For many consumers, the process of buying a new cell phone is one wrought with excitement. With a myriad of new features, significantly faster speeds, the ability to access almost as many programs and applications as a laptop, it often seems as though a new cell phone will be life changing, freeing its new owner from the need to stay connected to the world by way of LAN cables. However, to date, the reality has been that these devices are usually limited by the strength of the nearest WiFi connection, often turning internet access into a jumbled page of headlines, limiting emails to text-only communications, and potentially turning a smart-phone into the same text-message and phone call only device that it was intended to replace.

The arrival of WiMax and 4G wireless internet, however, aims to change this. While much is made of the coming availability of 4G wireless internet access, many consumers do not yet realize that this technology will not necessarily require additional investment in a new phone, but will enable them to harness the power of the phone that they already have. On average, 4G wireless internet speeds powered by WiMax are four times faster than the speed currently offered by the fastest 3G networks today from cell phone providers. What this means for users is that many smart phone owners will be able to stream high definition video, watch high definition television, and download full-length feature films to their handsets in a matter of minutes. However, as, if not more important than the speed, is the overlapping coverage that WiMax networks offer users.

Part of the problem with accessing the internet using a cell phone is that users are reliant on either their actual phone service, or on a series of WiFi hotspots, such as those in libraries, cafes, or restaurants. These WiFi hotspots provide high-speed internet access; however, they have a very limited range, and tend to weaken quickly when users wander even a few feet from their center. WiMax technology is to the internet what cellular phone networks were for telephones. WiMax networks allow users to access high-speed internet wherever they are within a 4G network, meaning that users will be able to access high speed internet on their smart phones wherever they are within a 4G network.

The range of WiMax networks is also noteworthy. A single WiMax tower has a range of approximately 3,000 square miles, meaning that many rural blackout areas currently in effect due to the fact that phone and cable companies have not run the necessary wired connections to these areas will soon be eliminated. All of this means that in the very near future, cell phone users will finally be able to fully utilize the internet-based features of their cell phones, with rapid downloads, streaming capabilities and seamless transitions from place to place, without having to worry about rural or suburban blackout areas.




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When you ask the average person what kind of internet connection they consider to be the most efficient and reliable, they are likely to answer "cable." It is just something that we have all come to associate with high performance in our telecommunications, and the rising awareness of ultra-high capability fiber optics cable and related technologies have only given such connections more esteem in the general public's eye. Of course, not everything is quite as simple as it seems, and today there are increasingly powerful and reliable wireless internet options out there on the market that are beginning to create ripples among the "cable faithful," not only because the basic capabilities of such wireless systems are beginning to vie with cable systems in terms of data transfer, etc., but furthermore because the freedom which having wireless access implies is disproportionately valuable from the consumer's point of view.

Cable connections will never go away, that much is for sure-without them, there would be no way to create wireless internet networks in the first place! Yet the need to have a cable line laid all the way out to a residential customer's front door is starting to become less and less urgent as new wireless deployment technologies and systems are developed at the regional and national level. One particularly promising and revolutionary new format has come in the form of WiMax deployments, which are helping reduce the amount of cable laid without folks having to reduce their bandwidth pretensions! With this ground-breaking (no pun intended) new technology, more home-based internet users are connecting into high bandwidth services without any cables reaching their house; all that is needed is a wireless modem installed on the home's exterior, and proximity to one of the network's many omni-directional transmission towers. With the deployment of an ever greater amount of these towers (which emit their super-strong wireless internet signal in all directions so as to achieve greatest reception among customers, and which have smarter solutions for distributing upload and download demands within a single communication cell, distributing traffic more intelligently), more and more sections of the country-primarily based around the largest urban centers-are becoming blanketed in wireless signals that are giving cable connections are real run for their money.

These new deployment technologies have been matched (and enhanced) by the arrival on the scene of the latest in wireless capabilities-4G mobile standards. Thanks to the implementation of these new standards in wireless communications, it's completely possible for mobile users to be plugged into multiple Mbps download speeds which can reach nominal peaks of upwards of 100 Mbps-a complete dream for any and all mobile users anywhere! In light of these developments, it's increasingly common these days to find people leading highly productive lives on the run, fulfilling many of their personal as well as professional obligations and interests from wherever they choose, having long forgotten about the cable bonds which used to bind them!




