Before I switched to Mac, I used to love to use NetStumbler for Windows. It is a tool that allows you to find any WiFi network and learn a lot about them. This tool even lets you make note of GPS coordinates and do a little thing that people like to call WarDriving. Not that I would know anything about that.

Problem is, there is no NetStumbler for Mac. However! After a lot of searching I came up with a couple of cool alternatives:
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I had some videos I needed to upload in Vegas, but The Mirage’s WiFi was so slow I was getting 30 – 40kb uploads and ocassional dropped connections. When I got to the airport to head home I fired up the WiFi on my iPhone and ran a speed test. Unbelievably, I got 2mb upload speeds!

So, I whipped out my laptop and proceeded to upload a 1.3gb file to Viddler in about 30 minutes at a sustained average rate of 650kb. You can see the results of the test and upload below.

Many thanks to the folks at McCarran who make this possible. If only everyone was as cool as you!

This is so completely off the hook geeky that it is wickedly cool… So, if anyone is looking for an excuse to get me a present, here is the number one idea. A shirt with animated bars that actually detect WiFi signals.

Better yet, it’s available for only $30 at ThinkGeek.com.

Product Features

• Glowing animated shirt dynamically displays the current wi-fi signal strength.
• Shows signal strength for 802.11b or 802.11g
• Black 100% Cotton T-Shirt
• Animated Decal is Removable (with hook and loop fasteners) for Easy Washing
• Battery Pack is Concealed in a Small Pocket Sewn Inside the Shirt
• Runs for hours off three AAA Batteries (not included)

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Folks, I was at the airport and I popped open my laptop to hop on the net and upon doing so I encountered a seriously sneaky bastard. Do you see anything wrong with the image below?

Well, hopefully you notice the little icon of a laptop beside the network entitled “Free Public WiFi”. This is NOT a free wireless access point, but instead a laptop computer that someone has configured to capture your personal data and rob you blind.
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