Watch Bill Drive from San Francisco to LA

by Justin Glow on

This might not be up for long, but it’s worth a mention. Bill Snitzer, a tech guy over at BitGravity has a webcam hooked up to some sort of mobile Internet device and is live broadcasting his drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Below the video feed is a embedded Google Map that shows his exact location.

It might not be the most entertaining thing in the world to watch, but it’s an impressive display of what technology can do these days. “But how is this different than ‘Internet lifecaster’ Justin.tv?” you might be asking. Well, it’s not, I guess… but the Google Maps integration is what sets this apart from the rest. Very cool. [via]

Free WiFi in Los Angeles

by Neil Woodburn on

Although internet cafes are quite popular in Europe, there really aren’t too many of them in the United States. Unfortunately, this doesn’t make things very easy for travelers wanting to jump online while visiting the USA.

If you happen to be in Los Angeles, however, there is a very convenient way to get online: visit one of the city’s public libraries.

The Los Angeles Public Library system offers free WiFi connection to anyone who walks in through their front door. And with 72 locations throughout Los Angeles, there’s a good chance there’s one near your hotel. Click here to find it.

Dear Gadling Readers: Best Solution for Internet on the Road?

by Justin Glow on

Dear Gadling Readers,

I am going on a two-week road trip across the U.S. this summer, and I’d like to find a way to keep myself connected to the Internet. I have a Dell Inspiron 640m (e1405) and a Samsung SPH-A840 with Sprint service, so getting a data plan on my phone — along with the proper dongle to connect to my laptop — is an option. But…BUT! Is there anything better? Is there some new fangled technology I should be trying out — something that doesn’t rely on Sprint’s coverage area? The idea of satellites aligning to feed me data sounds romantic.

I’ll be camping almost every night in areas where Sprint won’t have coverage, and I can think of nothing more beautiful than sitting in the remote countryside, checking my email and downloading torrents of the TV shows I’ll be missing.

So, Gadling readers. Help me out. What options do I have?

Love,
Justin

P.S. As much as I’d like to unplug for the duration of the trip, I cannot. Reliable Internet access is a must!

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of June 10

by Adrienne Wilson on

Here’s a handful from the week that you may have looked over some how and for one reason or another they deserve all your attention. Take five, 15 or 50 minutes exploring these posts from this week.

5. Urban Camping: Tents in the Big City?:
Like camping or sleeping in your car? Here’s a lovely gear idea to get you doing both right out on your urban neighborhood street or avenue or boulevard.

4. Internet Everywhere with AutoNet Mobile:
This one is for real internet junkies or professionals who actually need the net on the GO. See how you can get broadband internet service for your car.

3. America’s Most Miserable Airports:
A trip through the airport can be a trip in itself. Find out which airports you should try avoiding this summer when making plans that may include a layover or flying through them all together.

2. Eating Your Way Through the Ethnic Neighborhoods of Los Angeles:
Looking for something different to feast on in the city of Angels tonight? The options are endless as Neil points out in this spotlight on some of the ethnic neighborhoods serving up exotic plates. Oh, and they’re delicious too…

1. A Canadian in Beijing: Shannon’s Wings:
Ember pays homage to a close friend who committed suicide and walks us through the details of an accidental bird sanctuary visit. The piece is touching, beautiful and thought-provoking. Hands down one of the best for the week…

HotelChatter’s Best WiFi Hotels for 2007

by Justin Glow on

HotelChatter has released the 2007 findings in their annual search for the best wifi hotels. They boldly claim that the “hotel WiFi landscape has reached an impasse.” No longer is the list made up of hotels that simply offer free wireless, but instead hotel chains like Omni make the cut because they have fewer restrictions. “For instance, you can get free WiFi in the lobby, but in-rooms it’s ethernet and it starts at $9.95. Or you can get free WiFi in your rooms but you need to belong to a hotel’s loyalty program or be assigned a code with a special password.”

Topping the list is Marriot, whose Residence Inns, SpringHill Suites, and Courtyard “all have strong, free, fast, working wireless in the rooms and the lobbies.” The only thing keeping them from a perfect score is a lack of property-wide access — some Marriots are good, some are bad.

For the full report, head over to HotelChatter.

[via boingboing]