Google launches Wi-Fi router for home use

Google Inc. launched a Wi-Fi router on Tuesday, the latest move in the company's efforts to get ready for the connected home and draw more users to its services.

The cylinder-shaped router, named OnHub, can be pre-ordered for $199.99 at online retailers including the Google Store, Amazon.com Inc. and Walmart.com.

The router comes with in-built antennas that will scan the airwaves to spot the fastest connection, Google said in a blog post.

With the router, users will be able to prioritize a device so that they can get the fastest Internet speeds for data-heavy activities such as downloading content or streaming a movie.

The router can be hooked up with Google's On app, available on Android and iOS, to run network checks and keep track of bandwidth use among other things.

Google said OnHub automatically updates with new features and the latest security upgrades, just like the company's Android OS and Chrome browser.

The router is being manufactured by network company TP-LINK, Google said, hinting that ASUS could be the second manufacturing partner for the product.

The product launch comes days after Google restructured itself by creating Alphabet Inc, a holding company to pool its many subsidiaries and separate the core web advertising business from newer ventures like driverless cars.

Making products for the smart home is one such venture.

Google last year bought Nest, a smart thermostat maker, for $3.2 billion, aiming to lead the way on how household devices link to each other and to electricity grids.

The global market for "Internet of Things", the concept of connecting household devices to the Internet, will nearly triple to $1.7 trillion by 2020, research firm International Data Corp said in June.

Technology firms including Intel Corp., Cisco Systems, Samsung Electronics and telecom giants Vodafone and Verizon are betting heavily on Internet device-connected homes for future revenue and profit.

Google has also been working on providing faster Internet with its Google Fiber service in some U.S. cities.

It also aims to expand the reach of the Internet through Project Loon, under which it is floating balloons 20 kilometers above the Earth's surface to beam Internet connection to rural and remote areas.

source:www.abs-cbnnews.com

Using public Wi-Fi? Be careful

MANILA – Security software firm Kaspersky Lab warned smartphone, tablet and laptop users of the risks of public Wi-Fi hotspots, saying that they may fall prey to cybercriminals.

According to Kaspersky Lab, data sent through public Wi-Fi can be easily intercepted, letting cybercriminals access users’ banking credentials, banking passwords and other valuable information.

Citing a recent survey, it said 70% of tablet owners and 53% of smartphone users said they use public Wi-Fi hotspots.

Here are some tips from Kaspersky Lab’s team of Internet security experts on using public Wi-Fi hotspots:

1. Be aware – Public Wi-Fi is inherently insecure, so be cautious.

2. Remember, any device could be at risk – Laptops, smartphones and tablets are all susceptible to wireless security risks.

3. Treat all Wi-Fi links with suspicion – Don’t just assume that the Wi-Fi link is legitimate. It could be a bogus link that has been set up by a cybercriminal that is trying to capture valuable, personal information from unsuspecting users. Question everything and don’t connect to an unknown or unrecognized wireless access point.

4. Try to verify the legitimacy of a wireless connection – Some bogus links that have been set up by malicious users will have a connection name that’s deliberately similar to the coffee shop, hotel or venue that’s offering free Wi-Fi. If you can speak with an employee at the location that’s providing the public Wi-Fi connection, ask for information about their legitimate Wi-Fi access point, such as the connection’s name and IP address.

5. Use a VPN (virtual private network) – By using a VPN when you connect to a public Wi-Fi network, you’ll effectively be using a “private tunnel” that encrypts all of your data that passes through the network. This can help prevent cybercriminals that are lurking on the network from intercepting your data.

6. Avoid using specific types of websites – It’s a good idea to avoid logging into websites where there’s a chance that cybercriminals could capture your identity, passwords or personal information such as social networking sites, online banking services or any websites that store your credit card information.

7. Consider using your mobile phone – If you need to access any websites that store or require the input of any sensitive information, including social networking, online shopping and online banking sites, it may be worthwhile accessing them via your mobile phone network instead of the public Wi-Fi connection.

