For some of us, looking for wifi in a new or public place is a constant mystery. Our built-in monitors in our laptops tell us we’re near a signal, but we still can’t get online. Part of the reason is that we don’t have enough information. The Xirrus Widget (available through Yahoo! widgets) solves that problem. It tells you which connections are nearby; how strong they are; what kind they are (so you can avoid sketchy ad hoc networks); and what type of encryption they use (if any).
By far and away the coolest part of the widget, though, is the Geiger-counter mode you can go into when you want to get a stronger signal. Simply click on the desired network and start moving around. Your laptop will beep faster and faster as you get closer to the source and your signal gets stronger. When it starts going crazy, you’re all set to surf. That, or you’re terribly irradiated.
