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Posts Tagged ‘ Wi-Fi ’

Secure Your Tech Gear

By Fei on May 16, 2011

By Patrick Miller
May 16, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO – Hackers, pickpockets, snoops, and spies–it’s a dangerous world out there.

Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, you can work from practically anywhere. But now it’s also easier than ever for other parties to compromise your mobile tech gear by sniffing out your Wi-Fi traffic, stealing your passwords, and even peering at your print jobs.

What’s more, if you’re working on the go, you’re probably carrying a $500 smartphone, a $1000 laptop, or other expensive gadgets–netbooks, tablets, cameras, and so on. It doesn’t take a sophisticated session-hijacking trick to jeopardize your security, cost you a lot of money, or otherwise inconvenience you. All it takes is a second of carelessness and someone with sticky fingers.

Don’t worry–we’ve assembled a collection of how-tos aimed at helping you secure your tech, stay safe on public Wi-Fi, and keep your information out of a hacker’s hands.

And if the worst happens and someone steals your stuff, we have a few tips to help you get your gear back. (These tips also apply if your smartphone has simply fallen in between your couch cushions. No big deal; that happens to us, too.)

You know what they say: Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. So get reading.

How to Browse Privately on Public Wi-Fi For Free

By Fei on March 4, 2011

By Keir Thomas
March 4, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO – If you’re a mobile worker and like to go online using public Wi-Fi services, like those in coffee shops, you probably don’t realize how insanely reckless you’re being.
Public Wi-Fi is the worst kind of Internet connection. Data isn’t encrypted as it flies through the air and, as the recent Firesheep debacle showed, it’s incredibly easy for others using the same network to grab your login details for sites like Facebook
One method of protecting yourself is to use a browser extension like HTTPS Everywhere. This forces your browser to connect by default to a site’s secure HTTPS server, but very few sites have one. You can also pay for VPN services but these can be slow.
In this tutorial I explain how to create a secure setup that’ll stop anybody from snooping on your Wi-Fi-transmitted data, regardless of what type of Internet connection you’re using. It won’t cost a penny because we’re going to use entirely free-of-charge software, although you’ll need an old PC to act as a server and your Internet router will need to be able to work with a dynamic DNS service. (Most can, and if yours can’t, you might find that a firmware update brings the functionality.)
The technique involves creating a secure shell (SSH) server on the old computer at home or work, through which you’ll do all your Web browsing via an encrypted tunnel across the Internet.
It’s not a perfect solution because DNS lookups are still done via the public Wi-Fi connection. Somebody could theoretically find out what sites you’ve been visiting, but this is unlikely.

The instructions are in four stages, the first three of which explain how to get everything set up.

Setting Up the SSH Server

1. Start by downloading the standard desktop release of Ubuntu Linux (don’t download the server version unless you’re experienced with the Linux command-line). I chose to install version 10.10 of Ubuntu. Install it on the old computer you’re going to use as a server.
There’s no minimum specification for the old computer, although ideally it should have 1GB or more of RAM. However, because it’ll be an Internet-facing machine, you should remove any personal data, such as files contained in an old Windows installation.

2. Once installation has finished, get the new Ubuntu system online via Ethernet or Wi-Fi to your home or work router, and ensure it’s fully updated (click System, then Administration, then Update Manager, and click the Check button, followed by the Install Updates button).

3. When updating has finished, open a command-line prompt (Applications, then Accessories, then Terminal) and type the following: sudo apt-get install openssh-server. Once the installation has finished, close the command-line window.

That’s all for setting up the Ubuntu machine. All you need in the future before leaving the house to work remotely is to boot up the server and log in to your account to ensure the machine gets an Internet connection.

There’s no need to run any additional software since everything runs in the background. If you don’t mind the electricity bill, you could even leave the machine booted up 24 hours a day, but check the power saving settings to ensure the system doesn’t go into sleep-mode (System, then Preferences, then Power Management).

