wireless

The Samsung SCH-U540 adds another EV-DO phone to Verizon's lineup. Inside the slim design is support for the carrier's V Cast streaming video service, a music player, Bluetooth, and a speakerphone. On the other hand, performance was a bit up and down as we've detailed in our full review. Also, see the slide show for a full gallery of SCH-U540 photos.

Back in March, I reviewed Arriva's sports headphones, which feature a unique cord design that does a remarkable job of keeping the headphones' earbuds securely in your ears. The fledgling company hinted that it would be creating "wireless" headphones for Apple's second-generation iPod Shuffle, and we now have our first concept photo of what the headphones will look like. The irony is that the headphones aren't wireless in the traditional sense (Bluetooth, IR, or RF), but they simply have the tiny Shuffle II integrated into the headphones at the back of your neck.

Arriva's … Read more

With so many wireless headphones available, one might wonder why anyone would want something like the "TV Hear" remote speaker. Basically, it's a wireless "personal" speaker with a 30-foot range that lets you listen to the telly without disturbing a sleeping spouse or anyone else within earshot of average volumes.

But some people still like to hear things in the open air, and Brookstone says there are other uses for this speaker, such as listening to the TV while you "bounce from room to room--trying to cook dinner, for example, while catching the evening … Read more

If you're curious about adding security to your wireless home network, check out our new security slide show, where I've posted some simple procedures such as changing the default password to your router, changing your SSID, adding WEP or WPA encryption, and, finally, whether you want to filter by MAC address devices (laptops, mobiles, and so forth) that have access your network. In this example I use a Linksys Wireless-G WRT54GS router plugged into a Dell XPS 600 desktop running Windows XP, but the basic steps can be modified for other routers and other Windows operating systems.

You'd think summer had already arrived, given the recent spate of frolick-worthy products ranging from pool-dwelling jellyfish to splash-proof LCDs, not to mention at least two types of iPod-enabled grills.

But if all you want to do is enjoy your music wirelessly in the open air--and feel good about it, ecologically--then something like the "Outdoor Wireless Solar Speaker" might be in order. This cord-free acoustic device can work up to 150 feet from your stereo or computer, lasting as long as eight hours after each solar charge.

Just be sure that your microwave and land lines don'… Read more

Today, Verizon Wireless and Research In Motion officially announced the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition, a dualmode CDMA/GSM smart phone designed for those who frequently travel overseas for business or pleasure. Like the Samsung SCH-i730, the 8830 comes with a SIM card and automatically switches between CDMA and GSM networks to offer seamless international roaming. This allows you to get voice coverage in 157 countries (22 of those on CDMA) and e-mail coverage in 62 countries. The device is also EV-DO-capable, so you'll be able to enjoy faster data transfer speeds.

Aside from the dualmode functionality, the 8830 … Read more

Not to be outdone by the competition, Cingular/AT&T Wireless is now offering a package of unlimited texts, video, picture and IM messages for about $20 per month.

AT&T Wireless is also offering a package that includes the unlimited messaging along with unlimited Media Net and Cingular Video. That bundle will run about $40 per month.

These new packages come on the heels of AT&T already cutting global data rates. Unfortunately, it looks like these new bundles are available only for new customers.

VANCOUVER, B.C.--If your slides inexplicably fast-forward during your next presentation, it may be because Luis Miras is in the room.

Miras, a vulnerability researcher and reverse-engineering specialist, has been studying wireless presenting tools, mice and keyboards to see if it's possible to sniff traffic and insert data. So far he has been successful with the clickers used in PowerPoint presentations.

"It is possible to own someone live during a presentation if they are using a wireless presenter," he said during a talk at the CanSecWest security event here Thursday.

For his hack, Miras used a $… Read more

Chicago is shaping up to be a hotbed for new wireless services. The Chicago Tribune reported Friday that EarthLink and AT&T are duking it out for a contract to build a citywide Wi-Fi network. Meanwhile, the city is also going to be one of the first places to get Sprint Nextel's new WiMax service.

The story, which quotes executives from AT&T, EarthLink and city officials, says that Sprint's service is unlikely to compete with the planned Wi-Fi network. Wi-Fi signals travel for blocks, while WiMax signals travel for miles. WiMax also provides service when … Read more