On select HP notebooks with embedded 3G cards for mobile broadband access, including those with Qualcomm’s Gobi cards for GSM/HSPA/CDMA/EV-DO network access, HP will be pre-installing a connection manager that gives users access to HP DataPass, a pre-paid mobile broadband service for on the go connectivity. Rather than have enterprise and consumer customers sign up for expensive, long-term data plans, HP DataPass is a short-term solution for those who primarily rely on an Ethernet or WiFi connection for their wireless connections, but may occasionally travel and find themselves in need of a mobile broadband connection.

HP DataPass Hands On Video

Correction: In the video it is stated that HP is working directly with Sprint on DataPass.HP is purchasing wholesale Sprint data capacity through Peregrine, a third-party company.

The service piggybacks, for now, on Sprint’s 3G network, and HP says that it’s service is available only in the U.S. at this point, but the computer-maker is looking into expanding the service in other territories. The great thing about HP DataPass is users can either choose to use it, choose to use another carrier’s mobile broadband offerings–like those through AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint, or choose to ignore mobile broadband together if they don’t need it.

With many laptops now coming with the option for a Gobi chipset, users don’t need to choose which carrier they want their notebooks to work with. The Gobi chip allows users to choose if they want Verizon Wireless, Sprint, or AT&T service after the point of sale as it is compatible with all three carrier’s mobile broadband 3G networks.

With more laptops coming with embedded 3G modems, meaning you won’t need a MiFi or a USB dongle to connect to your carrier’s Internet, having an inexpensive, short-term option for mobile broadband access may mean that you’ll be more productive on the road on the off chance that you can’t find a free WiFi hotspot.

HP DataPass Pricing

Essentially, you can buy data by time periods–between 5 hours and 30 days–or by the bucket–between 75 MB to 1 GB–whichever expires first. The service is similar to a pre-paid cellular service. Here’s the pricing breakdown:

• $5.00: 75 MB or 5 hours of use
• $10.00: 150 MB or 3 days of use
• $20.00: 450 MB or 14 days of use
• $30.00: 1 GB or 30 days of use

In the enterprise market, the service will be great for users who may not otherwise get their manager’s approval for a $50-$80 monthly service for 2 years at a time. HP explains that in many companies, users who may not be as high up on the totem pole can still have access to mobile broadband access while traveling and would be more easily able to expense their data charges without being tied to an expensive monthly contract.

Connecting to the service is easy and seamless through HP’s connection manager. Additionally, when you run out of time or data through your purchased bucket, you can reload at any time.

HP DataPass Brings Pre-Paid Mobile Broadband to HP Notebooks (Video) is a post by Chuong Nguyen from Notebooks.com.

Eye Fi cards are SD cards that fit into your camera just like all other SD cards, but Eye Fi cards have a built in WiFi connection which allows them to upload your pictures and video to your computer or to social networking sites like FaceBook or YouTube. For the most part, the Eye Fi cards work without a lot of setup, but you can change settings on the card and on your camera to make things go smoother.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Eye Fi Card:

1. Power Settings: In order to make sure your photos and videos upload, you can adjust your camera’s power settings to make it stay powered on long enough for uploads to complete. Randhir Vieria, product marketing director for Eye-Fi, tells us that it takes about 3 seconds for the X2 series of cards to upload a 5MB photo and consumers take on average 20 to 25 pictures per session. With this in mind, you can tweak your camera’s power settings to stay on for around 5 minutes you will have the best of both worlds in terms of uploads and battery life. Eye Fi offers a collection of camera directions, or you can go to the settings and look for a power tab or battery options page.

2. Selective Online Sharing: Rather than share all the photos you take, set up selective sharing on your Eye Fi cards options. This allows you to choose which photos to upload by “protecting” them on your camera. You can always share others later from the Eye Fi Online Center.

3. Set up Notifications: In order to make sure your photos arrive online while you are busy taking pictures you can set up notifications so that you can get a text message or email when your upload starts and completes to Facebook or other social sites. This is handy for making sure that your photos are shared when you want them to be.

