Kudos to Minneapolis's US Internet for building a Wi-Fi network that works: The testing firm Novarum found that two zones tested in Minneapolis's nearly-done Wi-Fi network achieved the best marks for performance among U.S. networks tested for 802.11g and 802.11n clients. These are outdoor tests, as far as I know, but that's still saying something. Update: Muniwireless reports that BelAir (which commissioned the work) and US Internet shouldn't have released the comparative information, as testing is underway. Novarum is still positive about the results, just not precisely the method of comparison or disclosure, Muniwireless writes.
Empire State Building disabling cars wirelessly: There's a radius of five blocks around what was once the mooring place of Zeppelins that appears to be related to keyless entry systems in cars. About 10 to 15 cars won't start or can't be opened every day, according to locals. In parts of the country near military bases, garage door openers and keyless cars flip out when a base flips on systems that apparently leak out-of-band signals into those unlicensed frequencies.
Long Island Wi-Fi pilot launch delayed: The 2.5-mile project along Route 110 near the borders of two participating counties, Suffolk and Nassau, has been pushed back while utility pole agreements are finalized. It's getting close. As always, utility poles tend to take longer to secure rights to than anyone anticipates, even when they're aware of this fact. Suffolk County Water Authority is considering acting as one of the anchor tenants for the 750 sq mi project led by E-Path Communications.
Bluetooth used to synchronize leg motions for double amputee: Two veterans are testing out mechanical prosthetics that use standard Bluetooth signaling to coordinate their motion, allowing for greater range with less effort and more natural movement. One of the veterans reports that the legs sometimes get going a little fast and there's a chain reaction, but he sounds pretty upbeat about how it works.
A calm discussion about Wi-Fi table squatters: A neat slice of life from Milwaukee, Wisc., examining the unwritten rules of lingering over a cup of joe (or more) in cafes when it's quiet and when it gets busy. One customer, clearly an engineer, doesn't want unwritten rules, preferring to have written instructions about social interactions: "if the owners want the public to obey rules, they should state these rules, post a sign or something." Because if there's one thing a friendly cafe wants to do is post lots of rules that anyone with sense could intuit.