Wifi
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August halts sales of View doorbell over WiFi problems
August's View doorbell hasn't had a stellar launch. The smart home company is "pausing" shipments of the View after reports of "performance challenges" in certain households. While it didn't say what those issues were, The Ambient noted that the View frequently disconnected from WiFi, rendering its camera less than useful for keeping watch over your front door. August vowed to use the shipping freeze to gauge feedback and make "critical improvements" to the smart doorbell.
Traeger Ironwood 650 review: WiFi is the ultimate pitmaster
I'll admit it: I was skeptical that a WiFi-connected grill could really improve my casual culinary exploits. During my review of Traeger's Timberline 850 though, I would discover it's actually very useful -- especially for things that take several hours to cook like pulled pork, brisket and ribs. With its 2019 lineup, Traeger extended that WiFi tech to all of its new grills instead of reserving it for the premium Timberline Series. At $1,200, the new Ironwood 650 still isn't cheap, but it offers a lot of what the more expensive Traeger grills do while saving you a few hundred dollars.
TP-Link's new mesh WiFi system is big on range and low in price
TP-Link is expanding its range of affordable mesh WiFi systems with the new Deco M4. For $180, you get a three-pack of white, cylindrical WiFi hubs that can cover up to 5,500 square feet of space. Of course, the more access points you have, the more nooks and crannies of your home you can cover.
Netgear's latest gaming router goes on sale in April for $199
Whether you're playing Fortnite, Apex Legends or PUBG, less lag means more wins. Netgear promises its new gaming router will deliver both. The company debuted the Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR300 WiFi Router at SXSW this week. It'll be available worldwide in April for $199, and pre-orders are open now.
Traeger makes built-in WiFi a standard grill feature
In 2017, Traeger added WiFi connectivity to its line of wood pellet grills with the Timberline series. While being able to control and monitor your grill remotely is more handy than you might think, the privilege was limited to two models with a starting price of $1,700. Sure, you could also send recipes from the company's app to the Timberline 850 and Timberline 1300 too, but that's still a big investment for a grill. Today, the company revealed its 2019 lineup, and the so-called WiFire technology is available across the board. And the best part is the most affordable model starts at $799.
Amazon Fire TV no longer needs you to type your WiFi password
There are a number of reasons why it can be laborious to set up a living room media player, not the least of which is WiFi -- you try entering a password with a remote. Those days might be gone if you have one of Amazon's devices, though. It recently released a pair of updates that give its current Fire TV devices the same WiFi simple setup feature you've seen in newer Echo speakers and the Smart Plug. If you've chosen to save WiFi passwords to your Amazon account, your media hub will hop online the moment it detects your network.
Facebook and network startup Common deliver 5G broadband in California
Facebook's open-source Terragraph WiFi technology will power 5G home broadband in Alameda, California. Unveiled in 2016, the 60GHz millimeter-wave wireless tech is designed to bypass cost-prohibitive fiber-optic lines by blasting the internet through buildings along a network of short-distance cell towers. The Terragraph device itself can be attached to existing infrastructure, like a street lamp or apartment building.
Amazon buys mesh WiFi startup Eero to connect smart homes
Amazon is still busy snapping up companies to bolster its smart home business. This time it's acquiring Eero, the startup that has developed a solid reputation for its mesh WiFi routers. There's no mystery as to why it's making the move -- it likes the thought of an easy-setup WiFi system that can connect all the smart devices in your household, even in remote corners.
Samsung's Galaxy S10 phones will support next-generation WiFi
Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S10 phones are set to support next-generation WiFi amid a broader expansion of WiFi 6 (802.11ax) availability this year. Three versions of the phone, including an S10+ and cheaper S10E, should be compatible with the standard, according to FCC filings Droid Life unearthed.
Wood block connects you to coffee shop WiFi with a tap
It's not very fun to connect to WiFi at a café or hotel. If you don't have to ask staff for a password, they'll have to print it somewhere -- and it's still a hassle when all you want to do is check your email. Ten One Design thinks it might have a friction-free answer. It's releasing the Wifi Porter, an unassuming wood block that connects your handset to the local network with a tap. NFC-equipped Android phones and 2018 iPhones (the iPhone XS and XR) just have get near the block to get a connection prompt, with no app or password required. If your device doesn't have those luxuries, you can still connect using a QR code on the bottom.
TiVo will add apps for smart TV boxes and WiFi for Mini this year
It's been a few years since TiVo released a limited app for Amazon's Fire TV platform, but as it promised last year, the next-generation platform will reach third-party boxes. Those include not only Fire TV (and Android) but also Roku and eventually Apple TV. We got a brief demo of the experience on those boxes at TiVo's booth, where it streamed transcoded video from a connected Bolt DVR without issue. If everything goes according to plan, you should see the full app for Fire TV in Q2, followed an app for Roku, and later, perhaps in the fall, access will extend to the Apple TV. Additionally, it's not planning to charge for access to the apps, although TiVo owners will only be able to stream to two third-party devices at once.
