Feeling overwhelmed by negativity? Adam Engst shares some 2021 wrap-up posts showing that even in a pandemic-ridden year, a lot of good stuff happened that didn’t make the headlines. He also looks at the solution to a macOS upgrade problem and explains how to bring back the menu command for creating an ad hoc Wi-Fi network.
We have many choices now for boosting coverage and throughput on our home Wi-Fi networks. The main determinants on the path you might pick? Cost, complexity, and installation hassle.
If you’re putting up with slow or unreliable Internet connectivity and are willing to pay for better service, the Speedify VPN promises to combine multiple Internet sources into a single connection that’s faster and more reliable.
An odd bug in iOS and iPadOS could render your Wi-Fi inoperable if you join an oddly named network.
In iOS 13 and iPadOS 13, Apple has added a new, faster way to connect to a Wi-Fi network, upping the total number of methods to four. Glenn Fleishman explains each of them.
Patches security vulnerabilities on AirPort Extreme, AirPort Express, and Time Capsule base stations with 802.11n Wi-Fi. (Free)
Patches several security vulnerabilities on AirPort Extreme and AirPort Time Capsule base stations with 802.11ac Wi-Fi. (Free)
Many public Wi-Fi hotspots require you to click a button on a “captive portal” page before you can get online, which is a problem if your device doesn’t have a Web browser. Here’s a workaround you can try with a device like an Apple TV or Nintendo Switch.
So long, 802.11ax. Hello, Wi-Fi 6! The Wi-Fi Alliance has simplified the names for Wi-Fi standards to make it easier to tell generations of equipment apart.
The story of the meeting between Steve Jobs and Lucent Technologies to add wireless networking to Apple laptops is short and quirky, but it changed networking forever.
With Apple’s AirPort line of base stations gone to that Wi-Fi network in the sky, the Velop wireless system from Linksys is a solid alternative. Unlike Apple’s base stations, Velop is “mesh” hardware, with multiple units working in unison to bathe a residence in bandwidth. Velop works well but is costly. Luckily, there are less expensive options.
Long a mainstay of wireless networking for Mac users, Apple’s line of Wi-Fi routers — the AirPort Extreme, AirPort Express, and AirPort Time Capsule — have been officially discontinued.
The Wi-Fi Alliance has announced WPA3, a replacement for its current local network encryption options. WPA3 both fixes an exploit and increases security for those using open networks, all while reducing the burden on users. But don’t expect it to take over from WPA2 soon.