Wireless | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Thu, 30 Mar 2023 09:07:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Wireless | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 AMD has reportedly partnered with MediaTek to develop Wi-Fi controllers https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/joao-silva/amd-has-reportedly-partnered-with-mediatek-to-develop-wi-fi-controllers/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/joao-silva/amd-has-reportedly-partnered-with-mediatek-to-develop-wi-fi-controllers/#respond Tue, 08 Sep 2020 10:08:54 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=484741 A new report suggests that AMD is planning to enter the networking hardware market with the help of MediaTek. Currently, laptops powered by AMD processors and AMD motherboards mostly use a Realtek or Intel WiFi controller, but that may change with an AMD and MediaTek partnership. Intel and Realtek are quite dominant in the WiFi …

The post AMD has reportedly partnered with MediaTek to develop Wi-Fi controllers first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
A new report suggests that AMD is planning to enter the networking hardware market with the help of MediaTek. Currently, laptops powered by AMD processors and AMD motherboards mostly use a Realtek or Intel WiFi controller, but that may change with an AMD and MediaTek partnership.

Intel and Realtek are quite dominant in the WiFi controller market. AMD-powered laptops and motherboards are usually equipped with a network solution from one of these two companies. If AMD starts to produce their own WiFi controllers and use it in laptops and motherboards, it would be possible to integrate various technologies in these systems, offering improved network features. Intel has been doing this with its vPro processors, so AMD could do something similar with the Ryzen Pro processors.

This report comes from DigiTimes, and claims that MediaTek will partner with AMD to produce their wireless NICs. MediaTek, known for manufacturing mobile SOCs and cellular MODEM chips, already have the intellectual property that AMD needs to produce their own wireless controllers, which could be beneficial for AMD.

The report only refers to WiFi controllers for laptops, but AMD could also produce them for desktop motherboards. This would allow motherboard manufacturers to use AMD's WiFi controllers in their solutions, instead of using Intel and Realtek ones. The release date of AMD's network controllers is currently unknown.

KitGuru says: What do you think about AMD getting into the networking hardware market? How would AMD take advantage of producing their own WiFi controllers?

The post AMD has reportedly partnered with MediaTek to develop Wi-Fi controllers first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/joao-silva/amd-has-reportedly-partnered-with-mediatek-to-develop-wi-fi-controllers/feed/ 0
Netgear introduces two new WiFi 6 access points https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/joao-silva/netgear-introduces-two-new-wifi-6-access-points/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/joao-silva/netgear-introduces-two-new-wifi-6-access-points/#respond Thu, 06 Aug 2020 12:25:45 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=480427 Netgear's two new access points are the Insight Managed WiFi 6 AX1800 WAX610 and WAX610Y. Designed to bring WiFi 6 performance to small businesses and a higher number of concurrent devices connected, these new APs are suited to be used in any environment. The WAX610 family is perfectly suited for “moderate to high density client device environments” such …

The post Netgear introduces two new WiFi 6 access points first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Netgear's two new access points are the Insight Managed WiFi 6 AX1800 WAX610 and WAX610Y. Designed to bring WiFi 6 performance to small businesses and a higher number of concurrent devices connected, these new APs are suited to be used in any environment.

The WAX610 family is perfectly suited for “moderate to high density client device environments” such as schools, hotels, hospitals, and restaurants. Through WiFi 6 technologies such as OFDMA, and MU-MIMO, these devices can cover wider areas with more concurrent devices connected and offer higher speeds than previous WiFi generations. Additionally, with WPA3 and Insight Remote Cloud Management, these access points deliver enterprise-grade WiFi network security and easy access through the cloud to configure the devices.

Netgear designed the WAX610Y for outdoor use, capable of providing the WiFi 6 experience in “harsh environments including prolonged exposure to sunlight, cold, frost, snow, rainfall, hail and humidity”. Rated with the IP55 standard, the WAX610Y can operate continuously in temperatures ranging from -20C to 60C, can be mounted in locations like construction sites, loading docks, and schoolyards.

According to Richard Jonker, vice president of SMB product line management for Netgear, wireless APs should provide “different levels of network connectivity for a large quantity of client devices, with good throughput, stable connection, and robust responses to environmental changes”. With the WAX610 devices, Jonker believes that small businesses can now handle multiple concurrent devices with very high throughputs.

The WAX610 APs are fully compatible with NETGEAR Insight managed switches, routers and network storage, and WiFi 5 and 4 client devices.

The Netgear WAX610 is available now for £174.99/$179.99/€189.99. The Netgear WAX610Y is available for pre-order, priced at £249.99/$249.99/€269.99. You can learn more about the WAX610 HERE, and the WAX610Y HERE.

KitGuru says: Do you use access points in your home or at work? Out of these two Netgear access points, which one would better fit your needs? 

The post Netgear introduces two new WiFi 6 access points first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/joao-silva/netgear-introduces-two-new-wifi-6-access-points/feed/ 0
ASUS ZenWiFi AX Mini is designed to give whole-home Wi-Fi 6 coverage https://www.kitguru.net/professional/networking/christopher-nohall/asus-zenwifi-ax-mini-designed-to-give-whole-home-wi-fi-6-coverage/ https://www.kitguru.net/professional/networking/christopher-nohall/asus-zenwifi-ax-mini-designed-to-give-whole-home-wi-fi-6-coverage/#respond Thu, 11 Jun 2020 14:00:16 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=471701 ASUS' new ZenWiFi AX Mini is designed to bring faster speeds and better coverage for your home Wi-Fi network. This trio networking devices from ASUS are capable of streaming 8K video and can cover an area of 4800 square feet (ca. 446 square metres). The ZenWiFi AX Mini system consists of one ASUS AX1800 WiFi …

The post ASUS ZenWiFi AX Mini is designed to give whole-home Wi-Fi 6 coverage first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
ASUS' new ZenWiFi AX Mini is designed to bring faster speeds and better coverage for your home Wi-Fi network. This trio networking devices from ASUS are capable of streaming 8K video and can cover an area of 4800 square feet (ca. 446 square metres).

The ZenWiFi AX Mini system consists of one ASUS AX1800 WiFi 6 router, and two extending nodes. Because the system is built using Wi-Fi 6 technology it is able to provide speeds up to 1.4 times faster than that of Wi-Fi 5 devices.

ASUS says that its system is made to be easy to install and that the user only needs to follow three steps. The system also comes with the ASUS Router app which, the company claims, make it possible to get the network up and running in a few minutes.


Image credit: ASUS

The extending nodes measuring 9.0 x 9.0 x 8.0 cm (WxDxH) are small enough to fit in one hand. ASUS also includes “AiProtection Classic” which makes it possible for parents to keep an eye on everything that's happening on their network via a mobile app.

Additional information can be found on the product page HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What are your thoughts on the ASUS ZenWiFi AX Mini?

The post ASUS ZenWiFi AX Mini is designed to give whole-home Wi-Fi 6 coverage first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/professional/networking/christopher-nohall/asus-zenwifi-ax-mini-designed-to-give-whole-home-wi-fi-6-coverage/feed/ 0
Qualcomm announces its first Wi-Fi 6E chips https://www.kitguru.net/professional/networking/christopher-nohall/qualcomm-announces-its-first-wi-fi-6e-chips/ https://www.kitguru.net/professional/networking/christopher-nohall/qualcomm-announces-its-first-wi-fi-6e-chips/#respond Fri, 29 May 2020 11:00:42 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=469627 In April this year, the Federal Communications Commission (FFC) set the standards for Wi-Fi 6E, and now Qualcomm has announced its FastConnect 6900 and 6700 chips that feature support for Wi-Fi 6E, with speeds of up to 3.6 Gbps. FastConnect 6900 is the faster of the two chips with speeds of up to 3.6 Gbps – which …

The post Qualcomm announces its first Wi-Fi 6E chips first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
In April this year, the Federal Communications Commission (FFC) set the standards for Wi-Fi 6E, and now Qualcomm has announced its FastConnect 6900 and 6700 chips that feature support for Wi-Fi 6E, with speeds of up to 3.6 Gbps.

FastConnect 6900 is the faster of the two chips with speeds of up to 3.6 Gbps – which according to Qualcomm makes it the industry's fastest mobile Wi-Fi chip. However, the FastConnect 6700 isn't exactly slow, with peak speeds approaching 3Gbps.

These rapid speeds are made possible thanks to the 6GHz band being opened up for public use. The new standard adds “1200 MHz of additional spectrum, more than doubling the number of pathways currently available for sending and receiving data.”

Image credit: XDA-developers

The chips also feature Bluetooth 5.2 which is said to offer “unparalleled Bluetooth reliability and range”, as well as LE Audio which makes it possible to have multiple audio connections simultaneously.

“With the introduction of the FastConnect 6900 and 6700 solutions, Qualcomm Technologies is redefining the mobile experience by extending the power of Wi-Fi 6 into the 6 GHz band and advancing wireless audio with cutting-edge integrated Bluetooth 5.2 features,” said Dino Bekis, vice president and general manager of Qualcomm.

The FastConnect 6900 and 6700 are already being sampled and are expected to ship in production during the second half of 2020.

The full press release from Qualcomm can be read HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you excited for Wi-Fi 6E?

