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Switched On: A toy for the smartphone gaming generation

Ross Rubin — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 19:17:00 EST

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

The first thing worth noting about Sifteo Cubes -- which recently became available for pre-order at $149 for a starter pack of three that should start shipping this month -- is that they are not geometrically true to their name. Their square surfaces sit atop depths that are less than half their side length, so even stacking two Cubes won't produce three-dimensional symmetry. They are a little smaller than the game pieces from the much more limited and less expensive Scrabble Flash digital letter-arranging game that was a hit last holiday season.

The pieces fit comfortably between two fingers for easy gripping, flipping and rearranging, which you'll need to do a lot of in their various games. They are also a good size to substitute for many handheld playthings, reminding one of overstuffed Mahjongg tiles but also akin to shrunken toddlers' alphabet blocks or playing cards. The sides and back are otherwise nondescript except for a set of contacts on their rear used for charging. Sifteo Cubes are charged via their tray, which showcases them through a translucent plastic top with room for three more Cubes at $45 each. Different games derive different levels of benefit from having more than three tiles, but most work fine with the starter set.

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Sifteo Cubes up for pre-order tonight, gaming gets tangibly-cute this September

Joe Pollicino — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 19:21:00 EST

Want a game for the tabletop with on-screen pop, and a sprinkle of adorable? Sifteo is officially set to get your gears going when its interactive Cubes, up for pre-order by the end of today, ship out in September. If you'll recall, the MIT-rooted project uses blocks equipped with 1.5-inch displays to create a variety of gaming environments mixing touch, motion and on-display content. Also announced is a bundled "Creativity Kit," which enables you to make your own games on the fly. It was was briefly available to early adopters in January for $99.99, and now $149.99 gets everyone in on some good times. You'll receive a triplet of the oh-so-cute Cubes, a charging hub and a 2.4 Ghz wireless USB adapter for connectivity, as well as transferring Sifteo store apps purchased on your computer. Interest piqued? You'll find details in the PR just past the break -- unless you're a square, that is.

Continue reading Sifteo Cubes up for pre-order tonight, gaming gets tangibly-cute this September

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IOGEAR USB Sharing Station connects to WiFi, cuts the cord on four of your devices

Zach Honig — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 03:09:00 EST

You're so over corded gadgets, but you can't justify replacing every device in the house with a pricier wireless version just because being leashed to a USB printer or external hard drive is a slight inconvenience. We get it, and it looks like IOGEAR does too. The peripheral company's Wireless 4-port USB Sharing Station makes any connected gadget WiFi-enabled, letting you wander far away from those desktop devices without dropping your connection. The compact hub includes one USB 2.0 port on the front and three on the rear, along with an Ethernet port and wireless antenna, and it's compatible with a variety of USB gadgets, including printers, hard drives, memory card readers, scanners, and webcams. Oh, but why would you want to wander far from your webcam, you ask? A remote webcam can be used as an instant, inexpensive home security system, providing access from anywhere within your wireless network. Sure, $100 may seem like a lot to spend on a wireless USB hub, but considering the cost of WiFi-enabling four individual devices, it's probably the way to go.

IOGEAR USB Sharing Station connects to WiFi, cuts the cord on four of your devices originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 03:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fujitsu and partners show off cord-free display using SUPA wireless power (video)

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 11:10:00 EST

Cords suck. They tangle, they get lost, they're never long enough, and you never have the kind you need. Indeed, wireless displays are nothing new -- but when you hear "wireless display," you typically think that they've managed to cut the video cable alone. Well, Fujitsu's taken it one step further here at CeBIT this week, throwing together what it claims to be the world's first totally wireless desktop display -- no video, no power. The imagery is handled via wireless USB and can connect to any appropriately-equipped PC, while the juice is sucked in using a newly-minted proposed standard for wireless power delivery called SUPA (developed with the likes of Fraunhofer) that can function over wide surface areas -- in this case, an entire desk. Right now it's just the display, but it's easy to imagine how phones, laptops, tablets, and anything else that requires continuous power or a quick, convenient recharge could benefit from this arrangement rather than needing a special mat (which is, of course, corded) lying around. Fujitsu tells us that SUPA can deliver about 25 watts in its current incarnation, which isn't going to keep your gaming PC going -- but it'll certainly handle your typical handheld device (or, in this case, a 22-inch monitor).

