Keith Shaw, Author at NetworkingNexus.net

Keith Shaw

Author Archives: Keith Shaw

Netgear joins the 802.11ad game with Nighthawk X10

Another home networking vendor has joined the 802.11ad Wi-Fi market – Netgear today launched the Nighthawk X10 AD7200. Aimed at users interested in faster data transfers for large file sizes, which includes 4K video streaming and VR gaming, the Nighthawk X10 is powered by a 1.7GHz Quad Core processor and Quad-Stream Wave 2 Wi-FI architecture. The router is now available for pre-order via Netgear for $499.99, with retail availability expected by the end of October.Adding the 802.11ad feature means that users can get faster data transfers via the 60 GHz frequency (aka 60Gig), but in a limited space (about 20 feet, line of sight between the client and the router). Backward compatibility with 802.11ac (and b/g/n) means that you can still use this in your home network, but speeds will drop as you get further from the router. There are a limited amount of clients currently supporting 802.11ad (Acer has a few notebooks and docking stations), but Netgear says it’s preparing for the future as more client devices support 802.11ad for different scenarios. To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Roqos Core router combines cybersecurity with parental controls

The home Wi-Fi router space continues to gain momentum, with additional startups aiming to provide devices that do more than just sit there and route traffic. The latest device that has arrived at the Cool Tools testing zone is the Roqos Core.Roqos has three goals with its device: First, to provide an easy setup for its Wi-Fi router, making it so that “even grandma can set it up”; second, to provide parents with a control system that lets them pause the Internet at the press of a button, and also give filtering and blocking controls; and third, provide a cloud-based cyber-securitiy system that monitors all network traffic through Deep Packet Inspection.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Roqos Core router combines cybersecurity with parental controls

Reality check: My weekend with the Sony PlayStation VR

Virtual reality has taken another step towards the mainstream, with gaming giant Sony now in the fray with its PlayStation VR headset. Launched last week for $399, the PS VR gives gamers the chance to experience VR in the comfort of their own living rooms. In terms of the VR space, it’s a system that is a jump from the Google Cardboard and Samsung VR experiences, while less expensive than the higher-end systems like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive gear.Sony sent me the PS VR last week, right before the public launch of the system. After spending a few days with the equipment, I’m left with mixed feelings about the system and VR in general. Certainly, this will be a hit of the holiday shopping season (my kids absolutely loved trying it out), but you can tell that we’re still at a starting point in VR with some of the glitches, gaming experiences and how VR should fit in with the rest of the gaming ecosystem.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Review: Pearl RearVision quickly retrofits a backup camera to your old jalopy (with video)

The scoop: RearVision backup camera license plate bracket, by Pearl Auto, about $500.What is it? This package includes a license plate bracket for the back of your automobile, but it’s not an ordinary bracket. Inside are two video cameras that provide you with a view for behind your car. The system includes an on-board diagnostics adapter (OBD) that communicates with the camera via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to your smartphone to provide the view. The cameras are charged via solar sensors, so you don’t need to have a professional installation in order to power up the cameras. To complete the package, the system includes a mounting bracket for either your car’s dashboard or air vents, depending on your personal preference (or state laws that prohibit dashboard mounts).To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Lifesize launches new video gear for huddle rooms

In the world of videoconferencing, there’s a gap between the large conference room systems and lecture hall gear, and the individual’s webcam on their computer, tablet or smartphone. For smaller conference rooms, many of which have been renamed “huddle rooms”, neither option seems appropriate, because of cost (using a larger system) or convenience (2-4 people shouldn’t have to crowd around a laptop screen).Videoconferencing vendors continue to address this need, with Lifesize being the latest – the company announced today its Icon 450 system, a videoconferencing camera and audio system aimed specifically at the huddle room. The system connects to the Lifesize Cloud, the company’s cloud-based videoconferencing platform.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Netgear goes even more flexible with Arlo Pro video security cameras

