Confused about modern Wi-Fi standards? We’ll get you up to speed

Wi-Fi has become an essential part of our lives. For most of us, it’s second nature to tap into wireless Internet from our homes and offices, and we’re all too familiar with the “where can I get free Wi-Fi without having to buy something?” dance when out and about. Desktop computers, televisions, game consoles, set-top boxes—even thermostats all routinely rely on Wi-Fi.

Wi-Fi networks adapt and upgrade to widely agreed-upon standards that allow devices around the world to be compatible with the same Wi-Fi networks. The current Wi-Fi standard used by most devices (more on this later) is called 802.11ac, a code you may have seen plastered over router boxes and other marketing packages. This standard allows for wireless data  multi-station throughput of more than 1GB and single-link throughput of at least 500Mbps, with an RF bandwidth up to 160MHz.

The “ac” Wi-Fi standard has been in common use since 2013. However, Wi-Fi standards never stay still forever, and that means keeping on eye on upcoming standards as well. Let’s answer questions about what is Wi-Fi,  what 802.11ac means and how Wi-Fi is progressing.

A bit about Wi-Fi standard development

The Wi-Fi standards process is a little counter-intuitive. The process is largely controlled by the Wi-Fi Alliance, a trade consortium that owns the Wi-Fi trademark. There is typically a lag between when a new protocol is announced and when it is fully mapped out, and in that lag a lot of manufacturers start jumping on the train as early as they can. This creates a lot of overlap and cross-compatibility issues during transfer periods, which tend to last for years.

However, Wi-Fi standards are also control by other parameters, including how fast data can move through our current cables and devices. You may have noticed that our fastest fiber-optic and high-speed internet services still tend to cap out at 1GB. We’re in a relatively stable period where most everyone is using 802.11ac, and there is still little pressure to jump forward. However, that pressure is increasing, and those designing protocols attempt to keep up with what is possible, not merely what is commonplace.

The current standard: IEEE 802.11ac

dolgachov/123RF

When the latest 802.11ac standard came out, it brought many upgrades compared to the previous standard (802.11n), and consigned certain Wi-Fi problems to the past. The advantages of our current standard include:

More speed: Every new Wi-Fi standard comes with a big speed boost. The “ac” standard can operate 80MHz channels or even switch to the 5GHz band and double channel width to 160MHz, which allows it to send a lot more data. With say, eight 80MHz router antennas, the standard could theoretically reach speeds of 3.47 Gbps or more, but other limitations prevent this. Updates to 802.11ac have made it faster over the years as well.

Less interference: 802.11n (and all earlier Wi-Fi standards) operate in the unlicensed 2.4GHz frequency band, which is famously shared by everything from cordless phones to Bluetooth devices to baby monitors to microwave ovens. 802.11ac is backwards compatible and can easily utilize the 2.4GHz band: Since this band is easy to format for, it still remains the go-to option for most at-home wireless networks.

However, 802.11ac can also access the 5GHz band. At this frequency, range is decreased but it’s easy to fit more information in the signal, so speeds can increase. Most beneficially, there’s a lot less interference up at 5GHz. When you see a router that is “dual-band” that means it can operate at 5GHz, and smart routers can often automatically switch devices to a different band if it looks like the default band is getting crowded.

Improved stream management: 802.11ac introduced a few neat tricks to Wi-Fi, too. First, it allowed for beam targeting, or the ability of routers to track the location of specific devices and strengthen the signal aimed at those devices. This helps to reduce or get rid of dead zones and improve performance at the outer edges of reception. The standard allows for MU-MIMO (multi-user, multi-input, multi-output) connections, a still-evolving protocol that allows routers to establish independent links with up to four compatible devices to improve speeds and cut down on lag problems.

Does faster Wi-Fi mean faster internet?

This is a common question among those considering an upgrade. The simple answer is, “It can.” But internet speed depends on so many factors it’s difficult to say yes or no. Let’s make it a little easier. If you want the fastest Wi-Fi speeds possible, then you should do the following.

1. Check your internet service: Do you have high-speed, fiber-based internet that allows for speeds up to 1Gbps? Most services still can’t realize full gigabit speeds, but they can get closer with the right packages.

