The normal process to connect to Panera’s Wi-Fi is to turn on your Mac, login, load a browser such as Safari or Chrome, and then plug in a website URL (I typically use www.google.com as it loads quickly). I don't expect to get the page requested because, as a long time Panera customer, I know that I will actually be directed to a login page were I am to accept their terms by clicking a button. Once completed, I then have Wi-Fi access.
Things are a bit different with Lion; for the better. I turned on the MacBook Air (no, not the new one, I don’t have that kind of cash folks) and as I was getting ready to launch Chrome when the window shown below window popped up.
As you can see in the image above, Lion recognized that I was on a Wi-Fi network that required an authentication/terms of service page and instead of making me do the heavy lifting of launching the browser, automatically presented this mini browser (I have a Missing Plug-in error because I do not install Flash manually, I let Chrome handle the updates). I simply clicked on the Login button, Lion connected to the network, I closed the window, launched my browser and I was off.
Those of you with an iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch will notice that this is the way iOS handles networks that require a login page. It is really a nice touch that saves a bit mousing, typing and frustration for a new user not familiar with these types of network. I have also found that on some networks, I must use Safari instead of Chrome to gain access. This window will ensure that Safari is always used during the process. I give Apple huge kudos for this simple, effective, time-saving feature. It ain’t much, but sure makes things easier and I’m betting Windows 7 doesn’t have this feature.
Hi. Is there a way to make this window appear, because I'm having trouble logging into my school's system with Safari under the new iOS-like feature.
ReplyDeleteHello Christopher. I’ve found a couple of places where this window wouldn’t appear. The workaround for me has always been to manually enter the URL for the Wifi authorization page into Safari (or Chrome). You should be able to get this from your SysAdmin or another student who uses a Windows machine and then Bookmark it for future use. College’s are notorious for using non-standard authorization pages (I know, because I work for one).
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This is a problem I have encountered at UNCC. Sometimes it works perfectly, other times, meh. More specifically when I have logged in once that day, closed the laptop, then opened it again shortly after that. I'll have to make note of the authorization URL.
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ReplyDeleteI've noticed the same issue for other networks as well. It appears that when you close the lid and put the Mac to sleep, the authorization doesn't “stick.”
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I'm annoyed with this popup because my school uses a captive portal that requires username/password. I use LastPass to store all of that information, and as far as I can tell, no extensions load in this stripped down Safari launch, and unlike the popup in iOS, I have not found any other way to save the password. My workaround has been to just ignore this feature, close the window, attempt a google search in chrome, get redirected, and let LastPass do its thing.
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