According to this article, Linksys will be releasing in 2Q03, a wireless LAN (WiFi) device that attaches to any 802.11b network, and searches the network for MP3 files, or even images, which can then be played or displayed on a home audio or video device (TV).

Apparently it cannot stream video yet, but that is supposedly planned for future releases. (via BoingBoing)

Have WiFi, will travel … AT&T Wireless “… announces a pact with a Wi-Fi network provider to give its subscribers wireless access at more than 485 venues around the country.” (via CNET)

MeshBox “configures a group of wireless access points into a coherent “mesh” and connects them to any broadband Internet node available.”

iDetect Technology: “Wi-Fi Sniffer, WFS-1, detects Wi-Fi availability by the press of a button. No longer do you have to boot up your laptop or walk around with your laptop turned on, hence reducing the risk of hard drive crashes. Pressing the button on the Wi-Fi
Sniffer will tell you whether access is available.”

Clay Shirky “… hosted a two-day brainstorming session for 30 or so
people on the subject of social software. In addition to the usual “sit
around a big table and talk to each other” format, [they] set up an
in-room chat channel accessible over the WiFi network which created a
two-channel experience — a live conversation in the room, and an
overlapping real-time text conversation.”

“The Linksys Wireless Signal Booster piggybacks onto your Linksys Wireless Access
Point (or Wireless Access Point Router) to increase the effective range and
coverage area of the 802.11b network. ” (Thanks John! via SlashDot)

Got this one from John, but it looks like
Intel, IBM Team With AT&T to create a Nationwide Wi-Fi Network service provider.

From Pringles-2-Cantenna … “A Cantenna is simply an inexpensive version of the long range antennas used by wireless internet providers and mobile phone companies. Now, with your own Cantenna you can extend the range of your wireless network or connect to other wireless networks in your neighborhood.”

From: Cantenna website

From Kevin Werbach: “Marcos R. Lara of the Public
Internet Project has unveiled an amazing map of WiFi
access points in Manhattan, compiled by volunteers who drove along every street.
As you’ll see, virtually all of the island is covered.”

DATA STATS: 1) ~13,000 unique nodes
2) 60% open to public access
3) Approx. 1,000,000 data points collected

That’s one big-ass neighborhood WAN!

This article on CNet almost sounds like it’s from 1999: “The nation’s oldest “hot spot” network plans to give away Wi-Fi equipment starting Friday, in an aggressive push to increase the number of urban areas that offer wireless Web access.”