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All posts tagged "wi-fi"


Monday, January 9, 2012

Amped Wireless High Power R10000 Router Review

Posted by Chris Sacksteder in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 08:30 AM

Amped Wireless High Speed Router

Product Category: Home Router / Wireless Access Point
Manufacturer: Amped Wireless
Where to Buy: Amazon [Affiliate]
Price: $119.99
System Requirements: A computer with Ethernet for setup.
Specifications: Band: 2.4GHz, 80211b/g/n. MIMO. 300Mbps. Security: WEP, WPA, WPA. Output power: 29dBi. Antennas: dual 5dBi removable. Ports: 4 10/100Mb and one 10/100Mb up link.

Pros:

  • Excellent wireless coverage;
  • Fast data transfer;
  • Easy setup.

Cons:

  • Ethernet ports only 10/100Mb (Gigabit model coming soon);
  • Single 2.4GHz band (dual band model coming after the Gigabit version).

Summary: If you have spots in your home with poor wireless coverage, or find streaming HD video often breaks up, the high powered Amped Wireless R10000 router may be a better solution than adding one or more additional access points. Our tests show this device really does provide wide coverage and high speed.

Read more...


Monday, June 27, 2011

Samsung's SH100 Brings The Internet To Your Camera

Posted by Angelina Purpura in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 10:00 AM

Product Category: Digital Camera (Point-And-Shoot Variety)
Manufacturer: Samsung
Where to Buy: Amazon.com [USA, Affiliate] / Best Buy.ca [Canada]
Price: $199.99 CDN
System Requirements: Wi-Fi connection (Supports B, G, and N)
Specifications: Provided by Samsung

Pros:

  • Simple and quick wireless media uploading;
  • Amazing photo quality;
  • Impressive battery life;
  • Amusing photo editing options.

Cons:

  • Complicated menus slow down useability;
  • Video quality leaves a little to be desired;
  • Limited destination options for uploading photos.

Summary: It was more than four years ago that I first heard mention of Wi-Fi enabled cameras. It was theoretical technology at the time, and I was intrigued. Imagine being able to upload your pictures right from your camera! So when presented with the opportunity to try out one of these mythical beasts my excitement was boundless. And it absolutely lives up the expectations I had. Unfortunately, those expectations were from a time before the iPhone, before smartphones in general. Camera phones existed, sure, but they were of no notable quality. These days however we have phones capable of taking HD video and sending it out into the world instantly. This camera can do that too, but only with a Wi-Fi connection. That can actually be surprisingly limiting at times. For example, uploading pictures from a party is simple (What sports bar or apartment building doesn't have an unlocked connection these days?) vs trying to upload them while out in public (Can't find a Starbucks? I guess it'll have to wait). I found myself thinking that it would be better if it was 3G enabled, to really let you upload anytime, from anywhere. And then I considered that, really, we already have our smartphones for that. And they can make phone calls, too. This camera comes pre-installed with a number of picture editing programs that are incredibly fun to play with, but I have also already seen countless apps that offer the same functions. That's not to say I haven't very much enjoyed my time with it - its picture quality is fantastic and the touch screen is very nice. But I know that, while the cameras in smart phones are not quite there yet, it's only a matter of time before their quality improves enough that I worry the SH100 will have to fight hard to keep its place in the market. But in the meantime this camera is one of the most fun to play with I've ever used. From a point-and-shoot, it's hard to ask for more.

A note before I get started: as I have previously stated I am not a professional photographer. I take a lot of pictures, but with no degree of training. If you're looking for a detailed technical review of the camera then I'm afraid that this is not it. This is a review of the camera's useability and functionality for the average recreational photographer. Read more...


Friday, April 8, 2011

The Perfect Combination

Posted by Danny Simmons in "Digital Home Talk" @ 09:00 AM

http://lifehacker.com/#!5789734/wha...e-wi+fi-routers

"We've featured tons and tons of methods for boosting your Wi-Fi signal. We've upgraded out routers with DD-WRT to make them extra powerful. There is no dearth of available tips for getting the most out of a router, but what's the best combination? What hardware works best with what strategies? Let us know what you think."

Have you modified your Wi-Fi router from the standard configuration to get better performance and control? Tell us what configuration you are using (Hardware, Firmware, etc.) We want to know what the best combination is.


Monday, February 7, 2011

Internet Surfers Like It When Neighbours Share

Posted by Hooch Tan in "Digital Home News" @ 03:00 PM

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-20030695-94.html

"Conducted by Wakefield Research in conjunction with the Wi-Fi Alliance, the results out this week found that 32 percent of those polled admit to trying to hop onto an unsecure Wi-Fi network that wasn't theirs. Some say they've done it only once while others reveal they've done it many times."

Naughty, naughty! I am sure it seems harmless enough for most people. They just absolutely, positively, have to get Internet access so they can upload the cure for cancer that they have found on a laptop they just happened to come across. The world needs to know! In some ways, I am not surprised. A lot of people have become to attached to the Internet that if there is a convenient way to get access, they will do so, even if doing so is not... polite.

I am kind of surprised that there are still so many open access points. Most routers these days, and for the past few years, default to some sort of encryption for wireless, so that suggests to me that some people have some really aging routers on their hands. Of course, with the increasing use of 3/4/5/20G networks will people still crave the need to hop onto unprotected Wi-Fi hotspots as much?

Tags: wi-fi, hotspots

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Wi-Fi Trying to Replace Bluetooth?

Posted by Chris Gohlke in "Digital Home Hardware & Accessories" @ 03:30 PM

http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/14/...ifi-wares-sca//

"After years of waiting for some sort of serious rival in the short-range communication realm, the Wi-Fi Alliance is doing what it should've done eons ago. Starting sometime in mid-2010 (if all goes to plan, of course), a Wi-Fi Direct specification will be published, enabling WiFi'd devices to connect to one another without some sort of WLAN hotspot nearby."

About time, I always wondered why they didn't do this from the start. My one concern would be that too many devices could really pollute the spectrum.


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