802.11ac, sometimes referred to as 5G or gigabit Wi-Fi, hasn’t been finalized and Apple seldom if ever speaks ahead of time about the incorporation of new technology into the iPhone, iPad, or Mac lines, but they were aggressive in adopting 802.11n while it was in the draft stages and 802.11ac appears to have even more to recommend it.

The new 802.11ac standard achieves much faster wireless networking speeds than the existing 802.11n specification (in use on the latest Mac, AirPort and iOS devices) by using 2 to 4 times the frequency bandwidth (from 80 to 160MHz), more efficient data transfers through sophisticated modulation, and more antennas (up to 8; existing standards support up to 4, while Apple’s Macs currently use up to 3).

With everything from AirPlay to iTunes Wi-Fi sync to the downloading of content from iTunes Netflix and other online repositories becoming increasingly front and center in iOS, better, faster Wi-Fi will be huge plus. (Especially if when we see the eventual move to 1080p content on the rumored Apple TV 3.

The link below says Apple’s working on 802.11ac, though the article doesn’t say where that assertion comes from. Still — I want it, and hopefully we’ll indeed get it sometime this year if not the next.

Source: AppleInsider

Google is collecting information from Wi-Fi access points from all over the world  to enable it to speed up location services. Unfortunately it is gathering this information and maybe more, without the consent of the owners of the access point.

What’s more, Google is not only gathering data from public Wi-Fi access points but also from home and business users too. If you value your privacy, there is a way to stop Google recording your Wi-Fi access point’s location information. It’s reasonably straight forward to implement.

• Log in to your routers home page; usually this is done via an IP address similar to 192.168.0.1 if you don’t know, consult your router instruction manual
• Once you are logged in, go to the routers Wireless Settings

• Find the name or SSID of your Wi-Fi access point

• Add _nomap to the end o the the SSID

• Make sure to Apply or Save the changes
• That’s it, Google will no longer have your Wi-Fi router in its database.

Source: Google via Android Central

Apple has released AirPort Utility which is an app designed to let you manage your WiFi network and Airport base stations from your iOS device.

Use AirPort Utility to manage your Wi-Fi network and AirPort base stations, including AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule – right from your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch. See a graphical overview of your Wi-Fi network and devices. Change base station and network settings, or manage advanced features such as security modes , wireless channels and more. AirPort Utility works with all Apple 802.11n Wi-Fi base stations.

• See a graphical overview of your Wi-Fi network
• Get information about your connected Wi-Fi devices
• View and change network and Wi-Fi settings
• Restart or restore a base station or update the firmware on a base station when available
• View or update passwords for your network, base stations or disks
• Easily access network information such as IP address, DNS servers and router addresses
• Manage DHCP reservations and port mappings
• View status or error messages for your base stations

[App Store link]

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.



Experiencing more than your fair share of Wi-Fi #fail on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, and curious how to work around it? There are a lot of things which can cause Wi-Fi interference. Luckily, there are , here are some of them, and what you can do to fix them.

Here are some ways to reduce or eliminate Wi-Fi interference for your iOS devices.

1. Reset/reboot your router and your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. Start with a clean slate.
2. Reposition your route in case a particularly dense object like a wall, elevator shaft, etc. is getting in the way of the signal.
3. Change your Wi-Fi router channel. Sometimes a microwave can interfere, sometimes other devices. Try the low end, high end, and middle until you find what works best.
4. For iPad 2, try switching to the 5 GHz band. There’s much less interference on that frequency.

Identifying the causes of interference can help as well, if you notice something always happens when you lose signal — your microwave is on, your neighbour is using their garage door opener, the elevator reaches your floor, you’re streaming over Bluetooth, anything that establishes a pattern — it can help you figure out the right fix.

NOTE: Some iPad and iPad 2 users have reported problems with Wi-Fi in general. If you think it’s not just interference but a hardware issue, take your device to the Apple Store and let the Geniuses look at, and potentially replace it.

Tips of the day will range from beginner-level 101 to advanced-level ninjary. If you already know this tip, keep the link handy as a quick way to help a friend. If you have a tip of your own you’d like to suggest, add them to the comments or send them in to dailytips@tipb.com. (If it’s especially awesome and previously unknown to us, we’ll even give ya a reward…)

New to iPhone and curious how to connect to a Wi-Fi network? Wi-Fi is faster than 3G and if you’re on a tiered plan it’s a great way to avoid wasting your precious data. This may seem simple for those of us who have had our iPhones for a while but if you haven’t done it before, stay with us after the break to find out how to use Wi-Fi!

