Appletell

Boingo Wireless, which has Wi-Fi at more than 100,000 hotspots worldwide, has released a Mac ready version of their popular GoBoingo! client software. This software allows users to more easily log into public Wi-Fi hotspots, saving them time. With monthly or pay as you go plans, GoBoingo! can help save the hassle of remembering numerous passwords to Wi-Fi services. If you’re not looking forward to this, it’s good to know that Dawn Callahan, vice president of consumer marketing at Boingo Wireless, is. In the press release he was quoted as saying, “We now have an easy-to-use Wi-Fi utility for the legions of MacBook users who want to be connected to Boingo Wi-Fi hotspots at airports, hotels and retail locations.”

This software, which is less than 1MB in size, works on both Mac OS X Tiger and Leopard. It simply sits in the background of your computer and waits until you enter a hotspot that belongs to one of Boingo’s partners, then helps you enter it. Boingo offers plenty of hotspots, too. Located at over 475 airports and 17,000 hotels, you will surely find this software helpful if you travel a lot. So get a surfin’!

Via [Mac Daily News] Product [Boingo Wi-Fi Software]

Saxon Innovations, LLC, a small patent holding firm, has filed a lawsuit against Apple and other large PC manufactures claiming they have infringed upon patents for encrypted wireless signals and some inner circuity. The lawsuit was filed in late June in Texas, and Saxon Innovations, LLC is strongly going after a patent they were granted in 1997. This patent describes a process of encrypting information, sending it over a wireless connection, then decrypting it to be read. If they have strong support for their case, this patent from Saxon could affect everything from Wi-Fi connections to cellphones.

A second patent Saxon Innovations, LLC claims these companies are infringing upon is from 1996. This patent covers circuity that generates clock signals. Apple and other companies involved—such as Acer, Dell, Gateway and Hewlett-Packard—have declined to comment, as usual. It should be interesting to see where this case leads. If Saxon wins, these companies may be have to fork over some large sums of money.

Via [AppleInsider]

Today, Apple released version 5.3.2 of its AirPort Utility. The update includes versions for Leopard (8.8 MB), Tiger (9.3 MB) and Windows (10.3 MB), and all updates are reported by Apple to improve general stability, performance, and compatibility with AirPort Utility and AirPort Base Station Agent for the AirPort Extreme Base Station, Time Capsule, and AirPort Express. 

The download is available on the Apple Support website, and is recommended for anyone who using an AirPort Base Station.

Via [World Of Apple]

Apple has posted a job position for a senior engineer to “work in a technology group on next generation wireless communications products.” The job position, initially discovered by AppleInsider, asks applicants to have knowledge in “Bluetooth, 3G, ultrawideband (UWB), WiMAX, GPS, Mobile TV and similar wireless technologies.” This indicates that Apple is definitely planning on including 4G wireless technologies in their products, some time in the future. Whether this is for the iPhone, iPod Touch, or MacBook range — I want to see it in any of these products.

Scott Moritz of Fortune/CNN’s Techland blog suggests that Apple’s wishlist for 4G skills stands out: “The presence of WiMax and the absence of long term evolution, or LTE,” He also questions that this could be an “endorsement of the Sprint/Clearwire/Intel WiMax camp and a rejection of the fourth-generation LTE path wireless embraced by telco giants AT&T and Verizon?”

It will be interesting to see what exactly Apple produces from hiring a specialist in the 4G area — that is, if they do produce anything at all. I suspect that GPS is definitely going to come into the next iPhone; WiMax could see its way to the MacBook Air; and Ultra-Wideband could be implemented as USB is in Macs today.

Via [MacDailyNews], [Techland]

A new patent from Apple this week could greatly help in expanding what an iPhone can do for you.  This patent expounds upon the service that allows Starbucks customers to purchase coffees from their phone and is extremely interesting.  Basically, this patent implies that Apple would have services like this in businesses and various locations all over the world.  For example, an airport could show flight schedules right on your phone or you could save your dining preferences and wirelessly order with a digital menu at any restaurant involved with it.  Even better yet, if a concert used this you could be able to buy the bands tracks wirelessly right then and there.  It would work by connecting to a local wifi network that contained specific instructions on how to handle wireless devices that connect and are made by Apple.

