Gear Diary » WiFi and Wireless Gear

OS X Moves Yet Another Step Closer to iOS

Dan Cohen — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:00:48 +0000

If you still weren't convinced that Apple's desktop/laptop Mac OS X operating system and their mobile operating system iOS were moving closer and closer to one another here's yet one more example. If you have a Mac go to software update and download the Airport Utility update. Once you do you'll be greeted with a utility that will be rather familiar if you have used the recently release iOS Airport Utility. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Buffalo Laughs at Your WiFi-N Router Capabilities, Doubles Down on Current Speeds

Francis Scardino — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:00:59 +0000

realtime throughput of their prototype AC routers on a large flat screen TV

I really don't know many (if any) people these days NOT running a WiFi network at home. Most Internet Service Providers (ISP) now provide a WiFi router or router/modem combo when you sign up for service. WiFi-N has pretty much become the standard over the past few years, with speeds capable of up to 150Mb/s and in almost all current electronics. The next standards have been announced and are called 802.11ac, which pretty much more than doubles WiFi-N on it's best day. If you have no idea what I'm talking about then pretty much what I am saying is Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Deal: Target – Get Free Sonos Bridge With Purchase of Sonos Play

Thomas R. Hall — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:00:02 +0000

We know that Dan is a big fan of the Sonos Wireless HiFi system based on his reviews last year of the PLAY:5 and PLAY:3, as well as his recent video showing how easy it is to set up the system. One thing that holds some people back from a Sonos system is the cost associated with it. Even though these are high-performance systems, the initial entry cost may be high enough to cause some hesitation in the purchasing process. (Though Dan has said to me that it is well worth it.) Well, Target is sweetening the deal for a limited time, so if you haven't yet made the jump and are interested, read on. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Setting Up a Sonos Home Audio System

Dan Cohen — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:00:34 +0000

My biggest personal tech find of 2011 has to be the Sonos home audio system. I got a review loaner and bought one within a day. I was that impressed with it and continue to love it. You can read the the initial review here and read the review of the new, smaller PLAY:3 here. During the inaugural Gear Fest last summer I had Carly film a quick walkthrough of setting the Sonos system up. It never made it into a post... until now.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Jabra 900 Series Wireless Headset review

Dan Cohen — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 22:00:37 +0000

Back in July we took a look at the uber-cool Sennheiser OfficeRunner Headset. It comes with a base that was designed by someone with a keen aesthetic sense and it sounds great. In fact, I've been using it at the office ever since. It does, however, offer a few significant downsides. It takes up a bit of desk space, has a few too many cumbersome wires and it is pricey! The one we reviewed included the handset lifter and was close to $400. (The unit alone is $299.95 in our Amazon Affiliate store.) Jabra has also released a line of headsets for wired phones. They are lighter, a bit less complicated and a Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Quick Look: Belkin Travel Router

Dan Cohen — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:15:30 +0000

This year Gear Diary's CES base will be a suite at the MGM Grand. All of us will be bunking together which means we will be able to get even more writing done early in the morning or late at night. Of course that presumes we have the wireless connectivity to go online and post. :-) The suite comes with free internet connectivity. That SHOULD mean both wired and wireless connections will work, but we won't really know until we get there. Add in the fact that during CES there is such a huge demand on wireless systems and… we need a Plan B. Meet CES Connectivity Plan B, the Belkin Wireless Dual-Band Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

WiFi Sync your iPhone and iPad using Personal Hotspot

Mitchell Oke — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 13:15:33 +0000

One of the coolest features in iOS 5 WiFi syncing, which I now use far more often than USB syncing. Being able to hit "Sync" on my MacBook for my iPad while it's still in my bag (it only needs charging every few days) makes me giggle every time I do it. It's just so simple, and works so effectively every time. With it, new music, an updated playlist, and a few new apps are just a click away. Obviously this functionality is normally used over a WiFi connection at home or the office, but it turns out you can actually use WiFi sync when you're mobile too. As a regular user of the Personal Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

TruConnect Brings Cheap & Easy 3G to Your Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet!