4. Endless Memory Mode: Another neat trick is to turn on Endless Memory mode. This mode allows your Eye Fi card to automatically delete pictures and video to free up space so that you never run our of space. Photos are only deleted after the Eye Fi card has made sure that they are safely stored on your computer so you don’t need to worry about deleting a photo you haven’t backed up yet.

5. Upload Modes: Choose to use Relayed transfer which will upload your photos even if you aren’t on the same network as your computer. You can also turn on “Connect to Public Hotspots”, which will allow your uploads to occur on open public WiFi access points even if you haven’t added them to your card. You can also connect to WiFi hotspot programs in this setting area.

Stay tuned for more Eye Fi card uses and our Full review of the Eye Fi X2 series.

Eye-Fi: 5 Tips and Tricks for Getting the Most Out of Eye Fi SD Cards is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Over at JKOnTheRun Kevin Tofel raises a good question about the connectivity of upcoming tablets, many of which are launching with 3G or 4G versions before a WiFi only version is released. Tofel asks readers if the 3G connectivity is a must have and unsurprisingly the early results are staggeringly on the side of WiFi over 3G.

Why would users want fewer features? Well, cost is the primary factor. More users are getting smartphones which is already adding another monthly data fee and few of these users want yet another monthly connection fee for a tablet. This isn’t even taking the mobile hotspot feature into account, which has its own monthly fee.

In talking with many users who are contemplating their first tablet we continue to hear a demand for apps and the ability to surf the web and check email around the house and at a hotel or campground over WiFi.

While some users, like Kevin, will use a smaller tablet like the Galaxy Tab more like a phone. The average user we have talked to is looking for a laptop replacement and as such, don’t expect to have mobile broadband, nor do they want to pay for and sign another contract.

Even though I am a mobile power user the last thing I want is another monthly fee that is limited to one device. I would much rather use a MiFi that can connect my laptop, my iPad, my wife’s Nook Color or any other WiFi device than a single use connection.

How do you feel about 3G and 4G connections in your tablets? Does your opinion change if the tablet is smaller?

Do You Need a 3G or 4G Tablet? Or is WiFi Enough? is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

A new report from the WiFi Alliance found that nearly a third, 32%, of Internet users will borrow their neighbor’s WiFi connection, or hop onto an unprotected WiFi hotspot to get online. The number is nearly double what it was back in 2008 and troubling form a security aspect given the ease for cybercriminals to grab your information of unprotected WiFi connections.

This love for open WiFi goes on despite a large portion of the survey respondents telling the Alliance that they would be more likely to share their housekey than their WiFi password (40%) and that it was more personal than sharing a toothbrush (more than 25%).

The security issue here is twofold. First, if you are leaving your WiFi network open you are leaving yourself open to attacks that could get at your private login information for banks, social networks and email. The FireSheep scare that happened this summer showed just how easy it is for untrained users to get at your passwords and browsing sessions. Imagine what someone who knows what they are doing could do.

Secondly, if you are connecting to  open hotspots to check your email and get online you are running the risk of connecting to a hotspot set up solely to capture your information.

Keep in mind that anytime you connect to open WiFi you run the risk of exposing information. When possible use the secure (https:) version to log into your accounts and avoid checking banking information on open WiFi connections.

Setting up security on your router is incredibly simple and should only take a few minutes. You can find the basic instructions for setting up your WiFi router security at About.com and if you need a specific manual, check out Retrevo.com.

If you aren’t able to follow the instructions that came with it you should ask your neighborhood tech support person and offer them a pizza for their time. If you do feel the need to share with friends or even with a neighbor, put a password on your WiFi and share the password. if need be you can change it after someone leaves.

32% of Browsers Borrow WiFi Connections Despite Dangers is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Whether you’re a student heading to an off campus apartment or a homeowner looking for an easier way to get connected a wireless router is an easy and cheap way to use the Internet anywhere in your house.