The post Qualcomm announces its first Wi-Fi 6E chips first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/professional/networking/christopher-nohall/qualcomm-announces-its-first-wi-fi-6e-chips/feed/ 0
WiFi 6E is official and opens the 6GHz band for unlicensed use https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/christopher-nohall/wifi-6e-is-official-and-opens-the-6ghz-band-for-unlicensed-use/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/christopher-nohall/wifi-6e-is-official-and-opens-the-6ghz-band-for-unlicensed-use/#respond Fri, 24 Apr 2020 09:25:10 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=463839 The Federal Communications Commission announced that WiFi 6E was in the works earlier in April of this year. Now the vote has come through and WiFi 6E is official, offering up the 6 GHz band for unlicensed use in America. Earlier this month the FFC said that it had plans to make a 1.200 megahertz …

The post WiFi 6E is official and opens the 6GHz band for unlicensed use first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
The Federal Communications Commission announced that WiFi 6E was in the works earlier in April of this year. Now the vote has come through and WiFi 6E is official, offering up the 6 GHz band for unlicensed use in America.

Earlier this month the FFC said that it had plans to make a 1.200 megahertz spectrum available for unlicensed use, namely the 6 GHz band (5.925–7.125 GHz). On April 23, the FFC reported that it had voted in favour for the new standard.

The hope is that the next gen WiFi will play a big role to further advance the growth of the Internet of Things – or IoT for short. The new standard will make it possible for WiFi to operate with lower latency and higher throughput.


Image credit: Frank Wang 

“Wi-Fi 6 will be over two-and-a-half times faster than the current standard”, according to the FCC. The commission also says that the change will increase the “amount of spectrum available for Wi-Fi by nearly a factor of five and help improve rural connectivity.”

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Hopefully WiFi 6E will be as good as expected. It will be interesting to see when consumers will be able to reap the benefits of the new technology. What changes do you hope that the next gen WiFi will bring?

The post WiFi 6E is official and opens the 6GHz band for unlicensed use first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/christopher-nohall/wifi-6e-is-official-and-opens-the-6ghz-band-for-unlicensed-use/feed/ 0
‘Wi-Fi 6E’ is in the works https://www.kitguru.net/professional/networking/christopher-nohall/wi-fi-6e-is-in-the-works/ https://www.kitguru.net/professional/networking/christopher-nohall/wi-fi-6e-is-in-the-works/#respond Fri, 03 Apr 2020 08:30:33 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=460458 The Federal Communications Commission – or FFC for short – is perhaps best known this side of the pond for its controversial stand in regard to net neutrality – with the FCC wanting to eliminate said net neutrality. However, the FCC is now working hard on improving Wi-Fi standards and has published a report called “Digging In for …

The post ‘Wi-Fi 6E’ is in the works first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
The Federal Communications Commission – or FFC for short – is perhaps best known this side of the pond for its controversial stand in regard to net neutrality – with the FCC wanting to eliminate said net neutrality. However, the FCC is now working hard on improving Wi-Fi standards and has published a report called “Digging In for the Long Haul“, where the expansion of Wi-Fi 6 into Wi-Fi 6E is explained in detail.

Wi-Fi 6 has already been out on the market for some time, with many products offering support for the technology. Constant work is being put into improving Wi-Fi technology when it comes to security, speed and signal strength amongst others. Now Ajit Pai – the chairman of FCC – has announced that he plans to “unleash next-generations Wi-Fi” and continues to claim that this step is “without a doubt the single biggest opportunity in Wi-Fi — and probably in wireless — in a generation”.


Image credit: ArsTechnica

The report from the FFC goes on to explain that the plan is to make a 1,200 megahertz spectrum available for unlicensed use, namely the 6 GHz band (5.925–7.125 GHz). The change would make it possible for Wi-Fi to get a lower latency and higher throughput.

The FCC hopes that the change will play a “major role in the growth of the Internet of Things”. However, with the eventual change of Wi-Fi technology comes a required change of hardware. As ArsTechnica puts it: “Today's devices don't—and won't—support the new 6GHz band. Once the spectrum is ratified for Wi-Fi use, you'll need hardware upgrades before you can take advantage of it”.

KitGuru says: The proposed changes might be introduced in America first. When do you think we can see something similar in Europe? What are your thoughts on the new “Wi-fi 6E”?

The post ‘Wi-Fi 6E’ is in the works first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/professional/networking/christopher-nohall/wi-fi-6e-is-in-the-works/feed/ 0
CES 2020: ASUS showcases new ZenWiFi networking gear https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/matthew-wilson/ces-2020-asus-showcases-new-zenwifi-networking-gear/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/matthew-wilson/ces-2020-asus-showcases-new-zenwifi-networking-gear/#respond Tue, 07 Jan 2020 18:01:31 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=445153 ASUS has announced a lot here at CES 2020 so far, but gaming and PC hardware is only part of the story. ASUS has also announced its new ZenWiFi device lineup, utilising WiFi 6 and Mesh WiFi technologies.  There are three new devices announced here; ZenWiFi AX (WiFi 6, mesh), ZenWiFi AC and the ZenWiFi …

The post CES 2020: ASUS showcases new ZenWiFi networking gear first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
ASUS has announced a lot here at CES 2020 so far, but gaming and PC hardware is only part of the story. ASUS has also announced its new ZenWiFi device lineup, utilising WiFi 6 and Mesh WiFi technologies. 

There are three new devices announced here; ZenWiFi AX (WiFi 6, mesh), ZenWiFi AC and the ZenWiFi Voice with Amazon Alexa integration.

The AX is the flagship here, with the system including two WiFi 6 routers in a mesh WiFi configuration for the best performance and coverage up to 5,500 square feet. The AX is capable of delivering 6,600 Mbps across one 2.4GHz band and two 5GHz bands, producing 2.2x more throughput compared to a WiFi 5-capable tri-band router.

The two ZenWiFi AX routers send data over a dedicated 4×4 WiFi 6 backhaul at speeds of up to 4,804 Mbps, while connected clients can potentially reach gigabit speeds when transferring files.

The ZenWiFi AC is a tri-band mesh WiFi system with two AC3000 routers. Combined, these routers can achieve a data rate of up to 3,000 Mbps, they also pack a quad-core CPU to handle heavy traffic loads. On the back of each router, you will find a Gigabit Ethernet WAN port, three Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports and one USB 3.1 Gen 1 port for connecting to nearby devices, like a PC, network-attached storage or printers.

If you have some older ASUS routers already, then there is also a chance that they will work as a node on the mesh network too when upgrading to either a ZenWiFi AX or AC system.

Finally, we come to the ZenWiFi Voice, which is more of a smart home product thanks to Amazon Alexa integration. You can use Amazon's digital assistant, but the router also comes with intuitive touch controls and you'll always be able to tell when Alexa is listening, thanks to the three-colour LED circling the top.

As a standalone router, the ZenWiFi Voice is a dual-band AC1300 router supporting WiFi 5 with speeds up to 1300 Mbps. It also supports multi-user MIMO, so you can provide dedicated signals to each supported device for lower latency and better stability. Outside of that, it also doubles as a smart speaker, so you can stream music directly from it.

The ZenWiFi Voice is listed with availability ‘later this year' while the ZenWiFi AX and AC systems are due to be available in the near future. We don't have pricing details just yet, but we'll keep an eye out.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are many of you looking to make a network upgrade at all? Are you considering setting up a mesh network using one of ASUS's new WiFi systems? 

The post CES 2020: ASUS showcases new ZenWiFi networking gear first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/matthew-wilson/ces-2020-asus-showcases-new-zenwifi-networking-gear/feed/ 0
CES 2020: NETGEAR launch new WiFi 6 routers and Mesh systems https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/james-dawson/ces-2020-netgear-launch-new-wifi-6-routers-and-mesh-systems/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/james-dawson/ces-2020-netgear-launch-new-wifi-6-routers-and-mesh-systems/#respond Tue, 07 Jan 2020 14:29:27 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=445101 During CES 2020, NETGEAR has launched a host of new products including 4G LTE and Wi-Fi 6 MESH routers, while announcing its NightHawk M5 5G Wi-Fi 6 mobile router has been named as a CES 2020 Innovation Awards Honoree. As you may have noticed, CES 2020 is well underway now and we have already covered …

The post CES 2020: NETGEAR launch new WiFi 6 routers and Mesh systems first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
During CES 2020, NETGEAR has launched a host of new products including 4G LTE and Wi-Fi 6 MESH routers, while announcing its NightHawk M5 5G Wi-Fi 6 mobile router has been named as a CES 2020 Innovation Awards Honoree.

As you may have noticed, CES 2020 is well underway now and we have already covered some of the main new product launches from various manufacturers. NETGEAR has announced a handful of new routers during CES 2020 including the Orbi 4G LTE Tri-band Mesh WiFi which combines all the features of the company’s Orbi Tri-band Mesh WiFi system, with 4G LTE connectivity to offer an alternative to traditional Cable/Fibre or DSL connections.

The NETGEAR Orbi 4G LTE Tri-band Mesh WiFi router is the ideal solution for those who live in areas where access to traditional broadband is limited. Or it could also be combined with your current wired broadband to provide an uninterrupted and backed up service. The Orbi 4G is capable of transfer speeds up to 1.2 Gbps over 4G LTE and has built-in high-performance Tri-Band AC2200 WiFi. The 4G router is compatible with SIM cards from major 4G LTE mobile network providers and features a sleek and modern looking appearance.