The demo we saw was a little glitchy; the first time we visited the booth, Fujitsu was having a hard time getting the WUSB connection to light up, but it was up and running the second time we dropped by. We got the impression there wasn't quite enough bandwidth to deliver smooth video at this color depth and resolution, but it was good enough for data entry tasks. Likewise, the monitor appeared to flicker from time to time, suggesting that it was either right on the edge of that 25W maximum or just experiencing typical prototype hiccups. On a couple occasions, they lifted the monitor to reset it, and it only required 2-3 inches of lift before power was lost -- so this isn't the kind of thing where you can get up and wander around with a device and expect it to magically continue to charge (we'd be awfully concerned about being turned into beef jerky at those energy levels, anyway).

All told, we're excited about this technology, assuming SUPA can gain enough critical mass in the marketplace to be relevant. They're expecting the first commercial applications next year... so in the meantime, enjoy our pictures and videos while you plan how you're going to rearrange your workspace once you don't have to worry about power cords.

Gallery: Fujitsu and partners show off cord-free display using SUPA wireless power

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Fujitsu and partners show off cord-free display using SUPA wireless power (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warpia's wireless StreamHD USB-to-HDMI adapter supports 1080p, 5.1 surround sound

Darren Murph — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 09:04:00 EST

Let's try this again, shall we? We were none too impressed with the first iteration of the device you see above, mostly because it failed to support audio. A few generations later, and seems as if Warpia may finally have its ducks in a row. The StreamHD is a USB-to-HDMI adapter, presumably relying on Wisair technology to whisk 1080p content from one's USB-enabled laptop or desktop onto your HDMI-equipped television. It'll handle material with resolutions as high as 1920 x 1280, and we're told that both Hulu and Netflix content will be passed along sans issue. Hooking things up is a lesson in simplicity (in theory, at least) -- just plug the USB dongle into your Windows PC, and the transceiver dock into your HDTV. High-def content and 5.1 surround sound should be transmitted, and there's a reported range of 30 feet. It should be popping up any moment now on Amazon for $169.99, and yeah, that does include an HDMI cable and a S/PDIF cord. How thoughtful.

Continue reading Warpia's wireless StreamHD USB-to-HDMI adapter supports 1080p, 5.1 surround sound

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Wireless USB reaches revision 1.1, makes for smarter and more efficient toys

Sean Hollister — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 06:13:00 EST

Wireless USB 1.1 is here, whether you like it or not, and we're betting you're going to like it if manufacturers make it work. The USB-IF's new spec, finalized this week, is still capped at the same 480Mbps of its wired cousin USB 2.0, but it reportedly brings with it reduced power consumption and near-field communication for proximity-based pairing. And if the idea of, say, touching your smartphone and a wireless Pixel Qi panel together to automatically connect the twain doesn't make you jump for joy, we're not really sure what would. Perhaps you're still waiting for the one-gigabit-per-second Intel's Jeff Ravencraft promised three years ago this month? Download the full spec at our more coverage link to see what's what.

Continue reading Wireless USB reaches revision 1.1, makes for smarter and more efficient toys

Wireless USB reaches revision 1.1, makes for smarter and more efficient toys originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 06:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pixel Qi turns into ideal 10-inch companion display with wired and Wireless USB, 1.5W power needs

Vlad Savov — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 03:27:00 EST

Pixel Qi has today announced it's taking the next step in its quest for global domination of sunlight-readable displays. Partnering up with German outfit Display Solution AG, the company is about to start selling its 10-inch, 1024 x 600 panels as standalone units, which you'll be able to hook up to your computer or smartphone via USB, either the wired or Wireless version. Power consumption maxes out a measly 1.5W with the LED backlight turned on, meaning that one USB tether will be sufficient to feed it both power and data. We don't know exactly how long we've waited for a secondary screen with this sort of flexibility, but it's sure been a while. Look for Display Solution to start selling these hotcakes next month.

