Honoring 20 years of the World Wide Web by looking forward at the future of broadband Internet
When Qualcomm Atheros launched its gaming-optimized Killer Wireless-N 1202 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combo card about a month ago, the silence was deafening; the component launched without a single OEM manufacturer on board, meaning you couldn't actually, you know, find it inside any laptops. That changes today, as the company announced that Dell's Alienware gaming notebooks will sport the Killer Wireless-N 1202 heading into the future.
When it comes to mobile technology, the push to make things better, faster and smaller is non-stop and all consuming. The more functions you can cram onto a single chip, the better! Plenty of companies have thrown their proverbial hat into the convergence ring, but as the 800 lb. gorilla in the room, all eyes tend to gravitate towards Intel for trend-setting processor news. And who is Intel to disappoint? The company's already announced plans for a mobile SoC with built-in 4G, and it recently showed off new "Rosepoint" chips that combine Atom CPUs and Wi-Fi radios.
If you're looking for relaxation, nothing beats living in the country. Even Steve Ballmer would chill out and unwind after spending a lazy day in the shade of a tree with nary a neighbor to be seen. Of course, rural living has a couple of downsides, too, not the least of which is poor broadband penetration. The IEEE wants to tackle that problem. Today, the group announced the publication of the 802.22 WiFi standard, which usurps the "white space" in analog TV frequencies to deliver high speeds over long ranges.
Convenience isn't just for fast food and corner store shopping; laziness – or efficiency, whichever you want to call it – is also one of the driving factors in portable PC design. Us end-users hate to lug around gargantuan laptops, and we hate being tied to electrical outlets while our batteries recharge. We want to be like Ali and float like a butterfly, dammit! Fortunately for us, Broadcom unveiled a new 40nm-thick Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combo chip at Computex on Tuesday, the smallest ever developed.XCom Global brings WiFi to your pocket in more than 35 countries, for $17.95 per day.
For international travelers, feeding an Internet addiction while traveling abroad can be incredibly inconvenient, not to mention costly. XCom Global, a rather-fresh entrant to the International roaming market, has the perfect solution, however. Travelers can rent a pocket-sized unlimited-use Novatel MiFi 2373 device from the San Diego-based company for $17.95 per day, regardless of your destination – less than you’ll pay for WiFi in many European hotels.