NETGEAR has also launched a new Nighthawk Mesh WiFi System offering the broadest range of WiFi 6 available. NETGEAR’s Nighthawk line of products is aimed at enthusiasts who need to get the best performance from their network, the Nighthawk Mesh WiFi System is no different as it offers a range of advanced configuration capabilities and includes Dynamic QoS to automatically prioritise video streaming and gaming traffic.

The Nighthawk AX6 AX5400 WiFi 6 6-Stream Router offers smoother 4K streaming and high-performance online gaming from its powerful 1.5GHz Triple-Core processor, with a fully offloaded CPU that increases overall network performance. WiFi 6 is engineered to provide up to four times the data capacity of the previous generation while OFDMA, 1600MHz channel support and 1024 QAM improves network efficiency. The Nighthawk AX6 AX5400 is equipped with high-powered amplifiers to increase range and provide whole-home coverage. The Netgear Nighthawk AX6 AX5400 6-Stream Router will be available in the first half of 2020 for £239.99.

 

A four-stream AX1800 WiFi 6 Mesh Extender has been announced by NETGEAR too, the AX1800 4-Stream WiFi 6 Mesh Extender is designed to increase WiFi6 coverage for users to experience the full power of next-generation WiFi anywhere in the home. The AX1800 Mesh Extender also includes backwards compatibility with previous WiFi generation routers and devices, including WiFi 4 and Wifi 5. The AX1800 4-Stream WiFi 6 Mesh Extender will be available later in Q1 2020, priced at £129.99.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: WiFi 6 is set to be the next standard for WiFi in homes and NETGEAR has shown us what new products it has to offer in this sector. What do you guys think to these new WiFi 6 solutions from NETGEAR?

 

The post CES 2020: NETGEAR launch new WiFi 6 routers and Mesh systems first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/james-dawson/ces-2020-netgear-launch-new-wifi-6-routers-and-mesh-systems/feed/ 0
Razer announce Viper Ultimate wireless gaming mouse https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/james-dawson/razer-announce-viper-ultimate-wireless-gaming-mouse/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/james-dawson/razer-announce-viper-ultimate-wireless-gaming-mouse/#respond Sat, 19 Oct 2019 10:08:48 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=430732 Razer has announced it will be releasing the Viper Ultimate mouse. The Razer Viper Ultimate will be aimed at esports and is claimed to be Razers fastest wireless gaming mouse with its intelligent Focus+ sensor. The Razer Viper Ultimate will support Razer HyperSpeed wireless technology and include an intelligent Focus+ optical sensor. The Viper Ultimate …

The post Razer announce Viper Ultimate wireless gaming mouse first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Razer has announced it will be releasing the Viper Ultimate mouse. The Razer Viper Ultimate will be aimed at esports and is claimed to be Razers fastest wireless gaming mouse with its intelligent Focus+ sensor.

The Razer Viper Ultimate will support Razer HyperSpeed wireless technology and include an intelligent Focus+ optical sensor. The Viper Ultimate is Razers fastest wireless gaming mouse designed for esports and sets new standards for both accuracy and speed, according to Razer.

Joining the Viper lineup of lightweight, competitive gaming mice and featuring Razers optical Switches, the Viper Ultimate has been unleashed from its cord. The Razer Viper Ultimate weighs 74 grams and is aimed at professional and competitive gaming use.

“The Razer Viper Ultimate is the answer to competitive players who want to go wireless”, said Alvin Cheung, Senior Vice President of Razer’s Peripherals Business Unit. “We pushed the boundaries of wireless, integrated Razer Optical Switches and added an intelligent sensor – all in a highly durable, lightweight design, tested and validated by professional esports athletes.”

Razer claims the Viper Ultimate meets the demands of competitive gamers with its fastest, most stable wireless technology – Razer HyperSpeed, which is tested and confirmed by the TUV SUD PSB certification institute. Razer HyperSpeed is claimed to be 25% faster than other leading wireless gaming mice while providing 25% more battery life, for up to 70 hours of gameplay from a single charge.

With its Razer Focus+ Optical Sensor, the Viper Ultimate has introduced new intelligent functions in the mouse, including Smart tracking, Asymmetric Lift-Off and Motion Sync. The Razer Viper Ultimate sports 99.6% resolution accuracy from a 20,000 DPI sensitivity and a tracking speed of 650 Inches per Second.

The razer Viper Ultimate features eight programmable buttons with on-board and cloud storage of configurations, Razer optical Mouse Switches rated for 70 million clicks, On-The-Fly sensitivity adjustment with an ambidextrous shape. The Viper Ultimate is also Razer Synapse 3 compatible with Razer Chroma RGB lighting and supported by the Razer Chroma Charging Dock.

For more information and full specification of the Razer Viper Ultimate check out the official Razer website

KitGuru says: Wireless mouse technology has improved massively since the early days. personally I'm still using wired. Maybe its time to invest in a wireless mouse now?

The post Razer announce Viper Ultimate wireless gaming mouse first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/james-dawson/razer-announce-viper-ultimate-wireless-gaming-mouse/feed/ 0
Asus TUF Gaming H7 Wireless Headset Review https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/vaughan-hounslow/asus-tuf-gaming-h7-wireless-headset-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/vaughan-hounslow/asus-tuf-gaming-h7-wireless-headset-review/#respond Fri, 16 Aug 2019 09:50:48 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=420110 It's a new wireless headset that's part of the TUF Gaming range. How does it sound?

The post Asus TUF Gaming H7 Wireless Headset Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
The H7 Wireless headset is the newest addition to ASUS' TUF Gaming family of peripherals, and it is also the first to use a wireless 2.4GHz connection. Aimed squarely at the gaming market, there's support for 7.1 virtual surround sound as well as comprehensive software control, but is the headset itself any good? 

ASUS TUF Gaming H7 Wireless

Specification:

  • Available Colours: Yellow accented black, Grey accented black
  • Driver: 53mm Neodymium ASUS Essence drivers
  • Frequency Response: 20 ~ 20000 Hz
  • Impedance: 32 Ohms
  • Connectivity: USB (wireless 2.4GHz)
  • Mic Type: Uni-directional
  • Mic Frequency Response: 50 ~ 10000 Hz
  • Included Accessories: Charging cable, USB dongle, Detachable microphone, Quick
  • start guide
  • Compatibility: PC, MAC, PlayStation 4

Box Contents:

  • ASUS TUF Gaming H7 Headset
  • USB Dongle
  • Micro USB Charging Cable
  • Quick-start guide

We don't yet have a confirmed price for the ASUS TUF Gaming H7 Wireless, but we will update this review when we have a buy link.

Pros:

  • Latency free wireless connection.
  • Superbly comfortable earcups.
  • Wide range of headband adjustment.
  • Feature packed software.
  • Long battery life.

Cons:

  • Audio quality for music is lacking.
  • Non adjustable automatic shut off.
  • Earcups get warm.

KitGuru says: The H7 Wireless certainly provides great performance for gaming use, and the wireless capability is another great addition. I can see these being hugely popular for esports gamers, though they are certainly not going to be gracing an audiophile's coffee table any time soon.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post Asus TUF Gaming H7 Wireless Headset Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/vaughan-hounslow/asus-tuf-gaming-h7-wireless-headset-review/feed/ 0
Killer Wireless xTend technology aims to boost WiFi using your gaming PC https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/matthew-wilson/killer-wireless-xtend-technology-aims-to-boost-wifi-using-your-gaming-pc/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/matthew-wilson/killer-wireless-xtend-technology-aims-to-boost-wifi-using-your-gaming-pc/#respond Tue, 19 Jun 2018 12:00:46 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=377197 This year during Computex, we saw several new systems boasting Rivet Networks' new Killer Wireless xTend technology, which is rolling out alongside the new Killer Wireless-AC 1550 chip. We'll be seeing this new wireless technology implemented in motherboards and laptops throughout the year, but what is it and what does it do? Each year, people …

The post Killer Wireless xTend technology aims to boost WiFi using your gaming PC first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
This year during Computex, we saw several new systems boasting Rivet Networks' new Killer Wireless xTend technology, which is rolling out alongside the new Killer Wireless-AC 1550 chip. We'll be seeing this new wireless technology implemented in motherboards and laptops throughout the year, but what is it and what does it do?

Each year, people connect more and more in-home devices to the web, but often getting a good wireless signal throughout a house can be challenging. The most powerful of these devices more often than not, is the gaming PC. With Wireless xTend, devices will be able to not only prioritise gaming-related traffic over other connections, but it also be able to turn your PC into an additional access point for the home.

Once Wireless xTend is switched on, the home network is cloned to seamlessly extend your network for a better WiFi signal. With this method, wireless network range can be extended by up to 1,000 square feet.

Using the Killer Control Center application, users will be able to switch xTend on or off. Users will also be able to see a list of connected devices and where traffic is being used, similarly to what many third-party routers currently offer. Killer Wireless will also detect any time sensitive traffic, like streaming or gaming and automatically prioritise it for better performance.

Currently, we are expecting Killer Wireless-AC 1550 chips and xTend technology to roll out in several systems and laptops this year, with Alienware, MSI, Acer Predator, Zotac and Clevo already signed on as partners.

