Belkin kills the FlyWire -- does wireless HD / HDMI even have a chance?

We sort of saw the writing on the wall, but now Belkin has went and made it official: the FlyWire is dead. Originally showcased at CES 2008 and at practically every AV-related trade show since, the wireless HD-enabling FlyWire was seen as the poster child for wireless HD / HDMI by many, and the death of this product certainly doesn't bode well for the technology as a whole. It's true that AMIMON -- the wireless startup responsible for the WHDI technology within the FlyWire and a few other devices -- just landed an extra $10 million in VC funding, but still, we've literally been waiting years for this so-called "promising technology" to get a foothold in the market. Or even make a wave, really.

As has become customary these days, Belkin is also pinning the cancellation of the FlyWire on the economy, with a spokesperson telling us that the "retail price of $1,499 would be out of line given the current state of the economy." She continued by stating that the company has "opted to halt production of FlyWire" and "will no longer be introducing [it] to the market." Granted, the company does seem somewhat apologetic, concluding that "there will be some disappointed folks out there, but [Belkin's] end goal is to introduce products that are accessible and that make sense in the current environment."

Frankly, we're not buying it. In April, Belkin affirmed to us that while AMIMON's WDHI technology was "solid," it was taking its sweet time in order to "pay very close attention to the user experience, such as the packaging, setup, and the quick install guide." We could be way off base here, but we'd say the economy was sucking quite a bit harder in April than it is today. And honestly, that's beside the point. A $1,500 device that enabled a Blu-ray player to communicate wirelessly with an HDTV is obviously a luxury item, and regardless of unemployment numbers, Belkin had to know that the FlyWire would only appeal to upscale consumers. You know, the same folks who also put in an order for a Ferrari California in 1H 2009 while their hedge fund dived.

To us, the sudden death of the FlyWire is more of an industry signal than anything. For quite some while, we've been wondering when the industry at large would embrace wireless HD and HDMI technology, and now we're beginning to think that said embrace will never happen in any significant capacity. Even Wireless USB couldn't cut it, and we're guessing there are an awful lot more USB users out there than HDMI. If the price dropped dramatically and the sector consolidated a bit in order to agree on a single standard, we'd say wireless HD / HDMI has a fighting chance. 'Til that happens, you can pretty much bank on the FlyWire fiasco becoming a model for the rest. Belkin's statement in full is past the break.

Belkin's official statement on the death of the FlyWire:
Last year, Belkin announced FlyWire™, a wireless HD transmitter that delivers high-definition video and audio wirelessly to any TV, anywhere in your home. We realize that its retail price of $1499 would be out of line given the current state of the economy. With that in mind, we've opted to halt production of FlyWire. We will no longer be introducing FlyWire to the market at this time. We know there will be some disappointed folks out there, but our end goal is to introduce products that are accessible and that make sense in the current environment.

[David Hildreth @ Jul 16th 2009 4:51PM]

And nothing of value was lost. Just run a damn cable.

[GRAMMAR POLICE @ Jul 16th 2009 4:54PM]

+1

If you can avoid wireless, avoid it. Cables always win. And if you need to run wireless HDMI... you're doing it wrong.

[AJ in the East Bay @ Jul 16th 2009 5:22PM]

@GRAMMAR POLICE,

Exactly. +1 to you as well.

[tservo24 @ Jul 16th 2009 5:35PM]

You're so right. Cables always win over wireless. That's why that whole wireless ethernet "wi-fi" thing never got any traction and died a quick death.

Are you kidding? Wireless HMDI would be incredible in the long run! Granted this was only the first step, but it had to start somewhere. For instance, imagine (eventually) being able to stream iTunes videos, YouTube, Hulu or anything else directly from say a wireless HDMI equipped laptop to a TV. That would obviate the need for expense and complicated toys such as Apple TV many NAS devices and the complexities of UPnP for many of us. Cables are great, but say you live in NYC and rent a very awkward apartment with cement or brick walls...running cabling isn't always an easy option, especially in a tiny apartment.

I really hope something like this happens someday!

[iroq321 @ Jul 16th 2009 5:42PM]

@AJ in the East Bay

+1 for you for +1-ing GRAMMAR POLICE who +1-ed David Hildreth

[nukee @ Jul 16th 2009 5:48PM]

@tservo24 That's comparing apples to oranges. Wi-fi is a way of extending the LAN so you can move about and stay connected, wireless HDMI is pretty limited in capabilities besides streaming content between a couple devices. Also, TVs and Blu-Ray players are starting to add those internet streaming services built in. So that does away with the need for the laptop and wireless HDMI.