Netgear is updating its Arlo wireless and wire-free home security camera systems with a professional version that takes the ‘wire-free’ and flexibility angle even further. Coming to retail shelves on October 23, the Arlo Pro system (small cameras that connect via a low-power, proprietary Wi-Fi to a router-connected base station) will now include two-way audio, a 100+ decibel siren, rechargeable batteries that can last up to six months, and improved motion detection software functionality. The new system will work with older cameras in the Arlo line, and newer cameras can work with older base station (if so desired).In addition, NETGEAR is announcing a set of accessories to make the cameras more flexible for placement and charging. For example, users who don’t want to utilize the rechargeable batteries can recharge the unit through a micro-USB charger. The Arlo Pro Charging Station ($59.99) will let you charge up to two batteries simultaneously so you can swap out one quickly if the initial battery (extra batteries sold at $49.99 each) goes low.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Netgear goes even more flexible with Arlo Pro video security cameras

Circle: Parental controls through a Disney-branded router add-on

As a parent of three children who have been exposed to technology since they were born (we called our second child “iBaby 2.0”), the issue of filtering and parental controls has been on my mind for several years. I’m not particularly advocating that every parent filter content or use “nanny software” to become a babysitter for Internet content. On the other hand, I’ve seen a LOT of examples where kids have been exposed to things on the Internet that they probably shouldn’t be exposed to. Call me wishy-washy, but I’m going to play this one right down the middle – my approach is a combination of talking to my kids about the dangers of the Internet, mixed in with parental controls and filters. It also helps that I can always say to them, "I work in the tech industry, I know all of the different things you can do and how to try to get around them."To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Sneak peek: 15 gadgets to put on your holiday wish list

Start making the list and checking it twiceThe calendar may say it’s the beginning of fall, but that won’t prevent us from giving you a sneak peek at some of the hottest devices and gadgets that will top your holiday wish list. Here’s a bunch of cool stuff that we’re hoping to get our hands on to present in our 17th annual Cool Yule Tools holiday gift guide (coming Nov. 14). Keep in mind that these devices are not yet reviewed, so we’re not giving these our official seal of approval for cool yule goodness, but rather an indication of some things that could be in the final guide.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Cables and chargers go big and long

As my family acquires more gadgets and devices that require recharging, I find myself experiencing a lot more drama when one of their devices goes dead and needs to be plugged in. This turns into a battle of “cable swapping”, in which one family member removes a cable from a device being recharged and plugs it into their own device, with the hope that family member #2 doesn’t notice the swap. Buying more cable chargers can help, but then the issue becomes the availability and location of power outlets. Nowhere is this more evident than in our vehicle (a 7-year-old minivan with a recharger port only in the front), which requires a bunch of different power recharging options for occupants in the van. The driver and passenger have priority, of course, as we utilize charging for our smartphones for GPS and music streaming purposes. It's good to be the parents.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Riding the new Wi-Fi wave, part 3: AmpliFi

New home Wi-Fi systems based on wireless mesh technologies keep coming out of the woodwork. That’s a good thing, because being able to compare different systems, seeing what works and what doesn’t, should spur innovation. While most people want a system that you just set up and forget (until the kids complain), I like having a system that you can tweak or obtain data from. But yeah, easy setup also makes it worthwhile.Enter the AmpliFi wireless mesh system, courtesy of Ubiquiti Labs (the new consumer arm of Ubiquiti Networks). This system includes a cube-shaped router with two satellite units - vertical rectangles attached to a magnetic sphere with a power outlet (more on that later). The router includes an LED screen that displays data about your Wi-Fi network, as well as four Ethernet LAN ports and a USB port (reserved for later use). The company offers three models - the basic system ($199) includes a router and two satellites; the LR system ($299) stands for Super Long Range, and the HD system ($349) supports high-density environments. For this review, I tested the HD system.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Acer TravelMate 802.11ad notebook: An industry ‘first’ you might never need or use

When I was offered a review unit of the Acer TravelMate P648-MG-789T notebook, it was touted as the “industry’s first notebook with Tri-Band 802.11ad Wireless from Qualcomm”.Sure thing!, I thought, as I always enjoy trying out things that are new, especially ones that are an industry first.But then I went back and looked up 802.11ad - aka “Gigabit Wireless”, aka “60Gig”, and realized that this technology has been touted for about two years without much movement in the space from vendors. At CES earlier this year, Acer announced it was coming out with this notebook, and it’s finally here.Whoo-hoo?Here’s the thing - 802.11ad technology utilizes the 60 GHz wireless spectrum - it’s aimed at short range, high-volume data transfers, especially in smaller spaces. This also gives you some higher bandwidth than you’d get with an 802.11ac system, but you’re also limiting the distance between the client and the receiver in order to get that benefit.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Why your smartphone is sicker than a room full of snotty toddlers