KitGuru Says: In some ways, xTend would be a simple replacement for something like an ethernet switch. It could also remove the need to set up an additional router in the house to boost a WiFi signal. We'll be looking forward to seeing this technology put to the test in the future, once it starts hitting the market. 

The post Killer Wireless xTend technology aims to boost WiFi using your gaming PC first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/matthew-wilson/killer-wireless-xtend-technology-aims-to-boost-wifi-using-your-gaming-pc/feed/ 0
Technology companies respond to KRACK WiFi exploit https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/matthew-wilson/technology-companies-respond-to-krack-wifi-exploit/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/matthew-wilson/technology-companies-respond-to-krack-wifi-exploit/#respond Tue, 17 Oct 2017 11:47:17 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=350644 Yesterday some worrying news hit the web, with a new exploit known as KRACK becoming public knowledge. This exploit allows attackers to read WiFi traffic between devices and wireless access points, the issue also works against common WiFi encryption methods, including WPA and WPA 2. Android and Linux devices were the most widely affected, but …

The post Technology companies respond to KRACK WiFi exploit first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Yesterday some worrying news hit the web, with a new exploit known as KRACK becoming public knowledge. This exploit allows attackers to read WiFi traffic between devices and wireless access points, the issue also works against common WiFi encryption methods, including WPA and WPA 2. Android and Linux devices were the most widely affected, but tech companies are already on the ball with fixes.

KRACK allows attackers to intercept traffic and read information that should have been encrypted. This can all be done without cracking a WiFi password too, meaning it could be used to intercept communications and personal information as long as the attacker is within range. Researchers found that 41 percent of Android devices were vulnerable to this attack, but Linux, macOS, Windows and iOS were also vulnerable.

Microsoft has already fixed the problem for customers running supported versions of Windows. If you are on an old version of the OS like XP, then you likely don’t have the security update. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Wi-Fi Alliance, also issued a statement, saying that this vulnerability “can be resolved through straightforward software updates”, adding that the WiFi industry has already begun rolling out patches.

Apple has said that it has developed an update for both iOS and macOS to protect against this vulnerability. It is currently in testing and should be released soon. Meanwhile, Google has said that it would release a patch for Android, but smartphone manufacturers will have a shared responsibility in this as they often provide their own security updates.

KitGuru Says: Most companies appear to be on the ball when it comes to addressing this. Given the seriousness of this exploit, be sure to check for security updates on your routers, PCs and smartphones to ensure you are fully protected.

The post Technology companies respond to KRACK WiFi exploit first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/matthew-wilson/technology-companies-respond-to-krack-wifi-exploit/feed/ 0
Linksys new router takes aim at gamers, claims to reduce ping by 77% at peak times https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/matthew-wilson/linksys-new-router-takes-aim-at-gamers-claims-to-reduce-ping-by-77-at-peak-times/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/matthew-wilson/linksys-new-router-takes-aim-at-gamers-claims-to-reduce-ping-by-77-at-peak-times/#comments Wed, 23 Aug 2017 14:43:43 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=344901 Linksys is looking to tap into the growing PC gaming market with its new router

The post Linksys new router takes aim at gamers, claims to reduce ping by 77% at peak times first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
While E3 tends to be very software-focussed, Europe’s biggest gaming expo, Gamescom, brings in more of a balance, with plenty of tech companies displaying their latest and greatest, alongside developers showing off new games. Today, Linksys announced its latest wireless router at the event, taking aim at gamers who want to prioritise their network traffic over everything else. According to Linksys, its new router can reduce ping at peak times by as much as 77 percent.

The Linksys WRT32X is a collaboration between Linksys and Rivet Networks to incorporate the Killer Prioritisation Engine. So if your PC has a Killer Ethernet port or wireless chip, then this router will be able to optimise traffic for lower latency, prioritising your connection over other devices in the house. This router also comes with new firmware and a new user interface to help make managing and controlling the network a little easier.

Under the hood, the WRT32X uses a 1.8GHz dual-core ARM CPU, an 802.11ac dual-band 3×3 wireless radio, 256MB Flash and 512MB DDR3 memory. There is a 5-port SOHO-grade Gigabit Ethernet switch with TCAM on the back, while on the software side, the firmware uses a table Linux kernel to keep things lightweight. The feature that is supposed to set this apart from the competition is the Killer Prioritisation Engine.

The Linksys WRT32X will be launching in late September with an MSRP of $299.99 in the US. So far, we don’t have confirmation on a EU/UK release date or price but it shouldn’t be too far behind.

KitGuru Says: Linksys isn’t the first company to launch a router aimed primarily at gamers but still, it will be interesting to see how many are willing to spend this much cash to improve their network. How much did you spend on your current wireless router?

The post Linksys new router takes aim at gamers, claims to reduce ping by 77% at peak times first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/matthew-wilson/linksys-new-router-takes-aim-at-gamers-claims-to-reduce-ping-by-77-at-peak-times/feed/ 13
Zerodium ups iOS bug bounties to $1.5 million https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/jon-martindale/zerodium-ups-ios-bug-bounties-to-1-5-million/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/jon-martindale/zerodium-ups-ios-bug-bounties-to-1-5-million/#comments Fri, 30 Sep 2016 10:51:47 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=307510 Cybersecurity bug-hunting firm Zerodium has announced that it's increased its payouts for bug bounties on iOS v 10, to $1.5 million (£1.16 million) from $1 million. The reason it's now put a higher price on those exploits' heads, is because iOS 10 is harder to crack than previous iterations, so it wanted to offer greater …

The post Zerodium ups iOS bug bounties to $1.5 million first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Cybersecurity bug-hunting firm Zerodium has announced that it's increased its payouts for bug bounties on iOS v 10, to $1.5 million (£1.16 million) from $1 million. The reason it's now put a higher price on those exploits' heads, is because iOS 10 is harder to crack than previous iterations, so it wanted to offer greater incentive for the effort required.

These are zero-day exploits it's after, though there are others that it will offer reduced bounties on. Similar Android bounties will net you $200,000, so hardly chump change, but the big money is hacking apart Apple devices. If you can do that, you're sitting pretty on a big payout.

Zerodium has previously paid out its $1 million bounty to an intrepid hacker, so it certainly is possible to earn these big cash bonuses, but it's not common. That big payout went out last November according to TheInquirer, so don't expect to saunter in to this latest version of iOS and find what everyone is looking for without considerable effort and time investment.

zerodium

Zerodium pay scale

Indeed Zerodium now considers Apple's operating system to be the most secure out there. With additional security improvements and exploit mitigation from Apple, it's a very difficult nut to crack.

“But don't be fooled,” said Zerodium in an update. “Secure does not mean unbreakable, it just means that iOS currently has the highest cost and complexity of vulnerability exploitation and here's where the million dollar iOS 9 bug bounty comes into play.”

If you'd like to learn more about Zerodium's bounty system, check out its official bounty program page.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Do we have any security experts in the KG reader midst? If so, have you ever collected a hefty bounty for a decent bug discovery?

Image source: Pascal Kurschildgen

The post Zerodium ups iOS bug bounties to $1.5 million first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/jon-martindale/zerodium-ups-ios-bug-bounties-to-1-5-million/feed/ 1
Cisco licenses crypto technologies from Rambus https://www.kitguru.net/professional/networking/anton-shilov/cisco-licenses-crypto-technologies-from-rambus/ https://www.kitguru.net/professional/networking/anton-shilov/cisco-licenses-crypto-technologies-from-rambus/#comments Wed, 26 Nov 2014 21:12:28 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=223701 Rambus and Cisco this week announced that the former’s Cryptography Research division has licensed select security-related technologies to Cisco Systems. The agreement allows the latter to integrate certain security technologies into Cisco products to provide protection against unauthorized access and mitigate security threats. Given the fact that it is unknown which technologies Cisco licensed from …

The post Cisco licenses crypto technologies from Rambus first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Rambus and Cisco this week announced that the former’s Cryptography Research division has licensed select security-related technologies to Cisco Systems. The agreement allows the latter to integrate certain security technologies into Cisco products to provide protection against unauthorized access and mitigate security threats.

Given the fact that it is unknown which technologies Cisco licensed from Rambus, it is unclear whether the company will gain certain exclusive capabilities that will transform its routers, modems and other network equipment into more competitive devices. Given the fact that Rambus usually licenses standard-essential patents, it is possible that Cisco just paid Rambus in a bid to avoid potential litigation.

Rambus acquired Cryptography Research for around $342 million in 2011 with the aim to license its technologies to third parties. Among other customers of Cryptography Research are Atmel, Infineon, Microsoft, NXP, Raytheon, Renesas, Samsung, STMicroelectronics, Toshiba, and Visa.

rambus_technology

One of the key technologies licensed by Cryptography Research are counter-measures against differential power analysis (DPA) attacks. DPA attacks involve monitoring the fluctuating electrical power consumption of a target device and then using advanced statistical methods to derive cryptographic keys and other secrets. With CRI’s DPA countermeasures, electronic systems and security devices, such as smart cards, are protected from DPA attacks.