Configuring Your Internet Router

1. You’ll need to create a static domain name for your server, and configure your router to allow incoming connections, so we can always connect to it while out and about. Head over to Dyndns.com and create a free domain name (look to the lower-left of the Dyndns home page). You can choose just about anything for the DNS address–I created keirthomas.dyndns-office.com, for example.
To set up the domain name you’ll be prompted to create a new account at Dyndns.com, but this is free. Be careful when registering your new domain; Dyndns.com tries very hard to sell you paid-for accounts and often it can be hard to see the smaller links that setup the free stuff.

2. You’ll know when the Dyndns account is fully set up because you’ll reach a screen showing the host name alongside your router’s public IP address.

However, you must now configure the dynamic DNS feature of your router so that it will always inform Dyndns of its public IP address.

How this is done varies from router to router so I can’t provide a guide, but generally speaking you’ll need to select Dyndns.com from a dropdown list within the configuration screen and enter both your Dyndns username and password, along with the host address you created (I entered keirthomas.dyndns-office.com, for example). If prompted, there’s no need to set up multiple hosts.

3. You’ll also have to create a firewall rule on the router to pass-through incoming SSH traffic automatically to your new Ubuntu server. Again, how this is done varies, so I can’t provide a guide. Some routers refer to creating these rules as setting up application sharing. If you’ve ever created a firewall rule for online gaming or file sharing, then you’ll know where to look in your router’s configuration options because the SSH rule is essentially the same thing, although this time you must allow port 22 to pass through.

Configuring Your Laptop

1. Most of the hard work is now done. On the laptop you’re going to use out and about, download and install PuTTY. PuTTY doesn’t have an installation routine so you’ll need to put the .exe file somewhere safe on your hard disk (such as in your Documents folder).
PuTTY does two things: It opens the secure tunnel to the Ubuntu server, and also runs a SOCKS proxy on your laptop that your Web browser will connect to in order to use the tunnel.
2. Start PuTTY and, in the tree view of configuration options on the left, click the SSH option under the Connection heading. In the new submenu that appears, select Tunnels. Under the Destination heading in the PuTTY dialog box, select the Dynamic radio button and in the Source Port text field, enter 8080. Then click the Add button.

3. Back in the tree view of configuration options in PuTTY, click the Session heading at the very top and, in the Hostname (or IP Address) field, type the Dyndns domain you created earlier (again, I would type keirthomas.dyndns-office.com). In the Saved Sessions text field, type a name so you can save your new configuration (something like SSH tunnel is fine). Then click the Save button.

4. The final setup step is to configure your browser, which involves setting it to work with a proxy server. For Firefox, installing the FoxyProxy Basic add-on allows you to quickly switch between using a proxy server and deactivating it when you’re back at home. You can search for and install it using the Add-Ons window of Firefox (Go to Tools, then Add-ons).

7. Once FoxyProxy Basic is installed, select its entry on the Tools menu in Firefox and select Options on the submenu. Then, in the FoxProxy Basic configuration dialog box, click the Add New Proxy button.

8. In the dialog that appears, ensure Manual Proxy Configuration is selected and, in the Host or IP Address field, type localhost. In the port field, type 8080. Put a check in the SOCKS proxy? checkbox. Then leave everything else as it is and click OK. Close the FoxyProxy Basic dialog box.

Open the Tunnel Via Your Laptop

Setup is now finished. In future, before you leave the house or workplace to work remotely, first ensure the Ubuntu computer is booted-up and logged in, and then follow these instructions when you reach your destination.

1. Log in to the public Wi-Fi service you want to use.

2. Start PuTTY and select the new entry you created in the list of Saved Sessions. Then click the Open button to start the secure tunnel connection.

2. The first time you do this you’ll be told that they host key is not in the registry. This is fine–just click Yes in the dialog box that appears to add it. This dialog box will not appear in the future.