8. Protect your device against cyberattacks – Make sure all of your devices are protected by a rigorous anti-malware and security solution and ensure that it’s updated as regularly as possible.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

PLDT to set up Wi-Fi in Belo clinics

MANILA, Philippines -- Dominant carrier Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) is beefing the contact center operations of the Belo Medical Group and is set to provide wi-fi access inside the beauty company’s clinics.

PLDT ALPHA Enterprise vice president and corporate relationship management head Mitch Locsin said in a statement that the company is set to enhance the Belo Medical Group’s customer service experience through improved communication systems and wifi access inside its clinics.

Locsin said the company would beef up the Belo Medical Group contact center with the hotline 819-BELO (819-2356) to assist customers on questions and information on clinic schedules and appointments.

“We are happy that the Belo Medical Group have entrusted us their communication system,” Locsin said.

PLDT has also provided the Belo group with a unified internal communication service for all their employees after switching all their employees to Smart Communications Inc.

Through Smart Netcast, the Belo Medical Group could immediately send important advisories and promos to its employees’ using their Smart mobile lines.

PLDT’s DSL service would also be deployed in these branches to give their clients high -speed wifi connections while waiting for their consultations.

“With PLDT’s superior network infrastructure, the Belo Medical Group will surely enjoy our extensive and resilient network as well as our impressive after-sales support,” Locsin added.

More than 70 Belo Medical Group employees have been migrated to Smart’s network to benefit from the Netcast service.

A PLDT IPVPN (Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network) has also been set up to connect the company’s main offices to its clinics in Metro Manila and Cebu for real-time sales monitoring.

The Belo Medical Group has nine clinics in Metro Manila including Tomas Morato and Trinoma in Quezon City; Greenhills in San Juan; Medical Plaza Rustans and Greenbelt Residences in Makati City; Mega Atrium in Mandaluyong; Alabang Westgate and Podium in Ortigas.

It also operates a clinic at the Ayala Center in Cebu.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Broadcom 802.11ac Wi-Fi chips hit CES 2012

Following a CES preview event last month, Broadcom today announced its first family of 802.11ac (also known as 5G Wi-Fi) chips, designed for a broad range of product segments.

The chipmaker says the new IEEE 802.11ac chips are three times faster and up to six times more efficient than equivalent existing 802.11n (known as Wi-Fi) solutions. This makes 5G Wi-Fi a major step up from from the existing and popular 802.11a/b/g/n wireless solutions.

According to Broadcom, its 5G Wi-Fi chips will dramatically improve the wireless range and data rates, allowing consumers to watch HD video, and transfer large amounts of data to and from more devices, in more places at once.

The fact that the chips can transmit a much larger amount of data in the same amount of time, compared with 802.11n devices, means that the 5G Wi-Fi devices can enter low-power mode faster and more frequently, resulting in significant reductions in power consumption.

Read more: http://www.cnet.com/8301-33372_1-57352574/broadcom-802.11ac-wi-fi-chips-hit-ces-2012/#ixzz1iaojxJ7r

Free Wi-Fi At Starbucks Coming July 1st

Free at last. Today, Starbucks announced its plan to offer free Wi-Fi Internet access beginning July 1.

After seeing its first increase in customers in 13 quarters, the Seattle-based coffee company will offer free Wi-Fi through AT&T at 6,700 locations nation-wide, a decision that came just six months after McDonalds began offering free Wi-Fi to customers in 11,500 of its locations. Though the move could be seen as an attempt to take the edge away from the fast food franchise, which rolled out its own successful McCafe gourmet coffee line, the most interesting part of the announcement concerns the amount of free online access available exclusively for Starbucks customers.

Dubbed the Starbucks Digital Network, the Wi-Fi portal will allow free access to paid sites like the Wall Street Journal, along with exclusive downloads from other sites like iTunes, The New York Times, Patch, USA TODAY, Yahoo and Zagat, according to the AP. No word on how the network will work with mobile users.


Source: http://techland.com/2010/06/14/free-wi-fi-at-starbucks-coming-july-1st/