2. Check your router: If you haven’t changed your router in years, it may not be compatible with the “ac” standard. If that’s the case, it’s time to upgrade your router to a version that offers better speeds. Router placement is also important!

3. Check your wireless devices: They, too, are rated for different Wi-Fi standards. This is less of a problem, because we tend to switch out smartphones and tablets more frequently than routers or internet service packages. But if you haven’t changed a device in years, it may be worth checking the specifications.

The future of Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11ad and ax

Two important new Wi-Fi standards are on their way. One is called called 802.11ad. Remember when we talked about how important it was that the 802.11ac could access the 5GHz band? Well, 802.11ad can access the 60GHz band (here’s one router that already has it).

That’s an incredibly high frequency, which means that its range is pretty short — we’re talking about just a small room here — and it’s really, really fast. 802.11ad could provide basic speeds up to 7Gbps without breaking a sweat, and could easily go far higher under the right circumstances. Some have started calling this super short, super powerful signal Wi-Gig.

Right now, we’re not sure how 802.11ad will be used. Many predict that it will be used to replaced certain hard-wired parts of the internet infrastructure that would be easier to manage in a wireless form. Others are predicting that phones will start including 802.11ad compatibility in the near future. However, it’s still uncertain when or how “ad” will make it into our home networks.

The second standard to watch for is 802.11ax, which focuses on extra features like more advanced MU-MIMO, better battery life management, Bluetooth 5.0, and similar technology. It doesn’t have the huge bump in speed that 802.11ad has, but it does offer significantly higher speeds than 802.11ac, and it is particularly friendly to smart devices and home management. Look for the “ax” standard to show up on router in the next couple of years.

Confused about modern Wi-Fi standards? We’ll get you up to speed

Wi-Fi has become an essential part of our lives. For most of us, it’s second nature to tap into wireless Internet from our homes and offices, and we’re all too familiar with the “where can I get free Wi-Fi without having to buy something?” dance when out and about. Desktop computers, televisions, game consoles, set-top boxes—even thermostats all routinely rely on Wi-Fi.

Wi-Fi networks adapt and upgrade to widely agreed-upon standards that allow devices around the world to be compatible with the same Wi-Fi networks. The current Wi-Fi standard used by most devices (more on this later) is called 802.11ac, a code you may have seen plastered over router boxes and other marketing packages. This standard allows for wireless data  multi-station throughput of more than 1GB and single-link throughput of at least 500Mbps, with an RF bandwidth up to 160MHz.

The “ac” Wi-Fi standard has been in common use since 2013. However, Wi-Fi standards never stay still forever, and that means keeping on eye on upcoming standards as well. Let’s answer questions about what is Wi-Fi,  what 802.11ac means and how Wi-Fi is progressing.

A bit about Wi-Fi standard development

The Wi-Fi standards process is a little counter-intuitive. The process is largely controlled by the Wi-Fi Alliance, a trade consortium that owns the Wi-Fi trademark. There is typically a lag between when a new protocol is announced and when it is fully mapped out, and in that lag a lot of manufacturers start jumping on the train as early as they can. This creates a lot of overlap and cross-compatibility issues during transfer periods, which tend to last for years.

However, Wi-Fi standards are also control by other parameters, including how fast data can move through our current cables and devices. You may have noticed that our fastest fiber-optic and high-speed internet services still tend to cap out at 1GB. We’re in a relatively stable period where most everyone is using 802.11ac, and there is still little pressure to jump forward. However, that pressure is increasing, and those designing protocols attempt to keep up with what is possible, not merely what is commonplace.

The current standard: IEEE 802.11ac

dolgachov/123RF

When the latest 802.11ac standard came out, it brought many upgrades compared to the previous standard (802.11n), and consigned certain Wi-Fi problems to the past. The advantages of our current standard include:

More speed: Every new Wi-Fi standard comes with a big speed boost. The “ac” standard can operate 80MHz channels or even switch to the 5GHz band and double channel width to 160MHz, which allows it to send a lot more data. With say, eight 80MHz router antennas, the standard could theoretically reach speeds of 3.47 Gbps or more, but other limitations prevent this. Updates to 802.11ac have made it faster over the years as well.

