Tag Archives: 802.11ac

iFixit tears down 2013 MacBook Air, finds bigger battery and smaller SSD

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iFixit tears down 2013 MacBook Air, finds bigger battery and smaller SSD

iFixit has a tradition of tearing apart Apple gadgets (and many others) as soon as they're on sale, and it's maintaining that custom with a fresh peek at the 2013 edition of the 13-inch MacBook Air. This isn't a repeat of last year's by-the-book affair, however -- there's a few minor surprises in store. We now know that Apple is bolstering the efficiency of Intel's Haswell chips with a larger 7,150mAh battery pack, and that Broadcom makes the 802.11ac WiFi chip. The solid-state drive inside also represents a major rethink: while we've heard that Apple has switched the drive's interface from pokey SATA to PCI Express, we can see that the SSD itself has shrunk dramatically since 2012. iFixit is still down on the Air's repairability and scores it four out of ten, but those who've wanted to answer a few of Apple's more recent riddles will still want to check out the full examination at the source.

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Via: iFixit (Twitter), 9to5 Mac

Source: iFixit

ASUS launches dual-band router with combined 1900Mbit/s speeds

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ASUS launches the RTAC68U 80211ac router with AC1900 speeds

Some of ASUS' big Computex 2013 launches today involved the latest 802.11ac WiFi flavor, and since you'll need to feed them with a router packing the same tech, ASUS has also announced one of those: the RT-AC68U. The company claims it's the first dual-band 802.11ac router with AC1900 data rates up to 1900 Mbit/s, thanks to AiRadar beamforming, which helps bring a stronger connection and 150 percent better range, too (if accurate). You'll also be able to share files between ASUS routers with USB-attached drives thanks to a router-to-router sync mode, negating the need for a switched-on PC or other device. There's no word on pricing or availability, but the previous RT-AC66U flagship ran about $200 or so -- so we'd be surprised if it came in under that figure.

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Broadcom intros a trio of 802.11ac WiFi chips for PCs and set-top boxes

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Broadcom chipset

Broadcom has focused most of its 802.11ac WiFi efforts this year on high- and low-end mobile chips. Today, it's swinging that attention back to bigger machinery like PCs and set-top boxes. The company's new BCM4350, BCM43556 and BCM43558 all carry more robust, 2 X 2 MIMO antennas that help them hit 866Mbps speeds and optimize traffic through beamforming. Any differences, Broadcom notes, revolve around everything but the WiFi. The BCM4350 carries a more PC-like set of interfaces that includes Bluetooth 4.0, PCI Express and SDIO 3.0; the BCM43558 drops the PCIe and SDIO in favor of USB 3.0, while the BCM43556 also sheds Bluetooth. Although we don't know which companies plan to use the nimbler wireless technology, it should ship to gadget makers in the second half of this year.

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Source: Broadcom

Broadcom to bring 5G WiFi to the masses with entry-level combo chips

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Broadcom bringing 5G WiFi to the masses with entrylevel combo chips

As we've mentioned before, 5G WiFi, aka 802.11ac is a good thing, unless you hate speed and range. After launching its integrated BCM4335 chip on flagship handsets like Samsung's Galaxy S 4 and the HTC One, Broadcom has announced new 5G WiFi combo chips for lower-end smartphones, PCs, notebooks and tablets. Budget handheld devices can now be equipped with the BCM4339, which Broadcom says brings the same performance as its top-end mobile chip while integrating power and low-noise amplifiers for easier integration. Meanwhile, the BCM43162 is targeted at desktop and notebook PCs with direct support for the Microsoft's Windows OS. Customers are now sampling both chips, and Broadcom expects volume production in the second half of the year -- another possible reason to put off that notebook purchase a bit longer.

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Netgear 802.11ac update adds beamforming, delivers up to 60 percent faster WiFi

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Netgear 80211ac router update adds beamforming, hikes WiFi speeds by up to 60 percent

Although Netgear was one of the quickest out of the gates with 802.11ac WiFi hardware, that doesn't mean its hardware is the quickest today: without beamforming to optimize the signal, it risks trailing behind newcomers who've had more time to prepare. Starting with the R6300 router and A6200 USB adapter, the company will soon catch up through a firmware update that rolls in support for the beamforming standard. The upgrade targets wireless signals at devices' specific locations, offering a big speed boost at shorter distances -- Netgear estimates up to a 60 percent improvement at a 50-foot range. R6300 and A6200 owners can swing past the source links today for their tune-up, while those using Netgear's other 802.11ac devices should expect brisker speeds around the early summer.