In addition, CRI offers anti-piracy and anti-counterfeiting solutions including CryptoFirewall technology, a separate, on-chip, hardware-based security block that protects cryptographic keys and computations from attack.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Since Cisco and Rambus revealed no details regarding the agreement, we do not know whether Rambus decided to start collecting money from makers of network equipment, just like it collects royalties from DRAM manufacturers, or Cisco will actually get certain advanced technologies from Rambus. We will probably find out in the coming months…

The post Cisco licenses crypto technologies from Rambus first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/professional/networking/anton-shilov/cisco-licenses-crypto-technologies-from-rambus/feed/ 1
Qualcomm unveils LTE-A cat. 10 modem with up to 450Mb/s DL speeds https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/anton-shilov/qualcomm-unveils-4glte-a-category-10-wireless-modem-with-up-to-450mbs-speeds/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/anton-shilov/qualcomm-unveils-4glte-a-category-10-wireless-modem-with-up-to-450mbs-speeds/#respond Fri, 21 Nov 2014 22:54:10 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=222938 Qualcomm Technologies this week introduced its next-generation 4G/LTE multimode solution for mobile devices, such as smartphones and media tablets. The new Goby 9*45 modem is the world’s first 4G/LTE-Advanced Category 10 cellular modem that supports download speeds of up to 450Mb/s. The solution will be integrated into mobile and other devices next year. Qualcomm’s next-gen …

The post Qualcomm unveils LTE-A cat. 10 modem with up to 450Mb/s DL speeds first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Qualcomm Technologies this week introduced its next-generation 4G/LTE multimode solution for mobile devices, such as smartphones and media tablets. The new Goby 9*45 modem is the world’s first 4G/LTE-Advanced Category 10 cellular modem that supports download speeds of up to 450Mb/s. The solution will be integrated into mobile and other devices next year.

Qualcomm’s next-gen 4G/LTE-A cat. 10 multimode solution consists of Qualcomm Gobi 9*45 modem as well as Qualcomm RF360 envelope tracker, the QFE3100, which provides dynamic supply voltage to power amplifiers (PAs) that minimizes heat generation, improves battery life, and enhances transmit signal quality. Together the chips enable an almost complete low-power 4G/LTE-A cat. 10 wireless solution for smartphones, tablets and other wireless devices.

The Gobi 9*45 modem is the one of the world’s first category 10 4G/LTE-A modem that supports global carrier aggregation (CA) for download speeds of up to 450Mb/s, upload speeds of up to100 Mb/s, and CA across the TDD and FDD spectrum. The modem supports up to 60MHz 3x CA in the downlink and up to 40MHz 2x CA in the uplink. The 9×45 modem supports all major cellular standards, including DC-HSPA, EVDO, CDMA 1x, GSM and TD-SCDMA, supports all major RF bands and band combinations, and provides global position support for all major constellations including GPS, Beidou, Glonass and Galileo. Additionally, the modem sports integrated support for LTE Broadcast, VoLTE and LTE Dual SIM. The chip is made using 20nm process technology.

The QFE3100 is designed to control how Gobi 9*45 modem (or another modem from Qualcomm) and other communication hardware work in concert. The new envelop tracker designed to enable sleeker designs and improved battery life by reducing power amplifier (PA) power consumption and heat generation.

qualcomm_gobi_apps

“The expansion of our connectivity solutions to include fifth-generation LTE Category 10 technology, and the QFE3100, will offer consumers more efficient mobile devices that connect seamlessly to the fastest LTE Advanced networks while consuming lower power,” said Cristiano Amon, executive vice president of Qualcomm Technologies. “Today’s announcement builds on our established technology leadership in the LTE connectivity space and demonstrates our continued commitment to offering users an outstanding and unparalleled mobile experience.”

Two new chips are currently sampling with customers of Qualcomm and are anticipated to be commercially available in 2015.

While at present it is unknown which companies plan to use the Gobi 9*45 modem and the QFE3100 ET, it should be noted that Apple and Samsung and traditionally among the first to adopt Qualcomm’s wireless innovations in their products. As a result, it is logical to expect Apple iPhone 6s (or Apple iPhone 7?) as well as next-generation Samsung Galaxy S and Samsung Galaxy Note to feature up to 450Mb/s download speeds as well as up to 100Mb/s upload speeds.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Up to 450Mb/s download speed should be enough for watching stereoscopic 3D ultra-high-definition movies online. Of course, 450Mb/s is absolute maximum that is achievable in ideal conditions; in reality data-rates will be a lot lower. Still, a good thing that those lower data-rates will actually be sustainable.

The post Qualcomm unveils LTE-A cat. 10 modem with up to 450Mb/s DL speeds first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/anton-shilov/qualcomm-unveils-4glte-a-category-10-wireless-modem-with-up-to-450mbs-speeds/feed/ 0
Intel introduces ‘world’s smallest’ 3G modem https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/anton-shilov/intel-introduces-worlds-smallest-3g-modem/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/anton-shilov/intel-introduces-worlds-smallest-3g-modem/#respond Wed, 27 Aug 2014 22:42:06 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=209186 Intel Corp. has introduced what it claims to be the world’s smallest 3G modem. The Intel XMM 6255 is designed for wearables, security devices and industrial equipment as well as the upcoming devices that belong to the Internet-of-Things market. The new modem from Intel supports dual band HSPA with 7.2Mb/s maximum download speed and 5.76Mb/s …

The post Intel introduces ‘world’s smallest’ 3G modem first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Intel Corp. has introduced what it claims to be the world’s smallest 3G modem. The Intel XMM 6255 is designed for wearables, security devices and industrial equipment as well as the upcoming devices that belong to the Internet-of-Things market.

The new modem from Intel supports dual band HSPA with 7.2Mb/s maximum download speed and 5.76Mb/s maximum upload speed. Besides, the XMM 6255 modem supports optional quad-band 2G with external low-cost companion chip.

intel_xmm_6255_1

Intel’s XMM 6255 measures at just about 300 square millimeters, which makes it the world’s smallest standalone 3G modem. The XMM 6255 features the Smarti UE2p transceiver, which is based on the new Intel Power Transceiver technology, which combines transmit and receive functionality with a fully integrated power amplifier and power management on a single chip. Such approach reduces the amount of components, which means smaller sizes and lower costs. Besides, according to Intel, the power transceiver also protects the radio from overheating, voltage peaks and damage under tough usage conditions, which is important for critical IoT devices (e.g., safety monitors).

The XMM 6255 also features advanced radio architecture that lets it work flawlessly in small devices (where it is impossible to install a proper 3G antenna) and in low signal network coverage conditions.

intel_xmm_6255

Intel’s XMM 6255 is currently available in the u-blox SARA-U2 module and Intel expects to have updates on additional partnerships in the coming months.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: While the XMM 6255 looks promising, it is doubtful that it will really be useful for the market of Internet-of-Things. The IoT is all about perpetual Internet connectivity of all devices. Meanwhile, 3G networks are already very crowded and adding extra devices to these networks will either collapse them or significantly decrease their quality of service. It is doubtful that carriers will welcome a lot of 3G IoT devices to their networks. Still, the XMM 6255 could be integrated into existing devices, such as tablets or laptops, which will make connected devices more affordable, something that will be welcome by both carriers and end-users.

The post Intel introduces ‘world’s smallest’ 3G modem first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/anton-shilov/intel-introduces-worlds-smallest-3g-modem/feed/ 0
Intel: We will integrate 3G/4G modems into all our platforms https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/anton-shilov/intel-we-will-integrate-3g4g-modems-into-all-our-platforms/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/anton-shilov/intel-we-will-integrate-3g4g-modems-into-all-our-platforms/#comments Thu, 17 Jul 2014 22:51:56 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=203523 Intel Corp. said this week that its future PC platforms will be equipped with its own 3G/4G modems so to enable wireless Internet connectivity everywhere and on every device. The move will clearly make notebooks and slates with integrated baseband capabilities more affordable eventually, whereas Intel’s chips will get more competitive. For many years laptop …

The post Intel: We will integrate 3G/4G modems into all our platforms first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Intel Corp. said this week that its future PC platforms will be equipped with its own 3G/4G modems so to enable wireless Internet connectivity everywhere and on every device. The move will clearly make notebooks and slates with integrated baseband capabilities more affordable eventually, whereas Intel’s chips will get more competitive.

For many years laptop and tablet makers have charged significant amount of money for addition of 3G/4G modems into devices mainly because they were needed only by road warriors. However, since personal computers nowadays are used virtually everywhere, they need Internet connection regardless whether there is Wi-Fi nearby or not. As a result, integrated modems will likely become just another must-have feature of future PCs regardless of their form-factor: notebook, 2-in-1, tablet, etc.

Intel believes that all of its mobile platforms in the future will feature baseband capabilities, just like they feature Wi-Fi today. Moreover, due to increasing demand for 3G/4G modems the company hopes to make money selling modems to makers of non-Intel-based devices.

“All of our products have become more personal, more mobile, more connected and we are seeing modems work their way into PCs, for example, especially 2-in-1 devices,” said Brian Krzanich, chief executive officer of Intel, during the quarterly conference call with financial analysts and investors. “We believe modems and connectivity in this space is critical to almost every segment of our business, but we also believe that we can be in this mobile space and make money. We just got to get our products there and get the right price structures.”

intel_atom_roadmap_update_intc_benefits

Intel plans to first offer its modems within its platform offerings tailored for Chromebooks, but eventually the baseband capabilities will make their way into platforms for laptops, 2-in-1s, tablets and others. So, expect at least some of next-generation Apple MacBook laptops to get baseband capabilities.

