Wi Fi

Getting delayed at an airport may be less of a headache in the future if you are traveling with a smartphone, laptop or tablet computer. The Federal Communications Commission said it is increasing by 35% the availability of high-speed wireless Internet at airports, convention centers and conference hubs. Internet users will be able to access faster Wi-Fi, and that means more portable devices will be able to stream high-definition movies and television. The effort was announced by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Coming soon on Amtrak: fewer excuses to not work while commuting. The national railroad, which operates 21,000 route miles, is upgrading its Wi-Fi service to 4G on many routes across the country. Amtrak says the aim is to offer increased wireless speeds and greater reliability. Hopefully, this will enable a wider set of online features for train travelers. According to Amtrak's site, its current Wi-Fi service does not allow for "high-bandwidth actions such as streaming music, streaming video or downloading large files.

MGM Resorts properties along the Las Vegas Strip are rolling out free  Wi-Fi service throughout the low-rise public spaces of the resorts, from casinos to pools to restaurants. Once the system is fully implemented, you will not need to get up from a slot machine or a blackjack table to check emails. The technology is being installed in stages. It's already up and running at Bellagio , MGM Grand , Mandalay Bay and the Mirage. Service will be available later this year at Excalibur , Luxor , Monte Carlo and New York-New York . The new service, catering to what's being called the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)

Re “ Downtown market is going upscale ,” Dec. 27 I read with horror about the proposed “updating process” of Mercado Central. It has a unique character reflecting Los Angeles in days of yore. Wi-Fi, wine and couches have no place there. Does every place have to resemble Starbucks? It would be like changing Olvera Street. Christine Peterson Woodland Hills More letters to the editor ...  

Boeing, the Chicago-based company that has built some of the world's most sophisticated aircraft, has turned to a very basic food staple to test airplane Wi-Fi: potatoes. About 20,000 pounds of potatoes were used as stand-ins for passengers during tests at the company's laboratories to ensure onboard Wi-Fi signals are consistent through the cabin without interrupting the navigation and communication systems, the company said Wednesday. The sacks of potatoes replicate the way human passengers reflect and absorb electronic signals, said Boeing spokesman Adam Tischler.

Centrally located on Negril's legendary beach in Jamaica, White Sands offers 45 reasonably priced, comfortable rooms. Owner Henry Moo-Young and his family take pride in welcoming repeat guests to this lush property, which offers free Wi-Fi and safe deposit boxes, a private pool, a restaurant and a beachside bar. White Sands, Norman Manley Boulevard, Negril; (305) 503-9074 or (876) 957-4291, http://www.whitesandsjamaica.com . Rates from $69, Dec. 15-April 15. Elizabeth Bardsley Burbank

The social network is testing a project called Facebook Wi-Fi that provides free Internet access to customers who have a Facebook account and "check-in" at participating businesses. Businesses such as retail stores and coffee shops near Facebook's California headquarters in Menlo Park are using a router provided free of charge to test out the Wi-Fi program, a Facebook spokeswoman told The Times. When customers come in to a business' location and attempt to access its Wi-Fi network, they can do so by simply using Facebook's "Check In" feature.

If restaurants aren't already using technology such as touchscreen tablet menus, digital loyalty programs and in-store Wi-Fi and flat screen televisions, they should probably start, according to a new report. The majority of consumers surveyed by research group Technomic said that eateries should integrate more technology in their restaurants. More than half said they expected to use more ordering kiosks, computerized take-out trackers and other digital options when eating out down the line.

Apple unexpectedly introduced the fourth generation of its 9.7-inch iPad tablet Tuesday. The Cupertino-based tech company said the new generation will include the company's new Lightning dock connector as well as a new A6X processor chip. The new chip is twice as fast as the one in the third-generation iPad. Apple also said the new chip would deliver much better graphics performance. PHOTOS: Apple unveils iPad mini Additionally, the updated iPad will include an improved front-facing camera, which now shoots video in 720p HD. Apple said the Wi-Fi 16 GB iPad will still start at $499, while the cellular-connected version will also continue to start at $629.

Target Corp. is adopting a take-no-prisoners style this holiday to combat online rivals. The discount chain announced a host of new strategies to tempt customers to buy this season, including free Wi-Fi at all Target stores, new ways to shop from smartphones and a pilot program to test out an in-store navigator. Shoppers will soon be able to use their smartphones to buy items from TV commercials, bus station ads and catalog pages by sending a text or scanning a QR code. They'll also be able to scan those digital barcodes scattered within brick-and-mortar stores to buy products and ship them directly home.