[acme @ Jul 16th 2009 6:04PM]

laptops are portable machines, where the hell are you going with your bluray player that you need a wifi video feed?

[Brdystyls @ Jul 16th 2009 6:10PM]

Come on use your brains. Uh.... nevermind. Anyways HDMI would be awesome. Think about it, you have your entire video components (blueray, computer, dvd, etc) in say the basement and wireless transmit to all your tv's in the house. That would be the coolest thing ever. Or a wireless monitor for your computer would be sweet too.

[David @ Jul 16th 2009 6:37PM]

Pretty soon all laptops will have HDMI and blu-ray so there really won't be anything stopping people from just moving the laptop into the room they want to watch HD content in. That and I think HTCP's will continue to be popular, N is suppose to be fast enough for HD streaming right?

[David @ Jul 16th 2009 6:39PM]

@Brdystyls

Do you really want to have to go all the way to the basement to change the disc?

[enz1ey @ Jul 16th 2009 6:44PM]

@Brdystyls

So I'd have to walk down to my basement everytime I wanted to watch something just to put the disc in, then walk all the way back upstairs?

[crazyburns @ Jul 16th 2009 4:52PM]

$1499? What were they putting in that thing? Did it come with a 50" LCD? The hardware probably only cost them $10 to make.

[Chuckles McGee @ Jul 17th 2009 12:53AM]

I'm guessing the $1500 price tag had something to do with the scale of production. If it was being mass produced, I don't see any reason why it would cost more than $50 or so. I think anyone investing in a sleek home theater setup would consider one for sub $500.

[Jonathan @ Jul 16th 2009 4:53PM]

How did I miss this? This thing is actually pretty awesome. I don't think it's $1,500 awesome, but definitely $500 awesome.

[Mikeweezer @ Jul 16th 2009 5:06PM]

eh... I'd say closer to $200 awesome.

Oh well, it would never outperform my $200 awesome gold-plated HDMI from Monster.

[Mikeweezer @ Jul 16th 2009 5:07PM]

Damn - comment system removed my sarcasm tag.

[Vic @ Jul 16th 2009 6:35PM]

Thank God, Mike. I thought you were serious about the Monster cables for a second.

[Joylove @ Jul 17th 2009 1:14PM]

Gefen have a wireless HDMI streamer for $500

Personally, living in a rented apartment and using an HTPC to serve simulcast AV to three rooms, this would have been ideal for me, but no way could I shoulder $1500 or even $500.

[Bill Gates @ Jul 16th 2009 4:55PM]

Totally useless.

[Return of Jackson...whoo! @ Jul 16th 2009 4:55PM]

FACK MONSTER CABLES!!!!

We should all go wireless that was Monster Cables will not be able to stay in business. Then after we go back to cables.

[Spiny Norman @ Jul 16th 2009 5:26PM]

If this thing were to take off, you can rest assured that Monster would start selling purified air for $129 a can to improve the transmission of the wireless signal, as everyone knows that dirty air can affect the signals.

The sad thing is that there would be buyers for the air.

[Jacob @ Jul 16th 2009 5:32PM]

lol about the purified air. Regular can of compressed air: $5, Monster Cable compressed air: $100.

[acme @ Jul 16th 2009 6:05PM]

i fuckin lol'd

gold plated purified air

[JSWinston @ Jul 16th 2009 7:56PM]

The purified air comment might have been the funniest comment on Engadget this year.

[crawdad689 @ Jul 16th 2009 4:58PM]

I just don't see the appeal.

You have to run POWER to the TV that you have on your wall, so it's not like your setup can ever be 100% wireless.

Buy the $4 cable on monoprice, and never have to deal with wireless hassles and quality degradation.

$1500 just astounds me, too. How could it possibly cost that much to manufacture?

[Eric @ Jul 16th 2009 4:58PM]

To be fair, it does take six video inputs and combine them into one convenient HDMI connection on the receiver end. That's got to be worth something to someone, especially if they only have one HDMI input on their TV/projector.

[fieldcar @ Jul 16th 2009 5:00PM]

Some marketing idiot dropped the ball on this one. Either that, or they are geniuses.

Boss: How much will it retail for?
Marketing: $1499
Boss: People aren't gonna pay that much just to get wireless connectivity.
Marketing: But it comes in piano black.
Boss: SOLD!!!

[digitallysick @ Jul 16th 2009 5:05PM]

Nice idea but really a cheap cable, its thin and not hurting anyone

[bandigolo @ Jul 16th 2009 5:07PM]

For half that price I could wire my entire house with female HDMI sockets running to one or more central hubs located behind the A/V stack(s).

