reception

The problem is a simple one to encounter. You should have Wi-Fi but for some reason the reception just isn't there. That's exactly what struck OS X Daily, just after it got a new iPad from Apple.

And the guys from OS X Daily are not alone. Threads on support sites including the Apple Support Communities report the same issue, where Wi-Fi is not able to connect during setup. If your experience is similar to either case, there are quite a few trick to try before demanding a refund or writing Tim Cook.

The solution, according to OS … Read more

After such a thrilling end to the Super Bowl, it's no surprise that a record number of sports fans e-mailed, text messaged, and called each other during the big game.

And the carriers weathered the surge in traffic despite a jump in usage. The wireless carriers may not always have the best record at big confabs--many fared poorly at the Consumer Electronic Show--but they stepped it up for the Super Bowl.

Ensuring adequate wireless coverage is crucial because the high-profile event garners so much scrutiny and attention. For Verizon Wireless, which is the official NFL wireless sponsor, the … Read more

The iPhone 4S on Verizon offered a good balance between call quality and data speeds during travels in California.

Question: Which is more important, call quality or data speeds? Let me state my bias up front: The Web running on 3G is really important to me. On any device. Whether it's a MacBook connected to a MiFi hot spot, a 3G iPad 2, or an iPhone. That said, is it important enough to justify sacrificing voice call quality?

This week I spent a lot of my time obsessing about the Web performance of my new Verizon iPhone 4S during … Read more

If you think the search for the perfect cell phone is baffling and never ending, just try searching for the best cell phone carrier. Though your handset stays the same as you move from around the country, the quality of a carrier's network can change completely just by crossing the street.

That's why CNET doesn't rate carrier coverage. To do so fairly and accurately we'd have to make calls in almost every corner of America. But that doesn't mean we're not dedicated to helping our readers evaluate carriers and choosing the best network for … Read more

More than three years after it first came on the market, Apple's iPhone is still one of the hottest smartphones out there. But new hardware designs and the unending software upgrades to the iPhone's operating system, have left some iPhone subscribers scratching their heads.

In this week's Ask Maggie column I help explain to one reader why his data usage has doubled since upgrading from his iPhone 3G to the iPhone 4. I also answer questions about iPhone reception issues. Is the SIM card to blame? What about a software update?

To find out the answers, read … Read more

As most people in the known universe are aware, Apple recently announced plans to give a free case to any iPhone 4 user who requests one (and to refund the purchase price to those who already bought one--a process that is apparently now under way).

What we didn't know until today was how Apple planned to handle the giveaway. Would you have to fight traffic on a special Web page? Bring your iPhone to an Apple Store? Chant "antennagate" 10 times while standing inside a pentagram?

Turns out Apple went the app route: the iPhone 4 Case Program … Read more

So many harsh words have been thrown around to describe the iPhone 4's antenna problems. Crisis! Disaster! Antennagate! But let's not overstate the issue: the iPhone has a boo-boo, and as every parent knows, nothing fixes a boo-boo like a Band-Aid.

Or, in this case, an Antenn-Aid. That's the name given to a six-pack of familiar-looking adhesive strips designed to cover the tiny gap that's causing so much trouble.

In other words, yeah, they're Band-Aids for your iPhone.

Cute? Yes. Clever? Definitely. Effective? Though "intended for entertainment purposes only," there's every reason … Read more

Jeff looks a little different on this morning's episode of The 404 podcast, doesn't he? Initial reports tell us that the half-moon forming on Jeff's face is actually a smile, which probably has to do with Ilya Kovalchuk staying with the New Jersey Devils this season.

The LA Kings, New York Islanders, the NJ Devils, and a random team in Russia all grabbed for Kovalchuk when he became a free agent on July 1, but only the Devils were able to secure the hockey star for a reported 100 million bucks over the next 17 years, which … Read more

Wilson kicks of this morning's episode of The 404 Podcast with a glowing review of Chris Nolan's newest movie, "Inception." After watching an advanced IMAX screening last night, Wilson has several tips that'll make the experience even better, and don't worry folks--it's all SPOILER FREE! You have our guarantee that nothing of importance will come out of Wilson's mouth in this episode.

Wilson attests that "Inception" is certainly a cerebral film, but not one that leaves the audience feeling confused or asking a bunch of questions, like "Synecdoche." … Read more