Michael Anderson — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:20:24 +0000

Last month I reviewed the TruConnect 'pay as you go' mobile broadband solution, saying:

TruConnect absolutely delivers on their claims of a simple device, easy setup and configuration, and clear pricing of as little as $4.99 per month. Beyond that, every person needs to make their own value judgement in terms of the data fees. For light or occasional use, you can get 250MB for less than $15 a month, but once you break 1GB of monthly data you might be better off with a full access plan. The good news is that you have no contract and no termination fees – you own the MiFi (or USB access point), so you cancel

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Republic Wireless $19 Per Month Cell Service Open for Signups

Michael Anderson — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:30:32 +0000

Every now and then you hear about something - the $100 laptop, the $35 tablet, the $19 smartphone plan - that seem to good to be true. And in some ways they are - there are limitations and compromises and caveats. In terms of the $19 smartphone plan, this week Republic Wireless unveiled their rumored plan - and it is both good and bad. The system is based on controlling the hardware - you need to use one of their special LG Optimus phones - and shifting much of the 'heavy lifting' to WiFi. So if you need the latest phone or are constantly on 3G with no WiFi in sight, or Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Review: TruConnect ‘Pay as You Go’ Laptop/Tablet Internet Service

Michael Anderson — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 19:00:33 +0000

Recently I stopped carrying a laptop with me when we do family travel: my Android smartphone, iPad and iPod are enough to allow me to do everything I need wherever we go. There is almost always free WiFi available, and if not I have my smartphone. But what about those in an area without WiFi access, or those who want to use a laptop or tablet in a car? For them there are wireless hotspots such as the MiFi available from most carriers - but those all require expensive monthly access charges with huge overage fees. What about the lighter user who wants the access - but not the $50 monthly fee Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

FanVision provides NFL Fans an Enhanced Stadium Experience

Travis Ehrlich — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:15:03 +0000

I have spent the majority of my life in stadiums. Some are big, some are small; in some I am a fan, in some was a player, and in some I am coaching. Bottom line is that I feel comfortable in a stadium. It is just who I am. My father went to high school in Houston, so while growing up we made many a trip to stay with my aunt who happened to live just a few miles from the Astrodome. By the time I was in Jr. High, I knew the dome like the back of my hand. We would come to town all summer and catch the Friday, Saturday and Sunday

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Ooma Updates and Gets Even Better

Dan Cohen — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:15:12 +0000

One of the standout piece of consumer electronics I have discovered over the past few years is the Ooma phone system. The system brings an unusual business model to the business of phone service. Instead of charging a monthly fee Ooma sells the hardware that connects to your high-speed internet service and then lets you have your phone service for free. Sure they sell a number of useful accessories and there are some value-adding services to which you can subscribe (Ooma Premier is one of them and is totally worth the price) but you don't HAVE to do so to get the value out of an Ooma system. Here's our review of the Ooma Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Inmarstat’s Fleet Broadband for Fishing Keeps Deep Sea Communications Open

Judie Stanford — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 20:45:18 +0000

Sig Hansen photo courtesy of Fresh from Florida

If you sit in an office all day, then you are used to having plenty of options available for surfing the internet, communicating with your co-workers or a loved one, or discussing strategies with your key team members; it's something we take for granted. But what if your office was a ship in the middle of the sea, and you were well past any 3G or even EDGE coverage areas? That's when something like the Fleet Broadband for Fishing by Inmarsat would come in handy. If you watch the show 'Deadliest Catch', then you will recognize their newest spokesperson, Captain Sig Hansen Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Lorex LIVE SENSE Gives Parents (and Grandparents) Peace of Mind

David Goodspeed — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:00:20 +0000

Photos: Author

Having never been blessed with children of my own, I never quite got a grasp of everything new parents had to worry about nor how extensive their “to-do” list was … until last Christmas when we got word of the impending arrival of my wife’s first grandchild. Fast forward to July 26, and Baby J arrives in fine fashion. In no time I begin hearing “I can’t wait until we can start babysitting him over here.” What? The baby is coming here? “I’m not ready.” “The house isn’t ready.” “Where did the time go?” The very next day Gear Diary Team Members find an inquiry in their mailboxes Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Gear Diary Roundup: Week Ending July 31

Dan Cohen — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:00:01 +0000

Well, July is over. The heat keeps coming, kids are getting read to go back to school and there's no shortage of gear news and reviews. Here are a few posts you may have missed but are worth a look… Gear Diary’s Back to School Gift Guide and an ARCHOS 70 Android Internet Tablet for You to Win!

