Now that
HSTi's Wireless Media Stick is official, we decided to drop by its
CES booth to see what the deal was. Essentially, these Canadian sticks are WiFi dongles covering 802.11a/b/g/n, but the magic lies in their ability to let your computers appear as one USB mass storage device for devices like gaming consoles, digital frames and hi-fi stereos. You start off by plugging a stick into a PC, install the software (installer pre-loaded on the stick), and once connected to the wireless router you choose which folders to share (which is pretty easy, as we saw). You can do the same with more computers but each will require its own stick. From there onwards, plug in another stick into a device that accepts USB mass storage devices, and you'll be able to wirelessly access all the shared files on the network as if they are on one thumb drive. Pretty sweet, huh? And yes, this thing does in fact do exactly what
Infinitec's IUM claims to do. For now, HSTi only promises smooth 720p video streaming and Windows-only compatibility, but a future firmware upgrade should make things even more groovy. You can grab one starting January 15th for $119.99 each -- sooner and cheaper than the IUM,
but double that figure as you'll need at least two to get things going. Still, it doesn't hurt as much if you think of it as a thumb drive of up to one terabyte (and two in the near future).
Update: Whoops! We've just been told that only one stick is necessary -- use the stick to run the configuration wizard on the PCs, then plug it into a media device for use.
posted January 10th 2010 4:30AM
It would be totally nice... for $20
But for %120 ?! No thanks.
maybe if there was a video.... I might agree it was hands on... but all I see is text on... pix on...
"Still, it doesn't hurt as much if you think of it as a terabyte thumb drive."
Um, a thumb drive that doesn't have portability outside a network thought, right? No, thanks.
120!? What the hell are they smoking??? I can understand why this is appealing, but they can't charge that when this can be achieved for FREE with 1080p streaming and everything using PS3 Media Server/TVersity etc or even an ad-hoc connection to the PC........
Arent there free software that achieve the same?
This is fantastic and looks to be a lot cheaper than the IUM. I see some huge applications for this! I spent more than this on cable alone for my home theatre!!!
Hi, Just a couple corrections for the 'windows only' comment. That is only for the setup wizard right now. The device streams from windows and linux, such as NAS devices. Also, we have found the the resolution limitation is usually on the playback device. Some devices have a native max resolution of 800x600, which isn't even 720p.
Also, you don't need more than one stick for every pc. One stick can see every pc on your network. Perhaps you mean one stick per media device you have?
Thanks
hsti.com
For anyone that is confused by the last line. You DO NOT need 2 WirelessMediaStick's to get things working. Just one stick, no software to install on your PCs, and it will see every share you have set up on each of your PCs in your home network. The last line of the article sure make it sound like you need 2 WMS sticks, and you don't!
Thanks!
hsti.com
So the sticks allow media on a PC to be seen as USB devices on a console/other device so media can be streamed/shared to the device?
If it is a game console, it is probably already networked so the device can use online services. There are a lot of free DLNA/UPnP meida servers (some with transcoding for non-recognized media formats) for Mac/PC/Linux (even Windows Media Player can be used) and you can stream the music/video over the network; save $120.
As for using the USB device on a picture frame- a wireless 802.11b digital picture frame doesn't cost much more than one of these things.
I don't see this thing being a big hit...
Re: Broo
Yes of course there are ways to stream your media. And if it is an already networked device, then perhaps you have a streaming solution. What is really unique about our device, is that it turns any usb enabled media device in your home that was standalone, into a wireless enabled device. Perhaps you have several in your home? You can then simply plug and unplug the stick into each device at leisure to provide your networked media to that device without cables, or moving your laptop around the house, etc. It is very convenient.
It's obviously not the only streaming solution, but we feel it is a very convenient option.
One interesting note, our testing with the WMS on an xbox360 found that the device performed better wirelessly than a wired connection using the built in media center extenders. Playback was the same, but browsing the files and folders was a lot quicker using our device.
Doesn't Windows 7 already do this with Home Networks, Windows Media Players and DLNA. I know I use it to stream videos to my PS3, heck even XP had this...
@Nomi The key is even WiFi-less photo frames and stereos can access your files, if they have a USB port.
Hi, some other questions can be answered at our forum -
http://forums.hsti.com/index.php?topic=15.0
Feel free to ask any others you might have.
thanks,
hsti.com
I stop by that booth at the CES. Can't wait for it to come out to the market.
One thing according to their presentation that is generaly missed is portability.
So you mean to tell me that you will unplug your PS3 and take it upstairs to connect it to your stereo to listen to music? Great how are you going to navigate through the ps3 menu without a screen?
DLNA? to where? my stereo amplifier has USB but doesnot undersatnd DLNA. My TV in the bedroom 2.
When this comes out I am taking one of these sticks, plug it in to my grandmothers picture frame do a VPN connection to her network from mine and sync with my pictures from my home computer folder. I leave in Canada and she leaves in SAN FRAN. I would like to see DLNA and windows 7 do that! In a few years maybe.....
I've been testing this device out for the last four months. I have a WDTV
unit that I have it plugged into and am able to watch all my HD movies...
I have a server set up at home, So the good thing is I don't need to have my computer on when I want to watch a movie, or listen to my music on my TV surround sound. We have a PC and 2 laptops in our house which allows us to access our server so we can add pictures and view them through the wireless media stick. I am able to have the freedom to do so much more with the wireless media stick that I wasn't able to do before.
HELLO PEOPLE!!!!!
This device was invented right here in Canada