Here’s how to connect to a Wi-Fi network on your iPhone or iPod touch. (It’s also similar on iPad though the Settings app looks a little different.)

1. Launch Settings and make sure that Wi-Fi is turned on.
2. Check the available networks that appear under: Choose a Network.
3. Tap network you would like to join.
4. Enter the network password. If it’s especially complicated, email it to your iPhone and cut and paste it in.

Bonus tip: If you’re at Starbucks, the airport, or somewhere else that has free or paid Wi-Fi, a page may slide up asking you for an account login or to agree to their terms of service. Just fill this in the same way you’d log in via the web on a laptop. If you’re not sure what the Wi-Fi password is, ask an employee or the administrator.

I hope this has helped out those new to smartphones!

Tips of the day will range from beginner-level 101 to advanced-level ninjary. If you already know this tip, keep the link handy as a quick way to help a friend. If you have a tip of your own you’d like to suggest, add them to the comments or send them in to news@tipb.com. (If it’s especially awesome and previously unknown to us, we’ll even give ya a reward…)

iLounge was able to run a few tests on the microphone housed in the new iPad 2 and found there’s a noticeable difference in quality between the Wi-Fi-only iPad 2 and the Wi-Fi + 3G models.

When using Skype and Garageband on the iPad, iPad 2 with Wi-Fi, and iPad 2 with Wi-Fi + 3G, we found that audio from the 3G iPad 2’s mic sounded somewhat more muffled and echo-prone than with the original iPad’s or the Wi-Fi-only iPad 2’s mics

This is due to the microphone being moved from next to the headphone jack on the original iPad to a top-center position on the iPad 2. The Wi-Fi-only model is fully encased in aluminium whereas the 3G models have a plastic strip along the top which has an impact on recording quality.

Have you noticed a big enough difference in microphone quality between models for it to actually mean anything to you? let us know your thoughts in the comments!

[iLounge]

iPhone, iPod touch and iPad all have Wi-Fi radios in them and anything with a radio can suffer from interference. Some causes of interference are relatively simple, such as “holding it wrong”. Others may not be so obvious, such as being close to the microwave. Here TiPb goes through some of the common reasons that your Wi-Fi signal may have issues such as decreased wireless range, decreased network data speed, and even a complete loss of connectivity. We’ll also offer some fixes… after the break!

[Apple Support]

The previous generation of iPhone and iPod touch have 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi radios. Current generation iPhone 4, iPod touch 4 and iPad support 802.11n as well. iPhone and iPod touch only support the 2.4Ghz which is more “crowded” (more different types of devices operate at that frequency and care therefore more likely to cause interference). iPad also supports 802.11n over 5Ghz which is less “crowded”. With older Wi-Fi routers setting them to 5Ghz was great for devices that supported it but meant older devices with 802.11a/b/g couldn’t connect at all. Newer dual-band routers (like Apple’s last two generations of Airport Extreme) let you support both 2.4Ghz for older devices on one band and 5Ghz for iPad on the other — giving the better of both worlds.

So what causes interference on these radios and frequencies and how can you fix it?

• Your hand. Yes, “hold different” has become a bit of a joke but a large, waterlogged object like a big fleshy hand, if wrapped around enough area, could cause interference with the Wi-Fi radio in your device. This shouldn’t be a problem in normal use.

• Using the microwave. If your microwave is close to your Wi-Fi base station you may notice a loss of signal strength when the microwave is working. Test for it by turning the microwave on and off. If the interference starts and stops at the same time, it’s likely the case. Try changing the “channel” on your router (typically a number between 1 and 10) until you find one that eliminates the interference.

• Direct Satellite Service (DSS) radio frequency (RF) leakage. There are certain kinds of satelite dishes which can also cause interference due to the coax cable and connectors used. If there is damage to the cable get a new cabled to reduce the amount of RF leakage.

• Power lines, railroad tracks and power stations. There’s a lot of debate about whether or not these are practical sources of interference for modern home Wi-Fi routers. If you think you may have an issue with them try repositioning your router, or changing channels.

• Other wireless devices on the same frequency. Other phones, speakers, baby monitors, garage door openers, or anything else on the same 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz frequency can cause interference. If you think it’s a neighbor’s device causing the problem, again, try changing the channel on your router.

