An iPod-based Guide To SF Wireless Hotspots 128
Ryan MacCarthy writes "On the day Apple announces the 4G iPod, BayAreaFreeFi.com announces the wiPod , an iPod-based field guide for free wi-fi hotspots in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Now when you are on the road you can look up a free hotspot quickly and easily right from your iPod. No, the iPod isn't wi-fi enabled. wiPod uses the Notes functionality of the iPod OS to store the database in an easy to use format.
Enjoy!"
It's plaintext (Score:1)
Now excuse me while I get working on southeastern Virginia.
Re:It's plaintext (Score:2)
Kansas (Score:1)
Hey, we have 2 outside Kansas City, and a few on our side of the river in Kansas City, [netstumbler.com] that are available right here in "good old Kansas". Entering that data could easily take several seconds.
Why bother? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Why bother? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Why bother? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Why bother? (Score:3, Informative)
Tomorrow's slashdot article: "iPod based Notes!"
I don't think it's a slow day on slashdot -- I just don't think that some contributors and editors understand that this is essentially the equivalent of someone formatting a set of data as text files for a specific system: not very special at all.
Re:Why bother? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Why bother? (Score:1)
Don't be such an IPOD, you IPOD!
Re:Why bother? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Why bother? (Score:2)
Re:Why bother? (Score:5, Interesting)
Which would you rather do? Take the iPod out of your pocket and scroll to the Notes menu, or pull your laptop out of your bag, wait for it to boot up, then open the list...all while standing and holding your laptop.
I agree that this isn't extremely useful in every situation, but that doesn't make it useless.
lavish frugality... (Score:3, Insightful)
What? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:What? (Score:2)
Re:What? (Score:2)
Uhm yes, I have one, but the parent poster was implying that wifi is quite expensive (as many would argue an iPod is), which the majority of folks wouldn't find ~40 dollars to be.
Get it now?
Re:What? (Score:2)
Re:What? (Score:2)
Re:What? (Score:2)
Re:What? (Score:1)
Thanks for askin'.
Re:What? (Score:1)
Re:What? (Score:1)
Unless I knew better (which I do), I'd say that HcomPaq knew WTF they were doing.
Re:What? (Score:3, Insightful)
By people 'looking for free wifi' they are admitting that paying for it is cost prohibitive, but they could still afford a laughably expensive iPod, and they live in one of the most expensive cities in the world
Re:What? (Score:4, Insightful)
The free spots are sprouting up all over the place, at least where I'm from. That said, it's not expensive.
If they were penny pinchers they wouldn't own an iPod.
300 bucks isn't as bad as you're making it out to be. Consider what you get: a 20GB harddrive that's just used to store music. How long do you think that is going to last your AVERAGE user? Quite a while, I would guess. Anyhow though, if you can't afford the 300 bucks, then it's simply not for you. Noone's stopping you from buying the alternatives.
iPods are very, very popular and they ARE sought out. There's a reason they have over half of the market share.
Even players that -- really -- blow the ipod out of the water, like the 40-60GB iRiver with its 16 hour battery life and bells and whistles (costing less)
You can have 'em. The iPod isn't about price and affordability, it's about being sleek, functional, and easy to use. iTunes makes the whole thing a snap for newbies. I looked at the other players back in January, but the elegant solution of the iPod sucked me in. I knew I wasn't going to use external memory, I wasn't going to record anything since I don't listen to the radio (why WOULD you listen to the radio if you have every CD in your collection on you?), battery life wasn't a big deal since I always charge my electronics at night... Anyhow, it's obviously a personal preference, but I got the iPod for ease of use, the power it gives you with the playlists and sorting via iTunes (rating songs, keeping count of how many times you've played a song, the list goes on). I'm also a very happy owner of a Powerbook and soon a G5, so the iPod was given a head start by default.
people buy the iPod because it 'looks cool'.
Yes, the iPod does look cool. Again, it's a sleek and elegant solution. It would be foolish to assume that 50% of the market would buy a product that merely "looks cool" but underperforms yet is also ridiculously expensive, yes? I'm not saying the iPod is the best portable media player, I'm just saying that it's successful for a reason, it is lusted after for a reason. The other players you mentioned are working to be something the iPod is not.
I love it so much, I'll never understand why people buy into a 'style' branding or something.
