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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
June 12, 2009
/ 20 Sivan 5769
Intriguing, frustrating new MiFi
By
Mark Kellner
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
A little more than five months ago, at the tail end of December 2008, the folks from
Novatel Wireless came by and demonstrated the MiFi 2200, a “personal” wireless
hotspot, one that promises to put the speed of the Internet in a transceiver the
size of a credit card, albeit with the thickness of several such cards.
The premise, as I wrote at the time (http://bit.ly/mrVSD), is an interesting one,
promising consistent Internet access without worrying whether or not you have a
Wi-Fi account at Starbucks or access at the public library.
Cordless, rechargeable, and super-portable, the MiFi, which Verizon Wireless is
reportedly offering in a GSM-based version and which Sprint Nextel has for its CDMA
network, is now seeing the light of day. I’ve finally had one to play with.
The device is advertised as offering connection speeds up to 54 megabits per second
(Mbps), but the reality seems to be rather different. In two separate tests
involving the Speedtest.net online site, I found download speeds at roughly 1.3
Mbps. Uploads were less consistent: 0.51 Mbps in one try, but less than half that,
or 0.24 Mbps, the next. Granted, those are in a range “up to” 54 Mbps, but are
so slow as to cause one’s head to shake in wonder.
These speeds likely will vary, of course, by location and the signal strength of the
Sprint network in a given place. But sometimes, they just vary: when I first loaded
some Web pages one afternoon, things dragged. Then, speeds picked up rather nicely:
the Department of Defense home page, which I’d not loaded on this computer before,
snapped to pixilated attention.
It’s a puzzlement, and one which might make some users shy away from the new
device. And, to be honest, this isn’t for the commitment-phobic. It’ll cost
you$149.99 to buy the MiFi, relabeled the “Sprint Mobile Hotspot,” after which
you can send in a coupon for a $50 rebate. The firm also requires a two-year service
commitment, at either $60 per month for data-only service, or $149.99 monthly for
what the firm calls a “Simply Everything Plan + Mobile Broadband,” offering
unlimited talk time on a phone and the data. (I’d imagine you have to buy the
phone separately.)
Either way, this isn’t bargain-basement wireless Internet, and, as I wrote before,
it’s likely to appeal most to those who have a business reason to write this off
on their taxes. However, the question of the moment is whether or not the MiFi would
draw raucous laughter or longing admiration from an IRS auditor based on its
performance and ease of use.
In terms of speed, as noted above, the performance can vary. Battery life, on this
rechargeable device, is rather impressive, however. At this writing, I’ve had it
up and running for about three hours without problem; it’s rated to provide four
hours of active use, and 40 hours of standby time. That would likely appeal to
riders on intercity trains and buses without Wi-Fi, for example.
And you can’t beat its tiny size: the thing is truly pocketable, or could be kept
in a purse or briefcase without much problem. If turned on, you’d be ready to roll
with a minimum of fuss.
Sprint also advertises that the MiFi 2200 can be shared by as many as five users,
making the monthly service cost a bit more manageable in many situations. It offers
64-bit WEP security, which means you can set a password to protect “your”
network. The Sprint version of the MiFi is also equipped with a GPS-enabling
feature, though, frankly, I’m not sure how I’d use that beyond the “novelty”
of being able to find gas stations or restaurants near my current location. But,
then, I can also do that with an iPhone, at least the restaurant part.
So that leaves us where we started, I guess: the MiFi 2200 is interesting, but it
requires a commitment to Sprint’s network, in whole or in part. Only you can
determine whether that commitment is worth it.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many 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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