• Physical barriers Depending on what they’re made of and their RF absorption and obstruction rates, walls and floors and other physical obstructions can cause interference. (We’ve even been told stories of elevators, when they’re on the same floor, causing intermittent problems.) Try repositioning your router or even adding a second router as a bridge if you’re trying to cover a large area.

• Pacemakers Obviously you shouldn’t carry your iPhone or iPod touch in your pocket if you have a pacemaker.

• Hearing aids. iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad may conflict with hearing aids as well.

• Blasting areas. Yes, if you live near an area where a lot of things get blown up the radio signals used could interfere with your device.

Types and potential for physical interference

Have you experienced Wi-Fi interference with your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad? If so, what caused it and how did you manage to fix it?

Wondering how to use the Wi-Fi personal hotspot on the new Verizon iPhone 4 or iOS 4.3 iPhone 4? Used mobile hotspot or a MiFi before but not sure how Apple’s works? No worries, it’s almost painless to share your iPhone’s 3G connection with up to 5 other devices (including your iPad or laptop!) and we’ll show you how after the break!

If you’ve used an iPhone before, Wi-Fi personal hotspot enhances the previous method for tethering and works in pretty much the same way — albeit much more easily. IIf you’re brand new to iPhone 4, Apple has made it even quicker to get to and get going with. Here’s how.

1. From the Home Screen launch the Settings App
2. In Settings tap on Personal Hotspot
3. Toggle Personal Hotspot to “On”
4. If Wi-Fi is currently disabled a popup will appear asking you to enable it.
5. You will see a default Wi-Fi password. You can either use it or tap on it to change it to a password of your choosing.
6. Once you’re happy with the settings go to your Mac or Windows PC and look for the name of your iPhone under available Wi-Fi networks.
7. Enter the password
8. A blue bar will appear on top of your iPhone showing the connection is established and how many devices are connected.

That’s it. Enjoy your Wi-Fi but keep track of your 3G data!

Tips of the day will range from beginner-level 101 to advanced-level ninjary. If you already know this tip, keep the link handy as a quick way to help a friend. If you have a tip of your own you’d like to suggest, add them to the comments or send them in to dailytips@tipb.com. (If it’s especially awesome and previously unknown to us, we’ll even give ya a reward…)

By now you probably know that I am big into productivity apps and I am always looking for the next big thing. I use a lot of task management apps on the iPad, and there are some great ones for sure. However, I have just come across the ultimate task management app for your iPad; OmniFocus. This is, without a doubt the best app for utilizing David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” (GTD) methodology. What makes this app stand out so much are three things: good design, Forecast and Review. But, I am probably getting ahead of myself. Let’s start at the beginning. Note, a lot of the features I am going to discuss are not unique to OmniFocus, but I think it is fair to describe them so you know what is contained in GTD and can get a better grasp for how it is used. For this review I literally rebuilt my tasks in the app form scratch except for the made-up Inbox screenshot below. I had to do that since I am already organized

Gather your stuff

Organize

On the OmiFocus sidebar located on the right of the screen in landscape or the overlap menu in portrait contains the link for creating projects. Once you tap it, you are presented with a screen that displays what projects you have. If you don’t have any, tap the plus sign in the top right. A project can have a few different types: Sequential, Parallel and Single. Sequential means that the project you are about to start follows the typical finish-start task relationship in project management. So, back to my previous painting the house example, you must finish buying the paint before you start to paint the house. Parallel means that the tasks do not have to have a specific order. For example, I have bills due this month, it doesn’t matter when I pay them as long as they are paid by the 30th. Last we have Single. Single is used if there really is a single task to your project, or, how  I use it, a general grouping of unrelated tasks that fall under a bigger more general umbrella like “Personal” or “Work”. Hmm, let’s talk about those bigger umbrellas now.

Once you have projects outlined you can group them together into logical areas of your life. Tap the plus button in the top left and choose folder. Some examples of my folders include: Personal, TiPb and a couple of work-related folders- that’s it. Every project, every task in my life can be put into projects within these folders.

Now, to maximize your time completing tasks within your projects, you can use what are called Contexts. Think of a context as a way to virtually group your tasks into a place or method of communicating. For example, I have an errands context I assign to tasks that I need to do while I am out shopping. I have an email context for when, if I am doing email, I can get those specific tasks completed and so on. But what is the best part about contexts in OmniFocus? You can create location- based contexts! For example, I create a location context for Starbucks (where I do most of my writing). I assign that context to tasks I need to get done when I am at Starbucks. When I arrive, I tap on that context and using the iPad’s location services, it finds my location and tell me relevant tasks that I have selected that need to be done in this location. Another example might be creating a context for different office locations at work. I need to speak to certain people at a location. I assign that location context to a task and OmniFocus only shows me contexts for that location.