RocketBoom just launched RocketBoomTech, a new YouTube channel dedicated to technology and shows us in the video below how to buy and install a wireless router.

Adding WiFi to your home is a very straightforward process even for those who aren’t tech savvy. One other piece of advice regarding strong passwords is to , in this case only, write the security key on a small piece of paper and tape it to your router so that you can easily share with trusted friends. Don’t do this in a public or work setting but at home you’ll save yourself frustration later.

There are often deals to be found on wireless routers at your local office supply store and online. Here are a selection of wireless routers from Belkin, Linksys and NetGear to start your search.

How To Setup a Wireless Router (video) is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

A member of AllDroid forums posted that he has successfully rooted the Droid X. Though the bootloader issue may be starting to clear up, a new problem has recently surfaced. Some Droid X users are currently experiencing spotty WiFi connections.

Droid X Bootloader

Soon after the Motorola Droid X’s release, users reported that the phone was bricked when an attempt was made to put a different version of Android on the device. Motorola responded, claiming that the Droid X required an official Android release from Motorola to function properly.

Droid X users are beginning to follow the provided guide to root their device, and have reported that it works. Check out the AllDroid forum for the full description on how to root your Droid X. By doing so, different versions of Android, such as Froyo, could be loaded on the device. However, proceed at your own risk, as there is still the possibility of failure.

Droid X WiFi Issue

In other news, Droid X users are complaining about spotty WiFi performance. Symptoms of this issue include difficulty connecting to a WiFi router and poor network performance once the connection has been established. Thought no statements by Motorola or Verizon have been made, some users have discovered that changing the encryption from AES to TKIP improves WiFi performance. Others have noted that changing the router from 802.11n to 802.11g also helps the issue. Many had hoped that the latest software update would fix the WiFi issue, but it did not.

So far the only other issue reported on the 4.3-inch Motorola Droid X is the limited number of defective screens.

Via Engadget, BGR

Droid X Rooted, Spotty WiFi Ensues is a post by Carter Sprunger from Notebooks.com.

After a long day of travel, especially connected working on the go travel, it’s important to recharge your gadgets and recharge yourself as well.

We’ve just checked into our, booked at $45 3-star Priceline hotel, and need to recharge the gadgets we’ve been playing with and working on.

While the hotel we are in has a very lovely room, it doesn’t have enough outlets to manage all my gear which is why I like the Kensington 4 Port USB charger. It can handle my phone, my iPad, my wife’s phone and still have space for a random MP3 player.

As far as relaxing goes, for this geek it usually includes WiFi. Hotel WiFi remains a paradox. The higher quality the hotel, the more they charge to get online but I didn’t even have to bother checking what the daily fee was since the CradlePoint PHS300 and Sprint USB modem has out room all set to get online including our computers and my iPad; it can even pull in pictures off my wife’s Eye-Fi card.

We still have 10 hours ahead of us tomorrow so it’s time to call it a night. The rest of the roadtrip technology held up well during travel. Even with a glossy screen the Portege R705 worked out just right in the car and the massaging seat bottoms and backs left us feeling like we haven’t been sitting all day. As for SYNC, we have paired two devices and after a few minutes of learning how to use the system and how to talk correctly to SYNC, it was easy to bounce between bluetooth audio on our phones; the only downside was that the Sirius radio subscription was not activated.

Great American Road Trip 2.0: Recharge and Relax is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

PCMag.com reports that soon more flights will offer power connections in the coach section of several airlines including Continental and American Airlines.

The addition of power outlets is a move by the airlines to meet the demands of travelers who are increasingly taking notebooks, netbooks and other entertainment devices with them on flights. One hope is that by adding power outlets flyers will be more likely to use in-air WiFi which hasn’t taken off like airlines had hoped.