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Source: Netgear (1), (2), (3)

Upcoming Macs may have 802.11ac WiFi, according to OS X Mountain Lion beta code

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Upcoming Macs likely to have 80211ac, according Mountain Lion beta code

Code in the latest 10.8.4 beta version of Mountain Lion discovered by a 9to5 Mac tipster shows OS X support for 802.11ac WiFi, meaning next-gen Macs might contain the tech. Also dubbed 5G, 802.11ac brings speeds as high as 1.3Gbps thanks to beamforming, while also offering more range and robustness compared to its 802.11n predecessor. To date we've seen oodles of routers packing the still-uncertified wireless format, but only a single notebook with the tech has passed through our doors -- the Asus G75VW gaming notebook. That might change with a reference to the standard in the "WiFi-frameworks" folder in Mountain Lion's latest beta, 10.8.4, which was recently sent to developers. Of course, until we see a real Cupertino product packing such a radio, it's just that -- code.

[Image credit: 9to5 Mac]

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Source: 9to5 Mac

Securfi Almond+ hands-on (video)

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Securfi Almond handson

Wireless routers aren't the sexiest of gadgets to come across on the CES showfloor, but Securifi's doing its best with the Almond+. The all-white router, an update to last year's OG Almond, still features a 2.8-inch touchscreen, but now supports the 802.11ac standard for high speeds over 5GHz, in addition to Zigbee and Z-Wave for home automated control. That latter bit is a recent addition to the Almond+'s UI interface, allowing users with compatible Zigbee or Z-Wave products to control lights around the house or even monitor and receive notifications (cloud-synced via a free iOS or Android app) when their door is being opened or closed. Around back the innocuously designed device sports one USB 2.0 and five for gigabit ethernet. At present, Securifi intends to launch the Almond+ on Kickstarter for $99 sometime within the next week, so look for it to debut there soon. While you wait, take a look out our gallery below, as well as video demo just after the break.

Gallery: Securifi Almond+ hands-on

Continue reading Securfi Almond+ hands-on (video)

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Qualcomm and Wilocity cram 802.11ac and 802.11ad into single tri-band design

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Qualcomm and Wilocity cram 80211ac and 80211ad into single triband design

Qualcomm and Wilocity are teaming up at CES to deliver what they claim is the world's first tri-band WiFi solution that combines 802.11ac and 802.11ad. The new QCA9006 line (available in two different formfactors) is a natural evolution of the AR9004TB chipset, which married 802.11n to the WiGig standard. The newest reference design uses 60GHz, 5GHz and 2.4GHz radios to achieve both high speeds and broad compatibility. Sadly, there's no immediate plans for such a cutting edge wireless chip to make its way into a shipping product. Though, CES is just getting started, so there's always a chance some other company could deliver us a pleasant surprise. Check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading Qualcomm and Wilocity cram 802.11ac and 802.11ad into single tri-band design

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Almond+ WiFi router coming to Kickstarter: touchscreen, 802.11ac, home automation

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Almond Kickstarter project

Securifi isn't your average Kickstarter outfit. It already has one Almond wireless touchscreen router under its belt, currently sold at Amazon, and now it's about to bid for crowdfunding to build a sequel: the Almond+. The new device will incorporate a 2.8-inch 320 x 240 touchscreen for PC-free setup, dual band 802.11ac for speeds of up to 1,167Mbps, plus an integrated Smart Home hub that works with the slightly esoteric Zigbee and Z-Wave protocols. In conjunction with the iOS and Android app, this would let you access regular home automation tasks from anywhere, including security alerts and heating and lighting control. We'll see more of it when the project launches at Kickstarter, at which point it'll have a $250,000 funding goal.

Continue reading Almond+ WiFi router coming to Kickstarter: touchscreen, 802.11ac, home automation

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Broadcom’s 5G WiFi chips power LG’s latest HDTVs

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LG's 65inch 4K display, eyeson

5G WiFi (better known to us as 802.11ac) makes Barry Allen look like a geriatric. Broadcom's been talking up the prowess of its 5G hardware for some time now, but the first chance we'll get to use it is inside LG's latest TVs. Open one up, and you'll find Broadcom's BCM43526 silicon, which promises to offer lag-free HD streaming from the internet or mobile device. The TVs will be making their way into stores across 2013, which'll be your first time to see if it works as well as promised.

Update: Broadcom has also let slip that it's licensing Intel's Wireless Display technology in its WLAN chipsets. Of course, now that Santa Clara has made the standard mandatory for its 2013-Ultrabook designs, hardly surprising,

Continue reading Broadcom's 5G WiFi chips power LG's latest HDTVs

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