Tag: wi-fi

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Mobile Syrup

Google walks back decision to axe Wi-Fi sharing via QR screenshot

Back when Google released its March Feature Drop, one of the less publicised changes was to Android 13’s Wi-Fi sharing behaviour.

The over-the-air update made it so that taking a screenshot of a Wi-Fi QR code would result in a blank screen. This change made it more difficult to share the code with friends and family.

It has now come to light that the latest Android 13 QPR3 Beta 3 update has reverted back this behaviour. As pointed out by Mishaal Rahman on Twitter, it’s possible to screenshot and send off QR codes again in the latest beta built.

The change will likely be rolled into the upcoming Android 14 Beta 2 build as well, according to Rahman. Unless Google changes its mind again, it looks like we can expect the return of the functionality in only a matter of weeks.

The stable release of QPR3 is expected to hit Pixel phones sometime in June. It will serve as the final Feature Drop before the launch of Android 14.

Source: @MishaalRahman

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Apple could replace Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular modem with in-house chips in 2025

Apple has long been working to replace components in its devices with its own chips, most notably aiming to replace the Qualcomm 5G modem with its own modem. According to new details published by Bloomberg‘s reliable Mark Gurman, Apple could drop a key Broadcom component in 2025, while its modem chip could be ready for late 2024 or early 2025.

Gurman cites people familiar with the situation who asked not to be identified because the plans are private. The Broadcom component in question handles Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on Apple devices. Apple has started developing its in-house replacement and aims to use it in devices in 2025. Moreover, Apple is reportedly working on a follow-up chip that would combine Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular modem capabilities into a single component.

Apple is Broadcom’s largest customer and accounted for roughly 20 percent of the company’s revenue in the last fiscal year, Gurman reported.

Meanwhile, Apple’s work on a cellular modem has been moving along slowly. Rumours have swirled for years about Apple’s plan to replace Qualcomm chips in the iPhone with an in-house modem chip, and the company supposedly planned to make the transition this year. However, Apple reportedly delayed the switch after encountering issues with overheating, battery life, and more.

Gurman reports that Qualcomm received 22 percent of its annual sales from Apple.

If these details are accurate, it sounds like the 2025 iPhone could offer some significant changes in the wireless connectivity department. However, given Apple’s troubles with the in-house modem chip so far, it’s possible that other delays could push back the company’s plans. It also remains to be seen what, if any, benefit Apple’s in-house chips would bring. If Apple fails to make its chips at least as good as the components from Broadcom and Qualcomm, it could make the iPhone less compelling compared to other phones.

Source: Bloomberg

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Samsung test uses mmWave 5G to boost Wi-Fi speeds on Seoul subway

Samsung has announced that it successfully tested a way to improve Wi-Fi service on fast-moving subway trains using 5G mmWave for backhaul.

The company ran a trial in South Korea, demonstrated that 5G could help significantly boost legacy Wi-Fi service in crowded, public settings. According to a press release from Samsung, the test saw Wi-Fi downlink speeds of 1.8Gbps using a Galaxy S21 Ultra on a moving subway train, an impressive 25 times faster than the current average of 71Mbps.

Samsung used its ‘Compact Macro‘ hardware to help boost Wi-Fi speeds using the ultra-high capacity of 5G mmWave. The test covered five stations on the subway line through downtown Seoul. It also used 800Mhz of the 28GHz spectrum band.

As a quick refresher, spectrum refers to radio wave frequencies used by cellular networks to transmit data to and from mobile devices. With 5G, mmWave represents high-capacity but low-range spectrum — you can read more about the differences between mmWave and Sub-6 5G here.

While Samsung’s test is certainly impressive, it could be a long time before we see anything like that here in Canada. First, Canadian carriers have only just gained access to some Sub-6 5G spectrum and it’ll be a while before Canadians start getting access to it — mmWave remains even further away.

And if that wasn’t enough, the Big Three still refuse to offer service in Toronto’s TTC subway lines because the city contracted BAI Canada to manage connectivity. Along with free Wi-Fi through TConnect, BAI worked with Shaw’s Freedom Mobile to bring service to customers on the TTC, while Rogers, Bell and Telus previously indicated they’d rather install their own systems than use BAI’s.

BAI could install the Samsung hardware itself, but since it leverages 5G backhaul to boost speeds, the company would likely need a 5G-capable carrier partner too.

Source: Samsung

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Uncategorized

Can cellphones and Wi-Fi make people sick?

With so many wireless and cellular products on the market these days, sufferers of Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS) – an allergic reaction caused by exposure to electromagnetic fields caused by cellphones and other electronic devices – fight the symptoms of a condition that few doctors even recognize, reports the BBC.

"My face turns red, I get a headache, my vision changes, and it hurts to think. Last time [I was exposed], I started getting chest pains – and to me that’s becoming life-threatening," explained Diane Schou, one of the estimated five percent of Americans who suffer from EHS.

Despite the severity of the symptoms, EHS is not recognized by the World Health Organization, which pointed out in a statement that it "has no clear diagnostic criteria and there is no scientific basis to link EHS symptoms to [electromagnetic field] exposure. Further, EHS is not a medical diagnosis, nor is it clear that it represents a single medical problem."

 

Photo credit: Ambro/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Categories
Nouvelles quotidiennes

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport now offers free wi-fi

Want to get caught up on e-mails or surf the Internet while waiting in the airport? As of this month, Montreal’s Pierre Elliot Trudeau Airport offers free wireless signal for all airport computer users.

Throughout the terminal, whether in a public area or restricted areas (international zone, cross-border or domestic), travellers can now access a free wi-fi signal, allowing them to connect to the Web using a computer or portable device.

The network is called AERO wireless broadband and to use it, travellers can just open their browser and accept the terms and conditions that are automatically displayed on the screen.

Although this new service is available across the terminal all day, each session is limited to 60 minutes. After this time period, it will automatically disconnect, at which time the user can reconnect. In that way, it’s hoped to help reduce the use of bandwidth for downloading large files.

 

 

Categories
Nouvelles quotidiennes

VIA Rail to improve free wi-fi service

VIA Rail passengers along the Ontario-Quebec corridor will soon be able to enjoy enhanced, reliable internet service during their journey, thanks to a five year $6.3 million contract awarded to Nomad Digital to design, install, operate, and maintain the wi-fi service for VIA Rail.

The Government of Canada has provided capital funding for the project, including $3 million from its Economic Action Plan.

"Reliable mobile internet access has become an essential part of daily life for many Canadians, especially for business travellers," said Canada’s Minister of State for Transport, the Honourable Rob Merrifield.

Higher internet speeds and consistent connection will allow passengers not only to get work done, but to enjoy online movies and television shows for the duration of their trip as well.

VIA will use the enhanced infrastructure to add more services for customers (such as on-board entertainment), as well as internal connections for train personnel.

Nomad’s wireless technology has been subject to extensive testing since spring 2010, and installation and enhancement will continue through 2011.