ports

It doesn't matter how powerful your home wireless router is, there might still be some corner in the basement the signal can't reach. This is when you need an alternative solution, such as a pair of Powerline adapters. Powerline adapters basically extend the length of the network cable by using the existing electrical wiring--this means you can bring your network port anywhere in the house where there's a power outlet.

For that reason, it's pretty exciting that Cisco on Monday will announce its third release of Linksys by Cisco Powerline adapters. The new lineup includes both … Read more

I couldn't be at the Tuesday morning Apple launch event for the new MacBook and MacBook Pro systems, but I've had a chance to review the announcements.

Normally I focus on the technology in new products, but this time, I have to say my first impression is dominated by the appearance of these systems. These are some good-looking laptops.

The most dramatic change is the new display surround, black glass that goes right out to the edge of the upper case just like on an iPhone. The lower case also looks significantly cleaner now that the old gray … Read more

I reviewed D-Link's DIR-855 wireless router recently, and complained that it didn't offer NAS or print-serving capability. On Wednesday, the company fixed that by introducing the Xtreme N Dual Band Gigabit DIR-825.

Like the DIR-855, the DIR-825 is a true dual-band gigabit router, meaning it can spontaneously offer Wireless-N signals in both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies. The DIR-825, however, comes with SharePort technology, which allows for turning the USB port of the router into a virtual-network USB port that supports external hard drives for NAS functionality and other USB devices, such as printers.

The new router also … Read more

I've never met a cell phone user who was completely happy with the quality of the service. It doesn't matter which carrier you have, once in a while, you'll won't be able to make calls, and will have lost connections or dropped calls. The new iPhone 3G has also been suffering from poor 3G signal reception that the latest firmware, 2.0.2, failed to fix.

However, maybe there's a solution for this after all. At least this is what Cell Ranger, a company that focuses on enhancing your wireless experience, would like you to … Read more

Most new TVs have three or four HDMI sockets these days. But what if yours has fewer than you need? That's not as uncommon as you might think, especially if you have an older TV or even something like the Hitachi ultra-thin screen we reviewed recently. With Blu-ray players, games consoles, satellite, and media streamers, it's not a stretch to believe some people might desperately need more HDMI inputs.

Happily, there are solutions for you, including this Lindy HDMI switch, with four HDMI inputs and one output. As it features what Lindy proclaims is a "high-quality Sony … Read more

ArchPort Shoes offers a hideaway wallet feature tucked into the sole of its "radically innovative" patented sandals and athletic shoes, with space for cell phones, GPS transceivers, wireless MP3 players, batteries, heaters, and other gadgets soon to follow.

Company founder Matt Potts came up with the idea back in 1989 while playing tennis. "It's just not comfortable to carry stuff in your pockets, especially a wallet," Potts told GPS Daily.

He filed for a patent issued in 2000 and has been improving on the design ever since.

A Maxwell Smart-style cell phone has proved elusive, … Read more

Using attacks similar to those used to break .Net PassPort, a group of students at the Ruhr Universitat Bochum in Germany claim to have stolen CardSpace's security tokens from a compromised machine. But Microsoft dismisses the attack, saying an attacker would need a user's help.

CardSpace is included within .NET Framework 3.0 and allows users to create personal information cards that are shared with participating Web sites for authentication. A user creates a CardSpace card for a site and the .NET software then obtains a digitally signed XML token from the site issuer. What the students in … Read more

What would go impractically well with a $350 Dunhill USB drive? A Swarovski-studded laptop bag, of course. Port Designs has made one to order in the name of "Paris," a crystal-trimmed case in a sleek black design for laptops up to 15.4 inches. It even has a matching heart charm, Chip Chick says, in case you don't have enough rhinestones in your life. As saddened as we are to see another Swarovski-infected product on the market, we're somewhat heartened that its designers exercised some restraint, unlike other items we've seen. One must take … Read more

RICHMOND, Calif.--Taking a cue from surveillance camera-laden London, this San Francisco Bay Area city is installing security camera systems for the police and at the port to reduce crime and protect against terrorism.

The systems are being built and maintained by ADT, known for its home burglar alarm systems, and use a high-speed wireless mesh network.

Clusters of video cameras transmit data to wireless radios, which then send it over a 1-gigabit back-haul feed to servers in the Port of Richmond's security office, and for the city to police headquarters and the dispatch center. Eventually, the video will … Read more