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Atlona's VGA to HDMI adapter ditches the brick, does 1080p on USB power
Laptops or desktops stuck with only VGA output often need a little help to get their content onto an HDTV, and Atlona is there for them. It's introducing another in a storied line of HDMI adapters, this one taking VGA input and turning it to HDMI output. That's not particularly special, but that this one does it powered only by a single USB port is. It'll also pull in analog audio over a 3.5mm plug and add that to the mix, then pump the results at a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1200. Of course, all that functionality is going to cost you: $120 for the adapter, but it does at least include a six-foot HDMI cable. They're up for order now ahead of a date with the postman next week, and there's another picture waiting for you after the break if you're really into the orange and black scheme.
Atlona's HDAiR wireless USB-to-VGA / HDMI adapter gains audio, usefulness
Remember that HDAiR adapter we reviewed with exceptionally high hopes earlier this year? Yeah, it wasn't exactly the dream device we wanted, but it seems as if Atlona may have just remedied the primary gripe we had against it. The all-new HDAiR wireless USB-to-VGA / HDMI adapter is essentially the same one as before, but this time audio is involved. In response to widespread demand for the feature, the outfit has added the ability to output audio in both 3.5mm analog, as well as embedded on the HDMI output. This one's also compatible with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7, and it's still using the tried-and-true UWB protocol to sling content. If you managed to hold off on the first guy, this one's available to order now for $219.
Atlona ships AT-DP200 DVI to Mini DisplayPort adapter
Folks who just so happen to own a Mini DisplayPort-equipped monitor (you know, like Apple's 24-inch LED Cinema Display) have been longing for this adapter for what feels like forever, and while Atlona assured us it was coming way back in July, it has taken until now for the all-important ship date to arrive. The AT-DP200 is capable of maintaining resolution and HDCP compatibility, but considering the $179 price tag, we might suggest picking up a new graphics card instead. Your call, buster.
Atlona AT-HD530 Down-Converter, for those who walked uphill to school, both ways
From the "three steps forward, two steps back" category comes Atlona's AT-HD530 Down-Converter. Send in a signal on one of those newfangled HDMI or DVI connections, and through the magic of fuzz-inducing signal-smashing you'll be able to grab output as either S-Video or composite. That's right, for just $299 you can kneecap your new gear and drag it back into the 80s. Obviously this is aimed at custom installers with clients demanding that their old and new gear play together, but with S-Video falling by the wayside on many new AVRs, it might gain a few more users. The custom installers get a pass, but for everyone else we'd suggest that your need for a AT-HD530 is a sign that it's time to upgrade.
Atlona HD-AiR wireless HDMI system hands-on and impressions
One of our ultimate dream gadgets has long been a dead-simple wireless HDMI dongle for our laptops -- something that would let us just throw a window (say, Hulu) up on our HDTV without a lot of fuss, cables, or configuration. So obviously we were pretty excited to try out the $199 Atlona Technologies HD-AiR, which marries Wireless USB with DisplayLink and promises to send 720p video directly from your laptop to a base station with VGA and HDMI outputs up to 30 feet away -- until we received the box and noted the small print saying that it doesn't support audio. Hopes: dashed.On top of that, we're not sure if it's DisplayLink, Wireless USB, or some combination of the two, but the video link seemed pretty bandwidth-starved -- full-screen video was close to unwatchable, PowerPoint transitions were kinda jerky, and even just moving windows around was pretty choppy. For such a promising -- and much-needed -- device, the HD-AiR just doesn't get it done. Atlona says the next version will have audio support and 1080p video support using the next generation of DisplayLink chips and drivers, but we'd hope the company's engineers spend a little more time in the lab polishing up their 720p framerates before they push this thing any farther. Video after the break.
Atlona AT-HD570 breaks lossless audio out of its HDMI shell
In its apparent quest to build up a product cutsheet on par with Gefen's, Atlona has added the audio-splitting AT-HD570 to its lineup. This gadget should be music (ahem) to those who want to hold on to their older receivers/processors, but are itching to get the new lossless audio codecs on Blu-ray discs. Send in a HDMI signal with audio in either LPCM or bitstream format (up to Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD MA), and this little box will break out the audio on SPDIF optical and 7.1-channel analog; those interested in the lossless codecs will want to grab those analog outputs. Meanwhile, the video signal stays on that HDMI cable, ready to go along its merry way to your video gear. The $219 price point might get you to consider picking up a Blu-ray deck with analog outputs instead, but definitely useful for cases where you're forced to deal with HDMI-less components.
Atlona teams with Wisair for wireless USB to HDMI adapter
Wait a second -- isn't wireless USB, um, deceased? Regardless of what pundits and the industry at large have said (via words, actions, or otherwise), Wisair is absolutely refusing to give up the dream. To that end, the firm has teamed with peripheral mainstay Atlona in order to develop and produce a wireless USB to HDMI adapter. Much like the wired AT-HDPiX, the May-bound AT-HDAiR enables users to connect any USB-enabled computer to any HDTV or projector via VGA or HDMI. The difference? This one works sans extra cabling. The range here is 30 feet, though you can only expect footage to stream through at up to 720p (or 1,440 x 1,200). At least the price tag is just $199, which sure beats some of the obviously more capable options with WHDI chips within.