3. Every time you log in using PuTTY, a window will appear with the words Login As. Enter your username for the account you created on the Ubuntu computer, and the password, when prompted. You’ll then log in to the new computer and be shown a command prompt, but there’s no need to type anything, and you can minimise the PuTTY window. However, you must keep the PuTTY window open for the tunnel to work.

4. Start Firefox and select the proxy entry you created earlier from the FoxyProxy Basic entry on the Tools menu.

And that’s it!

From this point on, you will be browsing via your very own secure tunnel. To check this, open another browser (such as Internet Explorer) and visit WhatsMyIp.com. This will show the public IP address of the Wi-Fi service you’re using in the coffee shop.
However, visiting WhatsMyIp with Firefox will show a different IP address–the one for your home or work router, which is feeding you the Websites via the secure tunnel. In other words, all your Web data is coming via this IP address, through the secure tunnel. To anybody snooping on the connection, the data will be nothing more than encrypted garbage.

When you’ve finished remote working, you can close the PuTTY window, and also switch Firefox back to a non-proxy connection by clicking the FoxyProxy Basic , then Completely Disable FoxyProxy entry on the Tools menu of Firefox.

LG to show off Wi-Fi Direct on upcoming smartphone

By Fei on January 7, 2011

By Stephen Lawson

January 7, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO – Wi-Fi Direct, a wireless LAN mode that doesn’t require a hotspot, is starting to emerge in handsets and will be demonstrated on an LG Electronics smartphone this week at the International Consumer Electronics Show.

The Wi-Fi Alliance introduced Wi-Fi Direct late last year. Starting on Thursday, LG Electronics will demonstrate the technology on a mobile device. In its CES booth, LG plans to show Wi-Fi Direct in action on the LG Optimus Black, an Android 2.2 smartphone with a 4-inch display, which was announced on Wednesday and is expected to go on sale in the first half of this year.

The Optimus Black isn’t the first phone to be certified with Wi-Fi Direct. Samsung claimed that distinction with the Galaxy S GT-I9000 as early as Nov. 1, just after the Wi-Fi Alliance began certifying products under the new standard. That smartphone is already on sale. But more vendors are expected to incorporate the new standard in their products, some of which may be announced at CES, which continues through Sunday.

Wi-Fi Direct allows two devices to communicate via Wi-Fi without going through a central access point. That means users don’t have to wait until they are in an area already covered by a network, or set up a network with a portable device such as a Mi-Fi hub, before they can exchange data among client devices. It can also make it easier to quickly link systems in a home. Only one of the devices needs to be equipped with Wi-Fi Direct for the connection to work. Wi-Fi Direct works at speeds up to 250M bps (bits per second) over a range as far as about 200 meters, according to the Wi-Fi Alliance.

In its demonstrations, LG plans to send multimedia content from an Optimus Black handset on to TV and PC screens in its booth. That can be done by just flicking a finger on the handset’s touchscreen, said LG spokesman Ken Hong. A video playing on the phone can be instantly transferred to the TV, he said. The demonstrations will also incorporate DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance), a standard for connectivity among consumer electronics devices.

LG already has four Blu-ray Disc players and two Blu-ray Disc home theater systems certified for Wi-Fi Direct, according to the Wi-Fi Alliance’s website. It has more consumer electronics products than any other vendor on the list, which is still dominated by chips and components.

A growing number of Wi-Fi products will incorporate Wi-Fi Direct, in part because it can eliminate the need for one extra chip in some products, said Farpoint Group analyst Craig Mathias. For example, it can take the place of Bluetooth for many purposes, such as linking peripherals to PCs, Mathias said. “You’ll definitely see Wi-Fi Direct taking a bite out of that,” he said.