If you thought your smartphone was safe(r) from the wild west of malware, spyware and other viruses compared with the PC space, think again. A new report from Nokia proclaims a “sharp rise in the occurrence of smartphone malware infections” in the first half of 2016. Taking the big hit are smartphone infections, which now account for 78% of all infections across the mobile network, says Nokia in its latest Nokia Threat Intelligence Report. The report is compiled by the company’s Threat Intelligence Lab, which aggregates anonymous data across global mobile networks using its Nokia NetGuard Endpoint Security product. Along with traffic monitor that detects malware command-and-control traffic and exploit attempts (among other attacks), the lab also keeps a database of the latest malware to analyze how attacks occur.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)

Lenovo kicks off IFA with four new notebook/tablet offerings

People who feel that there’s “nothing new to see” in the world of notebooks and tablets should take a look at what Lenovo announced today. Ahead of the IFA show in Berlin, the company announced four new offerings, highlighting design upgrades and features that challenge users to think about what can be done with a computer. That’s no small feat in today’s technology device world, where everything often looks the same, with just a different label slapped on the cover.Here’s a quick look at the announcements:Yoga Book This 2-in-1 device takes its Book moniker seriously - when spread out flat, the device looks a lot more like a book than a notebook or even a tablet (see photo above). The Yoga Book features a “halo keyboard”, which is a full touch screen backlit keyboard that integrates software and hardware into the interface. The glass touch screen includes an anti-glare coating to create a touch-typing experience, which should be helpful since there are no physical keys. Instead, it displays as a solid white outline on the Yoga Book’s second panel, and it’s only on when the user needs a keyboard. Software is also included that “learns about and adapts Continue reading

Saving stuff: Your VHS tapes, your data, your car battery, your wrists

Every so often, I find myself with a collection of gadgets that are seemingly unrelated, until I can come up with an overarching theme worthy enough to include them all in the same roundup. Sometimes it’s the “I gotta clean up my desk” theme, sometimes it’s “the vendors are bothering me about where that writeup is.”In this case, it’s a little bit of both, but with a very thinly veiled theme - saving stuff. The following gadgets all aim to save something when you use it. It even works as a “Keith has been saving this stuff in his office until he finally figured out a theme to tie them all together” approach.Explain more, Keith!To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Amped Wireless goes mesh with Ally brand

The wireless mesh wave is in high gear now. Just a day after Netgear announced its new wireless mesh-based home Wi-Fi system (Orbi), Amped Wireless today announced that pre-orders were now open for its system, the ALLY Wi-Fi System.The system is a wireless mesh system (Amped Wireless calls it a “seamless roaming solution”) that includes MU-MIMO technology, AC1900 Wi-Fi (802.11ac) and a mobile app for setup and network monitoring purposes. Customers can buy one unit (aka the ‘router’) for $199.99, or buy a two-unit system (with a ‘router’ and ‘extender’, branded ALLY Plus) for $379.99. Amped Wireless says the units will ship in early October. The two units are pre-paired and labeled as a router and extender, similar to the Netgear Orbi system. This is different from systems by eero and Luma, which are identical units that then become routers or extenders based on placement during the setup process.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Netgear joins Wi-Fi mesh wave with Orbi system

Over the past few weeks I’ve written about Wi-Fi startups eero and Luma and how their new wireless mesh systems are changing the home network wireless market with easier setup and larger coverage than compared with traditional Wi-Fi routers and range extenders.One of the market leaders in that space, Netgear, is now on board with their own system, which not only validates the concept provided by eero and Luma, but now provides some big-time competition for those two companies.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Back to school stuff for the discerning techie (or techie-in-training)

Techify and Geekify those school supplies!It’s back-to-school time, and that means getting ready by stocking up on new clothes, school supplies (probably the only time you’ll be shopping for colored pencils and glue sticks) and finding the coolest backpack. But these days, it also means picking up new tech, as schooling relies on tech more than ever. To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

« Previous 1 … 4 5 6 7 8 Next »