Gizmodo Australia » wireless internet

Picking Up Wi-Fi Is Like Picking Up A Prostitute [NSFW]

Danny Allen — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:40:00 +0000

This fun video personifies the prowl for Wi-Fi. You could pay the password-pimp for a fast connection, but what about that loose hotspot? Jumping on free Wi-Fi is easy, but only while it lasts, and you gotta watch for viruses:

Two things the video misses:
1. Trying out a bunch of standard passwords before getting bored and moving on.
2. That asshole at every airport pulling the “Free Wi-Fi” ad-hoc network scam. You’ll get online, but they’ll swipe your passwords. Sort of like a pimp not making you pay, but filming and selling a video of it without you knowing.

By the way, am I the only one that thinks free Wi-Fi looks kinda like Juliette Lewis? Who woulda thunk it.

Watching the Chicago Bears While Waiting for Your Cruise: That’ll be $US28,067 Please

Gizmodo US Edition — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:40:00 +0000

Wayne Burdick just wanted to watch the Chicago Bears game. Using the Slingbox he had set up, he slid in his AT&T wireless card. Two and half hours and $US28,000 later, the Bears won.

Burdick was just waiting for his cruise ship to arrive, when he decided to watch the game via his Slingbox (which streams television though an internet signal). Having an unlimited data plan, he thought everything would be peachy-keen. Unfortunately, he connected to the ship’s network and, as a result, ran up international roaming charges.

When Burdick complained about the charges despite never leaving the country, AT&T offered to initially reduce the bill down to $US6,000. Eventually, through some media attention, the bill was reduced to $US220 in charges. Oh yeah—the score was 27-23. [Chicago Sun-Times via The Register]

Vodafone’s 5GB Dell Mini 9 Deal Now $60 A Month

Nick Broughall — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 04:47:32 +0000

Remember Vodafone’s Dell Mini 9 Deal? The one where you got a free Mini 9 for $0 upfront on a 24-month contract? Well, Voda have just made the deal sweeter (though still ~~not sweeter than buying the Mini 9 upfront and adding a 3G data plan~~) by dropping the monthly repayments to $60 a month. On top of that, they’re also offering “three months free access) where new customers will be credited for the 5th, 6th and 7th month of their 24-month contract.
UPDATE: Voda’s PR has informed me, with some mathematic evidence, that it is actually cheaper to buy the Mini 9 this way rather than buy the notebook outright and add Voda’s 3G data plan, even without the three months free access, by about $100. That makes this even more appealing!If you are struggling financially and need the help only a 24-month contract can provide in order to be able to afford a new netbook, than check this out. If not, ~~it’s still cheaper to buy the netbook outright and add a 3G data plan on top~~. Either way, the Voda press release is below:

Vodafone sweetens its 5GB Dell Offer

Vodafone Australia today announced it is rolling back the price of its 5GB Dell Offer; from $69.95 to $59.95 per month on a 24-month contract.

From January 19, the Inspiron Mini 9 with embedded SIM and bundled mobile broadband, will be available on a $59.95 per month plan, including 5GB of Mobile Broadband data per month on a 24 month contract.

The shift in price will also coincide with Vodafone’s ‘three-month free access’ offer’, where new customers will be credited for the fifth, sixth and seven months of their 24-month contract. Vodafone’s three month free access’ offer has been extended exclusively for the 5GB Dell Offer until March 31, 2009.

Helen Tuffy, Head of Consumer Data at Vodafone comments: “Netbooks are set to be the success story of 2009, giving customers the freedom to stay connected while on-the-go.

“Boasting the familiar user experience of a laptop computer, the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 features an 8.9″ screen, 1GB RAM, has wi-fi connectivity, and runs on Windows XP. Weighing in at just over one kilo, the Inspiron Mini 9 is testament to the adage, ‘good things come in small packages’.”

The Inspiron Mini 9 with embedded SIM and bundled Mobile Broadband is available for purchase at selected Vodafone stores and online at www.vodafone.com.au
Dell Inspiron Mini 9 with embedded SIM and Mobile Broadband Technical Specifications

Processor

Intel® Atom™ Processor (1.6GHz, 512KB L2 Cache, 533MHz FSB)

Operating System

Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition SP3

Memory

1GB 533MHz DDR2 SDRAM

Chipset

Intel® 945PM / GS Express Chipset

Graphics

Intel® Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator 950

Display

Glossy 8.9 inch LED display (1024 x 600)

Audio and Speakers

One external speaker

Hard Drive

16GB solid state

Optical Drive

None

Ports

USB 2.0 (3)
Integrated 10/100 LAN (RJ45)
15-pin VGA video connector
Audio jacks (1 line-out, 1 mic-in)
Media card reader
AC adapter connector
Power

4-cell primary battery

Camera

1.3MP webcam

Wireless

Vodafone Mobile Broadband Built-in
802.11g mini-card
Bluetooth® Internal (2.0) mini-card
Software

Microsoft Works (productivity suite for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations)
Vodafone Mobile Connect
Dimensions & Weight

Width: 9.13″ (232mm)
Height: 0.66″ (16.8mm) front / 1.25″ (31.7mm) back
Depth: 6.77″ (172mm)
Weight: Starting weight of 2.28 lbs. (1.035 kg) (8.9″ display, 4 cell battery). Weights will vary depending on configurations and manufacturing variability

