MiFi gained a lot of attention these days, dubbed the main reason for the problems at the presentation of iPhone 4. It is a convenient way to have mobile internet everywhere with you. It is a compact wireless (Wi-Fi) router, which uses a cell-phone network (3G) for internet connectivity.
The concept is several years old, with traditional WiFi routers’ manufacturers implementing a GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/CDMA modules in some of their products. These routers are very convenient for setting up mobile sites like mobile teams, outdoor events, etc. where only the presence of electricity is needed. Like traditional routers, they usually offer combined wired and wireless access.
MiFi is an enhancement of this concept – it’s a self-sufficient device, designed by Novatel, that has its own battery. You can carry it in your pocket or bag, and use wireless internet about 10 meters (30 feet) around. The battery has enough capacity to provide about 5 hours of active internet access and 40 hours of standby. It automatically switches into standby when it detects it is not in use, thus saving power. It can be accessed by 5 devices simultaneously (wireless only, no wired ports), sharing the same internet connection. And when the battery is down, you can plug it in an electricity outlet with the provided adapter, or charge it from your laptop via USB, to continue surfing.
On June 7th, Apple introduced its newest iPhone – the long rumored iPhone 4. It’s completely redesigned, has a better screen, better camera, better battery life, but one of its best features is it now supports multitasking. It enables you to run several applications simultaneously and switch between them without having to close them. It also features FaceTime – full-screen video conversations with abilities to switch between front and back camera. The camera is now 5MP with built-in flash and HD-video capabilities – it can record 720p videos.
It requires a compatible laptop (some of the new Intel Core i7 / i5 / i3 processors, an Intel (Advanced) N wireless adapter, 64-bit Windows 7, and some specialized Intel software), a wireless TV adapter and a TV with a HDMI or composite A/V input. Look for the WiDi icon to find compatible devices.
So far, the announced compatible devices are:
Laptops:
Dell Studio 15z
Sony VAIO S Series
Toshiba Satellite E205
Wireless receiver:
NETGEAR Push2TV Adapter for Intel Wireless Display
Today is going to be a big day for technology. Two major technology events are going to happen at the same day – January 27th, 2010:
Sun + Oracle merger: At 9:00 AM PST (17:00 GMT) There will be an Oracle + Sun Strategy Update Webcast. It is entitled “Transforming the Way You Buy, Run, and Manage Your Business Systems”. The Sun acquisition by Oracle is by far one of the most significant transformations in the Enterprise segment, making Oracle an even bigger giant.
And then comes the most awaited event by the general public:
Apple: The long awaited announcement of a “major new product”, as dubbed by Steve Jobs, is going to happen at 10:00 AM PST (18:00 GMT). All rumors in the tech circles point it’s going to be the public presentation of the mystical Apple tablet, called iTablet, iSlate or iPod Tablet Edition. There is no live feed from the event, but rumor has it there is going to be a video on Apple’s website as soon as it’s finished.
A new video from Samsung circles the internet for several days. It presents the new I8910 HD phone from Samsung, the first mobile capable of taking video clips in HD resolution. The clip was presented as a challenge on YouTube, gaining more than 800,000 views and 1,800 comments so far. Brilliant viral marketing campaign, interesting and visually appealing:
MiFi gained a lot of attention these days, dubbed the main reason for the problems at the presentation of iPhone 4. It is a convenient way to have mobile internet everywhere with you. It is a compact wireless (Wi-Fi) router, which uses a cell-phone network (3G) for internet connectivity.