The technology may also be useful for applications such as streaming audio to speakers and setting up control and monitoring networks in temporary settings, Mathias said. Consumers may also use it for video in some cases, depending on the distance between devices and the quality that’s required, he said.

iPad Influx Spurs Demand for Fast Wi-Fi

By Fei on October 12, 2010

By Matt Hamblen
October 12, 2010

FRAMINGHAM – The first day the iPad went on sale in April, half the financial analysts and executives at securities brokerage Baron Funds in Manhattan lined up and bought their own — and then immediately wanted to use them at work.

“They got no reception in the offices and said, ‘We need good Wi-Fi,’ so I said, ‘Let’s get a budget for this,’” said Henry Mayorga, Baron’s manager of network technology, in an interview.

Mayorga quickly evaluated Wi-Fi gear from Trapeze Networks, Aruba Networks and Cisco Systems . Cisco won out because it could handle various coverage issues, including radio interference from a large electronic control center for elaborate fish tanks that adorn the Baron offices.

Cisco’s 802.11 a/b/g Wi-Fi gear couldn’t handle the throughput demands of the iPads, Mayorga found, but Cisco’s faster 802.11n gear worked — and required fewer access points than the rivals’ did. So he installed 18 Cisco Aironet 3502 access points with CleanAir technology to reduce interference.

Mayorga praised Cisco’s 802.11n hardware, which cost $42,000, but he rejected Cisco’s security software and instead chose Avenda Systems’ eTIPS, which cost $15,000.

About 50 Baron analysts use iPads to consume massive amounts of information in the office, but they use desktop computers for creating documents or spreadsheets, Mayorga said.

While iPads are now the “machine of choice” for Baron users, he noted that the firm requires employees to pay for the devices themselves.

Slow Wi-Fi? Try Bypassing It with an Ethernet Cable

By Fei on August 12, 2010

By Rick Broida
August 12, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO – Reader Brenda has noticed that the Wi-Fi at her local library has slowed considerably in recent months, and she’s wondering what’s causing it: “Is it our computers, bogged down with too much junk, or is it something to do with the library’s system?”

Given that you cite multiple computers as exhibiting the same slow connectivity, chances are good it has something to do with the Wi-Fi.

For example, perhaps the router got moved to a location that’s blocking some of the signal. (I’ve been in houses where something in the walls prevented signals from reaching outside a single room.)

It could also be that the router is failing, or that more library patrons are sharing a fixed amount of bandwidth (like more cars on a highway leading to slow-moving traffic). Without having more information, it can be tricky to troubleshoot a problem like this.

However, there’s one step worth trying for anyone vexed by sluggish Wi-Fi: try a direct connection to the router. (Actually, that should be your second step; the first is to reset both the modem and router.)

In other words, disable your PC’s Wi-Fi, then connect it directly to the router using an Ethernet cable. Windows should automatically detect the new connection and get you online accordingly, though you may have to reboot.

Problem solved? If so, you know there’s some kind of Wi-Fi issue to blame. If not, the culprit is probably a bad router, bad router settings, or the Internet connection itself (check with your service provider). Space doesn’t permit me to address all these possibilities here, but at least you’ll have narrowed down the problem.

Kindle First Impressions: It’s All Good

By Fei on August 2, 2010

By Liane Cassavoy
August 2, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO – Well, now we know why Amazon’s stock of Kindle 2 e-readers evaporated so quickly. Just hours after I wrote about the devices being out of stock, Amazon announced a new model of its popular e-reader. The device, called simply the Kindle, is available for pre-order now and will ship August 27. While most of us will have to wait a month to get our hands on the new gadget, a few lucky bloggers and technology reporters already got a chance to check it out. So far, they seem to like it…a lot. In fact, in reading many of the reports about the new Kindle, I found it difficult to find anything they didn’t like about it.

PCWorld’s own Melissa J. Perenson says that the new Kindle is a dramatic improvement over its predecessor, with “an enhanced display, faster navigation, and an entirely redesigned chassis.” She lauds its notably smaller and lighter design, calling it “vastly improved.” The Kindle’s enhanced software allows it to “fly through menus.”