It’s time to start thinking about the supplies you are going to send your kids back to school with, and we are here to help! We’ve gathered together a collection of goodies that any student would like, and while there are plenty of practical items, we didn’t forget the gear that

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Sonos PLAY:3 Review

Dan Cohen — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 20:00:17 +0000

We have had a fair bit of coverage of the Sonos Wireless Hi-Fi System over the past few weeks. As I noted in my initial review of the system, I only had the review units in my home for 23 hours before I went and ordered my own. I was impressed by the ease of use, the overall sound quality, and the vast amount of music that was available to me through the Sonos eco-system. It was by no means an inexpensive purchase but I have not had a single moment of buyer's remorse. At this point I am a Sonos evangelist and have gotten at least two other homes

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Listen Up Hotels, Near Field Communication Room Keys are Here and They are Awesome

Dan Cohen — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 02:00:06 +0000

Elana and I are at our third stop on our "Jersey Shore Road Trip". This time we are staying at a cute little boutique hotel just a block from the beach. The hotel was designed by Bob and Cortney Novogratz, owners of the NYC based design firm, Sixx Design, and stars of Bravo's docu-series "9 by Design.". It is a rather cool place that has some great design elements and some pretty neat tech built into it. The first that caught my eye was the key system that is used to access the elevator and open the room door. Before getting into it a little background. The first hotel we stayed in was Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Sonos Announces the Play:3 the Newest Addition to the Sonos Family

Dan Cohen — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 07:01:18 +0000

If you read the site regularly you know that I am a Sonos convert and am telling everyone I can about the wireless home audio system. I love it. In fact, I had the review system in my home for just a day before I went and bought my own system. This past weekend I had a chance to show it to Judie and Carly and they were likewise impressed. It is truly one of the best tech expenses I have made in recent history. On Monday I had a chance to meet with Sonos and get an early look at their latest release the Sonos PLAY:3. The PLAY:3 is being announced and released Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

The Sonos Wireless Home Audio System Review

Dan Cohen — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 20:00:25 +0000

If Apple were to release a wireless speaker system, it would probably look and function the way the Sonos Zone system does. Fortunately Cupertino doesn't need to go to the trouble, since Sonos beat Apple to it -- and there isn't a whole lot of room for improvement. Sure, I understand that those opening sentences sound more than a bit fanboyish toward both Apple and Sonos, but hey, I love my Apple products; in the last month or so, I have also become a Sonos evangelist. How much do I like the Sonos system? Let me put it this way: I received a one month review system on Wednesday morning and immediately set it Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

iPad Accessory Review: Seagate GoFlex Satellite Mobile Wireless Storage

Dan Cohen — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 22:00:30 +0000

Storing information in the cloud is all good and well but with tiered data plans becoming the norm the idea of constantly streaming music and video becomes a bit problematic. After all, depending upon your plan, streaming just a couple of movies could all but do in your monthly allotment. That leaves just three possibilities. You can either constantly juggle the content stored on your mobile device (a royal pain), you can buy the largest capacity device possible And be selective about what goes on it (expensive and the iPad tops out at 64GB) or you can find some way to access a large hard drive on the go. That's what Seagate wants you to do Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Hitchai G-Connect Wireless Storage for iPad

Dan Cohen — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 03:00:43 +0000

Last month we brought word of Seagate's new GoFlex Satellite portable storage. The Satellite provides 500GB of storage that can be accessed from a computer, iPad, iPhone or other connected device on the go without a physical connection and even when there is no WiFi network accessible thanks to built-in wireless connectivity. (We will have a full review shortly.) Today Hitachi is announcing their entry into this wireless storage market. The new G-CONNECT offers wireless storage and allows up to five people to access data on the drive simultaneously. As the company explains:

Wireless storage for on-the-go access

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Android WiFi Tablet Review: The HTC Flyer and HTC Scribe Digital Pen

Judie Stanford — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 22:00:14 +0000

Judie: When I attended Mobile World Congress earlier this year, there was one device which stood out for me above all others -- the HTC Flyer. The Flyer is an aluminum-bodied 7" Android tablet; my introduction to it came while I was still carrying a Samsung Galaxy Tab daily, and I could not get over how much better the Flyer looked and how much more solidly built it felt. It was positively Apple-esque, and that is not a bad thing. Couple that with the matching aluminum digital pen which suddenly made note-taking and doodling seem like some Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Home Audio Review: Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin Air

Dan Cohen — Thu, 26 May 2011 22:00:07 +0000

As I have noted elsewhere on the site, I find myself listening to more music than ever these days. Much of the reason for this has to do with the fact that I'm always carrying at least one, if not two or three, devices that are able to stream a whole host of different types of music from a variety of different sources. A fair bit of the time is spent listening through headphones, but I much prefer listening to music coming from a set of speakers. The sound is richer, the music more all-encompassing -- and I'm able to hear the phone when it rings. :-) I've looked at a number of different stereo Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

