Wi-Fi

Ever hear of AirDrop? Those who are used to file sharing with their newer Mac computer will find the term familiar. Now it seems Apple is prepared to equip its next generation iPhone with the technology. According to 9to5Mac, the OS X Lion adhoc file-sharing protocol is likely to be added to iOS 6.

This is all thanks to the Broadcom BCM4334 hardware that has been found in iOS 6 code. This chip uses a more efficient 40nm process, which is a step above the 65nm process found on chips in the iPhone 4S and iPad 3. When it comes to power, the new Wi-Fi chip reduces consumption by almost half, and increases standby time by three orders of magnitude.

Looking for the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your iPhone? You will need this number to SSH into your device if the iPhone is jailbroken and running OpenSSH. Here are instructions on how to find the IP address of your iPhone:

1. Make sure the iPhone is connected to a Wi-Fi network.
2. Navigate to Settings -> Wi-Fi
3. Find the Network the iPhone is connected to in the list. This Network will appear blue and have a check mark to the left of its name.
4. Tap the round circle to the right of the Network name for more information.

Major markets struggling to meet large wireless data demands are about to receive a boost from AT&T Mobility. The company announced that it will be expanding its pilot program to provide free Wi-Fi access to subscribers in strategic locations around the country.

The point of all this is to alleviate data traffic on the AT&T 3G network. Since the iPhone's introduction in 2007, AT&T has been slammed by app downloads, web browsing, and other high bandwidth uses on its network. In a plus for users, data transferred over a Wi-Fi connection does not use data plan bandwidth.

What if you could just plug your iPhone directly into a router with a USB cable and share the 3G data connection with every Wi-Fi device within 200 feet? Now you can, with Nexaira's Business Class 2 tethering-ready router. The router is compatible with the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G.

Of course, if your iPhone is not jailbroken, you'll need to enable official tethering with your cellular carrier. AT&T offers iPhone owners tethering for $20 per month. With tethering, simply plug in the Nexaira BC2 router, connect the iPhone via the rear USB port and you're all set. Anywhere with power and a 3G signal becomes a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Looking for more ways to improve your jailbroken iPhone? Many applications are available that expand the features and functions of your iPhone beyond what Apple allows. Tethering is one such function that makes it possible to use your 3G data connection to create a Wi-Fi hotspot for other devices. AT&T has finally made an official tethering solution available, but many customers don't want to pay the extra expense.

Enter MyWi 4.0. This jailbreak app creates a Wi-Fi hotspot instantly and allows multiple notebooks or other devices to use the iPhone data connection. USB tethering is also an option, and the Wi-Fi network you create will feature WEP security.

Yes, it's possible to use Wi-Fi with the cellular radio off. To enter airplane mode:

Touch Settings -> Airplane Mode ON

This turns off all radio activity including cellular antennas and Wi-Fi. Now while staying in airplane mode you can turn on Wi-Fi only.

Touch Settings -> Wi-Fi -> Wi-Fi ON

Your iPhone will now use the Wi-Fi connection while keeping the EDGE and 3G radio off.

Some users have reported issues with slow speeds or trouble connecting to Wi-Fi networks with iPhone OS 3.0 and later firmware. iPhone owners who have jailbroken and/or unlocked their iPhones using blackra1n and blacksn0w have also reported problems.

These problems include the inability to connect to Wi-Fi, 3G and/or Edge, lack of push notifications and issues with the YouTube application. Fortunately there are several fixes you can try to correct these data issues on your iPhone:

Sure we've seen iPhone apps in the App Store that let us change our Netflix queue on the go. These are useful when someone brings up a movie you'd like to see, or you can't remember the details about that DVD you have sitting next to your TV.

How many times have you wanted to actually watch movies on your instant queue? Although the iPhone suffers from a small screen and non-removable battery, there are situations where you'd want to show a clip to a friend or even watch a whole film.

For those with iPhone contracts, AT&T offers free iPhone Wi-Fi at hotspots on their network. There are thousands of AT&T wireless Wi-Fi locations nationwide. Connecting is easy and will incur no charges on your wireless bill.

Start by searching for a local AT&T hotspot, or entering your local Starbucks (most locations provide AT&T Wi-Fi access). You can find a map of available AT&T Wi-Fi locations on the AT&T website.