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An iPod-based Guide To SF Wireless Hotspots

Posted by timothy on from the creative-misuse dept.

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!"

14 of 128 comments (clear)

  1. Why bother? by per11 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It would make more sense just to read the text file on your laptop or whatever device you will be using to access these networks.

    1. Re:Why bother? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Unless you just wanted to check where the nearest WiFi point is and you are listening to your iPod at the time.

      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.

    2. Re:Why bother? by Further82 · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'm pretty sure slashdot has some kinda regular expression search replace setup for certin key words to be arbitrarily replaced by "iPod". It's already used on the words "mp3 player", now it seems they've added "handheld computer" to the list. I await the day when any random noun is replaced by "iPod". I'm sure the editors at slashdot have some kinda deal with Apple where each additional mention of the iPod in a slashdot article allows a select editor to give Steve Jobs a blow job.

  2. WHY! by Kenja · · Score: 4, Insightful
    For the love of all that you hold dear, WHY!

    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.

    --

    "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
  3. WOW! NEATO! by multiplexo · · Score: 5, Funny
    What kind of other cool stuff will us iPod owners have access to? Perhaps a file containing the URLs of porn sites! Perhaps a text file containing the phone numbers of our friends! Perhaps another text file that contains the numbers and addresses of such geek friendly information as the location of the nearest comic book store, Fry's or Thai restaurant. Wow! Isn't it amazing how dull and pedestrian information is somehow transformed by putting it on an iPod!?

    --
    cheap labor conservatives - they want to keep you hungry enough to be thankful for minimum wage.
  4. Totally agree... by bennomatic · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I love my iPod, but if I'm wearing it, it's because I'm (a) working out, or (b) on a long, grueling airplane trip. However, I always carry my phone/palm device, so a palm-based version of this would be convenient if I don't want to pull my laptop out of the bag...

    --
    The CB App. What's your 20?
  5. Re:why...? by line.at.infinity · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It's more convenient to whip out your iPod and check for a wireless spot before you even open up your laptop. I think the same thing can be said about people who walk around with a PDA and a laptop, but for some, the iPod's PDA-like feature is good enough that they don't care for a full-blown PDA (stylus and all).

  6. Paper is better by Solder+Fumes · · Score: 5, Funny

    In even a relatively large area, are there even enough hot spots to fill up a couple sheets of paper? And with paper, you have the added high-tech benefit of graphics. Imagine, being able to represent the location of hot spots as dots on a map!

  7. The wiPod is a great new product by dr+fish+spit · · Score: 5, Funny
    BayAreaFreeFi announces the wiPod

    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!!!!

  8. Bleh. Here's the Archos equivalent by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 4, Funny

    Works in every city in the world, doesn't need an iPod, can me printed on a very small piece of paper for easy access:

    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.

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  9. The PDAing of the iPod by amichalo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I find it so frustrating how a device can not just have a SINGLE purpose these days. Most notably I am upset at how many 'cameras' manufacturers are shoving down my throat: My Cell Phone has to be a camera, my video camera has to be a still camera too, as does my Sony Clie PDA.

    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...

    --
    I only came here to do two things; kick some ass, and drink some beer...looks like we're almost out of beer.
  10. Re:Errrrr by wankledot · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Can something be that elitist when almost a million of them are sold every 3 months?

    --
    My sig is blank, I typed this by hand.
  11. Surprised the new iPod ISN'T wireless. by Minstrel+Boy · · Score: 4, Insightful
    I'm actually amazed the new iPod *doesn't* have wireless built in. Following the release of the Airport Express and AirTunes, I thought being able to stream music directly to AE would be the logical next step. Your own DJ playlist with wireless remote; you'd be the life of the party! Of course, it'd be a geek party so you'd be the only one there - hmm.

    KeS

  12. Re:Lots of Recent iPod Plugs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm sorry, I didn't know Slashdot was exclusively a "linux" site. I thought it was a tech-related site. You might want to mod your profile to just include Linux-related posts or maybe just to ignore Apple posts if they get on your nerves enough to make ya want to rant about the editors.

    just a suggestion