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February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
May 2, 2008
/ 27 Nissan 5768
Small improvements
By
Mark Kellner
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Not everything that you can add to a computer system, or to a personal
device such as a smartphone, is a "big" improvement. Sometimes, small
enhancements can make a big difference.
Take the Actionetec Wireless Broadband Router the folks at Verizon
gave me for the FiOS fiber-optic Internet service at "La Casa
Kellner." The router in and of itself isn't at all bad: it provides a
connection to the FiOS service, a direct connection to the router for
a desktop computer and up to three other devices, and a wireless
Internet signal for the rest of the house.
At least that's the theory: in practice, the Wi-Fi signal didn't reach
from the basement, where my office is, to the second-floor guest room
where my spousal unit (as the Census Bureau would call her) does her
thing. What to do?
My first try was an Apple Inc. wireless AirPort device that should
have grabbed the signal in an appropriate strength. Its performance
wasn't great, though I don't believe this was Apple's fault. In fact,
I can assert it wasn't because of the one thing I've tried: adding a
$150 ANTBOS-24-UN 500mW Booster Antenna from Luxul Corp. of North Salt
Lake City, Utah (www.luxul.net).
I was skeptical about the Luxul booster before I tried it: could
switching antennas on the router for one that has 500 milliwatts of
extra electrical power do the trick? Well, it seems it can, since I
now get a sufficient Wi-Fi signal in that same room. The firm also
makes a one-watt amplifier that I plan to test shortly, but this might
be more than we need.
Getting a Wi-Fi signal through the house is sometimes a challenge; the
previous users put their router on the first floor and the signal was
fine on all three levels. In my case, it's imperative that I have a
direct connection to the highest speed available at my desk, so the
location of my home office dictated placement.
The Luxul product seems a good one, and although the price may equal
that of some routers themselves, if you need the power, you'll find
this a good buy. The mail order firm of Tiger Direct
(www.tigerdirect.com) is the best current retail source for the Luxul
Wi-Fi line, although the firm is said to be working on other retail
options.
Another small improvement is also wireless related, this time for the
iPhone I'm privileged to use. Griffin Technology of Nashville, whose
accessories I've previously praised here, has come out with
"ClearBoost," a $29.95 antenna and case for the iPhone which claims to
boost signal strength.
The concept is simple: put the phone in the casing, which also helps
protect the device, and you're able to get better cell phone
reception. Griffin claims the copper-based antenna, which includes a
"stub" at the top of the case, is tuned to work best within the
824-894 MHz band that AT&T Wireless uses.
I "field tested" the ClearBoost recently on a trip which took me
through Denver and the state of Washington, specifically the
south-central city of Walla Wall, and College Place, a nearby suburb.
In those places, and on a Sunday afternoon drive south to Pendleton,
Oregon, I had excellent cellular reception and I can only credit the
Griffin product; similar trips in equally non-urban areas weren't as
pleasant. The ClearBoost gives an iPhone a real boost, and for not a
whole lot of money.
It's spring, so perhaps it's time to add memory to your computer. I
remain a fan of Nampa, Idaho-based Crucial Technology
(www.crucial.com), as one of the best suppliers of RAM, and now at
very reasonable prices. Adding more memory to most desktop and
notebook computers is an easy process, and the resulting performance
boost will make you wonder why you hadn't done it earlier.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
JWR contributor Mark Kellner has reported on technology for industry newspapers and magazines since 1983, and has been the computer columnist for The Washington Times since 1991.Comment by clicking here.
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© 2008, News World Communications, Inc. Reprinted with permission of The Washington Times. Visit the paper at http://www.washingtontimes.com
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