This whole idea is actually pretty fascinating and I can see it becoming popular sometime in the future.  People carry their wireless devices everywhere and if Apple manages to get more of a market share or this extends to all wireless devices someday, it could become extremely handy.  Imagine simply walking into a restaurant and pulling out your phone to check the menu or being greeted with a tourist map when arriving in a new city.  If Apple ever does put this into effect some way or another, I can really see it taking off.

Time Capsule is Apple’s answer to network-attached Time Machine backups within a local area network. It allows multiple people to back-up wirelessly or wired, making it ideal for laptop users. However, online backups are far more secure - as they’re stored in a datacenter away from your own home.

A company called Macminicolo.net has been offering Mac Mini-based backups for a while now, and is now offering a brand new service with Time Machine in Leopard. “Transport” will allow you to purchase a Time Capsule unit which will be hosted at their datacenter - all of your future backups will be stored in this secure location. Their plans start at just $29 per month, with a set-up fee of $25. You have the choice of either asking a hosting provider to purchase and install a Time Capsule, or the option to send one to Macminicolo.net for installation in their server farm.

Which do you prefer, local or network backups?

Via [Macworld UK]

Though most seem to be happy with Mac OS X 10.5.2, a select few, Steve Jobs apparently included, aren’t. Mac OS X 10.5.3 is on the fast track to release, as yet another developer build was seeded over the weekend.

While 10.5.2 had widely publicized bugs it was fixing, 10.5.3 has but one: WiFi issues, most recently exemplified when New York schools halted Mac shipments due to the issue. Two other issues it is known to have fixed are shutdown hangs and system mode issues. The others are anybody guess. Or anybody’s guesses, as the list of bugs fixed by this update is apparently longer than 170. This specific build, 9D22, fixes 15, and has no known issues.

Update: After this writing was finished, Apple released Build 9D23, adding 8 more fixes. Once again, no known issues.

Given the rapid succession of build releases, the consensus is that 10.5.3 will be available by mid-May. Perhaps this will give way for 10.5.4 in June?

Have you had any 10.5.2 issues? Or would you just like them to leave well enough alone? Sound off below.

Via [World Of Apple]

There may be a new competitor in the market when it comes to receiving an internet signal.  Macwireless has announced a new, extremely fast network adapter.  This technology allows up to 16 devices on your network and is transmitted over normal AC wires.

From the product page:

Powerline networking allows you to route your network through the electrical lines that are already built into your home or office. With speeds up to 200 times faster than DSL, this is a great way to get your ethernet network to other floors or rooms in your building, without the need to run wires. Powerline Network Adapters are particularly useful when concrete, metal, or other obstructions in the walls of your home or office block your wireless signals.

Sounds pretty interesting if you ask me and may be a great alternative for those in brick buildings in cities where a Wifi signal is hard to get.  If you have ever used one of these, or a technology like this, let us know.

The New York Department of Education has halted an order on Macs due to a wireless connectivity issue with their infrastructure.  Apple has been hard at work trying to resolve this issue and a fix is expected to come with a new Leopard release, most likely 10.5.3.  For now the machines are being held at a Dell facility in Austin, Texas because of a contract the DOE has with Dell that allows them to handle all of the school system’s tech ordering.  The schools are still able to order and receive machines that rely on a wired ethernet connection rather than wifi.

Apple has apologized in both an email and an Apple product catalog notice for the two month delay.  The company has been franticly working on this issue in hopes of getting the machines shipped as soon as possible.  Hopefully Apple gets 10.5.3 out soon because I have been experiencing wifi issues with my iMac as well and would love to see this problem resolved for everyone.

Via [AppleInsider]

Market research firm Gartner released a report Wednesday showing that Apple’s market share for personal computers in the US is now 6.6%, a nice step up from the 5.2% they were at.  Shipping over 1.01 million machines, Apple is now the fourth under Dell, HP, and Acer respectively in the US market.  Unfortunately, Apple has not yet made the top 5 list when it comes to computer producers worldwide.  That list contained HP, Dell, Acer, Lenovo, and Toshiba respectively.  However, Apple has still made some very steady growth this quarter which is one thing they can be proud of.

One strong point in sales for all the companies was mobile platforms, or laptops.  This is no surprise as laptops are becoming very powerful and people are becoming more mobile.  “Despite declining consumer confidence, U.S. consumers did not put off mobile PC purchases as evidenced by solid mobile growth,” Mika Kitagawa, principal analyst for Gartner said. “This growth was stimulated in part by aggressive price cuts.” Keep up the good work Apple, I would love see you on that worldwide list next quarter!

Via [AppleInsider]