The New York Times’ Claire Cain Miller focuses on the new Wi-Fi feature that Amazon has added to this generation of the Kindle, as well as the lower price point. “Unlike previous Kindles, the $139 ‘Kindle Wi-Fi’ will connect to the Internet using only Wi-Fi instead of a cellphone network,” she writes, noting that $139 is the “lowest price yet” for a Kindle.

CNET’s David Carnoy also was impressed with the design of the new Kindle, noting that in the short time he got to play around with the device, he noticed that “the new model is clearly smaller and sleeker and the screen definitely pops a little more…The letters appear a little darker and…slightly sharper.”

But Carnoy also notes that while the price of the new Kindle is lower, it may not be low enough: “While not the $99 device some were hoping for, at $139 the Wi-Fi-only version is pretty affordable. ”

USA Today’s Edward C. Baig notes that, with the addition of Wi-Fi, Amazon “hopes to rattle rivals,” such as Barnes & Noble and Sony, by offering an e-reader that’s cheaper (by about $10) with the Wi-Fi functionality their devices already include.

Baig quotes a Forrester Research analyst who was impressed with the new, lower price point. James McQuivey tells USA Today, “Anyone who said ‘I don’t want to get (a Kindle) because they’re too expensive,’ will look at $139, and say, ‘It’s time to become a digital reader.’ ”

Hmmm. Wasn’t it Forrester Researcher that recently issued a report saying the price of e-readers will have to drop to between $50 and $99 before more users will be willing to adopt them? Perhaps McQuivey is so delighted with the Kindle’s new features that he’d be willing to pay the extra $40. And from the sounds of these write-ups, he’s not alone.

HP Officejet 4500 Wireless MFP Is Cheap but Poky

By Fei on June 1, 2010

By Melissa Riofrio
June 1, 2010

THE HP OFFICEJET 4500 Wireless All-In-One color inkjet multifunction printer gives small-office users a bit of everything for a low price ($130), including Wi-Fi. It’s slow, however, and the ink costs are middling to expensive. It comes with a 20-sheet automatic document feeder, plus a 100-sheet input tray that also catches up to 20 sheets of printed output— an awkward, but common, design among low-cost MFPs. Duplexing is manual, with on-screen prompts. For connectivity, the MFP has USB and Wi-Fi; the latter is a nice bonus. HP generously bundles USB and phone cables, plus a line adapter. All of those features are easy to use, thanks in large part to Flash animations that walk you through installation as well as common tasks and problems. You navigate via the two-line, 16-character monochrome LCD and the usual arrow, OK, and back/cancel buttons; the device also has a numeric keypad. This MFP is one of the slower models we’ve tested: It generated just 5 pages per minute when printing text, and 2.4 ppm when printing graphics. Copying and scanning were also quite poky. In our tests on plain paper, text looked a little fuzzy but nicely black, while graphics seemed fairly smooth. On HP’s photo paper, images were slightly cloudy and yellow on occasion (especially in flesh tones), but they still fell within a natural range. The inks are a mixed value. Standard-size black costs $15 for a 200-page yield, or a pricey 7.5 cents per page. The tricolor cartridge is $29 for a 360-page yield, or 8.1 cents per page. The highyield black option costs $32 and lasts 700 pages, or a decent 4.6 cents per page.

Ruckus Wireless Awarded Wi-Fi Security Patent for Dynamic Authentication and Encryption

By Fei on May 25, 2010

May 25, 2010

SUNNYVALE, CA – Ruckus Wireless™ recently announced that it has been granted a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for an innovation that radically simplifies the configuration, administration and strength of wireless network security. This patent is one of nearly two dozen patents granted to Ruckus with dozens more pending approval.

The new technique, commonly known as Dynamic Pre-Shared Key (PSK), effectively eliminates tedious and time-consuming manual installation of encryption keys, passphrases or user credentials needed to securely access a wireless network. Dynamic PSK changes this model by dynamically generating strong, unique security keys for each authenticated user, automatically installing these encryption keys on end user devices with little or no human intervention.

