Yesterday, Microsoft announced that new updates for their Surface tablet devices were being pushed. The updates being pushed include Wi-Fi connectivity improvements, a new Surface USB to Ethernet adapter driver, a collection of improvements for both the Touch and Type Covers, an updated LifeCam driver, and new device firmware. Microsoft has been hard at work trying to create the best...
Boingo is a Wi-Fi service that has over 600,000 commercial hotspots around the globe. If you are a Boingo subscriber, the company has recently released a hotspot finder for your Windows 8 device. From Windows 8 laptops to tablets, the Boingo Wi-Finder app will help you find the closest Boingo hotspot in your area. The Boingo Wi-Finder can be set to alert users when they near Boingo...
It’s Patch Tuesday, Microsoft’s semi-regular time to push out OS and software updates to our computers. Today is no different, and if you’re on Windows 8 you’ll get at least 13 important updates (83MB) and if you’re on Surface, you’re looking at 14 patches (38-118MB) and a firmware update. (Some of that will vary for you as different Office 2010 and Office 2013 updates are included.) So...
Microsoft has released a firmware update for the Surface RT tablets. The update addresses "limited Wi-Fi connection issues and contains driver updates to improve performance with Windows as well as the volume and power buttons". If you don't receive an update notification, you can manually check for the updates by: Swiping in from the right edge of the screen to open Settings...
The ability to keep Wi-Fi on while the display is off is a Windows Phone OS update not limited to HTC. With China just launching the Nokia Lumia 920T, information is slowly leaking out about some of the differences between it and the current versions of the flagship phone already on the market. In images posted on the site WPXAP, we can confirm the existence of two added features that...
The HTC 8S finally allows Wi-Fi to stay on with the display off, making it the first Windows Phone device to offer this much vaunted feature. We've noticed something pretty awesome on our HTC 8S (review coming shortly, folks), something that many have been calling out for from Microsoft since Windows Phone launched back in 2010. In the Windows Phone 8 build that's loaded on the HTC 8S,...
por·ti·co (pawr-ti-koh, pohr-) n. An elaborate or at least covered porch area adjacent to a main entrance, generally in a classical building. The portico functions as a means to protect visitors from the elements as well as emphasizing the taste and wealth of the owner. Even though Windows Phone 8 has just launched across the world, information on the first OS update was revealed...
We’re not one to delve too deep into the various Wi-Fi security profiles out there. For one, we’re speaking out of league and can’t offer pros/cons to each one and two, it’s just not something we hear a lot of from our readers. But there are a few of you out there and for them, certain protocols like EAP-TLS is important. The good news is that Microsoft is conscious of the need for EAP-...
If there's one area where have heard a lot of complaints on it's the WiFi function on Windows Phone. The problem is a bit niche but it has frustrated quite a few of you ever since 2010. That "problem" is when the phone goes to the Lock screen, WiFi automatically disconnects. Obviously Microsoft had good intentions in mind here with power-saving as the chief concern. But recently,...
From homebrew to err...publicbrew A few days ago we reported on a new homebrew app called Keep Alive from Windows Phone Hacker. The app basically pings a server every once in awhile to maintain a constant Wi-Fi connection. It’s better than having to reconnect to your Wi-Fi connection each time you turn the display back on and has little impact on battery. The app though was homebrew...
We’ve covered the whole how-to-keep-your-Wi-Fi-alive issue before on Windows Phone Central. It was first realized that some apps keep the data-connection channel open which then allows your Wi-Fi to stay on when the phone is placed in standby (screen off). Then a bloke over at XDA Forums created an app to mimic that scenario and it worked quite well except for the fact that it appeared...
Windows Phone is very careful with how much power it uses. Normal behaviour for the OS is that whilst running on battery it will drop the Wi-Fi connection after a short period in order to conserve as much juice as possible. We have seen reports that point the finger at some apps which are seemingly overriding normal power saving behaviour. Is this a feature or a bug, I decided to do...
Does your Lumia 900's WiFi occasionally go dead? We're getting a few reports that at least for some users their Lumia 900 behaves a bit oddly on WiFi. The reports vary as to the experience but most of it seems to revolve around the idea that when the device goes to sleep, the WiFi data connection doesn't re-connect properly upon waking. From one description on Nokia's help forum is thus...
An unknown Samsung Windows Phone (SCH-S759) has been WiFi and Bluetooth certified. The device is reported to be CDMA compatible, which leads us to believe this smartphone could be a version of the recently announced Omnia M. Unfortunately, not much else is known about the handset with no other detail or specifications being listed, apart from a spotted agent string - Mozilla/5.0 (...
An article has been published over at Nokia Conversations detailing the 1600.2483.8106.11500 firmware update for the Lumia 800, which is in the process of rolling out. The update is being pushed out gradually using Zune software and contains two benefits; battery performance (making use of the capacity too) and WiFi connectivity improvements. This is update number two of two that were...
We do love our GPS and navigation. Heck, we now confidently strut around foreign countries like we've been there for years now, instead of gazing and gawking at a giant map, walking in circles. But one problem we still have is once we're at our location, we're back on our own once inside. Clearly a #firstworldproblem. Nokia is working on this solution by using WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 in...
Good news for Samsung Omnia 7 owners on the Three UK network, we have Internet sharing! An update has been rolled out from Samsung that enables the tethering setting to be manipulated. Users can now create a small network for up to five connections, using mobile data. Simply plug your handset into Zune and update to take full advantage of the tethering capabilities. Thanks Jay for the...
Microsoft has recently made changes to its geographic location service, which we reported on not so long ago as having a lack of safeguards and a privacy flaw. Elie Bursztein, a researcher at Stanford University, created a web page that allowed visitors to search the database at Live.com for locations using device MAC addresses. Reid Kuhn, a Partner Group Program Manager on the Windows...
Good news for those of you without an HTC device but still need hidden SSID for your home or work WiFi network. According to Brandon Watson, this feature will be implemented in the final build of "Mango" aka build 7720 which went out to OEMs and carriers earlier this week. The ability to connect to hidden WiFi networks has been long sought by Windows Phone users ever since its release...
With unlimited data packages going the route of the woolly mammoth, Windows Phone owners are leaning on Wifi connections more and more. AT&T hopes to help New York City customers this summer by providing free Wifi services at twenty six locations in twenty New York City parks. The Mayor's Office has signed a five year initiative to provide this free service (non-AT&T customers...