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It's called 802.11n.2, it's the very latest in wireless technology, and Apple's got it, empowering Mac-users with the ultimate in Wi-Fi networking and Bluetooth Extreme. Apple's latest Wi-Fi technology is included in every iMac desktop and MacBook laptop.

Wireless Networking - Surf the internet, print, check and send email, use video chat, share all your favorite music and photos - all from anywhere that has a wireless network, even a Starbucks or other Wi-Fi Hot Spot.

And worry not if you don't have a wireless network compatible with 802.11n.2 yet; all Wi-Fi certified Macs will also work perfectly with your existing industry-standard 802.11g, 802.11b, and 802.11a wireless networks.

To boot, you can even grant wireless internet access to nearby friends and family, just by connecting via the built-in Airport and turning on Internet Sharing from your System Preferences. On the flip side, though, you never have to worry about people hopping onto your wireless internet connection without your knowledge and/or against your will.

Bluetooth - Sync your Mac to your Bluetooth-enabled PDA, cell phone or other mobile device with the simple and effective iSync program included with all Wi-Fi certified Macs. Keep your calendars, contacts, games, maps, and other pertinent info updated and at your fingertips. Have the option of using a convenient Bluetooth mouse instead of your Mac track-pad. Listen to your music from your portable device through wireless headphones.

Airport Express - A simple, streamlined plug now lets you connect to the web, print documents, and stream music all wirelessly through any hard-wired device anywhere in your house or office.

Airport Extreme Base Station - With the optional, external AirPort Extreme Base Station, you can use Apple's cutting-edge 802.11n.2 wireless technology to play your iTunes music through your stereo and view your iPhoto photos and iMovie and iDVD movies and videos through your TV.

Mighty Mouse and Wireless Keyboard - Cut even more cables out of your life with Apple's wireless mouse and keyboard.

Bonjour - Apple has even developed a new technology for creating a wireless network with your Mac as the hub.



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Perhaps the biggest challenge for dial-up users is downloading updates on Windows computers. When everything takes ten times longer, getting daily updates for your computer or antivirus program can be a cumbersome task. If you want to surf quickly on the Internet or have a large download to do, the last thing you want to do is share that precious little bandwidth with your updates. However, failing to do these important updates can put your computer at risk because you didn't download a security patch. It can also cause your computer to run slowly because it is missing an important fix or upgrade for the operating system. So even as frustrating as these may be, these downloads really are helpful and necessary.

Here are a few tips if you are struggling to keep up with antivirus updates and windows updates:

*Schedule your antivirus scans and updates. You can often adjust when your antivirus uses your system resources and bandwidth in effort to avoid doing so when you want to use the Internet. You should find these setting in the advanced options of your antivirus program. Refer to the manual, website, or tech support line if you need more help with this step.

*Don't turn off updates. As tempting as it might be to just turn off updates so you don't have to take the time to download them, this will only cause the necessary updates for your computer to pile up until you turn them on again. If you don't regularly update your computer, catching up on updates could take days on a dial-up connection. In the meantime, your computer is at risk and may not be able to keep up with normal functions and web applications.

*Adjust your Windows updates settings. You can set up your Windows updates so that you will be prompted when an update is available. This way you can ensure that you choose when to download an update, instead of your computer taking over and running installation while you are using the computer for other things. You will still easily see when a new update is available.

*Take turns. If you know that your antivirus has a new update ready, you can temporarily stop windows updates from downloading. Your antivirus should take first priority, because if your connection is interrupted, the download has to start over. If you download your antivirus updates as soon as you connect to the Internet, you are more likely to get it to download successfully the first time. You can then turn on, or start the download for your Windows updates afterward, because these downloads can be interrupted and will resume the next time you connect to the Internet.

*Update overnight. You can connect to the Internet just before you go to bed, then start your updates. This way, it doesn't matter how long they take or how much bandwidth they take up because you aren't sitting there waiting on them.

*If you have a laptop and travel with it occasionally, you could turn off automatic updates and then manually download them every time you are at a place with free wireless or another form of broadband. Then you can quickly update every few weeks in a few minutes instead of trying to do them at home.

If you ever want to check whether your computer has all the updates that are available for your computer, simply go to http://www.update.microsoft.com (make sure you are using Internet Explorer) and your computer will automatically be scanned for any possible updates. You can pick what updates you want by choosing a custom installation, or you can just download everything (which is recommended by Windows).



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