When the renovations are complete all of Contental’s coach seats will have power ports. American Airlines is also adding power outlets to all seats and WiFi equipment to the older 737 aircraft the company flies. By doing so, these carriers will be closer to offering the level of service that Virgin America has been offering flyers for some time now.

Will being able to charge your notebook on your next flight make you more likely to use in-air WiFi?

Power Outlets Coming to Coach on More Flights is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

FaceTime, a feature found on Apple’s famed iPhone 4, allows video calls to be placed by two iPhone 4 users over WiFi. But, how do you test it if you were lucky enough to get ahold of the iPhone 4 and your friends did not? Worry no more, as you can test it with an Apple employee right now.

Currently, FaceTime only works between two iPhone 4s, operating over WiFi. While this is an awesome feature, the amount of people you can video call is very limited. It is projected that due to the “open” nature of FaceTime, iPhone 4 users will soon be able to video call people who are on Skype or other platforms. Until then, if you are just dying to test out the new feature, but don’t know anyone else who has an iPhone 4, you can call an Apple employee.

This is more than just a social inquiry. The knowledgeable Apple employee on the other end will instruct you on how to use FaceTime, as well as reveal advanced tips, to ensure you get the most out of your FaceTime experience.

How do you do it? First, confirm that you are getting a WiFi signal, as FaceTime does not work over 3G. Then, dial 1-888-FACETIME.

Pretty cut and dry if you ask me. This unique service is available between 8:00am-8:00pm CDT. So go ahead and try it out! Who knows, maybe there will be a certain CEO sporting the classic black turtleneck on the other end.

Demo of FaceTime

Via Mobiture

Test FaceTime by Calling Apple at 1-888-FACETIME is a post by Carter Sprunger from Notebooks.com.

A group known as Goatse Security reportedly discovered a hole in AT&T’s privacy measures, allowing them access to the email addresses of at least 114,000 iPad 3G users. They group informed AT&T, but that was after they shared a PHP script with third parties that would gain them access to the same sensitive material.

The 2,000 page long list of the 114,000 compromised email addresses that was sent to Gawker

Though AT&T closed this hole, it looks as though everyone who purchased the iPad 3G may have had their email address harvested. But, the only real drawback for most users is the possibility of some extra spam. No passwords or other information was leaked besides the email addresses. However, many top government officials, CEOs, and military officials had their email addresses compromised, which means they may need to change their email addresses to avoid unwanted email.

Top military and government officials

CEOs and other important executives

This mistake seems to fall mostly on AT&T, which may hurt the already tense relationship with Apple. It also is proving to be bad PR on AT&T’s part. Security issues and data caps do not tend to make users very happy. Along with that, AT&T reportedly knew about the hole for a few days without notifying its customers. However, Apple must bear some responsibility as well, due to the fact that they provide AT&T with email addresses so that those users may activate their iPad 3G.

In an interview with Matt Buchanan at Gizmodo, AT&T’s Chief Security Officer, ED Amoroso, provided an explanation for the breach, highlighting the fact that it was due to AT&T’s efforts to make life easier for its customers.

Though AT&T claims that all is well, and that only email addresses and their related ICC-ID numbers (numbers used to identify specific iPads) were exposed, security experts told the New York Times that all is not well.

“Experts said that ICC-ID numbers could, in the right hands, be used to get other information, like an iPad’s location.

The breach “should be worrying people a lot,” said Nick DePetrillo, an independent security consultant.

Michael Kleeman, a communications network expert at the University of California, San Diego, said… “you could in theory find out where the device is,” Mr. Kleeman said. “But to do that, you would have to gain access to very secure databases that are not generally connected to the public Internet.”

The good news for all of you iPad without 3G owners is that you are safe.

iPad with WiFi + 3G start at $649. The iPad with WiFi starts at $499 at the Apple Store .

Via Gawker, Gizmodo, LaptopMag

Photos via Gawker

Hole Discovered in AT&T Security, 3G iPad Owners’ Email Addresses Harvested is a post by Carter Sprunger from Notebooks.com.