Less interference: 802.11n (and all earlier Wi-Fi standards) operate in the unlicensed 2.4GHz frequency band, which is famously shared by everything from cordless phones to Bluetooth devices to baby monitors to microwave ovens. 802.11ac is backwards compatible and can easily utilize the 2.4GHz band: Since this band is easy to format for, it still remains the go-to option for most at-home wireless networks.

However, 802.11ac can also access the 5GHz band. At this frequency, range is decreased but it’s easy to fit more information in the signal, so speeds can increase. Most beneficially, there’s a lot less interference up at 5GHz. When you see a router that is “dual-band” that means it can operate at 5GHz, and smart routers can often automatically switch devices to a different band if it looks like the default band is getting crowded.

Improved stream management: 802.11ac introduced a few neat tricks to Wi-Fi, too. First, it allowed for beam targeting, or the ability of routers to track the location of specific devices and strengthen the signal aimed at those devices. This helps to reduce or get rid of dead zones and improve performance at the outer edges of reception. The standard allows for MU-MIMO (multi-user, multi-input, multi-output) connections, a still-evolving protocol that allows routers to establish independent links with up to four compatible devices to improve speeds and cut down on lag problems.

Does faster Wi-Fi mean faster internet?

This is a common question among those considering an upgrade. The simple answer is, “It can.” But internet speed depends on so many factors it’s difficult to say yes or no. Let’s make it a little easier. If you want the fastest Wi-Fi speeds possible, then you should do the following.

1. Check your internet service: Do you have high-speed, fiber-based internet that allows for speeds up to 1Gbps? Most services still can’t realize full gigabit speeds, but they can get closer with the right packages.

2. Check your router: If you haven’t changed your router in years, it may not be compatible with the “ac” standard. If that’s the case, it’s time to upgrade your router to a version that offers better speeds. Router placement is also important!

3. Check your wireless devices: They, too, are rated for different Wi-Fi standards. This is less of a problem, because we tend to switch out smartphones and tablets more frequently than routers or internet service packages. But if you haven’t changed a device in years, it may be worth checking the specifications.

The future of Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11ad and ax

Two important new Wi-Fi standards are on their way. One is called called 802.11ad. Remember when we talked about how important it was that the 802.11ac could access the 5GHz band? Well, 802.11ad can access the 60GHz band (here’s one router that already has it).

That’s an incredibly high frequency, which means that its range is pretty short — we’re talking about just a small room here — and it’s really, really fast. 802.11ad could provide basic speeds up to 7Gbps without breaking a sweat, and could easily go far higher under the right circumstances. Some have started calling this super short, super powerful signal Wi-Gig.

Right now, we’re not sure how 802.11ad will be used. Many predict that it will be used to replaced certain hard-wired parts of the internet infrastructure that would be easier to manage in a wireless form. Others are predicting that phones will start including 802.11ad compatibility in the near future. However, it’s still uncertain when or how “ad” will make it into our home networks.

The second standard to watch for is 802.11ax, which focuses on extra features like more advanced MU-MIMO, better battery life management, Bluetooth 5.0, and similar technology. It doesn’t have the huge bump in speed that 802.11ad has, but it does offer significantly higher speeds than 802.11ac, and it is particularly friendly to smart devices and home management. Look for the “ax” standard to show up on router in the next couple of years.

Yashica rejoins the living with first product since 2003 — a smartphone lens

Why it matters to you

As classic film looks to regain a foothold in the market, Yashica is one of several once-dead camera brands coming back after selling its rights to another company.

A resurgence in analog photography has already brought once-dead lenses back to life for pairing with digital sensors, like the options from Meyer-Optik, Glaukar and Voigtlander — and now one more company is joining the ranks of the re-animated. Yashica, a film camera company based in Japan that was actively producing cameras until 2003, recently launched a new website, a teaser video — and a smartphone camera lens.

