wireless

Android users sue over software they say spies on them

adamg — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:31:01 +0000

Two users of Android mobile phones yesterday filed class-action lawsuits against the manufacturer of their phones and a software company that boasts it can track what Android users are doing even when their phones are in airplane mode.

New broadband service launches in Boston area

adamg — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:27:24 +0000

I met today with some folks from Clearwire, which today launched a wireless broadband service in the Boston area. I'll have a more complete report later (and a coverage map), but for now, here are answers to questions folks asked me on Twitter:

Clearwire is working with Sprint and Comcast. It has no plans to work with Verizon or AT&T.
Clearwire does have a mobile hotspot gizmo that lets you connect an iSomething (Pad, Phone and Pod) to its network (it has a similar gizmo for PCs and other devices that can connect to WiFi)
The company has not talked to the MBTA about putting antennas in T tunnels; says it will once it finishes the buildout of its above-ground antennas over the next year or so.
The company plans to blanket the entire area within 128 first (looks to have about 60% covered now), then the area within 495. Currently uncovered areas include large parts of Roxbury, Hyde Park, Roslindale and West Roxbury and parts of Mattapan, Jamaica Plain and Dorchester.
The company is still looking for testers (will get contact info).

If Verizon won't give us FiOS, maybe they'll give us wicked fast wireless

adamg — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:25:06 +0000

BostInnovation reports Verizon has finished up Boston technical tests of its 4G wireless, which promises download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps, and will now begin looking for users to test it out - with actual service to be offered by the end of this year. No word on cost.

Starbucks to catch up with Oak Square Dunkin' Donuts

adamg — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:51:03 +0000

Tim O'Reilly tweets that as of July 1, Starbucks will eliminate fees for using wireless in its stores.

So who's still paying for wireless at Logan?

adamg — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:35:06 +0000

OK, savvy travelers know there's free wireless at Logan for the holidays.

Ben Ostrander reports, though, that when you connect to loganwifi, you're given a choice: Free wireless or the traditional $10 wireless.

Anybody know if the paid WiFi is better somehow (better throughput?)? Or is it just for the sort of person you'd expect to see on a Chance card in Monopoly, using a $10 bill to light a cigar?

we dodged the bullet, but next time my winter disaster communications tips might help!

WDavidStephenson — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 04:16:26 +0000

In Medfield I think we lost power for less than an hour today, but it was a reminder that reallly bad weather (even in '78 we didn't lose power, but remember that Quebec ice storm???)normal communications might be disrupted, and we'd be on our own.

Wi-Fi or libraries?

adamg — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 13:41:08 +0000

Sharon Gartenberg cannot believe Framingham is considering spending $1 million to create a downtown wireless zone:

... OK, so we can't afford to replace the terribly inadequate branch library in Saxonville, but we have a million dollars to spend so "Police, fire, public works, and health inspection services personnel all could work away from the office more efficiently with laptops and wireless Internet access"? Um, I don't think so.

And by the way, Framingham is 26 square miles, not just 3. If the service is for public employees, what possible rationale could there be to spend a million dollars to offer wireless very close to town offices, and not offer it in areas of the town more remote from town hall? ...

Free Wi-Fi to fly is nigh?

adamg — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 22:25:02 +0000

CNet: FCC: Boston airport can't block airline's Wi-Fi:

Markj is happy:

... Finally, Boston may get a chance to catch up with all of the other places that have free WiFi at the airport, with no thanks to AssPort. ...

In what is supposed to be a public place, it seems absurd to pay for wireless access, especially in a city that's supposed to be a high-tech leader.

Herald editor doesn't get brain tumor at Quincy Market

adamg — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 02:24:58 +0000

Herald Managing Editor Joe Dwinell checks in from the Quincy Market rotunda, where he files a blog post via the marketplace's free WiFi - and where he learns from a visiting Mayo Clinic physician that the wireless service won't be giving him a brain tumor:

... He has pulled up a seat next to me to blog along. He's also asking about Mitt Romney and how a liberal Massachusetts can elect a Mormon Republican. Checks and balances, I say. ...

Citywide wireless plan stupid and pointless, he says

adamg — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 00:12:40 +0000

John Keith explains why:

... Free and low-cost wireless is available - I use it all the time, at the public libraries in Copley Square and in the South End. Starbucks has monthly plans costing $29.99 and $39.99. The city has also announced plans to install wireless along its "Main Streets."

If there was a demand for wireless access, throughout the city, you can bet that a private company would have already entered the market.

That no one has, shows there is really no interest in this, beyond a few, good-intentioned, but misguided politicians. ...

Ooh, somebody must not like sharing his wireless connection

adamg — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 21:32:51 +0000

Sitting on the front porch trying to see if our wireless access point was up, I did a site survey - and discovered somebody on the block now has a wireless network called:

Fuck Off Losers

At least they were smart enough to turn on encryption.

Wrong solution for citywide wireless

adamg — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 12:11:11 +0000

Steve Garfield explains why he's not impressed with the city's recently released proposal for a citywide WiFi network that would include for-profit competition:

... Once we have WiFi all over Boston, I am NOT going to want to pay a daily charge or another monthly charge to get online. ...

Why would anybody want to flee Roslindale?

adamg — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 12:44:39 +0000

Andrew spots a crew in Roslindale Square making a movie about a girl who runs away from Roslindale for Argentina. Plus, he discusses the difficulties of getting Wi-Fi in the Square.

Wi-Fi on commuter rail?

adamg — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 03:26:11 +0000

Tim Murray, running for lieutenant governor, is proposing a new Office of Rail Commissioner to expand rail service in the state, including the installation of wireless access points on commuter-rail trains.

Via Blue Mass. Group.

Wireless-less

adamg — Sat, 15 Apr 2006 16:15:11 +0000

Mike Mennonno finds himself in a WiFi pickle: His downstairs neighbor suddenly added encryption to her wireless network and he can't use the BPL wireless because of that matter of the outstanding library fines, which means he can't get a library card for the PIN he'd need to use their network:

... So I was stuck. It's Karma, of course. I could tell you the whole story of the card, the books, the fine, but it's very long, and very, very sordid. ...