Linksys allows PC users to store data elsewhere

External hard drives need no longer be tethered to a single computer.

A new product from Linksys allows such devices, which are commonly used as supplemental or backup computer storage, to be wirelessly connected to a home network, so multiple users can tap into the data bank like a central library.

The $99 Linksys Network Storage Link serves as a bridge between any external hard drive with a USB port and a router that is part of a wired or wireless network.

Linksys, a division of Cisco Systems Inc., also is partnering with hard drive maker Maxtor Corp. to co-market and collaborate on other products to help consumers store, access and manage their growing amounts of digital media files.

Internet

Texas to give travelers free wireless access

To encourage drivers to take more frequent breaks, the Texas Department of Transportation wants to set up free wireless Internet access at rest stops and travel information centers.

The department is accepting bids until next week and plans to choose a vendor in July. The chosen company won’t be paid, however, to provide the free access.

Web site

Free blog provider ends service, draws criticism

Dave Winer, a pioneer of an online journal format known as Web blogs, thought he was doing people a favor by playing host to 3,000 of such blogs for free.

So he recently was taken aback when he endured a barrage of criticism for deciding to stop the free service — an episode that reveals deep passions about blogging.

Winer launched his first Web blog in 1997 and began hosting other people’s blogs in 2000, when he headed UserLand Software, a Web publishing company. After UserLand dropped the service to focus on selling blogging-related tools, Winer bought some servers and offered free hosting on Weblogs.com.

Eventually Winer found that running the free service took too much time and energy, especially because he has health problems that he declined to discuss. He closed the free blogs June 13.