With the explosive growth of Wi-Fi networks around the world, organizations have struggled with how to streamline the complexity and cost of implementing robust wireless security. Many companies have used a passphrase that must be shared among many users and manually entered into client devices. If this “pre-shared key” becomes known or stolen it must be changed for all users and manually re-entered into every client device.

A popular alternative to the pre-shared key approach is an elaborate security framework (eg. 802.1X) that requires information, such as unique certificates or supplicants, to be installed on every user device. Deploying such systems requires a high level of technical expertise as well as ongoing technical support for users.

“With Wi-Fi there has historically been two ends of the security spectrum,” said Steve Martin, VP of Engineering for Ruckus Wireless. “On one end is the simple approach that makes life easy for network managers but creates potential security concerns for companies. On the other end is a very robust but often overwhelming security framework, such as 802.1X, that requires a tremendous amount of time and effort to implement and administer. We’ve created the best of both worlds with a user-friendly and low maintenance method for providing a high level of wireless security.”

Using Dynamic PSK, organizations can now streamline the administration of wireless security with the confidence of knowing that their wireless network is protected. Integrated into all Ruckus ZoneDirector wireless LAN controllers at no cost, Dynamic PSK technology is device-independent and works on laptops and handheld Wi-Fi enabled devices.

How Does Dynamic PSK Work?

When a user initially accesses the wireless network, they are authenticated through a captive portal on the Ruckus ZoneDirector. This information is checked against any standard back-end authentication server such as Active Directory, RADIUS or an internal database on the ZoneDirector.

Once the user has successfully authenticated, Dynamic PSK technology automatically generates a unique encryption key for that user device. This key is downloaded to the client and automatically configured, along with the requisite Wi-Fi information. This eliminates users from having to manually configure anything and dramatically reduces the technical support burden on IT staff.

Each Dynamic PSK is bound to a specific client device and has a configurable lifetime. With Dynamic PSK, organizations control the length of time that each key is valid in increments of hours, days, weeks or months. Once the key expires, users must re-authenticate. If a user device is stolen, others on the network are not at risk. Network managers only need to delete the compromised user or device record in their authentication database.

“The simplicity of these technologies, like Dynamic PSK, truly changes the game for wireless deployments,” said Matthew Crandall, Associate Director of Information Services at Johnson College in Pennsylvania. “Dynamic PSK has been a remarkable time-saving tool for us – eliminating the hassle of configuring each and every end user device while still giving us state-of-the-art Wi-Fi security.”

“Like a lot of organizations, we demanded strong wireless security but didn’t want the management hassles associated with it. Dynamic PSK breaks through the conventional problems that have inhibited implementing a simple and strong wireless security architecture that easily scales,” concluded Crandall.

Johnson College operates a campus-wide 802.11n Wi-Fi network across 13 buildings. When new users access an open “provisioning” wireless network (SSID), they use secure HTTPS to authenticate against Johnson College’s user directory. Once authenticated, user devices are automatically configured with a unique encryption key and required SSID information. The devices then securely connect to the appropriate Johnson College wireless network.

Google admits Street View cars collected Wi-Fi data

By Fei on May 18, 2010

By Carrie-Ann Skinner
May 18, 2010

LONDON – Google has admitted it has been mistakenly collecting data from unsecured Wi-Fi networks for three years.
The company said the error came to light after the German data protection authority audited the Wi-Fi data collected by Street View cars for use in location-based products such as Google Maps for mobile.
The authority revealed that as well as collecting SSID information (the network’s name) and MAC addresses (the number given to Wi-Fi devices such as a router), Google had also been collecting payload data such as emails or web page content being viewed.

“It’s now clear that we have been mistakenly collecting samples of payload data from open Wi-Fi networks, even though we never used that data in any Google products,” said Alan Eustace, senior vice president of Engineering & Research at Google, in a blog.
Google said the error came after a piece of code written in 2006 was included in the software used by its Street View cars.

