Remember when you had to drive across town to get a signal from wireless connections coming out of cafe’s or someone’s house? It seems like a faint memory now, as technology speeds on with or without us, those days are done. Today there is a way to carry a Wi-Fi signal with you. This is a growing trend that will only keep getting more use because people need connections, and they need them now. Not down the street, not at home, todays consumer of electronics and web media needs access to the world every second of the day. Just what is mobile wireless, how does it work, and how can I get connected?
This device right here is from Novatel, and it is called Mi-Fi - a compact wireless router you can pocket and walk around while producing a wi-fi signal.
It is a new day and a completely different age for using the internet. Mi-Fi gives the user an option of connecting up to 5 devices to it, whether that be your smartphone, laptop, desktop, or gaming device. No more having to sit in a noisy Starbucks or try to connect to a weak signal from someone else’s router. You can go anywhere where the signal can backconnect to a cellular network (Sprint, ATT&T,?Verizon) and then frontconnect to local Wi-Fi devices.?So the signal is sent to the cellular network, then sent back through a Wi-Fi device to create a local area of shared internet connections.
Sprint will actually be offering the capability to connect this Mi-Fi device with 4G speed. This blog talked about the real difference between the regular third generation speed and the new fourth generation, coming to the conclusion that the only difference is in faster download speeds for websites and media. The catch is finding a device and a network that supports the 4G connection, so good luck as it is still very new.
There are other devices that create a mobile Wi-Fi spot, such as ATT&T’s 3G which connects via USB to your laptop. Apple came out with an app called MyWi, which turns your iPhone into a Wi-Fi hotspot.
However, beware of security issues that could leave you wishing you had not opened up this mobile hotspot. Hackers and anyone who can search the internet for ways to get into your Wi-Fi connection can access personal information. Already there have been accounts of Wi-Fi signals being breached by hackers and information such as security keys and GPS locations were ?compromised.
Mi-Fi from Novatel is for the consumer who is always on the go and cannot spend hours at the various locations for Wi-Fi connections. It is expensive, you must activate it through a contract with Sprint costing $60 a month. The device itself costs about $100.
What does this say about the future for Wi-Fi and the internet? It is saying that laptops are becoming less of a necessity as smartphones offer the same functions but with easier access and portability.
As technology speeds up, can we keep pace with the constant updates and improvements and releases of everything new? Better tighten up those running shoes!
Though many us will be traveling over the holidays, we?re still bound by our responsibilities at work, with wireless access keeping us connected to the office wherever we find ourselves. Even if you?re not obligated to work during your vacation, you might still be one of millions who?re hopelessly addicted to the internet, needing access on the fly.
If you?re looking for free WiFi access while traveling, PC World has compiled a wonderfully informative list of nationwide businesses offering WiFi access, distinguishing those that charge from the establishments offering such access for free.
As someone who requires internet access at all times, for both personal and business matters, it?s nice to have this resource as the holiday season approaches.
If you?re similarly dependent?on immediate WiFi access, you can find their WiFi Guide for Travelers here.
If you regularly patronize McDonalds, finding yourself a fan of their Big Macs, you might be interested in knowing that the company is poised to introduce WiFi for its customers. Starting in January, McDonalds will be delivering free WiFi access for visitors to its establishments, pairing their famous fast food with a perk that catapults them into the information age.
Previously coming at an expense of $2.95 for 2 hours of service, it?ll become free in January, making customers more likely to grab their usual breakfast staples and sit down for a bit to tap away on their wireless devices. This service is being facilitated by AT&T.
Just make sure not to spill your coffee on your laptop. If that happens, you may need to give us a call.
If you?re a frequent flyer who?d love to be able to take your laptop aboard a plane and use the internet, WIFI is now being offered by American Airlines, servicing all of its MD-80 aircraft ? with implementation of the WIFI service planned for additional fleets in time.? They?ve even included an easily accessible ? by PC or phone ? online widget that?ll inform you if your upcoming flight is WIFI enabled. This tool answers queries that are 24 hours before departure, leaving you unable to determine if a flight booked a month or so out will be internet accessible.
This is certainly a step in the right direction, as we become a wireless world, and we only hope that it points towards all airlines adopting the same forward-thinking business model.
Once a burgeoning niche product, laptops are fast becoming an established alternative for consumers opting for the convenience of portability over? being tied to a desktop. While desktops will continue to be used for tasks that aren?t feasible with the average laptop, the technology of portable computing has progressed to the point that many functions once limited to those desk bound mainstays are now available for people on the move.
When choosing a portable computing solution, a number of considerations come into play, the primary one being the functionality you?re looking for. Many use their laptops for gaming, while others simply want a portable word processor; ?one might just want wireless accessibility for their local? hotspot, or they?re looking for something on which to play a DVD while commuting to and from work.
The uses for these portable systems are as varied as the technology housed within them.
Deciding on a laptop can mean the difference between $400.00 or $1,000.00, the gulf between the price tags is determined by the functionality required by the user. ?If you?re solely looking for something with which to browse the internet, you?re not going to require a high-end system that might be tailored for the purpose of editing videos. If you’re an avid PC gamer, you?re going to want your system outfitted with a lot of ram, which is just another variable when assessing the expense you?ll incur.
When shopping for a laptop, ask questions. If you?re still unsure of what kind of portable solution will work for your needs, give Computer Geeks a call.
This device right here is from Novatel, and it is called Mi-Fi - a compact wireless router you can pocket and walk around while producing a wi-fi signal.
