All stories about "Wifi"

As we mentioned last summer, Paris provides free Wi-Fi access from more than 260 public parks, gardens, and monuments. A beautiful idea, but those of us with real work to do need a table and a beer. Helping us out are a number of cafés and bistros that serve free Wi-Fi along with their liquid offerings. And profiling these joints is a nifty little website that rounds up more than 140 hotspots in Paris and plots them on an easy-to-use map. Cafés Wifi selects their monthly favorites -- those cafés that provide a free, fast, and always working connection, along with pleasant working atmosphere -- and reports on the price, the clientele, and the number of electrical outlets. It's a freelancer's wet dream. This very article, including the photo, was posted from #4, la Fée Verte.

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Everyone wants to talk about the new JetBlue terminal at JFK, even us. But I think there's a matter at hand more important than a lot of bathrooms and a food court; we need to talk about wifi. Wireless internet access is on the list of goodies due to passengers flying the big blue, a revelation considering that currently, apart from Terminal 6, JFK (ostensibly the top international air passenger gateway to the United States) does not offer net access. This is remarkable to me, not only because of the size and importance of JFK, but the difference net access can play in making travel infinitely more bearable.

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Both Southwest Airlines and American Airlines are the latest to join the inflight wifi scramble. Southwest will begin testing satellite-delivered wifi on four planes this summer; American will begin installing air-to-ground broadband antennae on all 15 of its Boeing 767 aircraft. Both flavors claim to offer full net connections with the exception of VoIP calling. [via]

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Onboard wifi is all the rage with the airliners, but at least one craft, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, is experiencing some unforeseen glitches: a vulnerability to hacking the plane's controls. In a recent report, the FAA discovered that intentionally or not, passengers would be able to access the plane's controls, communication, and navigation systems through the onboard wifi network and has ordered the company to fix the problem before shipping planes out this November. [Wired]

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San Francisco's much-ballyhooed citywide free wifi initiative collapsed last September after the primary sponsors, Earthlink and Google, couldn't make it work. Now new startup Meraki Networks (which has Google as an investor) is stepping up to the plate, trying to circumvent bureaucratic installation headaches by giving away free wifi radio repeaters to residents willing to mount them in their homes. Supposedly this method will mean a total cost of only a "few million dollars" rather than the $14-$17 million of the first plan. So far, Meraki has given away 500 repeaters sufficient to provide wifi for about 40,000 users. [AP]

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This summer saw the launch of DC2NY, an inexpensive bus route between New York and DC that serves as a somewhat nicer version of the traditional Chinatown bus-bound hell trips. Tickets are indeed cheap, running about $40 round-trip for now, rising to about $50 later. The key difference between this route and its predecessors is the free wifi net access on the bus. Of course, it's not strictly guaranteed because of potential "connection issues," and there are no power outlets for customers use; a spare battery is recommended. Not a bad deal regardless.

DC2NY [Official site]

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Despite there being 249 Starbucks within 10 miles of downtown Washington, DC, independent coffee shops thrive in the capital. This is in large part because of the city's substantial population of two groups who subsist on a caffeine-fueled lifestyle of sitting around and bitching: liberals and Europeans. In addition to great coffee, most of DC's independent coffee shops offer free Wifi access, food selections that transcend muffins and pre-made sandwiches, and an environment without tourists in "You don't know me: I'm in the Federal Witness Protection Program" t-shirts. And some of these establishments sell booze too, so you can save your flask for when you really need it--like when you're on the Metro, sitting next to a family of seven from Des Moines arguing about where to go for dinner: the ESPN Zone, or Hard Rock Cafe.
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The Inner Sunset is a chill neighborhood, with more blue-collars and students than scenesters and yuppies. There are some slick spots, but low-price spots are this hood's heart and soul. When I lived there for three months, my favorite places were these casual hangouts.

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The Hollywood coffee shop is a phenomenon unto itself, a home away from home where the city's legions of aspiring screenwriters can spend their parents' money on designer caffeine and turn a solitary activity into a pleasurable social occasion. But is the smooth, designer affect of Starbucks, or even Coffee Bean, enough to nurture the creative soul? We think not. So try out one of the area's indie coffee shops, where the couches are comfy, the messenger bags are plentiful, and the only real problem is there are never enough electrical outlets to go around.