A teaser video showing a girl using a film camera (easily identifiable by a back without a screen) launched earlier this summer,  and now the Yashica website invites photo fans to “peep into our upcoming chapter” by subscribing to an email list.

While early details were slim, the company has now launched a 2-in-1 universal smartphone lens. The teaser and vague homepage is still live, so it’s unclear if Yashica has more products up its sleeve.

The lens uses a clip-on style that allows the camera to fit smartphones from several different brands with a resolution of 20 megapixels or less. The lens kit gives smartphone photographers a 110-degree wide angle lens with a 15x magnification macro lens. The company says that the lens is designed to eliminate the dark corners and blurry edges commonly associated with smartphone add-on lenses. Image quality, the revived Yashica says, is crisp and colorful with HD optical glass.

Yashica

The website lists the lens for HK$368 — which roughly translates to about $50. The lens includes a clip bag that also doubles as a lens cloth and ships in a box featuring one of Yashica’s iconic twin reflex cameras.

The lens is only a Yashica in the way that the Kodak Ektra smartphone is a Kodak — branding rights have been sold, so the original Yashica isn’t actually designing and making the lens. After an acquisition, Yashica became part of the Konica Minolta company. The company then sold the trademark rights to the MF Jebsen Group in 2008. Without any company history information coming directly from Yashica, it’s unclear if the same group still holds those trademark rights — but the Jebsen Group is based in Hong Kong, which is also country whose currency the new lens is listing in.

Yashica’s comeback is part of a larger trend toward bringing back vintage brands, in some cases by pairing classic lenses with digital cameras and in others by bringing back film cameras. Last week, Polaroid announced a remake of an instant film camera after sticking to digital cameras with built-in printers for several years.

Don’t want to share your AC? You may want to look into the evaSmart EV-3000

Why it matters to you

If you don’t need to cool a whole room but do need to cool your whole self, the evaSmart EV-3000 from Evapolar could be a solution.

For all those moments that you haven’t felt particularly generous about your air conditioning, you now have a way to keep all the cold air in a room to yourself. Meet the evaSmart EV-3000 from Evapolar, branded as a truly personal AC unit. So if you have no interest in sharing a comfortable ambient temperature with your room- or officemates, but don’t want to sweat it out yourself, this just may be the home appliance for you.

Heralded as the most efficient evaporative cooler on the market, this tiny little AC unit knows what it isn’t — a room cooler. Instead, it’s intended strictly for personal use, and is capable of cooling around 45 square feet with its 1,200 British thermal unit (BTU) per hour performance specs. Measuring a diminutive 6.87-by-6.70-by-6.69 inches, the evaSmart is not a particularly large device, but it certainly packs a punch when it comes to cooling your immediate area.

In essence, evaSMART works by taking in hot, dry air and turning into cool, moist, and fresh air. Simply fill the AC unit’s water tank every four to six hours, plug it into a power bank or power outlet, and let the unit go to work. Its cooling cartridge is made from natural basalt fibers that promise to prevent bacteria and mold growth and can be easily replaced every few months.

Not only does the evaSmart cool the air around you, but it also promises to humidify and purify. That said, if you live in a hot and sticky environment, this probably is not the best cooling solution. The evaSmart is only recommended for use in areas where the humidity level is lower than 70 percent. The unit also promises to be energy-efficient and eco-friendly. With no Freon-like liquid to speak of, the evaSmart needs only 12W of electricity to provide up to 400W of cooling power.

The portable AC also comes in a variety of neutral colors, including opaque white, coal black, and stormy gray, and features LED lighting so the unit can double as a light source.

Of course, this AC unit is a smart AC unit, and as such, comes with a companion app that allows you to control the evaSmart from just about anywhere. And because it is fully compatible with the majority of smart home systems, you can also control this device using your voice.

 The evaSmart EV-3000 starts at $230.

Google will automatically delete inactive Android device backups from Drive

Why it matters to you

If you have an old Android device you haven’t used in a while, check your Google Drive account — the backup might be at risk of deletion.

If you’re about to factory reset an Android device you haven’t used in a while, you might want to make sure it has been backed up recently. Following a grace period, Google will automatically delete cloud-saved settings, apps, and preferences from Android devices that haven’t been used for more than two weeks.