The search also said typically it only collected “fragments of payload data” as the cars were always on the move and the “in-car Wi-Fi equipment automatically changes channels roughly five times a second”.

As soon as Google became aware of the problem it grounded the cars and then separated the data and disconnected it from the network.

“We want to delete this data as soon as possible, and are currently reaching out to regulators in the relevant countries about how to quickly dispose of it,” said Eustace. “Maintaining people’s trust is crucial to everything we do, and in this case we fell short.”

Google said it was now asking a third-party to review the software and confirm the data has been deleted.

The search engine also confirmed that it did not collect any data from secure password-protected Wi-Fi networks.

“The engineering team at Google works hard to earn your trust – and we are acutely aware that we failed badly here.”

14 Ways to Supercharge Your Smartphone

By Fei on May 14, 2010

By Ian Paul
May 14, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO – Are you using your smartphone to its fullest? Probably not–smartphone owners typically push their devices up to only about half their potential. Here are 14 smartphone apps to help your Android handset, BlackBerry, or iPhone become all that it can be.

For more ways to enhance your phone, see “13 Sites and Services to Supercharge Any Phone” and “13 Tips to Supercharge Your ‘Dumb’ Phone.”

Get Free Turn-by-Turn GPS on an iPhone

When Google brought free turn-by-turn GPS functionality to Android, many iPhone users were envious. In March, however, iPhone users gained their own free GPS app with turn-by-turn capabilities, courtesy of MapQuest.
Recently MapQuest added voice-guided directions to its free iPhone app, called MapQuest 4 Mobile. Reviews of MapQuest 4 Mobile for iPhone are mixed, however, with some critics pointing out that the app is not as full-featured as TomTom U.S.A. ($60). The big gripe concerns MapQuest’s rerouting feature, which is not automatic (as TomTom’s is) and requires you to restart your navigation manually if you stray from MapQuest’s planned route. Nevertheless, if you want to try a free voice-guided navigation app for the iPhone, MapQuest 4 Mobile is worth a look.

Turn Apps Into a Social Activity

App-obsessed Android users will love AppBrain. Want to show off all your apps to your friends? Interested in how other Android users rate the apps they have downloaded? AppBrain is the service for you.

AppBrain also creates a personal app catalog that you can share with other AppBrain users. You can peruse the apps of your AppBrain friends and other users, as well. Wondering what Lifehacker founding editor Gina Trapani has on her Android phone, for instance? You can check it out on AppBrain.

Never fear, Apple lovers: Similar services exist for the iPhone, too. Download AppsFire or Appfinder from the iTunes App Store to start sharing your favorite apps.

Communicate With Everyone via Fring

A unifying social networking platform for your mobile phone, Fring allows you to use one app to communicate across multiple social networking platforms, including AIM, GoogleTalk, ICQ, Skype, Twitter, and Yahoo Messenger. Fring eliminates the need to download specialized apps for each social network or communication tool–now you only have to worry about which friends you want to reach. Fring is available for iPhone, Android, and Nokia devices.

Make Your Android Phone Location-Aware

The smartphone app Locale for Android lets you set automatic preferences for your phone based on your location. If, say, you tend to forget to turn your ringer off when you reach the office, just customize your phone using Locale to switch your ringer to vibrate whenever you get to work. Or have it go to silent mode whenever you’re at the neighborhood movie theater. It’s simple, but clever.

Get Around Town

Hopstop is one of the best ways to plan bus and subway routes in cities with massive (and often confusing) transit systems. Hopstop is available in 16 U.S. cities, including Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
The Hopstop service is available as a mobile Web application compatible with any smartphone that has a browser. For Apple handset users, the Hopstop iPhone app includes phone numbers for taxi services. An SMS version is available for directions, as well.