The Linksys E4200 Max Performance WiFi-N Router Review

Francis Scardino — Tue, 17 May 2011 22:00:04 +0000

A few months ago Linksys announced their new E4200 Wireless N router. Linksys was kind enough to send out a review unit, which I have been using for a few weeks. The dual band router sports both a 2.4 and 5 GHz radio setup and a six-pack of internal antennas to maximize wireless coverage and throughput. Wireless N is pretty much the standard these days, and as you all know the force behind WiFi N is the need for streaming media. With all the new web connected TV's and streaming media services, the last thing you want is your router causing a bottleneck when connected to these pricey services. The E4200 is no doubt the best Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Best deal Linksys E4200 Wireless-N Router – LogicBUY

Dan Cohen — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:00:59 +0000

We start the week with a Gear Deal on the newest Linksys E4200 Wireless-N Router. It features include simultaneous dual-band Wireless N with a maximum speed of 300 + 450 Mbps, Gigabit Ethernet ports, a USB Storage Port for centralized file sharing with built-in UPnP AV media server, a full 3x3 MIMO antenna array for maximum range and reliability, and more. In other words, this is a "router's router"! AND our Gear Sponsor has found it at a nice discount. That's right, the Linksys E4200 Wireless-N Router has an MSRP of $179.99 but with this Gear Deal you can save $30. That brings the price down to just $149.99. Gear Deal- Linksys E4200 Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Ways to Help Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Victims: Jawbone & John Zorn Relief Efforts

Michael Anderson — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 20:30:44 +0000

Everyone shares the pain and difficulty of the people of Japan dealing with the horrible tragedy, and many of us look for ways to help out in whatever way possible. Judie wrote about some ways to help, I mentioned some here and here and here and here, and more ideas keep pouring in every day! Here are a couple more of the latest! First off, Jawbone - whose Icon bluetooth headset I use every day - is providing $50 for every Red Dot JAMBOX bought between now and April 15th. But you need to purchase it on Jawbone.com for the donation to happen. Here are the details Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

Looking Back at the Week that Was:

Dan Cohen — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 17:15:49 +0000

Did you miss something over the past week? As things slow down for the weekend, here is your chance to catch up on some of the posts you might have missed that we thought might be of interest...

Our Review Entries

The Wilson Electronics SignalBoost DB Pro Cell Phone Signal Amplifier Review Checking out the ASUS Eee PC 1008P Seashell Karim Rashid Collection Netbook Review: i.Sound Portable Power Max 16000 mAh External Battery Review: Tom Bihn Ristretto Bag for 11" MacBook Air iPad App Review: Interruption Review: HanDBase for Android

Our Editorial Entries

Power of Tech Shown by

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The Wilson Electronics SignalBoost DB Pro Cell Phone Signal Amplifier Review

Judie Stanford — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 23:00:02 +0000

I live in a rural area which is fantastic for wide open spaces and natural beauty ... yet not so great for timely FedEx deliveries or wireless service. We have much better GSM (AT&T & T-Mobile) coverage than CDMA (Sprint & Verizon); 3G is not here yet, so we must be content with EDGE. The nearest tower is several miles away from our home, and our area is hilly, so although we do get a cellular signal, it can be weak.

When standing outside our house I can get three to four bars on the iPhone 4, which is pretty fantastic; calls are clear and everything is good. But step inside, under our

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GD Quickie: the BulletTrain Express Keyboard Platform; Thankfully Someone Was Listening

Judie Stanford — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 20:00:53 +0000

I have been using a Mac laptop of some kind for a relatively short amount of time -- only since March 2008, but since then there has always been a MacBook nearby, whether it was the 15" MacBook Pro, a first generation MacBook Air, a second generation MacBook Air, a 17" MacBook Pro, or more recently an 11" MacBook Air. I've been pretty vocal stating my opinion that Mac makes some of the best hardware available, even if I am pretty agnostic about whether their operating system is better than Windows or not. Beyond the all metal bodies and slimmer than usual bodies, one of the things that sets Mac laptops apart from all others is their Continue reading on Gear Diary ...

The New Linksys E4200 Home Media Router Sports a 6-Pack of Antennas for your Streaming Enjoyment

Francis Scardino — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 17:15:57 +0000

Image courtesy of Cisco

Cisco has just introduced their new Linksys E4200 flagship router into the world. This new router is a media streaming beast offering dual band Wireless N, 4 Gigabit ethernet ports, and a 6-pack of antenna's for fuller coverage and faster speeds. The E4200 is designed to tackle high def video streaming to all your wireless devices without compromising distance or reliability. The router also comes with a handy USB port that allows you to add external storage as well as future support for a Virtual USB port. Cisco wrapped up all this WiFi goodness into a freshly designed sleek-looking package and slapped it with an MSRP of $180 Continue reading on Gear Diary ...