Outgoing Email, Roadrunner and the iPhone

I have had this question twice now over the last month, so I decided to take the time to write it up in case anyone else might need it.

The Problem

While you can easily set up your Roadrunner.com email address in your iPhone, sending email is more problematical. You can send email if you are connected via WiFi, but sending mail when using the cellular data network fails. It seems your iPhone cannot connect to the outgoing email server.

The Solution

When researching this problem for the first client to ask, I came across this tech note from Apple.com

iPhone: What to do if you can't send or receive Mail

This tech note gives you the steps necessary to select an outgoing email server provided by AT&T specifically for iPhone users. This outgoing mail server should work regardless of your connection to the Internet.

Apple revamps entire iPod line

In typical Apple fashion, the company made a big splash today by revamping their entire iPod/iPhone line of gadgets. The new iPod Nano now plays video and pictures as well as music, new iPod Classics boast a new interface and larger hard drive space, up to 160 GB), the iPodTouch brings almost all of the features of the iPhone to the iPod, including WiFi networking and access to the Apple Wifi Music store. The iPhone itself loses the 4GB version and gets a $200 price cut on the 8 GB version.

I have been looking for a replacement for my aging Palm Treo 90 that would allow me to connect to WiFi networks for mail and web browsing, so the iPodTouch is looking very nice. I will know more once I lay hands on the unit, which isn't expected until the end of this month.

Truly something for everyone today. You can find all the details on Apple's web site.

Technorati Tags: apple, cool, iphone, ipod, new, wifi

LAPL: Wi-Fi now in all branches

Yep, its true, at least according to this press release (PDF) from the LA Public Library web site. Great news and a big step toward getting wireless access to all who can take advantage of it.

Of course, remember, the LAPL also offers computers for Internet browsing and other tasks at all its branches, too!

LAPL: Wi-Fi now in all branches The L.A. Public Library just put out a release saying that free wireless is now available to laptop users in all 71 branches as well as the Central Library downtown....

(Via L.A. Observed.)

Technorati Tags: california, losangeles, technology, computers, high-tech, free, kids, children, wifi, network, networking, library

Mac Tip: Find Strongest Wi-Fi Networks Easily

It is little tips like this that can improve your entire work day.

I have often wanted more information about the existing WiFi connections in my area when I am working outside the office. This is one small step. Like the author, I would like to see which acces points are password protected, too.

Find Strongest Wi-Fi Networks Easily

Like most other Mac users, when I'm travelling, I often need to connect to a Wi-Fi network to access the Internet for email and Web browsing. But what if there are multiple available networks and I don't know which would be best to use? In the past, I would usually bring up iStumbler (MacStumbler hasn't been updated in years), but Take Control author Sharon Zardetto Aker alerted me to a simpler method. If you hold down the Option key when dropping the AirPort status menu, it lists available networks in order of signal strength....

(Continues)

(Via TidBITS.)

Technorati Tags: technology, macintosh, software, computers, hints, tips, network, networking, wifi

Elsewhere Online: Default Router Passwords Could Compromise Home Networks

This Slashdot story points up a vulnerability that some people might have left exposed on their home routers from companies like Linksys, D-Link and NetGear.

Whenever I set up a router, I make sure to reset the default password for that router. This is the password that allows you to setup and change settings within the router, not the password you might use to connect to your wireless network. That said, some of you might still be using the default password.

An exploit has been discovered that allows a malicious web page to access your router setup information, if it still uses the default password, and change settings within the router. Not a good thing.

If you are wondering if your router still has its factory default password, drop me an email at techiq@welchwrite.com and I can give you some instructions that will allow you to test for it.

Drive-By Pharming Attack Could Hit Home Networks

Rob wrote in with a link to a CBR Online article discussing drive-by pharming, a new exploitation technique developed by Indiana University and Symantec Corporation. While it's not known if the technique is in use 'in the wild', the exploit could easily co-opt the web-browsing habits of a user that had not properly configured their router. "The attack works because most of the popular home routers ship with default passwords, default internal IP address ranges, and web-based configuration interfaces. The exploit is a single line of JavaScript loaded with a default router IP address, a default password, and an HTTP query designed to reconfigure the router to use the attacker's DNS servers." The article goes on to discuss several related and more advanced techniques related to this one, which security companies will have to keep in mind to guard against future attacks.

(Via Slashdot.)

Technorati Tags: technology, virus, exploit, software, computers, high-tech, protection, network, networking, router, password, passwords