This is probably why you'll also never be hired by a company that knows how to get a steep profit margin while continuing to out-sell the competition while 99% of its customers are thrilled with its product.
However, I am glad that despite all the foaming at the mouth Applle people modding me down, the thread is still only modded down to a 4 now. Maybe you can email the link to your friends and get them in on the action; it'll be a 1 in no time!
Jesus, maybe you take the moderation a bit too much to heart. Hopefully you're not honestly insecure about your
Re:lavish frugality... (Score:2)
WHY! (Score:4, Insightful)
Can the iPod connect to Wifi spots? NO! So you'll have a device that can display this information in order to make use of it, why drag the iPod into it? This whole iPod craze is getting to the point of the people who install Linux on their toaster.
Re:WHY! (Score:3, Informative)
The same functionality would allow for a database of, say, gas stations, fast food restaurants, grocery stores, and convenience stores... all without opening a notebook.
* Apple notebooks are exceptional in this instance, powering up from sleep in less than three seconds... but still slower than an iPod.
Re:WHY! (Score:2)
Gee, I wonder if this has anything to do with the fact that the iPod has no wifi? One can only guess.
Seriously, what difference does this make to either keeping this info on your palmpilot, or a wap/web site reachable from your new mobile phone bowser (not to mention, an online site will be more up to date)?
Re:WHY! (Score:2, Insightful)
So does my smartphone with integrated PalmOS V, and it can do wi-fi and 3G wireless.
You could get PDA with wifi cheaper than an iPod.
Sorry, iPods make decent walkmans, but shitty PDAs. All the Mac zealotry in the world isn't going to convince me what an "awesome" PDA the iPod is.
(Think different, think newt
Re:WHY! (Score:2)
I merely stated the features of the iPod that make it suitable as a data presentation device. It is an excellent music player. That it has secondary useful characteristics do not make it pointless... merely flexible.
Re:WHY! (Score:1)
Re:WHY! (Score:3, Insightful)
I would just like to say that everyone here is damned bitchy. Who cares if they use it as a pseudo-pda?!?! Why does it piss you off so much?!
also, why, if they want to, does it get under your skin so much when people buy something for the innate functionality of it, not the hacking potential? Does this make your nose stick up? Does this, because it is so "mainstream" make you want to talk down to them?
and because you believe that the iPod is wonderful, would it really hurt you to a
Re:WHY! (Score:1)
I've actually needed service like this, as I've gone to several small businesses where the person I spoke to had no idea whether or not the shop was WiFi capable. It would have saved me at least ten minutes in each occasion if I could turn on an iPod or one of these keychains to see if service was available, and possibly find a strong reception point.
Re:WHY! (Score:1)
*cries*
Here's some info (Score:2)
Re:WHY! (Score:1)
Re:WHY! (Score:1)
http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/linux/toaster/ [k12.or.us]
why...? (Score:1, Redundant)
Totally agree... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Totally agree... (Score:4, Insightful)
I think it's called a text editor. Most PDA have one these days...
Re:Totally agree... (Score:2)
So this thing is just a flat text file, and there's no nice interface to it? That's not what the web site implies, nor is it something I'd expect to see on /.
Could be wrong, though. Flat text files are just so... unsexy!
Re:Totally agree... (Score:1)
Re:Totally agree... (Score:2)
Re:why...? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:why...? (Score:1, Funny)
I use Google to find WiFi.... Oh, nevermind.
Re:why...? (Score:1)
For that matter, what difference does it make that most people think what you make is useless if you're giving it away?
WOW! NEATO! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:WOW! NEATO! (Score:1)
Re:WOW! NEATO! (Score:2)
Perhaps a file containing the URLs of porn sites! ... Isn't it amazing how dull and pedestrian information ...
Man, you're obviously going to the wrong porn sites!
Re:WOW! NEATO! (Score:2)
> friendly information as the location of the nearest comic book store, Fry's or
> Thai restaurant.
Joking aside, I think an offline restaurant guide would be mad hadny (Not just Thai)
Granted, this too I would want on my iBook, not really my iPod, but still...
Awesome (Score:2, Funny)
4 GB Ipod? (Score:2)
Re:4 GB Ipod? (Score:3, Informative)
But there is a 4Gb iPod, known as the iPod Mini [apple.com].
