Last year, JetBlue announced it would begin installing new, satellite-based WiFi Internet access on board its planes — and that the service would initially be free on the first 30 jets that get the upgrade. Now the airline’s CEO says that freebie could continue beyond that starting point. [More]
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Google Provides Free WiFi To Area Of Manhattan That Doesn’t Exactly Need It
By 1.8.13
Because it’s hard to pay $60/month for Internet access when you’re already shelling out $3,000/month for your one-bedroom apartment, the charitable folks at Google have decided to bring free WiFi to Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. [More]
FCC Makes Changes To Improve Availability Of In-Flight Internet Access
By 12.28.12
For more than a decade, the FCC has been approving individual applications from companies to provide in-flight Internet access. But this burdensome process will soon be cut in half thanks to new rules issued by the Commission. [More]
JetBlue To Roll Out (Possibly) Free In-Flight WiFi In 2013
By 9.18.12
With most airlines going the nickel-and-dime route for amenities that had long been included in the price of a ticket, it’s nice to hear about a carrier offering something new for free… even if it may only be free in the very beginning. [More]
5 Cable Companies Agree To Share Hotspots, But Will People Use Them?
By 5.21.12
For years, a number of the larger cable-based Internet providers have placed WiFi hotspots around the country for their customers to use when not in the comfort of their own home, but you had to find a hotspot operated by your ISP. Today, five of those companies — Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Cablevision, and Cox Communications — have announced that their customers will all soon be able to all use the same hotspots. But will people use them — and will this actually make some of the problems worse? [More]
Free WiFi Continues To Pop Up In Odd Places
By 3.30.12
These are boom times for heavy WiFi users. Free WiFi is so ubiquitous that it’s gotten to the point that it’s almost shocking to sit down in public and not be able to pick up a signal. [More]
Homeless People Become 4G Hotspots In Charitable Marketing Stunt
By 3.13.12
It takes some doing to turn heads amid the media circus that is South by Southwest, but marketing firm BBH just that by transforming homeless guys into walking 4G WiFi hotspots. Promoters say the stunt is meant to bring the plight of the homeless to light, but there are also questions about whether or not the contractors are being exploited. [More]
How iPads Might Crush Offices' Wireless Networks
By 2.24.12
As iPads continue to grow in popularity, their prevalence in the office could not only sap productivity but push WiFi networks to their breaking points. Because the tablets are less efficient at picking up signals than laptops, they tend to put more of a tax on networks. As the iPad 3 release looms, researchers say businesses may need to triple their WiFi coverage in order to handle an an office iPad influx. [More]
No, You Don't Need To Drop $1000 On A Wifi TV To Use A Roku
By 12.28.11
Sure, you should research purchases ahead of time, but discovering new things while shopping out in the real world can be fun. Reader HogwartsProfessor was browsing the electronics section at Walmart and had some questions about a Roku. Two associates told her that no, the devices only work if you have a wifi-enabled TV. This isn’t true, as she learned: the point of the Roku is that it is the device that streams Internet content to your TV. [More]
Nintendo 3DS Gets Free WiFi At 42 Airports
By 12.13.11
While people-watching, reading and nervously quadruple-checking your boarding pass are perfectly valid ways to pass the time before your flight boards, they pale in comparison to squeezing in a few online rounds of Mario Kart 7. Thanks to a deal between Nintendo and Boingo, 42 airports now have free 3DS WiFi hotspots. [More]
Laptops May Slaughter Sperm In More Ways Than One
By 12.1.11
As we’ve previously pointed out, research has shown the heat from laptop use can raise the temperature of the testes and damage sperm of users who place the machines on their lap. Now researchers have found that a laptop’s WiFi signal is also a member of the sperm assassination squad. [More]
All United, Continental Flights Will Have WiFi By 2015
By 11.7.11
WiFi access in airplanes is becoming more and more common, and the United-Continental monolith is out to make the feature ubiquitous in its aircraft fleet within the next three years. The airlines, which are owned by United Continental Holdings, are pumping up 300 more planes with WiFi in the middle of 2012, thanks to a partnership with Panasonic Avionics Corporation. [More]
Former Cop Accused Of Using WiFi From Neighbors, Businesses To Get Child Porn
By 8.16.11
If you need motivation to encrypt your WiFi signal, consider the possibility that criminals may try to use your network for illegal activity. A former Tennessee police officer allegedly victimized churches, businesses and neighbors, using their WiFi to download child porn and share it with an online ring via a site he accessed at times while on duty. [More]
Boost Your WiFi Signal With A Beer Can
By 8.5.11
Stressed out because your WiFi is too slow to get your work done? Crack open a cold one. Then dry it, slice it, and mount it on your router’s antennae. That’s right, you can boost your wifi just by doing some simple surgery on a beer can. [More]
Man Who Hacks Neighbor's WiFi And Tries To Frame Him For Crimes Gets 18 Years
By 7.13.11
Good firewalls make good neighbors, but they won’t stop a determined hacker from busting through and manipulating your cyber footprints. For proof, look at the Minnesota man convicted of hacking his neighbor’s WiFi and attempting to frame him for child pornography and other crimes will serve 18 years in prison. [More]
Nintendo 3DS Will Stream Netflix, Connect Automatically For Free To AT&T WiFi Hot Spots
By 3.3.11
Nintendo’s 3DS handheld, which is due out March 27, will hook up with AT&T and Netflix in a super-hot threesome that will eventually let gamers stream movies while on the go. [More]
Survey: 32% Of You Are Mooching WiFi From A Neighbor
By 2.4.11
In spite of growing concerns about online security breaches, a new survey claims that nearly one-third of us are still piggybacking on our neighbors’ unencrypted WiFi. [More]
NYC Parks To Get Free WiFi, At A Price
By 1.26.11
New Yorkers are slated to get free wifi in 32 public parks next year, but it will come with a pricetag. Park users will get three 10 minute sessions per month, and after that pay 99 cents a day. The money goes to Time Warner and Cablevision, who agreed to provide the wifi as part of the city agreeing to renew their cable-tv franchises for 10 years. Public advocates promptly slammed the deal as the privatization of a public good. [More]