The policy, which isn’t new, generated headlines last week when a good Samaritan posted a public service announcement in Reddit’s Android community. Android device users are entitled to free backups “as long as [they] use [their] device[s],” according to the language on Google’s support website. When a device goes unused for two weeks, a two-month countdown begins. When it has elapsed, Google reserves the right to wipe those files permanently.

You’ll get plenty of warning beforehand. After the first two weeks of inactivity come to a close, a countdown timer appears below the backup files, showing how much time remains before they’re deleted. If you start using the backed-up device again before the timer reaches zero, it’ll reset. But if you don’t, your backup — and all the settings, data, and apps with it — will be deleted.

Android Police

Once your backup’s gone, there’s no getting it back. Google says that deleted device backups can’t be recovered. Backups include data like contacts, Google Calendar settings, Wi-Fi networks and passwords, home screen wallpapers, Gmail settings, apps installed through Google Play, display settings, language and input settings, and the date and time settings.

“There was no warning from Google,” Reddit user Tanglebrook recounted. “[There] was no notification, no email, no proactive notice at all, and most importantly, no option to use the 100GB of my Drive storage to keep my […] backup.”

But it’s not necessarily as bad as it sounds. Google’s Drive backup service only works on Android devices running 6.0 Marshmallow or newer, so older smartphones and tablets can’t (and never could) take advantage. There’s less risk of losing third-party data than data from Google’s own apps and services — developers have to opt into Drive backups manually. And Google’s backup policy doesn’t apply to pictures stored on Google Photos or WhatsApp messages uploaded to Google Drive — Google treats that data differently.

Still, it’s not a bad idea to check the status of your device backups that haven’t been updated in a while. You can do that by opening the Google Drive app for Android or iOS, tapping the Menu button, and then tapping Backups. If any backups are at risk of expiring, you’ll see a red-colored line of text under them with the words, “Expires in […] days.”

Best LG Phones

Which LG phones should you care about? We’ve got you.

Let’s be completely honest here — LG’s generally known as the other South Korean smartphone company. But if that’s all you think about LG, you’re sorely missing out, as it’s been making really good smartphones that too often fly under the radar.

In recent years, LG has moved away from the gimmicky designs and features that divided audiences between the loyal and the skeptical. Phones like the G6 and V30 are powerful but extremely accessible and mainstream. Let’s take a look at everything the company has to offer.

LG V30

Announced August, 2017: The LG V30 isn’t available yet (unless you’re in South Korea), but it’s a phone to look forward to. The successor to the enthusiast-focused V20, the V30 shares more in common with the G6 in terms of design, but that’s a good thing. This phone is light, well-made, and powerful, while retaining many of the features that made the V10 and V20 so popular. Gone is the removable battery, but you get waterproofing and wireless charging in exchange, which is a far better trade-off.

And with the world’s first f/1.6 lens in its main camera, and a low light-enabled f/1.9 lens in its second sensor, the V30 takes some amazing photos in wide- or ultra-wide angle.

• More: LG V30 review
• Where to buy the LG V30

LG G6

Announced February, 2017: LG’s successor to the disappointing G5 is an incredible feat of engineering. Glass front and back, with metal sides and an extra tall 2880×1400 display, the phone is all about simplicity and versatility. Adding to its pedigree is a system of dual 13-megapixel cameras — a standard 71mm lens and a 125mm wide-angle lens — which take amazing photos in almost any lighting condition.

Then there’s the other additions to the collection this year: IP68 waterproofing, a larger 3,300mAh battery, a Quad DAC in some regions, and wireless charging in the U.S.

• More: LG G6 review!
• Where to buy the LG G6 in the U.S.

See at Verizon
See at AT&T
See at Sprint
See at T-Mobile
See at B&H Photo

LG V20

Released October 2016: The V20 is the follow-up to the V10, but it really is more a successor to the G5. When looked at through that lens, the all-metal design of the V20 makes a lot more sense, though its size and shape are certainly owe tribute to the V10.