Re:4 GB Ipod? (Score:2)
But there is a 4Gb iPod, known as the iPod Mini.
To nitpick... It's 4 GB (gigabytes), not 4 Gb (gigabits). It's also not 4 GiB (gibibyte). Sorry. I don't know why I posted that. It just feels instrinctive to bash people for tiny errors on Slashdot. :(
Re:4 GB Ipod? (Score:2)
Although they are "inexpensive models", considering they're 100 bucks cheaper.
Re:4 GB Ipod? (Score:1)
No, not a mini (Score:2)
But as others pointed out, the G was for 'generation' not Gigabytes
Oh well...
Innovation Gone Mad (Score:3, Insightful)
While it is nice to think of something innovative uses on iPod, we must also look at the practicality of such efforts.
Is there a website to record things like that? If not I'm going to start one.
With the change of one letter: the iPad (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:With the change of one letter: the iPad (Score:1)
Most likely, PDA-esque features will continue to creep into future iPods, and the iPod will evolve into Apple's "Next Big Thing", rather than arriving with a splash like the Newton. IMO, of course..
Paper is better (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Paper is better (Score:2)
Re:Paper is better (Score:2, Funny)
The wiPod is a great new product (Score:5, Funny)
Ok, so they released a new product... wait the product is a text file.
Maybe next they'll announce gpsPod... which is a text file containing GPS coordinates of your address. Save the file to your iPod, when you lose it, the person who finds it can return it. And this is a FREE service!!!!
As an iPod owner... (Score:2)
Bleh. Here's the Archos equivalent (Score:5, Funny)
1- Buy an old laptop
2- Buy a cheap GPS
3- Install Linux
4- Install kismet
5- Install GPSDrive
6- Drive around
I figure the old laptop and cheap GPS are less expensive than an iPod.
The PDAing of the iPod (Score:5, Insightful)
Which brings me to my worry: The PDAing of the iPod. Just because something can do a task doesn't mean it is well suited for it or should do that thing. Witness that the iPod also has a calendar and contact list. Mind you, you cannot add or edit these things, but they are available for reading and syncing to your Mac's corresponding applications.
BUT WHY?
I guess the thought is that because your iPod is portable it should be able to carry around the data that might be nice to have when away from a device that should contain said data.
But doesn't it make sense to have a music player with a simple interface and a single purpose? No confusion in the marketplace. No R&D time spent adding features outside of the scope of the device. Why should my PDA have a camera and play MP3s and play full motion video? How is this part of a Personal Digital Assistant? It's like these "SUV" luxury 4x4 stationwagons. What the heck is this car-plane-boat anyway?
All this rant just to say that I think the SanFran WiFi hot spot list belongs on the laptop that could use it, or at most a WiFi PDA, but not the NON-WiFi, NON-PDA iPod. It is just dilution of the purpose of this great music player.
Now if Apple would pretty-please make a PDA again...
Re:The PDAing of the iPod (Score:1)
That dew pens one haw god the tex precognition is and if it is butter then the New tone
Re:The PDAing of the iPod (Score:2)
Re:The PDAing of the iPod (Score:2)
This could have been said about PCs 20 years ago. "Why are there all these other things it can do??? All I bought this for was word processing." I like my computer being able to play games, tune into TV, browse the web, listen to music...
Peronally, I'm glad my PDA plays music and vid
Re:The PDAing of the iPod (Score:2)
Re:The PDAing of the iPod (Score:1)
Devices that can display text should let me display whatever text I want. You think Apple R&D spent ANY time on this?
Why? Why NOT? It's a zero-cost option. Doesn't cost you anything that I might find it useful.
PDA (and phone) cameras are useful for one reason: Ubiquity. Nobody thinks they're really good cameras, but they are FUN to have around to use to blackmail your friends.
If you think it's a "di
Re:The PDAing of the iPod (Score:1)
I bet Apple will bring this into action once the "iPod fever" dies out. At least it will satisfy everyone that says "Why in god's name do you need 40 GB or space?"
I'll be impressed... (Score:2, Funny)
The most useless thing I can actually make use of (Score:3, Interesting)
But this still doesn't interest me in the slightest, because I already know a few very cool SF internet cafes where gals go to chat up guys and vise versa... ohh and the wifi is $5.00 a day, but I'd rather have the nice scenery and ability to have some very personal offline porn than downloading it for free off one of these guys listed hotspots.