At this point things might start to sound a little overwhelming. I mean, you have a billion tasks with a million projects, even with contexts and due dates, how do you keep it all in order? That is where OmniFocus really shines. Where other task management apps end, the power of OmniFocus really shows it’s stuff.

First, you can filter your projects and tasks by seeing only what is the very next action (task) in each project to be completed, see what tasks are available across projects (even items that are on Hold, more on that in a minute), what active tasks are remaining and all of your tasks. You can easily focus on specific projects by tapping and holding on the title. It magically makes the other projects go away so you can focus on the project or task at hand. Using the same method, you can quickly expand all or collapse all to make viewing even easier.

Forecast and Reviews

Review allows you to literally review your projects on a weekly basis. You can change this interval to another time, but I think one week works well. This is so incredibly useful. It acts like a reminder, but without nagging. You can review your project, add tasks, adjust due dates and more knowing that in a week, it will be time to review these projects again. Of course this is something you should be doing anyway, but building it into the app was pure genius.  You can do more than just marking  a project complete. You can change the status of the project to Active (which is the default), On Hold (if you don’t know when you will complete it or need more information), Completed (Yeah, it’s done. Think if it like you are archiving the completed project) and Dropped (Canceled).

Syncing and conclusion

I did not cover every aspect of OmniFocus here (yes, there is more…) but I think you have a good indication of what it does and how well it does it. Oh, and did I mention it’s pretty with a cool app icon? Those are great bonuses, but this is clearly leaps and bounds ahead of what else is out there and our patience for this app release has truly been rewarded; thanks OmniFocus. It would be nice if there was a lite version of this app as the $39.99 price might be too steep from some. However, if you use the GTD methodology, then you are probably already hooked.

[$39.99- iTunes Link]

Pros

• Beautiful, intuitive design
• Workflow to add tasks is painless
• Multiple organization options
• Different sync options

Cons

• Expensive
• No way to sync to the web via a website (like Toodledo)
• No lite version is available for users to try before buying

One of the more interesting notes on Apple’s iOS 4 for iPod touch page is persistent Wi-Fi connectivity, so Skype calls or push-notifications can come through even when your iPod touch is in sleep mode:

iPod touch can stay connected to Wi-Fi when asleep so you can receive incoming VoIP calls and notifications from compatible third-party apps.

There’s no word on whether this applies to the iPhone as well (since cellular data is typically persistent anyway), but it would be a nice feature to have in all iOS devices — including iPad, especially when roaming with data turned off, or even just to prevent the delays that usually accompany reconnecting to Wi-Fi based remote control apps.

For more on Apple’s latest software, see our complete iOS 4 feature walkthrough…

[Apple iPod touch iOS 4 page]

Update: This app seems to break core functionality, read my article here on uninstalling Wi-Fi Sync. Until the developer decides these issues need to be addressed, I can’t recommend anyone pay for this application, or until another workaround is found. The developer has been completely unresponsive when I’ve tried to contact him about the issue and at this time, I have no current easy solution to resolving broken backups and upgrades.

Wi-Fi Sync for iPhone is a jailbreak app that allows you to wirelessly sync with iTunes as opposed to having to plug in your phone.  It found it’s way into Cydia after it was rejected by Apple.

As of now, Wi-Fi Sync is only Mac compatible.  The developer is currently working on a PC version which he states on his website should be complete in about 8-10 weeks.  If you have a Mac and want to try it out, simply click here to get the Mac desktop software, then go in Cydia and purchase Wi-Fi Sync [$9.99 - Cydia Link].

After you’ve installed Wi-Fi Sync on your Mac and your iPhone, you should now be able to pair them.  The first time you do this, you’ll need to be by your Mac as it’ll ask you to accept the connection.  You’ll see this new icon in your Mac task bar (far left).

From that menu you have a few settings.  One being to disable backups.  I did this, as backups typically take a while and obviously, over wifi, your syncs will not be as quick as they are via traditional USB connection.  It’ll definitely make your battery take a hit with backups enabled as the time it takes to sync drastically increases.  To disable backups, just click that little icon and click to disable backups.

