Wi-fi freedom: On the road with work
Trips for traveling with digital devices
—Make sure you have completely up-to-date Internet security software for protection from viruses, spyware, Trojans, hackers and spam.
—Always check to make sure the wireless network you are connected to is secured. Free wireless hot spots and hotel networks are not always safe.
—Use a security suite that allows you to lock your computer remotely if you are to loose it.
—If your laptop is stolen, hold or cancel all of your online accounts as soon as possible—including your computer accounts, to minimize the chances of identity and information theft.
—Remove unnecessary information from your laptop and USB drive, in case the devices are compromised or stolen.
—Password protect your computer, PDA and other digital equipment.
—When surfing on the Internet, always make sure the Web sites are legitimate.
—Never leave behind your laptop in the car.
Source: Trend Micro
By Lisa Neff
Contributing writer
I never dream about owning a house with two cars in the garage, a white picket fence around the landscaped lawn or a swing set in the side yard.
I dream about owning an RV tricked out for good living and easy working. With ever-changing technology and steep improvements in wireless capabilities, what was once a pie-in-the-sky dream can become reality. In fact, there is a growing segment of the U.S. workforce working not from home or office, but from second homes, RV parks, campgrounds and getaway hotels.
Here are some hot new products for those in hot pursuit of careers on the road and away from home.
Hitch a ride: 4INFO is an easy-to-use—and free—service for your convenience. You are a stranger in a new place and in need of a quick connection to the Internet. So, you pick up your mobile phone and you send a text message to 4INFO—44636. The message can read “wi-fi” plus the area code, zip code or city and the response will tell you where you will find a wireless connection to the Internet. 4INFO also can dispatch sports and weather reports to a cell phone. www.4info.net
Power up: Wi-Fire, recently released by hField Technologies, offers the mobile workers a solution to weak wi-fi signals. Here’s the scenario: You’ve got access to the Internet via a wireless network, but you are out of range or the signal is rising or falling. Wi-Fire is a compact, high-performance solution that works on Macs and Windows systems. The lightweight gadget connects to the computer via USB and boosts a wi-fi network’s range to up to 1,000 feet, about three times the range of Airport cards and other wi-fi adapters. Wi-Fire reached far in a recent field test, connecting to networks well over a block away. Wi-Fire also aced a recent water test, connecting to networks on land from aboard a distant sailboat. Anchors away. www.hfield.com/buynow
Xantrex’s XPower products serve as virtual wall sockets to provide juice to a range of electronic devices, from portable DVD players to iPods to Blackberries. www.preparedwithpower.com
Pocket performance: This will happen if you carry a Flipstart compact computer: You will be sitting somewhere in public, pulling the laptop from your bag, when you sense people looking your way. Some will stare and study. Some will be compelled to ask, “Is that really a computer?” You will smile and joke, “No, it’s my make-up compact, honey.” The clamshell-style Flipstart is an eye-catching machine—about the size of a paperback novel, and loaded with what consumers have come to expect from a laptop. www.flipstart.com
ViewSonic’s “Made for iPod” digital projector, the robotic-sounding PJ258D, brings new entertainment options to iPod enthusiasts. Using the projector, digital video content—from TV shows to feature films—can be stored on an iPod and displayed via the projector. The wall in your hotel suite or the side of your tent can become your viewing screen. The projector weighs less than three pounds and the docking station connects directly to an iPod, as well as other electronic devices. www.viewsonic.com
With Nokia’s N95, travelers can send and receive e-mail, view attachments, organize schedules, map routes, shoot 5MP photographs, surf the Internet and ship photos to Flickr. With Nokia’s N800 sleek, pocket-sized tablet, travelers can e-mail, surf, organize and watch high-resolution widescreen videos. www.nokia.com
In the mail: Through rain or sleet or information superhighway. Road workers who are not ready to give up their U.S. mail service need not worry about envelopes cluttering a postal box. Earth Class Mail is a global service that enables customers to view their postal mail via the Internet. Customers open a P.O. box and choose whether they want their “snail” mail scanned, forwarded, recycled or archived. www.earthclassmail.com
Virtual file cabinet: 1stWorks’ new software for iPhone users—Files2Phones—enables the Mac maniacs to view contents of a remote computer on their iPhone. The software works with any file that can be opened on a PC, from PDFs to jpgs, spreadsheets to CAD drawings. www.myftp.com