For awhile now, ultra-wideband (UWB) has been on the way down in terms of popularity, and all the while, AMIMON's WHDI technology has been racking up an unprecedented amount of support. At this year's CEDIA conference, we've got adapter manufacturer Gefen backing both sides by introducing separate wireless HD solutions built around Tzero's UWB tech and the aforesaid WHDI. It's hard to say if both of these formats will continue to be supported (though if we had to guess, we'd say WHDI has the upper hand), but at least for now, Gefen's playing it safe rather than casting a vote. We've a term in Washington for your kind, Gefen, and that term is fencesitter.

Read - Gefen supports WHDI!
Read - But wait, Gefen supports UWB!

Certainly not the first to conjure up such wares, Gefen is hopping in the USB display adapter game with its own USB-to-DVI adapter. The unit supports screen resolutions up to 1,600 x 1,200 and plays nice with all 32-bit versions of Windows as well as OS X. As you're probably well aware, up to a half dozen of these critters can be connected to a single PC at a time, and any attempt to use seven or more will likely cause a catastrophic meltdown. Unfortunately, these things are still a tad pricey, and even Gefen's will set you back a stiff $129. Full release posted after the jump (which affirms OS X support).

We've seen Gefen get all riled up and unleash a barrage of new kit all at once, and sure enough, the outfit is doing just that once more. For starters, we've got the TV Switcher, which enables consumers to connect and access four HDMI sources from a single HDTV. Next up is the TV Splitter, which allows users to channel a single HDMI source to four displays -- and yeah, both of the aforementioned units play nice with HDMI v1.3a. Moving right along, we've got a pair of updates to the PVR lineup; the HD PVR records in MPEG4 and can store material on the 80GB HDD or an SD card, while the SD PVR records content onto USB storage devices. Over on the sound side, the Gefen TV Audio Processor takes a single HDMI source and delivers it to a display and an external audio receiver; furthermore, it reportedly "decodes the HDMI signal to provide an audio signal along with six discrete RCA connectors." Lastly, the firm is doling out v1.3 / Simplay HD-certified HDMI cables in 6-, 10- and 15-foot lengths, but unfortunately, it didn't bother handing out price tags for any of the goods here.

Now that you've already shelled out for Gefen's wireless USB hub, how's about another gizmo from the company to tempt your USB-lovin' soul? The Wireless USB 2.0 Extender requires no drivers, works with Windows, Linux, and OS X-based systems and promises to transmit up to four USB 2.0 signals one hundred-feet through the air. Gefen stated that you'll recognize USB speeds "up to 54Mbps," and while we're all about ridding our work area of unnecessary wires, the $399 asking price still seems a bit steep.

[Via SlashGear]

That wireless USB hub you peeked this morning was just the calm before the storm, as Gefen has now unveiled a smorgasbord of HD converters, extenders, and other accessories that you just can't do without. Up first is the $249 Component + Digital Audio to HDMI Adapter, which pipes that recently one-upped component and Toslink connection into a single HDMI cable. Next, it looks like Gefen is expanding its PVR lineup with an HD iteration that supports HDMI and is capable of recording HDCP-compliant sources in 1080p. Moving on, you'll find a 4x4 HDMI CAT5 Matrix to string your HDMI signals along up to 200-feet using vanilla CAT5 cabling, and the $399 Component Audio Extender enables nearly any audio source to be transferred 330-feet away over Ethernet. Last (but certainly not least), the $699 Wireless HDMI Extender delivers a plug 'n play method of extending HDMI signals up to 33-feet over the air with no loss in quality. Unsurprisingly, Gefen's latest niche convenience products won't enter your AV system without a premium, so be sure and avoid the gallery below if you're already being negatively tempted to pick something up.

Read - Component + Digital Audio to HDMI Adapter
Read - Personal Video Recorders
Read - 4x4 HDMI CAT5 Matrix
Read - Component Audio Extender
Read - Wireless HDMI Extender

The Gefen wireless USB hub that we reported on back in the lazy, carefree days of May is finally hitting your block. According to a press release, the hub will be making an appearance at Infocomm 07 as well as going on sale "by show time", which means right now. The hub, if you'll recall, de-clutters workspaces by connecting a "sender/dongle" to your computer and a small receiver to a USB device, allowing for wireless operation up to 60 feet away. For those of us whose homes are starting to look like the ship from The Matrix, this may come as a welcome relief -- as long as you can swing the $399 price-tag.