Now I don’t know if it was just me or if it’s a bug but my Mac kept asking me to accept the connection everytime, or wouldn’t find it sporadically.  There was also a couple times it would boot me off and my iPhone would tell me I had no wi-fi connection.  As this app is in it’s newborn stages, we will see how it progresses in terms of stability and feature set.  As far as I see, you’ll also need to tell your phone to sync automatically if you plan on using this app while not directly in front of your computer.  If that setting isn’t there, you’ll physically have to be in front of your computer to hit sync, which to me is somewhat counter-productive.

In my opinion, it’s a nice tool but I don’t know if it’s worth $10 at this point.  I personally encountered a few more bugs than I would have expected for an app with this type of price tag.  We’ll see what the developer does to refine it in the coming months.

Pros

• Ease of use
• Convenient
• Uses same familiar syncing process users are already accustomed to

Cons

• Drains battery pretty quick
• Must have automatic sync enabled for this to be useful
• Price tag is somewhat high
• Mac Only (for now)
• Breaks backups within iTunes
• Breaks the upgrade/restore process within iTunes

No shock: Apple has rejected that nifty Wi-Fi sync application that was submitted for the App Store. Good news is, it’s now available via Cydia for any jailbroken iPhone for $9.99. Engadget contacted the developer by phone and here is his rejection explanation.

“While he agreed that the app doesn’t technically break the rules, he said that it does encroach upon the boundaries of what they can and cannot allow on their store. He also cited security concerns.”

If you need to have this app and don’t know a thing about jailbreaking be sure to stop by our jailbreaking forum for all of the information you will need.

[Engadget]

Apple has updated the support document that details iPad Wi_fi connection issues, adding that a software fix is indeed in the works. Two of the main Wi-Fi issues include a weak signal and forgotten passwords.

While waiting for Apple, if you happen to be part of the “very small number” of iPad users suffering from these iPad Wi-Fi issues, you can try some of the following workarounds:

• Update your Wi-Fi router firmware
• Use WPA or WPA2 for your wireless security
• Adjusting screen brightness
• Renew your IP address

Any of these solutions work for you? Still having issues? Let us know in the comments below!

[Apple via Mac Rumors]

From the Forums is a great way to see all of the current hot topics within our forums are. In order to create any new threads of your own or reply to any of the existing threads, you must be a registered member. Becoming a member is a simple process that will only take a few minutes out of your day, so if you have not already already done so, head on over and register now!

• iPad Wi-Fi issues – There is no denying there is something going on with Wi-Fi on the iPad so whether you do or do not have issues staying connected to your Wi-Fi, let us know.

• What do you use to protect your iPad? Screen protector? Hard case? Flip case? We want to hear what protective measure you are taking!

• What are your thoughts on the next generation iPhone leak? Was it legal? Illegal? Vote in this poll that is split 50/50 at the moment.

• Words with Friends ID – Share your ID with the latest gaming craze on the iPhone and iPad.

• iPhone Jailbreak and Unlock – for all of your jailbreaking and unlocking needs visit our dedicated forum on the topics.

See you in the forums!

From the fine folks at the Wi-Fi Alliance, in collaboration with the Wireless Gigabit Alliance, comes WiGig, the the awkwardly names but drool worthy new standard that aims to take our cable-free data transfer into the next generation:

At a speed of 7 gigabits per second, WiGig can easily handle the transfer of high-def video. That positions it as a replacement for wired HDMI connections or optical audio cables. [...] The WiGig standard, which runs on the 60 GHz spectrum, could be made compatible with existing devices that support Wi-Fi, but those gadgets wouldn’t see the speed benefits of WiGig.

Apple is seen as a likely candidate to implement the new spec-to-be as they embraced even the draft 802.11n early on in its life cycle.

Those hoping this gives us truly wireless iPhone and iPad sync, and video streaming to our living room TVs, well, we’d love that too but the realities of battery technology probably means there’s still a charger or plug in the equation somewhere…

[LA Times Blog, thanks Steph for the tip!]

Dieter mentioned this in the hardware section of our iPad review, but we’ve seen enough reports (and gotten enough email about it!) that we wanted to break it out and see how widespread a problem this may be for our readers:

Speaking of that aluminum casing, it blocks WiFi signals pretty effectively. To get around that, Apple placed the WiFi antenna behind the plastic Apple logo. While all reports indicate it’s a good antenna, I do find that I’m getting slightly worse reception on the iPad than I do on other devices.