Continue reading Pixel Qi turns into ideal 10-inch companion display with wired and Wireless USB, 1.5W power needs

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Veebeam's Wireless USB-based media streamers are 'content agnostic,' fairly cheap

Darren Murph — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:30:00 EST

The universe needs another media streamer like it needs another BP running "cleanup" in the Gulf, but like it or not, Veebeam's fully intent on shipping its newest duo. Announced today over at the DEMO Fall 2010 conference, the media-focused company has announced the Veebeam SD and Veebeam HD, with the latter obviously catching the brunt of our attention. The idea here is to create a "content agnostic" streamer that simply pipes whatever content you have playing on your Mac or PC (yeah, it plays nice with both) to your HDTV. Sounds great in theory, but the problem is the protocol. Both units rely on Wireless USB to handle their streaming, and unless the standard has seen some huge improvements since our Atlona test a year ago, we're willing to bet the actual playback performance is less than incredible -- particularly if you try to send 1080p content over it. The setup itself is fairly simple; just plug a transceiver into your computer and the base station into your tele. From there, it's pretty much plug-and-play. The pair is up for order today, with the SD version selling for $99 and the HD model (complete with HDMI, digital audio and two USB sockets) for $139. We'd personally wait for a review before buying in blind -- nothing against Veebeam, but we haven't been overly impressed with WUSB's ability to handle high-bandwidth applications in the past.

Continue reading Veebeam's Wireless USB-based media streamers are 'content agnostic,' fairly cheap

Veebeam's Wireless USB-based media streamers are 'content agnostic,' fairly cheap originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung's new Wireless USB chipset enables HD streaming with less power

Darren Murph — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 08:26:00 EST

It's a beautiful combination, really -- lower power consumption, and support for high bandwidth applications. That marriage is evident in Samsung's newest Wireless USB chipset, which was built around Ultra Wide Band (UWB) technology and designed to enable high-def streaming between a mobile host device and a tethered device for viewing. According to Sammy, the two-chip solution will be aimed at cameras, camcorders, TVs, PCs, tablets, beam projectors, portable HDDs, Blu-ray players and handsets, and given that it can handle a theoretical high of 480Mbps with an average power consumption of less than 300mW, even the weakest smartphone battery should be able to stream at least a single episode of Family Guy to the tele. Mum's the word on who all will be lining up to adopt this stuff, but since it's slated to hit mass production in Q4, we'd say those details should be worked out right around CES 2011.

Continue reading Samsung's new Wireless USB chipset enables HD streaming with less power

Samsung's new Wireless USB chipset enables HD streaming with less power originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Sep 2010 08:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With Imation Link 5112 WUSB A/V streamer, KerliGirl13 can finally have her own TV show

Joseph L. Flatley — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 11:15:00 EST

Unlike lots of other media streaming devices we've seen, this one is pretty straightforward: the USB dongle plugs into your PC or Mac, the receiver plugs into your TV's HDMI input, and what you sees and hears (on your computer) is what you gets (on the TV). The Wireless USB connection will stream video up to 720p and still images up to 1080p, as well as stereo sound. Available now from Amazon and whatnot for $150. PR after the break.

Continue reading With Imation Link 5112 WUSB A/V streamer, KerliGirl13 can finally have her own TV show

With Imation Link 5112 WUSB A/V streamer, KerliGirl13 can finally have her own TV show originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Aug 2010 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hanshin Icreon HUWB-3000Kit connects your PC to TV sans wires

Darren Murph — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:44:00 EST

Not that we haven't seen UWB-based options before that connect your PC to TV without any cabling in between, but we've yet to actually come across one that we can love wholeheartedly. Hanshin just might have the first, as its Icreon HUWB-3000Kit supports both video and audio transmissions. Setup is rather simple: simply plug the USB dongle into your laptop or desktop, and connect the transceiver box via HDMI to your HDTV. Utilizing an ultra-wideband connection, it'll pipe audio and video wirelessly to your set, with support for 1080p resolutions to boot. There's no Mac support just yet, and a price has yet to be disclosed -- but hey, it's coming, and that's good enough. Er... we'll just keep telling ourselves that.

