LG M13 LTE modem hands-on

We've just busted through LG's glass wall that protected its M13 LTE modem, but alas we're still no closer to deciphering how good or portable this little 4G connect-a-gadget is. The first thing to note is that although it looks like a big stand with an embedded LG mobile handset, that's all for looks and in fact it's just a big chunky modem -- make of that "styling" what you will. Gallery below gives you some closer shots of the device, which was a plastic prototype glued to the table, as well as LG's Vd13 USB dongle. Go enjoy!

iPhone Modem Tethers Jailbroken iPhones

Jailbroken iPhones only: New iPhone 2.1 jailbreak app, iPhone Modem, promises to tether your iPhone to your laptop or computer so you can get online anywhere. iPhone Modem is available to install via the Cydia installer on jailbroken iPhones. In the hopes that the 2.1 software update would make it behave, I un-jailbroke my iPhone (re-jailed it?), so I have not tried iPhone Modem myself, but commenters at Gizmodo confirm it does work. If you missed out on Netshare and want to try out tethering with iPhone Modem, here's how to jailbreak your iPhone 2.0 with PwnageTool or QuickPwn. If you make the leap, let us know how it goes in the comments. (Of course, if you're already jailbroken you can just tether your phone using OpenSSH.)

iPhone Modem App Promises 10 Second iPhone Tethering [Gizmodo]

.

McDonald's Offering Free Wi-Fi Starting in January

McDonald's doesn't want you to just grab your grease bombs and go—they want you to stick around, have a coffee drink, and surf the web from your laptop or smartphone. That's why they're offering up free Wi-Fi, which previously cost $2.95 for two hours, at 11,000 of its 14,000 U.S. locations, starting in mid-January. The service comes through AT&T, and looks to be an escalation of the iconic burger chain's attempt to lure some latte-and-laptops business away from Starbucks. That said, the messy use of both fries and keyboards will likely remain a challenge. [WSJ.com via Mashable]

Send an email to Kevin Purdy, the author of this post, at kevin@lifehacker.com

Google Offers Free Wi-Fi at Airports During the Holidays

Delayed flights and hold-overs won't tempt you with $10-a-day Wi-Fi this holiday season. That's because Google has bought out web service at 47 airports through Jan. 15, 2010, and offers it free, assuming you don't mind a little soft advertising.

As with Google's free Wi-Fi offering on Virgin America flights, those who log in through Google's Wi-Fi largess will likely get a few prompts to change their home page to Google or try out Google Chrome. There will also be chances to donate to Engineers Without Borders, the One Economy Corporation, or the Climate Savers Computing Initiative. Other than that, it's free Wi-Fi for laptops and mobile devices, offered through providers like Boingo, Advanced Wireless, and the other usual suspects.

Hit the link to see if your city's on the list. If it's not, there's a good chance your Wi-Fi could be picked up by Microsoft's Bing search engine, which foots the bill if you perform one search on Bing.

Free WiFi - A 2009-2010 Holiday Gift from Google [via Gizmodo]

improve 3G Modem Reception with a Kitchen Pot

It would only make sense, after seeing what a kitchen strainer and aluminum foil can do, that a metal kitchen pot would provide a significant signal boost for a mobile broadband modem, or "dongle." The homemade video evidence tells all.

The video is edited in a rather stuttered style for reasons unknown, but the segments where a USB broadband modem is placed into, and pulled out of, a large saucepan, with a signal strength meter running, seem to be fairly steady. A YouTube commenter suggests a more parabolic shape, like a wok, might do even better in capturing and honing the broadband signal.

If you're ever stuck at a friend's house with weak mobile broadband reception, it might pay off to dig into their cookware. At the least, it's an instant conversation starter.

The Best (and Funniest) 3G Mobile Broadband Signal Booster [The Mobile Broadband Blog via Slashdot]

D-Link unveils DIR-412 3.5G Wireless Router

Anyone who deals with networking and wireless products would definitely have chanced upon the name D-Link, and recently D-Link Middle East has a new wireless router for the masses – the DIR-412 3.5G Wireless Router. For those who are in the market for a new wireless router, why not consider the D-Link brand if you’ve been using other names so far? That is, assuming you are having problems with the other marques, of course, otherwise there is no need to reinvent the wheel in such a case. The DIR-412 comes across as a diminutive 3.5G router which enables users to share a 3.5G Internet connection via a secure, high-speed wireless network whenever one hooks up a 3.5G USB adapter to it. This ought to get those frequent travelers sitting upright at such news, since it offers unprecedented connectivity options regardless of where you go – just make sure your 3.5G data-enabled account has unlimited data and the cheapest roaming charges around beforehand.

The DIR-412 comes with integrated Wireless N 150 technology, boasting increased speed and range while enabling one to hook to a DSL/cable modem in order for it to function as a primary or backup link. Apart from that, the DIR-412 also supports WAN failover to ensure uninterrupted connection by connecting users to a 3.5G network automatically in the event where the WAN connection is lost or dropped.

According to Harrison Albert, Regional Sales Director at D-Link Middle East, “The DIR-412 is excellent for situations where conventional forms of network access are less than convenient. With the transition to wireless, this device provides users with an affordable 3.5G option that is also highly dependable.”