I haven’t had a problem either at home on an dual-band Airport Extreme in 802.11n mode or at work on an ancient Linksys in 802.11g, however I’m going try it out in more places on more routers and compare it to both laptops and iPhone/iPod touch to try and get a better idea.

More importantly, however, we want to see what your experience with iPad on Wi-Fi has been. Is the signal strong and steady or sparse and subject to frequent drops? How does the connectivity compare to your iPhone and/or iPod touch?

Update: Reader Fassy points out that CNN has picked up the story.

AT&T CEO, Randall Stephenson, has been quoted in saying that the Apple iPad will be a “Wi-Fi driven product” so no customers should be concerned with poor 3G data. But it did not end there, he also went on to say the following.

“My expectation is that there’s not going to be a lot of people out there looking for another subscription.”

All of the above really makes those of us here at TiPb scratch our heads. Are those the type of statements you expect to hear from a company ready to successfully sell iPads in their corporate stores across the country? Or would you think AT&T’s CEO would really want to hype up the product with positive comments to try and spark more 3G data subscriptions?

Your thoughts?

[Via TUAW via Reuters]

Apple has jumped on the Wi-Fi Direct bandwagon, which means we could see the technology introduced into the iPhone and iPod touch as early as 2010. What is it and what does it do? It basically lets devices connect peer-to-peer for data exchange, similar to how Bluetooth currently works. Or, if we understand it right, imagine the Remote app controlling your iTunes or Apple TV, but directly, without the need for shared router in between. Says AppleInsider:

The new Wi-Fi Direct standard is intended for both consumer electronics and enterprise applications. It will include WPA2 security, and management features for enterprise environments. The new technology will use roughly the same power, provide the same data rates, and offer the same range as current Wi-Fi products.

Given the timetable, it might cut things too close for Wi-Fi Direct in a 4th generation iPhone, expected to be announced in mid-June at WWDC 2010, though it might be in time for a 4th generation iPod touch that September. But here’s hoping Apple can get it done. Just think of the phat multi-player gaming pipe it would provide… (Or, you know — pay attention Apple! — Wi-Fi Direct Sync?!)

Are you looking for some good iPhone conversation? From the Forums is a great way to see what all of the current hot topics are on the TiPb forums. In order to create any new threads of your own or reply to any of the existing threads, you must be a registered member. Becoming a member is a simple process that will only take a few minutes out of your day, so if you have not already already done so, head on over and register now.

First topic up for today, App Store Genius and how is it working for you? Rene doesn’t seem to be having the best of luck with his Genius, for me it started out pretty so-so but it seems the more I delete the more accurate it seems to get. Perhaps my mind is playing tricks on me, how is it working for you?

iPhone OS 3.1.2 was released yesterday and we are assuming most of you jumped right in and updated your phones. Cdudek was wondering, how is your battery life on the 3.1.2 software? Anyone notice a significant change for the better or for the worse? Check the thread out to see results from other forum members and while you are there, post your own.

This next thread for today comes to us from naviwilliams and he offers up a question that we hear quite often – do you leave Wi-Fi on or off? It is a fact that using Wi-Fi over 3G will save you a decent amount of battery life so I have a tendency to leave it on since Wi-Fi is available to me at work and at home. How about you?

Last up for today is one of my personal favorite forums to check out – the iPhone Jailbreak and Unlock forum. This is the place to check out if you are interested in jailbreaking or unlocking your device. Most of the time you can find the answers to your questions within minutes.

See you on the forums!

Following up on last night‘ release of iPhone 3.1 Beta 2 firmware and SDK, developers are finding more changes and new features.

• TUAW reports that the AT&T IPCC hack, where the carrier file was modified to allow iPhone tethering sans official AT&T sanction no longer works. Bummer, given AT&T still hasn’t announced anything about legitimate tethering support or pricing.

• Engadget Mobile‘s been informed that new APIs have been introduced allowing for the manipulation of live video to produce “augmented reality” apps (where information is layered on top of the video).

• Ars Technica reports iPhone 3.1 Beta 2 allows developers to connect to test devices via Wi-Fi, rather than having to tether via USB as in previous releases, and still access instruments and other features.

Apple has updated a knowledge base article for those “Unable to use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth with iPhone or iPod touch because there’s no address listed for the device”, which is something we’ve heard quite a bit about lately. The four-pronged approach:

1. Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings
2. Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.
3. Restore the device via iTunes
4. Take your iPhone or iPod touch in for repairs.

