I'm just back from the massive Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where last week more than 2,400 manufacturers showed off the latest gadgets and technologies that will hit computers and electronics stores over the next year. Via [boston.com]
Dead spots are everywhere. They're those areas of your home or office where, no matter how you position your router or how you point the antenna, you just can't get a Wi-Fi signal. Networking companies feel your pain, and they have lots of plans for fixing the problem. Via [pcworld.com]
The wireless security technology called Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is a big improvement-especially as a replacement to the crippled wired equivalent privacy (WEP)-but all wireless security schemes share a problem: they're still hard to set up -- or, at least, they're hard for non-techie types. Via [wi-fiplanet.com]
Archos further loosened the ties between portable media players and PC hosts today with the launch of its first Wi-Fi enabled device. Via [theregister.co.uk]
Overcoming what many consider a weakness of WiMAX wireless broadband, Alvarion says it will start selling a mobile WiMAX system in 2006. Via [informationweek.networkingpipeline.com]
Broadcom has teamed up with Linksys and Hewlett-Packard to bring push-button security capabilities to WiFi networks. Via [commsdesign.com]
Word on the street is that Cisco Systems is looking to buy a wireless switch start-up. The asking price could be as much as $500 million, according to the industry rumor mill. Via [news.com.com]
The new Kodak Easyshare-One camera allows users to e-mail pictures directly from the camera via Wi-Fi ((802.11b Wireless LAN). In addition to this, users can also view online albums directly on the 3" touch screen display. The images can be stored on the Kodak Easyshare Gallery service, the new brand for Kodak's Ofoto service. An...
Microsoft and Intel each have technologies that work with Digital Rights Management (DRM) on home networks. Consumer networking leaders D-Link and Linksys, never ones to get along, have picked sides. At least for now. Via [wi-fiplanet.com]
A new start-up says it has developed antenna technology that can steer signals around obstacles, improving reliability in wireless home networks. Via [news.zdnet.com]
The city of West Hollywood, home of the renowned Sunset Strip, wants to join the growing ranks of municipalities making free wireless broadband available to anyone. Via [news.com.com]
WiMax is the answer to everything, or so it seems: a wireless alternative to DSL and cable modems; a bigger and better technology for hotspots; the saviour of rural broadband; even a 3G killer. Via [networks.silicon.com]
Networking gear maker Linksys is incorporating a new technology that expands the range of its Wi-Fi products up to three times and the speed up to eight times, according to the company. Via [news.com.com]
Samsung and Athena Semiconductors claim they have developed MIMO technology that can dramatically increase the speed and range of existing wireless LAN products. Via [informationweek.networkingpipeline.com]
The work involved in updating wireless access points and clients for 802.11i compliance—not to mention verifying that they are compliant in the first place—is daunting, but actually migrating users to the new security framework can be equally complicated and requires a combination of strategies. Via [eweek.com]