Hanshin Icreon HUWB-3000Kit connects your PC to TV sans wires originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MEDL Technology's 'The Panel' hands-on

Sean Hollister — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST

MEDL Technology's portable LCD display "The Panel" sounded like the perfect laptop sidekick, but would you really want to slip the 13.3-inch screen into your messenger bag? We invited company co-founder Eric Liao -- and his prototype Panel -- to a local Starbucks to find out. The verdict? Lightweight and incredibly easy to use, but at this point most features (including those all-important analog video inputs) aren't quite ready for primetime. Housed in a silvery frame that perfectly matched the brushed aluminum finish of our Mac and Dell laptops, the screen was equally easy to hook up to either one. Using a DisplayLink USB graphics chip, we only had to plug in an USB cable to instantly connect the external screen, once the driver was installed. The Panel was nice and bright, even eclipsing our LED-backlit XPS M1330 on maximum settings -- though the screen looked washed out, viewed from off-angles -- and featured smooth action and no perceptible audio sync issues when playing a DVD-quality movie. Basic functionality's all we got to test, sadly, but Liao made a number of intriguing promises for The Panel's future.

At 80 percent brightness, Liao says the device's 4200mAh rechargeable battery gives it 4 to 5 hours of spreadsheet slinging bliss, and those buttons on the right side might be used to control more than brightness and contrast -- should the company adopt wireless USB as originally planned, Liao intends to have them double as arrow controls, allowing you to cut the cables and still have basic e-reader functionality. A headphone jack is still in the works, which should allow audio passthrough from HDMI and possibly USB. Last but not least, there's a reason The Panel looks so good lying prone next to that Macbook: should cost decrease, future revisions may include a tablet-style touchscreen. Shame most of these ideas are still on the drawing board, but even the primary product is shaping up nicely. Hit up our gallery for the visual scoop.

P.S. Those blotches on the LCD screen? Liao says that's a manufacturing defect, and that MEDL is testing LCD panels from a variety of manufacturers to avoid such mishaps in the final product.

Gallery: MEDL Technology's The Panel hands-on

MEDL Technology's 'The Panel' hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engelbart's chorded keyboard reborn as stunning red jellyfish

Sean Hollister — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 06:05:00 EST

In December 1968, Douglas C. Engelbart introduced the world to two brand-new computer peripherals ~~of his own invention~~.The first was his invention, the computer mouse -- which, as you're well aware, revolutionized user input two decades later. The second, the chorded keyboard, still has yet to take off outside the Braille community. But after forty years, Doug Engelbart hasn't given up on the latter device; he recently commissioned an industrial designer, Erik Campbell, to modernize the antiquated keyset into this lovely jellyfish-inspired, five-fingered keyboard replacement. Made of silicon rubber and recycled plastics, the concept peripheral uses pressure-sensitive pads at each fingertip to detect key-presses, turns combinations of presses (the "chords") into letters and words, and sends them over wireless USB to the host computer. Sure, chorded computing isn't for everyone (else we'd all be sporting iFrogs and typing gloves), but if this concept ever comes to fruition, we just might be tempted to learn.

Update: Though Doug Engelbart brought us the computer mouse, he did not invent the chorded keyboard, merely demonstrated it at the same 1968 event. Thanks, MAS!

[Thanks, Semfifty]

Engelbart's chorded keyboard reborn as stunning red jellyfish originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 06:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wisair-based wireless display adapters head to Macs

Donald Melanson — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:57:00 EST

PC users have been able to take advantage of a range of Wisair-based wireless display adapters for quite a while now, and it looks like Mac users will soon be able to use them to cut a few cords as well. The first such device is a Mac-ready version of InFocus' wireless display adapter, which is designed specifically for use with InFocus' own DisplayLink-enabled projectors and should be available by the end of March. That looks to just be the beginning, however, as Wisair itself has also announced that no less than four other OEM vendors will be offering some Mac-ready, Wisair-based adapters of their own next month -- all of which, coincidentally, will be making their official debut at MacWorld 2010 this week.

