Until recently the domain of coffee shops, wireless connections can now be found at the airport, in hotels, at the technical college, even at a West side hair salon.

"Sure, we have customers who bring in their laptops," said Yikes! Salon receptionist Kristin Lytie. "I think that with technology developing the way it is, it's inevitable. I think that ready access is part of everyday life."

Matt Miszewski, Wisconsin's chief information officer, said making Wi-Fi access a priority would build Wisconsin's reputation for technology savvy. Full Story...

A project to install wireless capabilities in all of the city’s public libraries is complete and sights are next set on providing wireless Internet access in the new public square later this year.

The public square will sit above a new underground parking garage serving the renovated courthouse and Mayor Bill Purcell’s offices downtown when it opens mid-2006.

Any patron with a valid library card can take advantage of the free Wi-Fi access, which allows patrons to connect to the Internet through wireless technology. However, even wireless access is not unrestricted.

Patrons tapping into the wireless network may view Web sites permissible according to Metro policies and staff networks are secure from wireless access, according to Carver. Full Story...
How to Buy an RV, Before you Buy it An RV Education 101 E-book By Mark Polk

Mayor Larry Morrissey logged onto a laptop computer Thursday in the main branch of the Rockford, IL Public Library, ushering in the library system’s new wireless “WiFi” Internet access program. For the layperson, this means you can walk into any of the six locations with a laptop computer or similar wireless Internet-driven device and be connected free of wire and free of charge.

The service, established by state-sanctioned Internet service provider Illinois Century Network, cost just over $16,000 to install in all branches.Full Story...

Get the RVer's Guide to Internet Access. An eBook that covers all the ways an RVer on the road can get internet access.

Free, high-speed wireless internet access is available now at the Bartlesville, OK Public Library. The new wireless network can be accessed by anyone with a laptop PC and a wi-fi card.

“We are excited to be able to offer this service,” said Joan Singleton, Library director. There are no time limits on use of the wireless network, though it is only available while the library is open.

“At some point in the future, we hope to expand the network into our parking lot,” says Singleton. “Then it would be available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.” Full Story...

The dual-function Linksys WUSBF54G combines a wireless network scanner with a Wireless-G USB adapter. Just push a button on the easy-to-use Wi-Fi finder to begin the Wi-Fi network search. After several seconds, pertinent information will pop up on the small screen. Full Story...

Grocery chain Stop & Shop to roll out free wi-fi service to its customers.

The first location to offer wi-fi services will be at the company’s South Bay Plaza location in Dorchester. Additional installations are expected to follow throughout 2006. The chain has more than 360 stores throughout New England, New York and New Jersey.

Hughes Network Systems announced that the number of DIRECWAY(R) small business and residential
subscribers passed the 275,000 mark during the month of December, solidifying
2005 as a record year for new subscriptions.

The DIRECWAY service is a two-way broadband satellite Internet solution
that is available anywhere in the contiguous United States with a clear view
of the southern sky.

In 2005, HNS experienced 24% growth in its subscriber base. Customer
satisfaction rates have improved significantly, resulting in a lower churn
rate in 2005 compared to 2004.

HNS attributes its continued success in obtaining new subscribers to the
launch of new service plans in September, with an increased number of
subscribers opting for premium service plans.

"These new service plans were key to maintaining momentum in acquiring new
subscribers, as well as expanding the competitiveness of the HNS service
offering in all areas," said Mike Cook, senior vice president at HNS.

New service plans are powered by technology advancements
in its latest DW7000 modem, and include an expanded range of price and
performance options.

Some security researchers are advising Windows users to rush to install an unofficial patch to fix a vulnerability in the way the OS renders graphics files, but Microsoft wants customers to wait another week for its official security update, it announced Tuesday.

The problem is in the way various versions of Windows handle graphics in the WMF (Windows Metafile) format. When a vulnerable computer opens a maliciously crafted WMF file, it can be forced to execute arbitrary code. Microsoft published a first security advisory on December 28, saying it had received notification of the problem on December 27 and was investigating whether a patch was necessary.

On Tuesday, Microsoft updated the advisory to say it has completed development of its own patch, and is now testing it for release next week.

The number of users potentially at risk is high, with all versions of Windows exhibiting the vulnerability, but the number actually affected so far is relatively low, researchers say. Full Story...

Do you think you’ll stick with your current Internet service provider for a lifetime? Probably not. Better deals on price or speed or customer service are sure to come along, and you might want to switch.

On the other hand, you might like to keep your e-mail address for a lifetime, or at least a very long time. Switching addresses — remembering all those friends, family, colleagues, newsletters, online stores, online banks, and other places that will need your new address — is a big pain.

And that’s why your e-mail address shouldn’t be tied to your Internet service provider (ISP). For example, you shouldn’t use an “aol.com” address just because you connect to the Internet using AOL as your ISP, “msn.com” just because you connect using MSN, or “comcast.net” because you connect through your Comcast cable. Full Story...