“It is going to probably start with Chromebooks,” said Mr. Krzanich. “Chromebooks are best when they are connected and so all these connected requirements are going to drive modems into there, for example. But you can go from a PC down through tablets, phones and into the Internet-of-Things [devices] in the industrial space where you’re looking at a pump that’s out in the middle of the desert someplace or wherever. It’s going to want a 2G or 3G connection probably to get that data back into the system.”

At present all of Intel’s modems are produced by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Eventually – sometimes in late-2015 or early-2016 – the company plans to move production of modems to its own manufacturing facilities.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Intel needs to make its platforms for mobile and ultra-mobile devices more competitive against offerings from the ARM camp as well as its traditional rival. Adding a modem to the package which consists of a processor, a core-logic chip and a Wi-Fi chip seems like a great idea to boost value. What we do not know is whether Intel’s move will actually make devices with integrated modems more affordable than they are today since device makers may have different opinion about their pricing policies.

The post Intel: We will integrate 3G/4G modems into all our platforms first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/anton-shilov/intel-we-will-integrate-3g4g-modems-into-all-our-platforms/feed/ 6
Intel wants to get rid of cables with ‘Skylake’-based devices https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/anton-shilov/intel-wants-to-get-rid-of-cables-in-2015-2016-with-skylake-based-devices/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/anton-shilov/intel-wants-to-get-rid-of-cables-in-2015-2016-with-skylake-based-devices/#respond Thu, 05 Jun 2014 22:59:51 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=196881 The upcoming systems powered by the Core M “Broadwell” microprocessors will certainly be impressive. But the real revolution awaits us sometimes in 2015 – 2016, when Intel Corp.’s partners roll-out devices based on the code-named “Skylake” central processing units. Those mobile systems are expected to be completely wireless and therefore easier to use. During a …

The post Intel wants to get rid of cables with ‘Skylake’-based devices first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
The upcoming systems powered by the Core M “Broadwell” microprocessors will certainly be impressive. But the real revolution awaits us sometimes in 2015 – 2016, when Intel Corp.’s partners roll-out devices based on the code-named “Skylake” central processing units. Those mobile systems are expected to be completely wireless and therefore easier to use.

During a Computex 2014 event, Kirk Skaugen, senior vice president and general manager of the PC client group at Intel, outlined how the company plans to eliminate wires from computing devices with reference designs coming for the Intel Core processor family after Broadwell, which is known as the code-named Skylake. In particular, Intel wants to eliminate power cables and enable wireless “docking”, something that will make PCs in tablet and 2-in-1 form-factors truly wireless.

At the event Mr. Skaugen demonstrated the Rezence technology, which is developed and promoted by the members of the Alliance 4 Wireless Power (A4WP). The magnetic resonance wireless charging technology can charge many devices at once even through wood or other materials. Intel also announced at the event that Lenovo and Logitech had joined the A4WP organization, so expect the ThinkPad and other products from Lenovo to get the Rezence support in the coming years.

intel_wireless_charge_demo

Intel demonstrates a table with a magnetic resonance charging system attached under its surface. Image by Cnet News.

The world’s largest chipmaker also proposed to use the WiGig 7Gb/s wireless technology for short range “docking” of devices. The WiGig docking is projected to connect to displays, high-capacity storage and peripherals when a device is moved within range and then swapping back out to standalone mode by just picking up and walking away, reports Cnet News.

While we can now expect the Skylake-based devices in 2015 – 2016 to feature the Rezence and the WiGig support, it should be noted that to truly take advantage of both, they need to be supported broadly. For example, café tables should be equipped with the Rezence technology to bring real benefits to the owners of new devices, which is not going to happen two years down the road. The WiGig (IEEE 802.11ad) that uses 60GHz bands is clearly a performance champ, but it has its own limitations (e.g., the 60GHz signal cannot penetrate walls and therefore routers have to fall back to a different band and protocol) that can slow down its adoption.

All-in-all, while the first completely wireless devices will be available in 2015 or 2016, it will take years before they will be widely supported by the infrastructure.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It will be interesting to find out when these – Rezence and WiGig – technologies are used for desktop computers as well. Completely wireless displays, wireless speakers, wireless mice that need no charging, etc. should greatly improve the desktop PC experience too. Still, it is obvious that high-end wired interconnections like the Thunderbolt or the USB 3.1 will remain on the market for decades…

The post Intel wants to get rid of cables with ‘Skylake’-based devices first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/anton-shilov/intel-wants-to-get-rid-of-cables-in-2015-2016-with-skylake-based-devices/feed/ 0
Broadcom debuts 3.20Gb/s 802.11ac six-stream platform for routers https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/anton-shilov/broadcom-debuts-802-11ac-six-stream-platform-for-routers/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/anton-shilov/broadcom-debuts-802-11ac-six-stream-platform-for-routers/#comments Tue, 22 Apr 2014 22:59:23 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=188631 Broadcom last week introduced the industry's first six stream 802.11ac MIMO platform for home networks. Broadcom claims that its 5G WiFi XStream is up to 50 per cent faster than MU-MIMO routers and gateways. What is important is that the company’s technology can boost network performance of existing devices. Broadcom's 5G WiFi XStream is a …

The post Broadcom debuts 3.20Gb/s 802.11ac six-stream platform for routers first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Broadcom last week introduced the industry's first six stream 802.11ac MIMO platform for home networks. Broadcom claims that its 5G WiFi XStream is up to 50 per cent faster than MU-MIMO routers and gateways. What is important is that the company’s technology can boost network performance of existing devices.

Broadcom's 5G WiFi XStream is a MIMO platform for home routers that includes six 802.11ac streams over 160MHz channels and three 802.11n streams that run simultaneously. As a result, more devices can be connected to a router at the same time without slowdowns and disconnections. In addition, Broadcom's intelligent Quality of Service (iQoS) advanced software identifies incoming traffic and allocates bandwidth for streaming applications, while lowering priorities for things like downloads. In addition, the software ensures that fast 802.11ac devices in the home are not sharing airtime with slower Wi-Fi devices.

By offering Wi-Fi data rates up to 3.2Gb/s, Broadcom's 5G WiFi XStream delivers an ideal experience for users who are simultaneously consuming more data, connecting Internet of Things devices and streaming HD content to multiple screens.

broadcom_wifi_80211ac_mimo

Broadcom’s 5G WiFi XStream platform is based on five-core “Penta Core” central processing unit (CPU) that runs at 2.96GHz. The solution also includes two 5GHz radios and one 2.4GHz radio.

Broadcom's 5G WiFi XStream platform is currently sampling and will be in production this quarter. Asustek Computer, Belkin and Netgear will be the first companies to utilise the new platform.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The new Wi-Fi platform looks very promising. It is especially important than unlike some other solutions, the novelty works here and now and does not require all devices to adopt its standards. Since there are loads of Wi-Fi-enabled consumer devices, including smartphones, tablets, PCs, smart TVs and various intelligent home appliances, ability to connect tens of clients to a single router/gateway is crucial. Broadcom’s 5G WiFi XStream platform solves just this problem, at least, on paper.

The post Broadcom debuts 3.20Gb/s 802.11ac six-stream platform for routers first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/anton-shilov/broadcom-debuts-802-11ac-six-stream-platform-for-routers/feed/ 1
Qualcomm looking forward to triple Wi-Fi speeds https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/anton-shilov/qualcomm-looking-forward-to-triple-wi-fi-speeds/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/anton-shilov/qualcomm-looking-forward-to-triple-wi-fi-speeds/#respond Wed, 09 Apr 2014 10:24:05 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=186717 Qualcomm has announced its new family of Wi-Fi chips that could improve performance of wireless local area networks by several times. The new Qualcomm Atheros Vive chips (and select Snapdragon application processors) for routers, gateways as well as client devices support multi-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi with multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) technology that can triple or even quadruple …

The post Qualcomm looking forward to triple Wi-Fi speeds first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Qualcomm has announced its new family of Wi-Fi chips that could improve performance of wireless local area networks by several times. The new Qualcomm Atheros Vive chips (and select Snapdragon application processors) for routers, gateways as well as client devices support multi-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi with multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) technology that can triple or even quadruple actual Wi-Fi speeds compared to today’s.

With standard Wi-Fi, clients are served in sequence; during the time, only one device is sending and receiving information, hence, network capacity is being used only partly. The accumulation of these sequences creates a drop in throughput and capacity as more clients join the network. This situation can be further worsened as more devices stream high-definition video. Qualcomm’s wireless network chips with support of three- and four-stream connectivity and MU-MIMO enables concurrent transmission to groups of clients, making more efficient use of available Wi-Fi network capacity as well as speeding up communications.

qualcomm_wifi_80211_mu_mimo_1

“Great connectivity is not just about increasing the absolute speed,” said Dan Rabinovitsj, senior vice president of Qualcomm Atheros. It is about making better use of network and airtime efficiency to support the growing number of connected devices, services and applications.”

