Let’s face it — traveling during the holidays kinda sucks. We know this because they have made movies about it. So in an attempt to convince fliers it’s not the suckiest airline — even if they do publicly lie about their baggage policies — Delta is offering free in-flight WiFi for folks who have to fly hundreds or thousands of miles to deal with passive-aggressive in-laws. [More]
wifi
Tmobile Throttles Unlimited Data Plans, Forbids Tethering
By 10.22.10
Tmobile is going after technically inclined customers who use their cellphones as a cheap wireless modem with a two-pronged approach. [More]
Never Click On "Free Public Wifi"
By 10.12.10
When you’re cruising for a hotspot at a coffee shop, never click on the “Free Public Wifi” wireless network. “Free Public Wifi” is a Windows XP quirk; when a computer can’t find any of its favorite networks it creates a network on-the-fly, but it doesn’t go anywhere. At best, you’ll never connect to the internet. At worst, you could be exposing your computer to hackers. [More]
FedEx Office Now Has Free WiFi
By 10.6.10
While a FedEx Office might not be as comfy or aromatic as a Starbucks, free WiFi access is still free WiFi access. And as of today, around 1,000 of the printing-and-shipping shops (formerly known as FedEx Kinko’s) have begun offering what they claim is free and unlimited internet access from the folks at AT&T. [More]
JetBlue Bringing Broadband WiFi To Planes… Eventually
By 10.4.10
The good news for air travelers: JetBlue has just announced a plan to install satellite-based WiFi internet access on their planes that it promises will deliver “the industry’s best in-flight broadband for commercial aviation.” The not as good news: It’s going to take a while. [More]
Starbucks Staffer: I Was Fired For Turning Off WiFi To Stop People From Viewing Porn
By 10.1.10
Over at StarbucksGossip, they have a letter from a now-former employee at the coffee chain, who claims he was given the boot from his java-dispensing job because he turned off the in-store free WiFi in an effort to stop customers from looking at porn. [More]
Hotels Testing Lower Price For Lower Quality WiFi Access
By 9.16.10
For those of us that live and die by our laptops, WiFi access at hotels is often a necessary — and occasionally costly — evil. But some hotels are now experimenting with pricing levels that offer guests a discount if they’re willing to accept a lesser internet connection. [More]
Starbucks Offers Free Slow WiFi
By 7.8.10
Now that every Tom Dick and Harry knows about it and has jumped on, the free wifi at Starbucks has now, not particularly surprisingly, become the free slow wifi at Starbucks. [More]
Starbucks & AT&T Survive First Day Of Free WiFi
By 7.2.10
So yesterday was Day 1 for Starbucks’ new 1-click free WiFi service at its coffee stores around the nation. And while some had wondered whether or not the java giant and its WiFi provider, AT&T, would be able to keep up with the increased demand, it looks like all went relatively well. [More]
4 Tips To Not Getting Ripped Off While On Vacation
By 6.28.10
Going on vacation is supposed to be a way to soothe your nerves and forget about the worries of the world. But, in addition to all the hassles of travel, vacations are a prime opportunity for you to be taken advantage of, And don’t forget that empty house back home that’s now a target for thieves. [More]
HP Laughed Off My Friend's Laptop Warranty Repair Request
By 5.17.10
Andrew’s friend has an HP laptop that suddenly couldn’t detect wireless networks. Although the original warranty period had passed, the internet-less customer discovered HP had discovered problems like this were rampant enough that the company decided to extend the warranty. But when the friend called and tried to set up a repair ticket, the rep laughed at him and told him it would cost $249. [More]
Which Hotels Have Decent Wi-Fi?
By 5.3.10
If you want to pay out the nose for Wi-Fi, stay in a W hotel, says HotelChatter. The site has released its 6th annual report on Wi-Fi in U.S. hotels, and the W Hotel chain is named as the worst with no free lobby access and $15/day room rates. Other hotels that suck when it comes to wireless: DoubleTree, Four Seasons, Marriott, and Mandarin Oriental. [More]
Man Files $530K Lawsuit Against Neighbor For Using WiFi, iPhone, Dimmer Switches
By 3.29.10
Beware your home electronics — your phones, wireless routers, even your dimmer switches — because they might be making your neighbor ill. Or at least that’s what one man in New Mexico is saying in a lawsuit against a technology-loving former friend. [More]
Time Warner Launching WiFi Hotspots In NYC
By 3.25.10
Earlier today, Time Warner Cable announced their plan for placing WiFi hotspots in NYC that will be free to subscribers of their Road Runner internet service. [More]
Reduce Your Chances Of Laptop Theft By Turning Off Wi-Fi
By 3.3.10
A security company says that one easy way to find recently closed laptops hidden in cars or bags is to search for Wi-Fi radios, because some laptops can take half an hour or more before going into sleep mode. You need a specialized scanner to do sniff out Wi-Fi radios, but NetworkWorld.com says you can get one for about $50. The security company, Credant Technologies, says a group of lottery scammers in Jamaica were using stolen laptops that they found in this way. The solution: disable your Wi-Fi before you close the lid on your laptop. [More]
Don't Call In To Complain About How You Can't Steal Wi-Fi
By 3.1.10
Someone named Jennifer called in to the Leo Laporte show a week ago and asked for help on how to get back online. She’d been able to access a Wi-Fi hotspot for over a year and a half from her apartment, but “that’s disappeared now for three weeks.” She bought a wireless extender and that didn’t solve the problem at all. Laporte gently tries to point out that she’s being a freeloader, but she’s not buying it. [More]
Alaska Airlines And Gogo Team Up To Offer WiFi On All Flights
By 2.24.10
After a year of testing in-flight WiFi on several of their planes, Alaska Airlines announced today that it has partnered with Internet provider Gogo to hook up their entire fleet. So now you’ll be able to update your Tumblr page while jetting off to your crab-fishing gig in the Bering Sea. [More]
Jack In The Box's Free Wi-Fi Experiment Ended. Did Anyone Notice?
By 2.9.10
Knowzy.com, the website that’s been tracking which Jack in the Box stores were offering free Wi-Fi, reports that the restaurant chain has pulled the plug. The Wi-Fi offer came with the installation of HDTVs that displayed ads in the dining area, but those are gone too: “In mid-2009, the TVs and the Wi-Fi began disappearing. By the time McDonald’s made their free Wi-Fi announcement in December, Jack had completely dismantled his Wi-Fi network.” [More]