Like the G5, it has a dual camera, but it also sports the impressive and unique Second Screen from the V10. And being a late-2016 device, it’s got all the specs you’d expect: a 5.7-inch QHD LCD display, a Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage, and a huge 3200mAh battery. It’s also got the same audio and camera pedigree as the V10, with an amazing Quad DAC from ESS, a powerful amplifier, and plenty of manual camera controls for photos and video.

• More: LG V20 review
• Where to buy the LG V20 in the U.S.
• Where to buy the LG V20 in Canada

See at B&H Photo Video

*Update, September 2017:** This article has been updated with the V30 and removing the G5 and V10.

The best smartphones for a killer VR experience

If you don’t have the Vive or Oculus Rift, your phone may be the next best thing.

This post was updated on 4/6 with more great VR friendly phones for you to check out!

If you don’t feel like shelling out $800 for an HTC Vive or $600 for an Oculus Rift, then your phone can be the next best VR option. With both Samsung and Google currently leading the pack, mobile VR is looking more promising than ever. These are our picks for the best mobile VR experiences!

Read more at VR Heads!

Top 5 LG V30 camera features

Even as phones become more homogenized and samey, there’s one big area left for high-end flagships to stand out: the cameras.

The new LG V30 has one of the most compelling photographic feature sets we’ve seen in an Android phone this year. LG’s new flagship boasts dual cameras with bright lenses (in both regular and wide-angle flavors), in addition to new manual shooting capabilities and the most comprehensive video feature set we’ve seen in an Android phone to date.

In our latest video, we take a run through the top five V30 camera features you need to know about — including one bonus feature that makes for fantastic Instagram-ready collages.

• Android Central on YouTube
• Our LG V30 initial video review
• Our LG V30 initial review
• More on the LG V30

LG V30

• LG V30 review: The no-BS flagship
• Top LG V30 camera features
• Full LG V30 specs
• LG V30 vs. G6 vs. GS8
• The V30 is the first phone to support 600MHz spectrum
• Join our LG V30 forums

‘Minecraft’ adds ‘Oregon Trail’ to teach kids about frontier life

If you went to school in the US in the early 1990s, chances are you have fond memories of playing the computer game The Oregon Trail. Now, schoolchildren around the world will be able to replicate that experience thanks to a new Minecraft: Education Edition integration.

Before you fire up your version of Minecraft to download this add-on, there’s a catch: Because it’s specifically an educational endeavor (in partnership with publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), the add-on is only available through the education edition of the game. This version of The Oregon Trail has been expanded with learning activities and the freedom to create new paths for the game and form their own 19th century communities within it.

This isn’t the first partnership for Minecraft: Education Edition. Previously, the game has worked with the Roald Dahl estate on a writing competition for elementary and middle school students. The winning story, Fluffletopolis, was transformed into a Minecraft build. Users of Minecraft: Education Edition can also participate in the “Museum of Me” project, in cooperation with the Smithsonian’s Museum Day LIVE event on Saturday, September 23rd.

Minecraft has been steadily adding integrations for a long time now — everything from a full-fledged Pokemon game to learning progamming languages. It’s nice to see them going all in on making the game as educational as possible; after all, it’s a great way to get kids to learn while also having fun.

Via: The Verge

Source: Minecraft

Microsoft is holding a Mixed Reality event on October 3rd

In case it wasn’t already clear that Microsoft is big on the concept of mixed reality (read: augmented and virtual reality), the company is about to drive the point home. It’s inviting the media to a Windows Mixed Reality event in San Francisco on October 3rd, and it promises that you’ll see “where Microsoft is headed next” in the wearable technology space. For the most part, this will revolve around the plethora of WMR headsets arriving on October 17th alongside Windows 10’s Fall Creators Update. We’d expect Microsoft to highlight games and other software experiences that take advantage of the hardware, too.

An event like this isn’t surprising. For Microsoft, Windows Mixed Reality is its big chance at controlling the future of headset technology, particularly VR — it’s no doubt worried that Oculus, HTC or another third-party might dominate the industry. Even if the presentation doesn’t include any earth-shaking announcements, it’ll indicate that Microsoft is serious about the field and intends to stay for the long haul.