Surprised the new iPod ISN'T wireless. (Score:4, Insightful)
KeS
Re:Surprised the new iPod ISN'T wireless. (Score:1)
Re:Surprised the new iPod ISN'T wireless. (Score:2)
Re:Surprised the new iPod ISN'T wireless. (Score:2)
Re:Surprised the new iPod ISN'T wireless. (Score:1)
If I were, yes, I think they could provide very acceptable tradeoffs, especially since you could turn off the wireless entirely unless you needed it.
It would also be completely in line with Apple's "digital hub" marketing. As I said, I'm really astonished - it's a clear piece in the puzzle, and the AirTunes f
Re:Surprised the new iPod ISN'T wireless. (Score:1)
Everybody who has WiFi on their PDA seems to complain "Holy SHIT does this spank my battery life!" Yeah. Sure does. It's a big fucking radio transmitter.
wtf mate (Score:4, Insightful)
wi- (Score:1)
Re:wi- (Score:1)
We've used X to death, mainly do to X-treme product placement, Apple's beaten the i horse so badly you cant even identify its remains as organic at this point. The dotcom boom killed the letter e, e-file that e-mail while I'm in the e-toilet, will you e-secratery?
GNU, spurred on by Gnome are destroying the letter G, KDE is going to town on K.
So thats I, E, X, G, K down. 21 letters left that we can still start words with. Let's try to k
Hotspot Locations in your city (Score:4, Informative)
They claim to have nearly 47000 hotspots in 65 countries, 15000 in the US. I hope this helps some.
Re:Hotspot Locations in your city (Score:2)
Why an IPod? (Score:1)
Makes no sense... (Score:2, Informative)
Just use a cheap Kensington hotspot finder [geekzone.co.nz] instead. Thne you're sure there's something there.
Come now. It isn't *that* bad of an idea! (Score:2, Insightful)
it seems it piqued the ire of a facet of slashdot
that always posts some sort of "why would anyone
want to do/use/make/create something like that?!"
[well- why not?]
I wish there was a mod -5 Curmedgeon feature.
I have my own curmedgeon chunk too which said
"ooo! an ipod zealot text file. they'll feel so special. If i could only come up with something
for cat worshipers that ran on the ipod i'd be rich!"
I just moved to the san francisco from the midwest
and I've
Offline Web Browser? (Score:1)
IPod Apps [ipodhacks.com]
another use for your iPod while riding around... (Score:4, Funny)
listening to music!
Missing the point.... (Score:1)
hmmm (Score:1)
wiPod rocks! (Score:1)
To all the haters...
Reasons wiPod is useful and rocks:
1) it is a quick and useful guide to free wi-fi hotspots. I've been on the road in several occasions where a client has called needing to discuss certain matters that require Internet access. I can now look quickly through my iPod list for nearby locations to stop during our meeting.
I used to be able to do this via the WAP enabled wifi hotspots [bayareafreefi.com], but now I can use the wiPod for instant access to bay area free wifi locations [bayareafreefi.com].
Using WAP requires me
Doing three things at once (Score:1)
A German supermarket-chain sells PDAs for about 400 complete with GPS Antenna and a Navigation Software for Europe.
A shareware lets you add custom Points of Interest to the maps.
So, you get a device, that can direct you via voice and moving map to a WiFi Hotspot, while you can listen to MP3s (and even OGG Vorbis *gasp*) from the Memory Card of the PDA *and* you can access the Hotspot with the same device if it's WiFi enabled.
Or you can mark a new WiFi Point of Interest yourself while you d
Settle Down (Score:1)
Just because this is available, it does not mean you have to use it. This is an instance where some people may find a usefulness in checking their iPod to see if there is a wifi connection close to them. I don't understand why everyone is throwing a hissy fit because of something that you can download to your iPod. It isn't like Apple is now preinstalling this with every iPod. If you think it would be useful for you, download it, if you don't, then stop reading the thread, it seems easy enough for me.
Re:Errrrr (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Errrrr (Score:1)
Re:Lots of Recent iPod Plugs (Score:4, Insightful)
just a suggestion
Re:Lots of Recent iPod Plugs (Score:1)
A story about a text file stored in a notepad style application is pretty lame IMHO.