New Yorkers might want to check out the CabSense app (for Android and iPhone), which helps you find the best location to get a taxi based on the time of day, location, and day of the week.

Find Wi-Fi in Your Area

Apple may have cut Wi-Fi stumblers out of the App Store, but you can still turn to Wi-Fi directories such as JiWire’s Wi-Fi Finder to discover over 280,000 hotspots in 140 countries worldwide. JiWire also has an app for Android.
A similar service, WeFi, can also help you find a nearby Wi-Fi hotspot; in fact, Fring recently released a WeFi add-on.

Master Automated Menus

Dial Zero is a service that promises to deliver the best phone number or strategy for getting a human being on the phone when you’re calling a company’s toll-free number. Just as Fonolo.com allows you to skip automated menu services for big companies, so does Dial Zero. The major difference is that Fonolo.com automates the process, limiting the number of companies it works with. Dial Zero, in contrast, offers instructions and tricks on how you can reach a real person. You can also read user comments (sometimes vulgar) about specific frustrations, as well as tales of success in dealing with phone menus.

Dial Zero is a free application for Android, BlackBerry, and iPhone.
Next: Compare Prices With ShopSavvy

Compare Prices With ShopSavvy

You can find many applications out there that turn your smartphone into a bar-code reader, but the best one I’ve found is ShopSavvy. This app quickly scans any product bar code to do price-comparison shopping online and at local stores. You can also create wish lists or set up price alerts based on your scanned items. ShopSavvy is available for Android, iPhone, and Nokia devices.

Browse Android Apps Easily

If you’re thinking of switching to an Android device but you need more information about the Android Market catalog than you can find on Google’s official site, head to DoubleTwist’s Android app site. It will help you find virtually any Android application available in the Market.

Use Your iPhone as a Mouse

For iPhone users, Logitech offers a handy free app called TouchMouse that turns your iPhone into a wireless mouse by way of your Wi-Fi network. This could be great if you wanted to sit back on the couch and control a laptop hooked up to a TV, for instance. All you need is the iPhone app and the desktop software for Windows or Mac.
Tip: If you find TouchMouse difficult to control, adjust the ‘Scrolling Speed’ option under Settings on the iPhone app.

Slip Away With Fake-A-Call

Sometimes the only way out of an awkward in-person encounter is to get a well-timed phone call. Now you don’t have to pray for a phone call to come in–just make it happen with the help of Fake-A-Call. This free application for Android, iPhone, and BlackBerry devices lets you schedule an interruption or create a phony phone call on the fly. Grab this tool to save yourself from any sticky situation you end up in.

Control a Jailbroken iPhone With a PC or Mac

Veency allows you to view and control a jailbroken iPhone via a Mac or PC using a Wi-Fi connection. The tool is an interesting application to try out if you want to control your iPhone’s iTunes interface while it’s connected to a set of speakers across the room, for example. Or how about typing notes into your device through the Notes app from a full keyboard? Not bad at all.

iPhoneHacks.com has a nice tutorial on how to install the software and run it for both Macs and PCs. You can find a number of VNC clients, such as TightVNC and UltraVNC for PCs and Chicken of the VNC for Macs.

Get a Personal Trainer

The huge range of smartphone fitness apps has made it easier than ever to track your exercise habits. I use RunKeeper on my iPhone to track my weekly jogs, including my speed, distance, and routes; I can even share my workouts via Facebook or Twitter. I also use Lose It to track my daily calorie intake, and for fun I use the GymFu apps to guide my push-ups, crunches, and pull-ups. Check out your smartphone’s app catalog to see what’s available for your device.
Don’t Pay for Ringtones

Android users can use Ringdroid to create their own ringtones, but iPhone users can easily create their own ringtones simply by using iTunes. For more, check out PCWorld’s step-by-step instructions on how to turn any MP3 into an iPhone ringtone.

Tip: This method also works for non-DRM-protected iTunes downloads in AAC format.

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