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Posts Tagged ‘Wi-Fi’

Connectify Releases Version 2.1 – Extends Wi-Fi Sharing to Major Gaming Systems

October 1st, 2010

Connectify has released version 2.1 of its popular software routing application of the same name, which makes Wi-Fi access easier for people by allowing their Windows 7 computers to become Wi-Fi hotspots.

With Connectify you can share expensive airport Wi-Fi with co-workers, create a hotspot in your ethernet-only hotel or dorm room, even extend the range of your home router.

After downloading and installing the lightweight application, Connectify utilizes your computers’ built in Wi-Fi card to wirelessly share any available Internet connection: a cable modem, a cellular card, or even another Wi-Fi network. Other Wi-Fi enabled devices including laptops, smart phones, music players, and gaming systems can see and join your Connectify hotspot just like any other Wi-Fi access point and are kept safe and secure by password-protected WPA2 Encryption.

Alexander Gizis, CEO of Connectify stated, “We’re excited that this new release of Connectify will bring Wi-Fi Personal Area Networks to many more mobile professionals. It adds support for more wireless devices, more 3G cards, more clients, and more computers-including those running Windows 7 Starter Edition.”

This version also boasts full support for XBox 360, Wii, and PS3 gaming as well as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

“We’ve been really interested to see how the use of Connectify is evolving from basic Internet connection sharing, into more personal activities such as LAN gaming, and transferring photos from Wi-Fi cameras. We’re looking forward to all of the new uses that our users will come up with for this new release,” said Alex Gizis, CEO of Connectify.

Source:http://pr-canada.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=270584&Itemid=58

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Posted in Software News

Tags: Connectify Software Wi-Fi

Software updates coming, microsoft’s getting busy

September 17th, 2010

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A few important updates some of our readers should be aware of are due out within the next couple of months.

Apple is releasing an update for the iPad and iPhone in November.Addressing a major complaint from iPad and iPhone users, Apple released a beta version of AirPrint on Tuesday.AirPrint will allow Apple users to print from their devices over Wi-Fi.The stable version will be part of the iOS4.2 update due out in November.

Sony announced a major software update at the Tokyo Game Show last week.The update will allow Play Station 3 owners to play 3-D movies on their systems.This expands the console’s current 3-D gaming capability.The update will be available beginning next Tuesday, September 21.

Sony also showed off the “Move,” their answer to Nintendo’s Wii remote gaming capabilities.Suggested U.S. prices for just the “Move” will be $49.99.A starter kit which includes the “Move” and an as yet undisclosed game will set you back $99.99.

While on the subject of 3-D, it seems the TV manufacturers and movie distributors are working to fracture the technology’s appeal. Remember the Sony Blue-ray / Toshiba HD DVD war a few years back? Now it’s Sony and Samsung. It seems not all 3-D movies will play on all 3-D televisions. It only took about three years to shake out the Blue-ray fiasco. Let’s see how long this takes.

We haven’t heard much from Microsoft for most of the summer. Except for the recent release of the Kinect remote gaming controller, it’s been pretty much nada. Not anymore. The boys from Redmond are all over the map this week.

First it was the announcement of the beta release of ie9. Reports say Microsoft has stripped much of the browser out, leaving just the basics, much like Google’s Chrome. The most important upgrade will be the integration of HTML5. If you would like to give the beta version a spin, go to beautyofthe web.com for the download.

Next came the announcement of Microsoft teaming up with five Japanese game studios.This is interesting since the gaming market has been declining this year. Perhaps this partnership will liven things up a bit.

Finally, word came out today that developer apps for the new Windows Mobile7 operating system are now being accepted. Developers who submit now can expect an answer in October. Look for Windows Mobile 7 to make its move around the holiday buying season.

That should be enough toys to keep everyone busy for awhile.

Source:http://www.examiner.com/internet-business-in-baltimore/software-updates-coming-microsoft-s-getting-busy

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Posted in Software News

Tags: iPad Microsoft Software Wi-Fi

6 useful Wi-Fi tools for Windows

September 1st, 2010

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We live in a mobile world; if you have a laptop (and who doesn’t?), that means constantly connecting to the Internet via Wi-Fi. You most likely use Wi-Fi not just when you’re on the road at cafés, airports or hotels, but to connect to your home network too. You might even connect to a wireless network at the office.

Here’s the problem: Windows doesn’t do a particularly good job of providing Wi-Fi tools. Yes, it will let you search for and connect to nearby networks, but that’s about the extent of it. What if you want to get detailed information about every Wi-Fi network within range, troubleshoot your network, turn your laptop into a portable Wi-Fi hot spot or keep yourself safe at public hot spots? Windows is no help.

That’s why we’ve rounded up these six downloads. They’ll do all these things and more. Five out of the six are free; the other is inexpensive and lets you try it out first.

MetaGeek’s InSSIDer is a great tool for finding Wi-Fi networks within range of your computer and gathering a great deal of information about each. It’s also useful for troubleshooting problems with your own Wi-Fi network.

For every Wi-Fi network InSSIDer finds, it shows you the MAC address of the router, the router manufacturer (if it can detect it — it usually does), the channel it’s using, the service set identifier (SSID) or public name of the network, what kind of security is in place, the speed of the network and more. In addition, it displays the current signal strength of the network, as well as its signal strength over time.

How would you use the software to troubleshoot your wireless network? If you see that your network uses the same channel as nearby networks with strong signals, you’ll know that you should change the channel your network transmits over and thereby cut down on potential conflicts. (Most routers have a settings screen that lets you do this.)

You can also use the software to detect “dead zones” that don’t get a strong Wi-Fi connection. Walk around your home or office with InSSIDer installed on your laptop to see where signal strength drops. You can either avoid using a computer in those spots or else try repositioning the wireless router to see if it helps with coverage.

Whether you need to troubleshoot a network or find Wi-Fi hot spots to which you want to connect — or you’re just plain curious — this is one app you’ll want to download and try.

Source:http://www.goodgearguide.com.au/article/359199/6_useful_wi-fi_tools_windows/