Qualcomm’s MU-MIMO algorithms require sophisticated computing capabilities to manage complexities of simultaneous connections of multiple devices. The technology can dynamically adjust to changes in channel conditions, device movement and application requirements to maximize performance and ensure better connections in multi-user environments.

qualcomm_wifi_80211_mu_mimo_2

“After seven years of MU-MIMO development and testing, we have gained a deep understanding of real-world channel behavior with this advanced Wi-Fi technology in crowded environments,” added Mr. Rabinovitsj. “These insights have led to the creation of our precision-based algorithm technology that, along with technologies like the Qualcomm Internet Processor and StreamBoost, maximizes Wi-Fi performance for all connected devices.”

qualcomm_wifi_80211_mu_mimo_3

Qualcomm’s Vive 802.11ac chips featuring multi-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi with multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) technology support transmissions via up to four streams and with up to 80MHz channels, thus providing maximum bandwidth of up to 1.73Gb/s. Not all solutions can enable maximum bandwidth, but the benefits of MU-MIMO architecture should improve quality of user experience rather significantly in general.

qualcomm_wifi_80211_mu_mimo

To get substantial benefits of Qualcomm’s Vive 802.11ac chips featuring multi-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi with multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) technology, it should be supported by both clients as well as access points, routers, gateways, etc. Qualcomm Atheros has introduced a complete family of solutions for networking products, as well as smartphones, tablets, personal computers, consumer electronics and automobiles that support the latest technology.

Actual products featuring Qualcomm’s Vive 802.11ac chips featuring multi-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi with multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) are expected to emerge in early 2015. Since it will take some time before the new chips become widely adopted, the Wi-Fi networks will only actually get better in several years from now.

KitGuru Says: Keeping in mind that 802.11ac technology theoretically can support transmission of four data streams over 160MHz channels with MU-MIMO, the new Qualcomm wireless solutions will not offer maximum what the 802.11ac can. Therefore, expect more innovations in this space from Qualcomm and its rivals.

The post Qualcomm looking forward to triple Wi-Fi speeds first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/anton-shilov/qualcomm-looking-forward-to-triple-wi-fi-speeds/feed/ 0
Thermaltake launches Luxa 2 Groovy T Boom Box https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/jon-martindale/thermaltake-launches-luxa-2-groovyt-boom-box/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/jon-martindale/thermaltake-launches-luxa-2-groovyt-boom-box/#respond Fri, 07 Mar 2014 11:02:13 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=180863 Thermaltake is continuing to push its Luxa 2 audio division, with the release of a new portable speaker called the GroovyT Magic Boom Box. It's a small form factor, mobile audio device that breaks the chain of cables and wireless connectivity, by requiring none of that to amplify your smartphone's music playing abilities. All you …

The post Thermaltake launches Luxa 2 Groovy T Boom Box first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Thermaltake is continuing to push its Luxa 2 audio division, with the release of a new portable speaker called the GroovyT Magic Boom Box. It's a small form factor, mobile audio device that breaks the chain of cables and wireless connectivity, by requiring none of that to amplify your smartphone's music playing abilities.

All you have to do with the Luxa2, is place your smartphone on top of the speaker and its angular, vibration amplication will boost whatever audio you're playing to much more impressive levels.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVQOgmOPFQc']

The Luxa2 is available in two colour options, red and black and has enough battery life for up to five and a half hours of play time.  No doubt the fact that it doesn't require bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity keeps it from draining too fast. It does however still take a few hours to fully recharge.

luxa2

KitGuru Says: Quite an interesting take on the mobile speaker. There's a lot of them out there now and it's difficult to stand out, but maybe this one's lack of cabling or traditional wireless connectivity will help it break free from the pack?

The post Thermaltake launches Luxa 2 Groovy T Boom Box first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/jon-martindale/thermaltake-launches-luxa-2-groovyt-boom-box/feed/ 0
Intel to show wearable computing devices at CES https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/anton-shilov/intel-to-show-wearable-computing-devices-at-ces/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/anton-shilov/intel-to-show-wearable-computing-devices-at-ces/#respond Fri, 03 Jan 2014 16:06:38 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=170253 Intel Corp. plans to demonstrate all-new wearable computing devices it designed in-house at the forthcoming Consumer Electronics Show that begins next-week. The chip giant will also introduce a new version of Quark chip aimed at various types of electronics that need to be small and have very low power consumption. Intel did not enter the …

The post Intel to show wearable computing devices at CES first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Intel Corp. plans to demonstrate all-new wearable computing devices it designed in-house at the forthcoming Consumer Electronics Show that begins next-week. The chip giant will also introduce a new version of Quark chip aimed at various types of electronics that need to be small and have very low power consumption.

Intel did not enter the rapidly evolving market of application processors for smartphones and tablets several years ago when it was much smaller than it is today. As a consequence, the Santa Clara, California-based chip manufacturer is now experiencing slow revenue growth (since a large part of its sales come from stagnating personal computer market), whereas companies like Qualcomm are thriving. But in addition to developing system-on-chips (SoCs) for existing mobile gadgets, Intel is working on processors for what is believed to be the next big thing: wearable computing devices as well as Internet-of-Things kind of products.

In a bid to speed up innovation in new directions, Intel last year formed a new products group that designs hardware and software for wearables and IoT devices. The first results of the group’s work will be demonstrated at this year’s CES.

“Wearables is wide open. What you will see at CES is that we are actually going to bring some very innovative wearables to the show that are developed and manufactured here,” said Brian Krzanich, chief executive officer of Intel, in an interview with Recode.net.

intel_quark_1

In addition to showing new devices, Intel will also introduce a new version of its Quark processor, a tiny system-on-chip developed specifically for intelligent electronics that may not need high computing horsepower, but which benefits from ultra-low power consumption and a small form factor. The currently-available Quark X1000 is a 32-bit, single core, single-thread, Pentium instruction set architecture (ISA)-compatible microprocessor with 16KB L1 cache, 512KB L2 cache, operating at speeds up to 400MHz. The SoC supports industry-standard input/output interfaces, such as PCI Express, 10/100Mb Ethernet, USB 2.0 and so on. Details about the new Quark will be unveiled next week.

Intel believes that Quark can be used for a broad range of intelligent electronics devices. In fact, at present the SoCs are used inside heating and air conditioning systems, but last year Intel demonstrated a smart-watch with a Quark inside.

“Our view is that Quark can make almost everything smart. We’ll show you some things that you would never have thought could become smart and communicate,” said Mr. Krzanich.

intel_quark_2

While Intel will demonstrate wearable computing devices that it designed itself at the forthcoming CES trade-show, it should be kept in mind that the chip developer does not sell such devices. As a result, it could take months or quarters before Intel’s partners start to manufacture and sell similar products to end-users.

KitGuru Says: Timing is crucial for Intel and its wearable plans. Samsung, Sony and Qualcomm have already launched their smart-watches. Not that they are truly successful, but they appear to be actual products, not just reference designs that Intel plans to show at a trade show. 

The post Intel to show wearable computing devices at CES first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/anton-shilov/intel-to-show-wearable-computing-devices-at-ces/feed/ 0
Aria stocking TP Link Wi-Fi extender https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/jon-martindale/aria-stocking-tp-link-wi-fi-extender/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/jon-martindale/aria-stocking-tp-link-wi-fi-extender/#respond Mon, 02 Sep 2013 11:35:38 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=150487 Listen up poor Wi-Fi-reception-home-owners, Aria is here to save the day. It's got some new stock of TP Link 150MBps Wi-Fi extenders, but there's only a handful available so grab one while you can. It's a simple plug-in adapter, that sits near flush with the wall, keeps everything neat and looks like something out of …

The post Aria stocking TP Link Wi-Fi extender first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Listen up poor Wi-Fi-reception-home-owners, Aria is here to save the day. It's got some new stock of TP Link 150MBps Wi-Fi extenders, but there's only a handful available so grab one while you can.

It's a simple plug-in adapter, that sits near flush with the wall, keeps everything neat and looks like something out of a Wall-E sequel… about WiFi. It supports up to 150MBps wireless N speeds and can extend the range of the network or simply amplify it locally, eliminating dead zones in your humble abode.

tplink

What's that you say? Your laptop is so old that it doesn't have a built in wireless adapter and you didn't already buy one for £3 on Ebay? Well, this TP Link product can come in handy once again. With its built in ethernet port, you can just plug it into whatever device is lacking internet access and turn it into a Wireless enabled bit of tech.

At just £15 these are probably going to go pretty fast, but don't think about ordering up all seven (remaining stock at time of writing) at once, as they're limited to one per order.

KitGuru Says: My last house needed one of these so badly. Fortunately, my new one is much more WiFi friendly, even if the walls aren't so soundproof anymore. 

The post Aria stocking TP Link Wi-Fi extender first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/jon-martindale/aria-stocking-tp-link-wi-fi-extender/feed/ 0
Patriot launches AERO – wireless mobile hard drive https://www.kitguru.net/components/hard-drives/jules/patriot-launches-aero-wireless-mobile-hard-drive/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/hard-drives/jules/patriot-launches-aero-wireless-mobile-hard-drive/#respond Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:57:33 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=128086 The market for storage shows no sign of slowing down and, recently, there has been a big push to make back-up and sharing systems as easy to use as possible. For many, that means cross-platform compatibility and no wires. KitGuru takes a look at Patriot's latest launch. Here at KitGuru HQ, we have been pondering …

The post Patriot launches AERO – wireless mobile hard drive first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
The market for storage shows no sign of slowing down and, recently, there has been a big push to make back-up and sharing systems as easy to use as possible. For many, that means cross-platform compatibility and no wires. KitGuru takes a look at Patriot's latest launch.