Gefen has been talking up its wireless USB hub for quite a while now, but it looks like it could now finally be getting closer to a release, with the device making its all-important first appearance on the FCC's website. While there's not a whole lot to help it stand out from other similar devices, it looks like should get the job done well enough, with a promised 60 foot range and data transfer speeds of up to 70 Mbps, along with four USB 2.0 ports to accommodate your various peripherals. As with other wireless USB devices, however, the pleasure of operating your gadgets from across the room doesn't come cheap, with Gefen currently asking $399 to take your order, although it still isn't giving any indication as to when it'll actually ship.

Read - Gefen product page
Read - FCC documents

One of the reasons why we still love component video is because of the availability of component video matrix switches. Matrix switches are like a Ethernet switch for HDTVs, they allow any source to connect to any HDTV throughout your house. That way you can stack up all your equipment in your closet, and enjoy any one of your sources on any one of your HDTVs. Finally regular consumers can get the same matrix action out of their HDMI gear, with Gefen's new 4x4 HDMI Matrix switch, which routes your video and sound, and can be controlled via IR or a RS-232 connection for your home automation system. As cool as this product is, it isn't for everyone. The switch costs $1,999, and who knows how much those long HDMI cables from the closet will cost you, but if you have four HDTVs, a Series3 TiVo, an Xbox360, an HD DVD and a Blu-ray player, you can probably afford it.

While Gefen has helped many a folk use two computers on one monitor and extend their cabling for miles on end, the company is now giving us PVR freaks something else to spaz about. The two (plainly-named) Personal Video Recorders sport sleek, brushed aluminum enclosures that resemble a Mac mini in form, and both units are all but identical save for the high-end edition's ability to handle 1080p. These PVRs differ from most, however, as they can record content from television or any other attached source (i.e. a camcorder), and transfer the video in MPEG4 format directly to an attached USB flash drive. According to Gefen, users "simply save their programming on the USB device, remove it when needed, and plug it into any USB-equipped computer for instant access." Furthermore, the boxes tout a switching functionality that allows users to connect multiple sources and flip a toggle to determine which one gets captured. From what we can tell, there's no reason an external USB hard drive couldn't be used as well for mass capturing / transporting, and while we (unfortunately) don't know when these suckas are shipping nor how much coinage they'll demand, consider our interest piqued nonetheless.

[Via EverythingUSB]

At first glance, the Gefen Home Theater Scaler looks like just another cheap Mac mini knock-off, but it's so much more than that. Assuming that it works as advertised, the HTS will upconvert your standard-definition video to high-definition, all the way up to 1080p. That means you won't have to buy a new upscaling DVD player to use with your hot HDTV. Furthermore, it also works as a video switcher between a pair of component sources and two HDMI sources, which is pretty sweet as well. The Scaler will set you back four Benjamins and is available now from the company's website.

[Via eHomeUpgrade]

Just in case you get the itch to hook up nearly every high definition source currently available (okay, maybe not all of them) in the comfort of your living room, Gefen has unveiled two new plug and play DVI switchers for the biggest of HD junkies. Doubling up on its DVI KVM device, the 4x1 DVI switcher sports 4 dual-link DVI inputs along with a single output, and supports local switching right on the box -- upping the ante even further is the 8x1 flavor, which conviently comes in a 1U rackmountable enclosure and touts HDCP passthrough capability. Both units sport IR remote switching, RS-232 serial ports, includes as many 6 foot DVI cables as inputs, and can sustain HDTV signals 1080p. Detangling that royal mess of DVI cables won't come cheap, however, as the little guy will run you $349, while the 8-port sibling demands a whopping (but not at all surprising) $899.

A lot of people like/need to do their computing away from the actual computer, and for most applications up to several hundred feet, a regular old wired or wireless KVM extender will do, but if for some reason you'd like to situate your machine up to six-and-a-quarter miles away, only the DVI3000HD from Gefen is up to the task. This new 1,280 x 1,024-capable extender uses single mode fiber optic cables to connect a transmitter situated by your PC to a receiver box located next to your workspace, and sports USB 1.1, DVI, and RS-232C ports for breaking the signal out to your keyboard, mouse, monitor, and/or serial devices. As you might expect, super-long-distance computing like this doesn't come cheap, so both boxes and the included cables -- available now for pre-order -- will set you back a cool two grand.