Security-wise, you need not fret too much as the DIR-412 boasts advanced network security with WPA/WPA2 encryption, while offering flexible coverage with multiple frequency support. Setting up the device in terms of security is but a simple affair, where all you need to do is press the WPS button which is located conveniently above the router to get seucrity up and running. In addition, D-Link has thrown in dual-active firewalls (SPI and NAT) to prevent potential attacks and intrusions from across the Internet in the DIR-412. Sounds like a dream device, eh?

Sprint 4G/3G Routers Support Up to 32 Simultaneous Wi-Fi Connections

While Sprint takes its time unrolling its 4G data network, they'd like the public to know that some cool tech will be ready to exploit the system's speed. Two newly announced routers bridge 4G data to Wi-Fi.

We've already had great experiences with the systems like Sprint's Novatel Wireless MiFi 2200. But up next?

The Sprint Personal Hotspot PHS300S and the Cradlepoint MBR-1000 Broadband Router are both essentially Wi-Fi routers that accept both 3G and 4G USB wireless dongles. Plug the dongle into the router and you have a Wi-Fi network that runs without a hard line.

The Sprint Personal Hotspot PHS300S ($160) will support up to four simultaneous Wi-Fi connections while the Cradelpoint model ($250), aimed at business users, will handle up to 32 simultaneous Wi-Fi connections. Both models are available now(ish) at select Sprint stores and through their website.

Sprint adds 4G to Mobile Broadband Router Portfolio as it Prepares to Launch 4G in More Markets

Any Wi-Fi-enabled device becomes a 4G device with new Sprint 4G Mobile Broadband Routers

Users can create Wi-Fi hotspots by connecting multiple Wi-Fi devices, such as smartphones, laptops and cameras to Sprint 3G/4G networks

Overland Park, Kan. – August 5, 2009 –The search for the elusive Wi-Fi hotspot is a thing of the past for Sprint mobile broadband customers. Instead of hunting for a coffee shop or other fixed hotspot, Sprint's new Mobile Broadband Router products connect multiple Wi-Fi-enabled devices at 3G or 4G mobile broadband speeds where Sprint 3G and 4G networks are available.

On the heels of launching the Novatel Wireless MiFi 2200 intelligent mobile hotspot – which allows customers to simultaneously bridge several Wi-Fi devices to America's most dependable 3G network1 – Sprint now adds two 3G/4G Mobile Broadband Routers to its mobile broadband arsenal: Sprint Personal Hotspot PHS300S and Cradlepoint MBR-1000 Broadband Router for business, each featuring both 3G and 4G connectivity. These devices are available for use with any Sprint 3G or 4G data plan ranging from $39.99 to $79.99 per month (excluding taxes and surcharges).

Used in combination with Sprint mobile broadband devices, like the 3G/4G USB Modem U300, these Mobile Broadband Routers can simultaneously connect Wi-Fi-enabled smartphones, laptops, MP3 players, cameras, gaming devices and other Wi-Fi-enabled devices to the Sprint 3G and 4G networks. Used with a broadband device, The routers provide access to the turbo-charged Sprint 4G network as it continues to roll out and access to America's most dependable 3G network virtually everywhere else. Users can enjoy secure, high-speed connections from virtually any location, whether on a family outing at the beach or doing business at a remote job site.

Sprint Personal Hotspot PHS300S supports up to four simultaneous Wi-Fi connections and Cradlepoint MBR-1000 Broadband Router for business supports up to 32 simultaneous Wi-Fi connections. Both routers will support all of Sprint 3G and Sprint 4G mobile broadband USB devices.
"These mobile broadband routers provide an unprecedented bridge to high-speed network performance for multiple Wi-Fi devices or multiple users," said Todd Rowley, vice president, Sprint 4G. "The addition of these mobile hotspot products offers even faster connectivity speeds to Wi-Fi users without the need to find a Wi-Fi hotspot. These two new products can potentially connect the Sprint 3G and 4G networks to the hundreds of millions of Wi-Fi-enabled devices in the U.S. today."

The ability of these Mobile Broadband Routers to be used with both 3G and 4G networks will offer added advantages for a growing number of Wi-Fi users across the country. The Sprint Now Network already features 3G speeds that are faster in more places than the AT&T network.2 As the turbo-charged Sprint 4G network continues to roll out in markets across the country, customers will be able to further optimize the performance of their Wi-Fi devices, using them to connect them with the industry's fastest available network speeds.

Sprint Personal Hot Spot PHS300S is priced at $159.99 and available in select Sprint retail stores within Sprint 4G markets, telesales, business sales and at www.sprint.com. Cradlepoint MBR1000 broadband router is priced at $249.99 and is available via business sales, telesales and online at www.sprint.com (all prices exclude taxes).

The first and only national carrier to offer 4G wireless services, Sprint currently offers 4G in Baltimore and will launch 4G in Portland, Atlanta and Las Vegas in August. Sprint 4G provides average downlink speeds of 3-6 Mbps and peak downlink speeds of over 10 Mbps, three to five times faster than today's 3G service from any carrier (based on average download speeds).

The following markets are included on the list to experience Sprint 4G in 2009: Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Portland and Seattle. Also available for customers nationwide is the Sprint 3G/4G USB Modem U300, which provides the best of both worlds - the fast 3G speeds and lightning-fast 4G speeds wherever 4G is available.

For additional information on Sprint 4G mobile broadband products and plans, visit www.sprint.com/4G.