TP-Link's newest WiFi 6 routers include its first mesh-ready model
TP-Link is ready to come out swinging now that the high-speed WiFi 6 standard is here in earnest. The company is expanding on its recent introduction of two high-end routers (the Archer AX11000 and AX6000) with three more devices that include its first WiFi 6-capable mesh router, the Deco X10. The seemingly timid-looking cylinder can dish out speeds up to 1.95Gbps across its three bands, ensuring that you get a cutting-edge connection whether you're in the den or the bedroom. It'll arrive in the third quarter of the year and cost $350 for a two-pack.
Linksys' Max Stream router can be the center of a mesh network
It's CES, and that means it's time for Linksys to unveil yet another WiFi router -- but this one could be particularly important if you're tired of dead spots in coverage. Its new Max Stream AC2200 is a typical (if quick) tri-band router with 2.2Gbps of combined bandwidth, but includes built-in mesh networking support. If your WiFi bogs down in the bedroom, you can add Velop nodes to keep things humming. You don't have to buy a dedicated mesh system (or litter your home with full-size routers) to guarantee consistent speeds.
D-Link's latest router uses 5G for super fast home broadband
D-Link has launched a gateway router that shows 5G could be as much about home internet as faster mobile connections. The DWR-2010 5G NR router will pick up 5G networks and deliver speeds to your home as fast as 3Gbps, "more than 40 times faster then the [average] fixed broadband speed in the US," it said. It will reportedly be relatively easy to setup, letting you create a home WiFi network with just a power outlet and SIM card.
Tech-friendly bus startup FlixBus offers riders VR headsets
As anyone who has tried using VR in an airplane or crazy self-driving car knows, it can either help you while away the time or make you nauseous. None of that is discouraging the low-cost, high-tech bus service Flixbus, which has started testing virtual reality on several of its US routes. Passengers going from Tucson, Phoenix, Los Angeles and San Diego on a "panoramic" seat will be able to try about 50 virtual reality games and travel experiences for free.
Government reportedly asked Redskins to nix free WiFi deal with Huawei
The unfortunately-named Washington Redskins had a deal in place with Huawei to provide free WiFi in the suites at FedFex Field but security concerns raised by the federal government reportedly led to the team backing out, according to the Wall Street Journal. The now-dead deal, first agreed to in 2014, is the latest example to come to light of the US government's ongoing distrust of the Chinese tech maker. The company's products were banned within government agencies earlier this year.
Google settles with contractor over alleged racial discrimination
As much as Google talks about being inclusive of other cultures, it might have some more work to do. The Guardian has learned that Google recently settled a racial discrimination claim from a British contractor who collected shopping mall WiFi data for the Maps team in Europe. Allegedly, the company withdrew an offer for a new contract after the man (going by the pseudonym Ahmed Rashid) complained about harassment and racial profiling from mall staff and security due to his Moroccan roots. The company had a "complete disregard" for safety by insisting on secrecy for the project, Rashid said -- he couldn't tell others he was coming or flash ID to allay their suspicions.
Engadget giveaway: Win a Smart Light Starter Kit and Home Max courtesy of Google!
If you haven't dabbled in the smart home sector yet, but would like to enjoy some of the perks without investing big bucks, the new made-for-Google Smart Light Starter Kit from GE is tailor-made. This package includes a Google Home Mini and a GE-C Life smart bulb, both of which can talk to each other by Bluetooth, obviating the need for any hubs. It's that easy to set up voice-controlled ambiance with any of the Google Home smart speakers. Plus, since the Home devices are WiFi connected as well, you can remotely control your lights. Additional bulbs can be added without too much cost and if you purchase one of the Google/GE kits between November 22nd and 26th, there are some major discounts to be had at the Google Store. This week, Google has provided us with a Smart Light Starter Kit for two lucky readers, along with a super-sized Google Home Max so you can really crank up the tunes. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to four chances at winning one of these Google smart home packages. Good luck! Winners: Congratulations to Jesse D. of Antioch, CA and Antonio P. of New York, NY!
Netgear's first WiFi 6 routers look like stealth fighters
Netgear is very clearly determined to maintain its reputation for outlandishly styled, high-performance WiFi routers. The company has unveiled its first routers using the WiFi 6 (aka 802.11ax) standard, and... well, just look at them. Both the Nighthawk AX8 and Nighthawk AX12 more closely resemble stealth fighters than networking equipment (to better position the antennas, Netgear said), and they appear to have the speed to match. Both can handle up to 6Gbps of wireless data traffic at any one time, tout "optimized" quad-core processors to juggle all that traffic and promise 25 percent higher data efficiency thanks to 1024 QAM. They're ready for your eventual multi-gigabit cable or fiber connection, then, and could be helpful if you're regularly transferring massive files between devices.
Researchers develop 3D printed objects that can track their own use
Researchers at the University of Washington have been developing a way for 3D-printed plastic objects to transmit data without the need for embedded batteries or electronics. Last year, they showed how their devices can take measurements of wind speed and liquid flow, and then transmit that information through an antenna that reflects ambient WiFi signals. Now, they're taking their work a step further, bringing the technique to assistive technology.