Notes to Editors

Available to approved customers who commit for 24 months and pay by direct debit. Offer is subject to change and available in selected stores while stocks last.
Minimum monthly cost is $59.95 ($39.95 for 5GB Mobile Broadband Plan plus $20 for Netbook). Minimum total cost over 24 months is $1,438.80. Paperless billing applies.
Early Exit Fee is $45 ($25 5GB Mobile Broadband Plan plus $20 for Netbook) x months remaining on the contract.
Data expires each month and is for use in Australia only. Excess data charged at 10c/MB. Netbook not for individual sale without a Vodafone Mobile Broadband plan.
Vodafone Mobile Broadband subject to network limitations and availability and device capability. The 3G broadband network covers selected metro areas of most capital cities and selected parts of the NSW Central Coast, Gold & Sunshine Coasts; not available in TAS or NT. Outside 3G broadband areas Vodafone Mobile Internet operates at slower access and download speeds on Vodafone’s 2.5G network. See vodafone.com.au/coverage for details.
3 months free access offer available until 31/03/09. 3 months free access will be applied as a $59.95 credit to your 5th, 6th and 7th bills. Offer applies to access fees only. Any charges for additional or excluded services will still apply. Vodafone Pty Limited ABN 76 062 954 554.
~Ends~

New Weapon Against Hippies: Wi-Fi

Matt Buchanan — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:40:00 +0000

The town of Glastonbury is overrun with hippies, drawn there by the healing energies in the area. Which have been destroyed by the town’s new Wi-Fi network, apparently making them all sick.

Wi-Fi, the hippies whine, screws with your chakra and “breaks ley lines,” whatever the hell that means, making hippies sick. In response, they’ve deployed orgone generators (this sound like Scientology to anyone?), which can normally dispel even the bad vibes from nuclear power plants. Against Wi-Fi, however, they are apparently powerless.

For proof of the hippies’ ridiculousness, the Inquirier turns to Dr. Eric de Silva, a physicist at Imperial College London, who reminds everyone that there no study has ever found evidence connecting Wi-Fi to bad health. I don’t know why they talked to a physicist (wouldn’t a medical doctor know better), but I mean, I’m around Wi-Fi all day, and I’m fine, I think. [Inquirer]

Three Now Lets You Buy A Year’s Worth Of Prepaid Mobile Internet

Nick Broughall — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:00:22 +0000

One of the main reasons I won’t go near prepaid mobile internet options is because I hate not getting what I pay for. I mean, if I buy 1GB worth of data, I should be able to use that 1GB whenever I want, not just within the next 30 days. And although that’s unlikely to change with any of the networks in the near future, 3 has just slightly improved the situation by offering pre-paid mobile internet that has a 365 day expiration period.

For $149, you get 12GB of data that you can use any time you wish over the next 12 months. Of course, you’ll also have to pick yourself up an internet key ($129) to use the service, but that’s not too bad. And if you, unlike me, reckon you could fly through your mobile data within 30 days, there are also a heap of other options for you, which are detailed below the fold…- $15 (500MB)
- $29 (2GB)
- $49 (4GB)

All four of these pre-paid options (including the 12GB, $149 option) include 10 SMS messages as well as the data. Which kind of sucks for the big plan: 12GB, 365 days and only 10 SMS messages? They could have at least jacked it up to 20…

Get more on the go with 3 Mobile Broadband Prepaid

3 offers Internet Key for $129 and a choice of recharge options including $29 for 2GB

SYDNEY, 11 November 2008 – 3 has expanded its Mobile Broadband offering with Mobile Broadband Prepaid – offering fast, flexible and great value internet access without the hassle of being tied to a fixed line.

Available from Wednesday, 12th November, 3’s Mobile Broadband Prepaid recharge options include $15 for 500MB of data, $29 for 2GB and $49 for 4GB with a 30 day expiry. And in a market first, 3’s customers can choose to prepay their internet for a year by paying $149 for 12GB which comes with a massive 12-month expiry. With Christmas around the corner, it’s bound to be a great gift option.

“3’s customers want user-friendly, affordable internet on-the-go and by extending our mobile broadband offering to include Prepaid we’ve now got a complete range of internet solutions for our customers,” said Noel Hamill, Director Sales, Marketing & Product at 3.

“3’s Mobile Broadband Prepaid gives customers the freedom and flexibility to enjoy the internet on their own terms,” he said.

Making 3 Mobile Broadband Prepaid more attractive than ever, 3 has revamped its Internet Key modem, so customers can surf in style by picking from a modem with a splash of green, orange or blue.

The Internet Key modem slots into a USB port for instant wireless broadband access and is available with a prepaid starter kit for just $129. The prepaid starter kit comes with 100MB of data. It’s compact size and true plug and play experience allows users to insert it into a Mac or Windows PC for simple Internet access and ultimate mobility.

Easy Recharge
For recharge options, customers can choose from one of the following three ways;

Use a credit card online (on My3 directly from the connection manager)
Set up auto recharge online, by setting the recharge amount on a preferred day of the month
Purchase a voucher from a 3 Store, 3 Dealer or at over 15,000 participating outlets nationally

Recharges have a 30 day expiry period except for the $149 recharge which has a 365 day expiry period.

Where to Buy
Get hooked up with 3’s Mobile Broadband Prepaid from Wednesday, 12th November 2008 at 3 Stores and 3 Dealers across Australia, Mo’s Mobiles, Allphones, Dick Smith Electronics, Tandy, Powerhouse and BIG W, www.three.com.au or by calling 133 907.

[Three]