Apple finishes off with some extra advice:

If the device shows an address in the Wi-Fi Address field and you are still having issues using Wi-Fi, refer to article 305715 for additional Wi-Fi troubleshooting tips. If the device shows an address in the Bluetooth field and you are still having issues using Bluetooth, refer to articles HT1843 and HT1664 for additional Bluetooth troubleshooting tips.

If any of that works for you, let us know in the comments. If it doesn’t, let us know as well…

[via iLounge]

Back when iPhone 3.0 launched, we heard Wi-Fi was giving problems to some — primarily iPod touch — users. Various network resets or OS restores seem to have quieted that down, but now TUAW is reporting that the newly launched iPhone 3GS might be suffering Wi-Fi troubles as well:

Users note that signal strength can fluctuate between one and full bars even when standing right next to the router or when a computer nearby shows a constant signal. This goes along with a commensurate reduction in speed.

Neither Jeremy nor I have been experiencing this, but if you have, let us know in the comments, along with what type of router you’re running, and what kind of speed/connection quality you’re getting (or not getting, more precisely).

(Wether this is, in fact, a widespread problem and one corrected by iPhone 3.1 we don’t yet).

Well I’m sure by now you have heard the latest Smarthphone Experts Roundtable Podcast! (If you haven’t had a chance to listen you better get on it, great podcast!)

You may have heard our very own fearless leader, Dieter, chime in on one thing that he hates about iPhone 3G, the fact that you can not turn on Wi-Fi while the radio is off (in Airplane Mode). Or so Dieter thought. You can indeed turn Wi-Fi on while the radio is off! And doing so is a snap!

First go into your Settings – Turn on Airplane Mode – and then turn your Wi-Fi connection on.

Now you can enjoy browsing the internet, checking emails, or anything else data related all without the radio on!

[Ed: Thanks also to Stephen Sizemore for bringing this up in the podcast comments! Let us know how that works for you, b'okay boss?]

According to reports submitted to MacRumors, users are no longer able to access free Wi-Fi at Starbucks and Barnes & Nobles Locations.

I am sure this is due to a “beta” phase for AT&T to test connectivity. Once wind got out that people are accessing it, they stopped. The fact that AT&T is even doing this is really cool; it adds value to the AT&T proposition for their mobile service.

Will AT&T Extend the Wi-Fi “courtesy” officially? Perhaps AT&T will offer customers Wi-Fi for use on laptops? Who knows, we are still waiting for an official AT&T press release describing their future Wi-Fi plans.

I think anyone will agree that whatever AT&T is doing, it will be better than T-Mobile’s offerings.

When the iPhone and iPod Touch first shipped, many eager big business users and university students snapped up the “breakthrough internet devices” only to find that, because the iPhone and iPod Touch didn’t support the 802.1x protocol, they couldn’t connect to some very large Wi-Fi networks.

Posts piled up on Apple’s Discussion Boards, feature requests and bug reports flooded in (I know I sent one!), and, as of the SDK Roadmap event on Thursday, Apple has listened! 802.1x has been announced for firmware 2.0!

But what is it and why’s is it so important?

Let’s say you bring home a Wi-Fi router and plug it in, then find out that, because you didn’t put any type of security password on it, your neighbor has been stealing your bandwidth.

So you try WEP (wire equivalent privacy), but since it was designed by engineers and not cryptographers, your rascally neighbor can just download a little utility from the web, crack your security in under a minute, and start torrent’ing away again on your dime.

Finally, you switch to robust WPA(2) (Wi-Fi protected access) along with a monster 64 character Gibson-certified pseudo-random password and, d’oh, your neighbors locked out and the cheapskate has to pony up for his own broadband.

Now let’s say instead of your home, you’re running a business or academic institution with thousands or tens of thousands of users. You can’t just slap on a password (even a secure one), because you’d have to give it to each of those users, who could then just tell their friends, and there goes security. Worse, from an administrative perspective, anytime someone left your business or institution, you’d have to change the password and get the new one to tens of thousands of users. Nightmare.

That’s where 802.1x comes in. Rather than the router using a single ID with a single, common password, 802.1x allows for an authentication server to be running, and thus enables more powerful, flexible, and manageable Wi-Fi for very large networks.

With 802.1x any one of tens of thousands of users can connect to the authentication server, pass along a set of credentials, and be allowed onto the network (or rejected if the credentials fail).

And with late June’s 2.0 firmware update, tens of thousands of users will be doing just that, at long last, on the iPhone and iPod Touch.