Here at KitGuru HQ, we have been pondering portable/wireless storage for many years. Wherever you're working/playing, it's a good idea to back up your files. It's also cool to be able to share them with those you trust. However, the prospect of crawling around under tables with a fist full of wires is less appealing.

That's where products like the Patriot AERO mobile hard drive come it.

With the 500GB model expected to sell for less than £100 and the larger 1TB model at just over the £100 mark, there's sure to be a lot of interest in it's capabilities.

Alongside support for streaming to 5 separate devices, simultaneously, the Patriot AERO will also provide that service for up to 6 hours on a single charge.

And it's guaranteed to carry on doing that, for at least 2 years.

Mike Kroll, Senior Director of Product Management at Patriot told KitGuru, “With the exponential growth in the sales of tablets and smartphones, consumers are taking their world mobile with the desire to carry and view more content on their portable devices”.

He then confirmed, “Patriot has the largest and most compelling mobile storage lineup – from full featured all‐in‐one solutions to the multi-award winning Gauntlet Node wireless enclosure”.

According to Patriot, you can stick to proprietary standards with Apple's App Store, Google Play and Amazon's Appstore – or you can break free and choose any media that interests you.

Although you will get more pleasure licking an Aero bar - they are rubbish at streaming HD films and we have never known one to last 6 minutes in the KitGuru Lab - let alone 6 hours

.
KitGuru says: We love storage, we like sharing media and we like things that are wireless and last for several hours. The proof of the AERO pudding will be in the KitGuru Lab's eating, but – for now – it's looking good.

Comment below, in the KitGuru forums or join the ever-growing army of KitGuru readers on Facebook.

The post Patriot launches AERO – wireless mobile hard drive first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/hard-drives/jules/patriot-launches-aero-wireless-mobile-hard-drive/feed/ 0
ADATA DashDrive Air AE400 Review https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/zardon/adata-dashdrive-air-ae400-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/zardon/adata-dashdrive-air-ae400-review/#comments Tue, 05 Mar 2013 15:33:09 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=127253 Today we are looking at the new product from ADATA – the DashDrive Air AE400. The AE400 can interact with your PC and mobile devices to stream data from SD memory cards and USB storage media via wireless technology. It is also equipped with a power reserve which can charge mobile devices. This is not …

The post ADATA DashDrive Air AE400 Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>

Today we are looking at the new product from ADATA – the DashDrive Air AE400. The AE400 can interact with your PC and mobile devices to stream data from SD memory cards and USB storage media via wireless technology. It is also equipped with a power reserve which can charge mobile devices.

This is not the first wireless enclosure to reach our offices. Kingston released the Wi-Drive, a high grade unit incorporating flash memory. We reviewed the Patriot Gauntlet Node Portable 2.5 inch device back in December 2012 and it proved popular with a wide audience.

The ADATA DashDrive Air AE400 differentiates itself from the crowd by offering slightly different functionality. Firstly, while there is no storage onboard it can be used as a portable, wireless SD card reader, it can also stream files and media to multiple devices. For those people who travel regularly and may be concerned about their mobile phone battery failing, the DashDrive Air can also be used as a mobile charging platform with a hefty 5,000mAH battery onboard.

Specifications:

  • Ports: Micro-B USB (data transmission & battery charging), USB AF (host port for UFD/portable HDD or Power Bank function), SD card (for SD/SDHC/SDXC).
  • Battery: Li-Polymer 5000mAh rechargeable battery.
  • Power Bank: 5000 mAh.
  • Temperature: Operating 0~50°C; Storage -20~60°C.
  • File system compatibility: FAT32/exFAT.
  • Operating System Compatibility: iOS 5.0+ / Android 2.3+ Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, Mac OS X 10.x+ / Linux 2.4+.
The post ADATA DashDrive Air AE400 Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/zardon/adata-dashdrive-air-ae400-review/feed/ 4
How fast will Sky Go eat your data plan? https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/harrison/how-fast-will-sky-go-eat-your-data-plan/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/harrison/how-fast-will-sky-go-eat-your-data-plan/#comments Wed, 23 Jan 2013 09:41:24 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=122757 For anyone with an iPad and Sky, last night was really fun. Sky's programming team forced through an update, which didn't work, and services across the land were severely disrupted. One reader send us an interesting screen grab and we'd like to share the contents with you. Sky Go runs as an application, for example …

The post How fast will Sky Go eat your data plan? first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
For anyone with an iPad and Sky, last night was really fun. Sky's programming team forced through an update, which didn't work, and services across the land were severely disrupted. One reader send us an interesting screen grab and we'd like to share the contents with you.

Sky Go runs as an application, for example on your iPad, and allows you to watch TV shows live – or from a big library – at little or no extra cost to your standard subscription.

When it works well, it's a bit like having the worlds best in-flight entertainment system available.

Content is streamed by connecting your in-house wireless router to the back of your Sky box. Limited content from the Sky box is then available around your home. Simples.

But in its latest incarnation, Sky is also pushing people to download content and to be watching stuff ‘on the move'. The download part is good enough, but the ‘watching streaming TV on the move' could have serious implications.

How so?

Well let's hit you with an anecdote from a few years back, when a Taiwanese national arrived in the UK to take over sales for a technology company. BT told him that he would have to wait around 2 weeks for a hard line into the new flat. To get around the problem of ‘What do my 2 young children do for entertainment', he purchased a pre-paid data dongle – installed it – and left for work.

Before lunchtime, he had his first tech support call, but could not resolve it over the phone.

When he got home, he realised that his kids had burnt through the entire month's data allowance in a morning. And that was YouTube quality.

Sky broadcasts a much better signal.

If you use products like Sky Go when you're out – and you do not have the right data plan – then the Pacman munching sound you hear will be your bank balance. Remember T-Mobile and co want to charge for everything you use and everywhere you go.

Watching TV on the go can drain a 1 Gigabyte a month plan in less than half a day. Sky now allows 4 devices to stream Sky Go at once - which is 400Mbps - which is 100Mbs more than standard wireless systems

KitGuru says: We all need to be VERY CAREFUL on the new data plans – especially those surrounding 4G. You can stream through your data plan in no time at all – and the cost to over-run will be prohibitive.

Comment below or in the KitGuru forums.

The post How fast will Sky Go eat your data plan? first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/wireless/harrison/how-fast-will-sky-go-eat-your-data-plan/feed/ 1
Buffalo beefs up wireless routers with DD-WRT https://www.kitguru.net/professional/networking/zardon/buffalo-beefs-up-wireless-routers-with-dd-wrt/ https://www.kitguru.net/professional/networking/zardon/buffalo-beefs-up-wireless-routers-with-dd-wrt/#comments Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:49:51 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=9679 KitGuru has reviewed quite a few Buffalo products since we opened a few months ago and so far we have admired their combination of competitive pricing and performance. Many people don't know however that Buffalo offer alternative open source firmwares for their wireless routers which are meant to deliver an easy to use, versatile and …

The post Buffalo beefs up wireless routers with DD-WRT first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
KitGuru has reviewed quite a few Buffalo products since we opened a few months ago and so far we have admired their combination of competitive pricing and performance.

Many people don't know however that Buffalo offer alternative open source firmwares for their wireless routers which are meant to deliver an easy to use, versatile and extensive feature set to a broader networking audience. Ideal for those people who demand a more advanced and complex solution than the standard configurations.

With an easy setup wizard, DD-WRT supports Buffalo’s range of high power routers with professional features such as VPN (PPTP, OpenVPN), VLAN (tagging), Virtual AP (multi- SSIDs for multi-connection and security), RADIUS server, hot spot support, volume quotas, iPv6 support, detailed monitoring and a host of other high-end features which deliver a fully guaranteed, out of the box solution.

Paul Hudson, Sales Director Northern Europe at Buffalo Technology comments: “Buffalo prides itself on providing cutting edge technology and incorporating DD-WRT software into our high-end routers and access points enables us to deliver professional solution at entry-level prices.”

If you want to try this out for yourself then head over to this location on the Buffalo website. KitGuru hopes to have some hands on experience shortly with this software.

The post Buffalo beefs up wireless routers with DD-WRT first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/professional/networking/zardon/buffalo-beefs-up-wireless-routers-with-dd-wrt/feed/ 4
iPad 3g hacked to run with UK Carriers https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/zardon/ipad-3g-hacked-to-run-with-uk-carriers/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/zardon/ipad-3g-hacked-to-run-with-uk-carriers/#comments Thu, 06 May 2010 17:18:21 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=510 The iPad is one of the hottest devices on the market right now and you can expect our full review in the coming days. As we all know however the 3G version is currently only supported by US networks – well until blogger Benson got his grubby mitts on one and decided to hack it …

The post iPad 3g hacked to run with UK Carriers first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
The iPad is one of the hottest devices on the market right now and you can expect our full review in the coming days. As we all know however the 3G version is currently only supported by US networks – well until blogger Benson got his grubby mitts on one and decided to hack it to bits with a meat clever and a pair of scissors – no seriously I kid you not.

He said: “Electronically, the SIM and MicroSIM are the same so we can cut the rest away and not worry (so long as we are careful)”

Fancy trying it on your own UK import? then check out his blog over here.

The post iPad 3g hacked to run with UK Carriers first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/zardon/ipad-3g-hacked-to-run-with-uk-carriers/feed/ 1