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Aiming for a 2008 rollout, Virgin America will be the first airline to have standard wifi Internet access available for passengers on all flights. VA will be using AirCell for the service, the same provider who's building similar wifi capability into American Airlines' planes -- but the AA version will only be for select flights. On Virgin, passengers can access the wifi either via their own laptops or devices, or via Virgin's "Red" inflight entertainment system. (Incidentally, Red will supposedly provide some kind of inflight social chat network application for passengers -- ZOMG RBRANSON IS TEH HAWT!) No word yet on how much the wifi connection will cost; I'm going to prognosticate something like $10 for an hour, with maybe a $0.25 per minute. Unlikely that you'll be able to watch net porn or play Flight Simulator.

Virgin America and AirCell Partner to Launch Inflight Broadband Connectivity Service Over U.S. [via Boing Boing Gadgets]

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Can someone please explain why the Pittsburgh International Airport is progressive enough to offer free wifi, while other larger airports still charge for the privilege? Just kidding. I know why! It's the same reason Starbucks will still charge you for their wifi while other small-time indie coffee shops it for free: because they can. The first major airport to offer free wifi in 2003 (albeit only in the food court), PIA announced today that it was expanding coverage to the Landside and Airside terminals and has upgraded bandwidth as well. Meanwhile, places like JFK are still charging you upwards of $7 a day (the JetBlue terminal excepted) for checking your email while waiting for your inevitably delayed flight. Now, lord knows we'd never wish you delayed in Pittsburgh, but if you end up there by some human or divine error, at least you can distract yourself with Cute Overload.

Pittsburgh International Airport [Official site]

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Though Mayor Gavin Newsom promised free wifi for all of San Francisco over two years ago, the venture remains a distant reality for residents there. Earthlink, the ISP that signed on to build the network, backed out of the agreement last week citing job cuts and general restructuring. They also recently fired the exec in charge of "Earthlink's Municipal Networks", a further sign that of their diminishing commitment to free broadband projects. Though the deal wasn't officially approved yet, the contract stipulated that Earthlink pay the city $2 million, meaning the city is out both broadband coverage and a small chunk of change. The question of free wifi will come before voters in November, but until then, the kiddies will have to get their free fix at the city's coffee shops, hotel lobbies, and hip bars.

Free San Francisco Wi-Fi project dies [CNET]
S.F. citywide Wi-Fi plan fizzles as provider backs off [SFC]

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Wifi cafes are for boring yuppies. You're young and hip (right? right?), so when you're online with your laptop, you don't sip a latte, you drink booze! These wifi-enabled bars will help you do so, whether you like to mix your wireless Internet with wine, beer, cocktails, or even sake. And yes, most of them have coffee too, if you need a pick-me-up slightly cheaper than coke. At all the venues here, wireless is free; to charge for wifi is akin to installing pay toilets.

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I only went to Café Comercial because the word was that all sorts of literary and visual artists go there. The large glass window walls make the place ideal to sit, and stare, and sit and stare, and write (maybe) and sit and stare. Located in Glorieta de Bilbao 7 -- right by metro Bilbao in the city center -- the Café opened in the 1880s, so it could safely be recognized as the oldest in the city.

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Today's traveler isn't allowed the luxury of pushing beyond the borders of the known and returning, years later, with fantastic tales of exotic lands peopled by strange tribes. Even the summit of Mt. Everest has a cell tower, and now the intrepid adventurer is expected to blog about the day's doings before turning in for the night at base camp. So if you're someone who grows feverish and sweaty without an IP address and suffers seizures when forced to go for days without email, regain your senses at one of these cozy joints offering caffeine and free wireless access in Berlin.

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Our San Fran sibling site Valleywag put together a guide to Palo Alto's most alluring venues for enjoying free wifi access while imbibing your favorite beverage and peeping at Silicon Valley pros. As a supplement, here's a map of those establishments, plus a few extra details to help you choose your wireless roost for the day.

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The city of Paris is going wireless with Paris Wi-Fi, offering free Internet access in 260 public spaces, including parks, gardens, city halls, libraries, and museums. Starting July 15, dozens of city locations will provide le wi-fi (pronounced "wee-fee") from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., according to the opening hours of individual sites. More locations will open up in September. Here are a few key locations around Paris for outdoor surfing in decent weather. A full list can be found here.

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