipped buses
When the Metropolitan Transportation Authority promised that New York City's WiFi-packing buses would arrive sometime in the second or third quarter of this year, it was clearly being cautious -- the first wave of those buses is rolling out today. Visit Queens and you'll see seven internet-savvy people carriers roaming the streets, with a total of 75 in the borough this summer. That's still tiny next to the 2,042 planned buses for the entire city, but it'll be helpful if you just have to get your tablet online when you're in South Jamaica.
Linksys will let you use open router code under new FCC rules
While the FCC's imminent rules for wireless device interference are supposed to allow hackable WiFi routers, not every router maker sees it that way. TP-Link, for instance, is blocking open source firmware out of fear that you'll run afoul of the regulations when they kick in on June 2nd. However, you won't have to worry about that with Linksys' fan-friendly networking gear. The Belkin-owned brand promises Ars Technica that its modifiable routers will allow open source firmware while obeying the FCC's rules -- you can tinker without fear of messing with nearby radar systems.
Windows 10 won't let you share WiFi passwords any more
Remember Microsoft's WiFi Sense? One of its cornerstones is the ability to share password-protected WiFi networks with contacts, saving them the hassle of logging in when they visit. Unfortunately, though, there weren't many people enamored with the idea. Microsoft has pulled WiFi Sense's contact sharing in its latest Windows 10 Insider preview build after noting that it wasn't worth the effort given "low usage and low demand." It'll remain intact on slower Insider builds and regular Windows 10 releases for now, but it should disappear for everyone when the Anniversary Update hits in the summer.
Google OnHub routers are finally getting guest WiFi
As clever as Google's OnHub routers are, they've had a few glaring omissions... like, say, a guest mode to accommodate your friends. However, the company is making amends for at least one of its rookie mistakes. It's readying an update that enables guest WiFi, which lets visitors hop online without giving them access to absolutely everything on your local network. You also have fine-grained control over the devices you do want them to see. You can open up your Chromecast, for example, while keeping your networked storage off-limits.
New York City's whole subway system gets WiFi in 2016
Forget having to remember which New York City subway stations have WiFi -- by the end of this year, you won't have to pick and choose. State governor Andrew Cuomo has promised that every underground station will get WiFi by the end of the year, guaranteeing at least some kind of internet access while you're waiting for your train. Complete cellular service will come slightly later, with end-to-end access ready by early 2017. Either is heartening news if you regularly commute underground, since Transit Wireless (which is handling the service) had previously targeted late 2017 for full WiFi service.
Boingo's faster airport WiFi makes you feel more at home
Many airports have WiFi, but that doesn't mean it's good WiFi -- just ask anyone who's tried to stream video or upload photos during a layover. However, Boingo thinks it can help. It's launching a tiered system that includes both a free basic tier and a speedier paid tier. The company is hyperbolic when it claims that the 20Mbps offering is "blazing-fast," but it's good enough that you could get some serious work done (or goof off like at home) before your boarding call. And of course, the free tier is a big deal as well -- gone are the days of Boingo-only terminals where you have to fork over a credit card just to check your email.
Apple is being sued over another data-gobbling bug
Apple is fending off another lawsuit regarding its phones helping themselves to cellular data even when supposedly running on WiFi. As you may recall, a California couple took Apple to court in October over iOS 9's WiFi Assist, which would clandestinely switch the phone from WiFi to LTE and eat through the user's data allotment. Now, Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP has filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple for a similar, earlier, data-sucking bug.