I’ve learned why the iPod Touch was snuck through without any leaks to the FCC. The trick of the trade is to certify only the wi-fi chip module that went into the iPod touch. Once that module was certified by the FCC, Apple could put it into whatever device it pleases, as long as that wi-fi module is the only transmitter present. If Apple wanted to add another radio transmitter (such as a Bluetooth chip for stereo Bluetooth / A2DP), they would have to recertify the new device.

Also of note, if Apple is planning a new 3G phone like the rumors say, they will have to recertify the iPhone 3G with the FCC. It’s worth noting that when Apple started testing their iPhone International, nothing new popped up at the FCC.

Holy smokes! Apple has put a $200 price cut on the 8 GB iPhone, and dropped the 4GB version altogether. That’s right, the 8GB iPhone is now $399. Where do I line up for my $200 check? I’m equal parts filled with rage for paying a $200 early adopter fee, and equal parts filled with glee for a $200 price cut. I’m glad that it makes the iPhone that much more accessible for everyone else. I just feel a little sore when I sit, that’s all.

I have colleagues that believe the price cut is a portent of a hardware refresh. I have a hard time believing Apple would refresh their iPhone hardware so soon after launch, but I should float the idea out as speculation. I believe a 3G version is possible, perhaps in the 1st or 2nd quarter of 2008. The part of me that hopes I’m wrong is the part of me that wants my iPhone to be new forever. Sigh

There’s an iTunes update tonight that will bring Ringtones support. For a select portion of their music catalog (about 500,000 songs altogether, or 8% of the songs available on iTunes), you can make a ringtone if you’ve already purchased the song. All in all, the song to play on the iPod and the song to play as a ringtone is $1.98. Song portion: $.99, same as always. Ringtone: $.99. I think the extra fee is for the ‘public performance’ licensing aspect of ringtones. It will be interesting to see if the iTunes update breaks iToner, iFuntastic, or the indomitable iPhoneRingtoneMaker. Let’s hope not.

The iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store will come to the iPhone in an update later this month. Look for it on a Tuesday afternoon this month, I’d bet. You will be able to purchase any music from the iTunes store and download it via wi-fi. I doubt you will be able to purchase it via EDGE. After all, it’s not the iTunes Wireless Music Store. Why not, though? It’s easier to say, and less cumbersome to type.

The iTunes Wi-Fi Music store will also be available from a bunch of Starbucks in most areas by 2009. The Starbucks in the larger top-ten cities in the US will get the update treatment first, and Starbucks figures they’ll have “most major metro areas” by late 2008. Um, I could rollout a storewide wi-fi network faster than that.

In other iPod news, Steve announced the iPod sister to the iPhone, the iPhone touch (8GB for $299 and 16GB is $399), to be available later this month. It’s slightly smaller, you’ll note from the picture above, and its application functionality has obviously not been totally disclosed. Notably missing from the iPod Touch thus far is a notes app and a maps app…. Hmmm.

The iPod, newly rechristened the iPod Classic, saw updates bringing a new, drastically thinner 80GB version ($249) and a thinner-than-the-previously-thickest 80GB version is the 160 GB version ($349).

The new iPod Nano, regarded by many as an ugly duckling, gets the full iPod treatment. It gains a video-quality screen, and is available in 4GB ($149) and 8GB ($199) versions, and it still works with the Nike+iPod sport kit. As you can see in the picture from Apple’s website above, it’s a little wee thing, absolutely tiny.

Huh. Apple’s iPod lineup looks like a steamroller right now. The Zune, Creative Zen, Sony Walkman line, et al, all look like bumpy roads waiting to be flattened this holiday season.

[via, via, via]

There was some brouhaha about the iPhone on Duke’s network, something about it bringing the network down, and some network or school administrator blamed it on the iPhone. Well, it turns out that maybe the iPhone wasn’t at fault. Duke officially said it was something else’s fault. I hadn’t reported on this earlier (part of that whole editorial process; why report on something that isn’t related to news?), as being a sysadmin in a former career, it sounded like there was a configuration mistake on their network. And you know, it still sounds like there was a configuration flaw in their Cisco kit to me. Let’s go to the source of it and translate. I speak a few languages poorly, and press release happens to be one of them:

“The reality is that a particular set of conditions made the Duke wireless network experience some minor and temporary disruptions in service. Those conditions involve our deployment of a very large Cisco-based wireless network that supports multiple network protocols.”

Translation: “It’s pretty much Cisco’s fault.” Duke’s Cisco-based wireless network sucks!