[TomServo @ Jul 16th 2009 5:14PM]

You know, eventually, we're gonna run out of wireless bandwidth and shit is gonna start stepping on each other. I know the DSS argument, but there's only so many channels available for it to hop.

[iroq321 @ Jul 16th 2009 5:16PM]

i never understood why this was even ever considered a good idea. It's totally useless. Take your happy ass to Monoprice.com and get you some HDMI cables for cheap, none of that Monster bull ship.
and 1500 bucks!? they must really be on one.

[L.Rawlins @ Jul 16th 2009 5:16PM]

Wireless HD has a chance. Here in the UK, Ofcom have already ratified the bandwidth requirements within the past few days. I'm thoroughly looking forward to my WiHD/WiFi toting goggle-box of the future... and it seems that it's not as distant a future as I'd thought.

http://www.techradar.com/news/television/hdtv/wireless-hdmi-goes-legal-in-uk-615943

[chickenator @ Jul 16th 2009 5:21PM]

Monster Cable Sucks!!!

[don @ Jul 16th 2009 9:29PM]

true

and $150 is stupid 10 times what is should cosy. designed by idiots and marketed by greedy guts.

[The Avatar @ Jul 16th 2009 5:34PM]

Well, Monster Cables should buy this technology and remarket as


"Monster Cable without the Cable"

[bandigolo @ Jul 16th 2009 5:36PM]

Do you think they'd sue themselves for trademark dilution?

[LongshotX @ Jul 16th 2009 5:37PM]

Damn been looking for a solution for a minute.

[Christopher Wilson @ Jul 17th 2009 12:45AM]

Look longer.

[ryanrvogel @ Jul 16th 2009 5:42PM]

I agree that wired is always the way to go if it is a viable option, however wireless HDMI could still be valuable to apartment dwellers or others that can't modify their living space.

I think the analogy to wireless USB is completely bogus however because a major component of USB is power/charging and obviously that can't be done wirelessly. As far as data transfers, WIFI is already cheap, available and works perfectly well. As far as peripheral communications, bluetooth is already pretty solid so the way I see it, wireless USB was obsolete before it was even close to coming to market. Wireless HDMI on the other hand doesn't have a standardized alternative and it could be very valuable especially when you think about sharing an A/V stack with multiple displays. You could easily have a (currently) high-end HDMI switching receiver with multiple zones wirelessly feeding any compatible display in your house. Sounds pretty awesome to me. I do think that the cost isn't there yet but the concept isn't without merit.

[Nick @ Jul 16th 2009 5:49PM]

Was this even in demand...?

[jol @ Jul 16th 2009 6:38PM]

How on earth do you need $1500 for a box? What, is it filled with pounds of golden pixels and fairies that I don't know about?

[Kneeman @ Jul 16th 2009 8:16PM]

Am I not seeing this correctly??? Doesn't Sony already have a solution for this here for 499.00 msrp

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665544559&tab=Features

[eddie_nutritious @ Jul 17th 2009 1:57AM]

You didn't think Monster could stand there and let all of their cables go wireless, did you?

http://www.monstercable.com/press/viewpress.asp?Article=183

Just wait until they're forcing Best Buy drones to pimp these on everybody they can. Then you might see wireless HD take off.

[don @ Jul 16th 2009 9:31PM]

Dropped a zero $1500 is stupid and $150 would have merely been very high.

[Rk0n @ Jul 16th 2009 9:36PM]

It's too costly in this day and page, Panasonic seems a bit late with their Z1 line of plasmas that have wireless HD 600ghz bands.

@www.twitter.com/bttrends

[wbbabr @ Jul 16th 2009 10:37PM]

While there might be some demand for wireless HDMI, $1,500 is just too expensive for what it is. What A/V equipment does anyone need to connect that badly? I can buy a NAS, a wireless-N router, and media players to stream my video library to all my TVs for like half of what this costs. For the less tech-savvy, wouldn't it be better to just buy another TV or another Blu-Ray player? I don't think it's just the bad economy. It's just not a good option at this price even in a good one.

[verbatim @ Jul 17th 2009 7:38AM]

"...but now Belkin has went and made it official..."

Has went? Which third grader wrote this. As far as I know, it's, "...has gone...."

[chad @ Jul 18th 2009 3:25PM]

I have mentioned this a number of times before but the Avocent MPX 1500 series is fully HDMI / HDCP compliant, goes point to multipoint (currently 1 to 8 but expandale via acess points) and has the added advantage of being able to run as a wired solution also. Unfortunately Avocent has a marketing department that seems to think the "if we ignore our customers they will go away" strategy is the proper way to stay in business.