Atlona's AT-LINE-PRO3 video scaler goes to 11
Bringing things in line with last year's AT-LINE-EX 10-input video scaler, Atlona Technologies has one-upped itself with the 11-input AT-LINE-PRO3. Really more of an update to the measly five inputs on the AT-LINE-PRO2, the new model brings the "PRO" series more in line with the "EX" one. The back of the unit is encrusted with inputs: 2 composite, 2 component, 1 VGA, 1 DVI-I, 4 HDMI and even a lonely S-Video, each of which can be scaled up to 1080p and sent to the pair of mirrored HDMI outputs. Definitely a piece of gear with a more commercial kind of appeal, but it's always better to have more inputs than you need as opposed to fewer, right? Ships this month for $699.
Atlona's AT-HDPiX USB-to-HDMI adapter answers an age-old prayer
Okay, so maybe Atlona Technologies' latest whiz-bang adapter isn't that awesome, but then again, it's pretty awesome. The AT-HDPiX USB-to-HDMI adapter does precisely what it says by enabling any PC / digital signage display to accept an HDMI cable so long as a USB 2.0 socket is currently unoccupied. The device supports resolutions up to 1,600 x 1,200 (or 720p), and because it takes audio from a 3.5-millimeter stereo jack rather than through the USB port, the full bandwidth of the USB connection is reserved for high-def video. Expect this miracle worker to start shipping next month for $179.
Atlona unveils 10-input AT-LINE-EX 1080p video scaler
Looking for a video scaler? No, we mean a real video scaler? Enter Atlona Technologies' AT-LINE-EX, a 10-input scaler that's compatible with any input resolution including PC, SDTV, and HDTV. Essentially, it enables users to connect practically any device -- be a legacy unit or otherwise -- and have that content upscaled to 1080p via the integrated Analog Devices scaling chip. Granted, we're not so certain you'd even want that 1983 Independence Day bash blown up to 1,920 x 1,080, but at least the option is there, right? Expect it to begin shipping on August 28th for $429.
Atlona's AT16010-X cables deliver on its DisplayPort promise
Just a few short weeks ago, Atlona threw in its support for DisplayPort by promising to deliver cabling for the freely licensable format. Lookee here, the AT16010-X cable lineup will be available at the end of the month in lengths from 1- to 10-meters, with either male or female terminations. Prices start at $39, which seems reasonable. The bigger question, of course, is whether DisplayPort will thrive in the HT marketplace; if it only exists alongside HDMI, its license- and royalty-free nature free-license nature is moot. As much grief as we give the HDMI connector, we don't relish the thought of swapping out equipment for a new cabling standard, either.
Atlona announces support for DisplayPort, promises to release cables
Make no mistake, Atlona's a bona fide supporter of HDMI, but it's making absolutely sure you know that it will also be throwing its support behind DisplayPort. Of course, all it's saying at the moment is that it will soon be providing DisplayPort cabling "for as long as one of its customers has a need for one," but it looks like we'll have to be patient before finding out what other sort of DisplayPort contraptions the firm has up its sleeve.
Atlona's 4x4 HDMI Matrix Switches go HDMI 1.3
If you'll recall, Atlona Technologies was pretty proud of its flat HDMI 1.3b-certified cables, and now it's pausing to announce that it's replacing its entire inventory of 4X4 matrix switchers with versions that are 1.3 savvy. As expected, the units will feature a RS-232 control port, a remote and include all the luxuries -- 10.2Gbps of bandwidth, support for 1440p / Deep Color, etc. -- of HDMI 1.3. It should be noted that the new flavor is still priced at $1,099, but we've got a hunch you could score a fantastic deal on those leftover units that just become old hat.
Atlona's flat HDMI cables: now HDMI 1.3b certified
Granted, this whole "1.3b certified" thing probably isn't as critical as it's made out to be, but for those who love assurances, Atlona's lineup of flat HDMI cables now sport the aforementioned label of certification. The cables, which are available in black and white hues and in lengths of up to 20-feet, are now guaranteed to transfer HD video at speeds of up to 10.2Gbps and high-resolution audio (Dolby TrueHD / DTS-HD Master Audio) to boot. In layman's terms, these cables simply offer up enough bandwidth to support Deep Color and "higher frame rates," but considering that the cheapest one (that would be the three-footer) rings up at $39.99, we'd say Atlona's pretty darn proud of 'em.
Atlona's Flat HDMI cable, available soon
As HDMI continues to make inroads into all things A/V, we find Atlona prepping to drop their first flat HDMI cables into the mix. Using a flat "twisted pair" construction with high-density triple shielding said to reduce crosstalk better than traditional round cables, these new Flat HDMI cables feature 24k gold plated connectors and your choice of 28/26/24 AWG High-Purity Oxygen Free Copper conductors for cable runs as long as 20-meters when choosing the latter. True, they bring down the thickness of the cable, however, unlike Atlona's claim that these will be "barely visible" on the wall, the new ribbon appears to have spread about twice as wide as before which should make it even more visible for "on the wall" runs dontchathink? The Atlona Flat HDMI cable is UL/CL2 certified for in-wall installations but come now, we know you're gonna just run 'em under the carpet. At least until wireless HDMI hits these tough HD streets. Available in black or white and "available soon" at an "affordable price." We'll see.