Thanks to Apple ’s AirPort technology , every Mac is subject of wireless networking . In 2007 , that technology is going to get a substantial speed boost .

Next-gen Wi-Fi

The current generation of Wi - Fi technology — bonk as AirPort Extreme to Mac exploiter , and 802.11 g to everyone else — appear in 2003 , and it ’s showing its age . The applied science standard group IEEE has been work on a new wireless networking standard , 802.11n , for two years now ; the first stablenproducts will likely appear this bounce .

While 802.11n will come in several flavors , even the slowest will be rated at 150 Mbps ( meaning that its factual throughput will be around 100 Mbps ) . The 802.11n standard will also offer greater mountain chain than its predecessors ( 802.11 g and the earliest 802.11b , which was the basis for Apple ’s original AirPort computer hardware ) .

The combination of high speed and long range should make 802.11n great for streaming DVD- and HD - tone telecasting around the nursing home . Current Wi - Fi applied science can handle only a few stock DVD current and only one or two HD current at a time . That ’s why Apple ’s hyped iTV will likely use 802.11n at some point in time ( see The Mac Media Center ) .

But there ’s a question of timing : the IEEE ’s 802.11n labor grouping probably wo n’t release its next draft of the standard — Draft 2.0 — before March 2007 . A final version may not be sign for another year . Draft 2.0 geartrain will also require to be tested for interoperability by the Wi - Fi Alliance , which controls the Wi - Fi name . Apple released AirPort Extreme six months before the IEEE finalized the 802.11 g standard , but that standard was much more settled at that point than 802.11n will be by this natural spring . So iTV in all likelihood wo n’t have 802.11n ab initio .

Buying advice

The good stake is that Apple will ship the first iteration of iTV and former 2007 Macs without 802.11n but will inte - grate the quicker standard into its products by the heart of the twelvemonth . When 802.11n does look , you ’ll be able to piece up Apple - brandednequipment , at the common Apple premium . As for third - party equipment , make trusted it has the Wi - Fi stamp of commendation from the Wi - Fi Alliance .

[ Glenn Fleishman writes about Wi - Fi , broadband , and cellular data atwww.wifinetnews.com . ]