User:Dfewgoodmen/Connectify

Connectify is a software programme or application which can potentially transform a Windows 7 Wi-Fi enabled personal computer into a wireless hotspot. This Wireless Hotspot created by the Connectify application can then be shared with other Wi-Fi enabled device or a friend’s computer. Connectify can even share Wi-Fi networks which an individual is currently connected to with a single Wi-Fi card. Connectify is a free application, can be downloaded free from the company’s website and can be ready to be used immediately. It is easy to install and has a user friendly User interface. With Connectify, one could easily connect any number of Wi-Fi enabled devices to the generated personal network including laptops, phones, gaming systems, and more. A Wi-Fi enabled devices can see and join the Connectify hotspot just like any other Wi-Fi access.

Development
The Development of Connectify started for some years now. The Connectify team was said to have been building a self wireless network for some “mission critical applications.” The goal was to create an application that will enable sharing of a wireless network effortlessly. Then in 2009, they travelled to an Army Base to demonstrate the possibilities of controlling a Humvee with a Wi-Fi network. After a distressing experience, the idea of Connectify was born. They never wanted to carry another brick of hardware or a physical router and so went on a marathon software development.

Connectify was the widely available application that exploited the Virtual Wi-Fi capabilities of Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system. The developers first offered the program as a beta version that could be freely downloaded from their website. The application has now been refined to a stable and full version. The latest iteration is version 1.2 which is said to correct many bugs with improvement to the user interface.

The application is still free and it doesn’t appear that the developers intend to make a commercial or retail version. One way that they can go is to produce a sstrp down version as a free version while they can create a more versatile version with lots of features, customer support and security as their commercial version. Not different from what some antivirus companies do.

Virtual Wi-Fi in Windows 7; Virtual Wi-Fi is one of the features that Microsoft introduced in Windows 7 operating system. It apparently did not get much attention until possibly after the Connectify application came into being. The Virtual WiFi of Windows 7 makes it possible to use the wireless networking adapter of a computer system as a wireless hotspot to connect additional systems. The Connectify application exploits this hidden virtual Wi-Fi in the lines of code in windows 7 to create the Wireless network or hotspot.

Installation
The installation takes a very short time. It is installed in less than a minute. In the 1.2 version which is the latest, the icon seats in the system tray in the right hand corner of the task bar. Sometimes in the system tray of the task bar.

Features/Uses
The features of Connectify are quite straight forward. It enables the windows 7 laptop to create a Wi-Fi hotspot with or without an internet connection without any additional hardware. You can then connect your Wi-Fi enabled home gadget or devices. With the Connectify application, users can wirelessly share any Internet connection: a cable modem, a cellular card, or even another Wi-Fi network seamlessly. Other Wi-Fi enabled devices including laptops, smart phones, PMPs, music players, and gaming systems can see and join the Connectify hotspot just like any other Wi-Fi access point and are kept safe and secure by password-protected WPA2 Encryption.

Reception
The reception of Connectify by the general public and the Tech world have been generally positive. It has a wider acceptance in third world countries where the money to dish out to by a hardware wireless router may be difficult to come by. Here are some reviews from different Tech websites; "Windows 7 is required on the notebook acting as a wireless hotspot, but any wireless-equipped device, including PCs running Windows XP or Vista, or even Mac laptops, can reach the Web through Connectify without any additional software. Connectify also encrypts the traffic to and from the software "hot spot" using WPA2-Personal (AES) encryption." "Connectify is a free application that effectively turns any Windows 7 computer into a virtual WiFi hotspot letting you, for instance, wirelessly tether a number of devices to your laptop at location where only an Ethernet jack is available, or even tether a number of laptops together at a coffee shop that charges for WiFi." Gigaom - Connectify Is Early Evidence of Why Win7's "Virtual Wi-Fi" Matters "Connectify takes direct advantage of the virtual Wi-Fi features in Windows 7 to create a software-based wireless router for Wi-Fi sharing. Just imagine the range and coverage possibilities that can come of turning your laptop into a router." "Your friends don't see an "ad-hoc" network with limited powers - they see a real access point, served up from a virtual, cloned version of your Wi-Fi adapter."
 * PCWorld - Unfinished Windows 7 Feature Turns Laptops Into Wi-Fi Hotspots
 * Engadget - Unfinished Windows 7 feature exploited for virtual WiFi hotspots
 * Lifehacker - Connectify Restores Wi-Fi Hotspot Powers to Windows 7

Editions/Versions
Connectify started with a Beta Version which came out in late 2009. This was replaced with version 1.1. And now supplanted with Version 1.2. The Version 1.2 was released March 29, 2010 with some improved features including;


 * Improved Ad Hoc Support: By popular demand, Ad Hoc now supports "Open" (no encryption) mode.


 * Connectify Easy Setup Wizard: This was not there in version 1.1. And just like the windows setup wizard, it guides you step by step throughout the process of setup.


 * Improved User Interface: The Connectify window now stays visible until you minimize it. This is important so that you can keep it up to watch devices connect or even snap a snipping tool picture of it. The other improvement to the UI includes messages and tool tips throughout the program.


 * More Statistics: The tool tip on the Clients now reveal more information. Examples include how many times the device has connected, the total time that they've been connected, and their MAC addresses.

Hardware requirements
As mentioned earlier, the Connectify application requires only a Computer with Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system. The System also needs to have an inbuilt Wireless LAN card. No information on whether it would work with an external WLAN card is available.