Wisair-based wireless display adapters head to Macs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alereon announces wireless USB NoWire laptop to HDTV extender

Donald Melanson — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:22:00 EST

Looking to keep your computer-to-TV extender setup as basic as possible? Then you might just want to consider Alereon's new NoWire wireless USB extender, which does away with the need for any software or drivers along with the wires. As you might have suspected, however, that means it simply uses the wireless USB dongle to mirror your laptop display on your TV, which itself must be outfitted with a shark fin receiver that connects via HDMI or VGA (with some help form a 3.5mm audio jack). That obviously limits your options a bit, but the good news is that the extender can also take advantage of some software and drivers for Windows for some more advanced functionality. No word on a price just yet, but it looks like the extender will be available sometime in March. Head on past the break for a quick video overview.

Continue reading Alereon announces wireless USB NoWire laptop to HDTV extender

Alereon announces wireless USB NoWire laptop to HDTV extender originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Atlona's HDAiR wireless USB-to-VGA / HDMI adapter gains audio, usefulness

Darren Murph — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:31:00 EST

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.

Continue reading Atlona's HDAiR wireless USB-to-VGA / HDMI adapter gains audio, usefulness

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Imation Pro WX Wireless USB hard drive review

Richard Lai — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:51:00 EST

Imation was set to announce its first-ever Wireless USB hard drive a year ago, but it lost a dear friend shortly before it materialized and we'd heard nothing since then. Today Imation has returned -- holding hands with its new partner, Staccato -- to release the Pro WX 1.5 terabyte Wireless USB hard drive for both Windows and Mac. At $449.99, though, we thought to ourselves: does the Pro WX offer something extraordinary for the premium price? Or are you better off with a NAS device like Apple's infamous Time Capsule? We ran some quick tests to find out -- do read on for some juicy results.

Gallery: Imation Pro WX Wireless USB hard drive reviewed

Continue reading Imation Pro WX Wireless USB hard drive review

Filed under: Storage

Imation Pro WX Wireless USB hard drive review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cables To Go Wireless USB Superbooster Extender might be as awesome as it sounds

Darren Murph — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:18:00 EST

We're not claiming to be experts on marketing or anything, but Cables To Go should really consider a name change. The outfit who's job it is to make your life one that's completely devoid of cables has pumped out yet another cord-free solution in the Wireless USB Superbooster Extender. Said device, which has an admittedly sensational name, is comprised of two pieces: a receiver that connects to your USB-equipped PC via a standard USB cable and a wireless dongle that connects to whatever USB device you'd like to make wireless (a printer, a scanner, a heated blanket, whatever). The kit provides cordless connectivity up to 150 feet (even through walls), though you'll be paying dearly to take advantage. How dearly? $189.99 -- yeah, that dearly.

[Via PC Launches]

Filed under: Peripherals, Wireless

Cables To Go Wireless USB Superbooster Extender might be as awesome as it sounds originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba dynadock wireless U puts wireless USB to good use at last

Paul Miller — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:39:00 EST

We just spotted Toshiba's new wireless U dynadock in the flesh, and guess what: it looks a lot like a dynadock. The good news is that wireless USB makes the whole docking concept a lot more attractive, though we'd much rather have a solution that's integrated into the laptop -- the included wireless USB dongle looks quite precarious, and kind of ruins the whole idea of not having to plug anything in. The $300 pricetag also makes this hard to swallow, but there's a real logic to wireless docking that we hope can expand in the industry as the components become more integrated in laptops, or least a bit more miniature.

Gallery: Toshiba dynadock wireless U hands-on

Filed under: Laptops, Networking

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Toshiba's dynadock wireless U: it's a universal docking station, but wireless

Darren Murph — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:23:00 EST

Wireless docking stations have been around for years now, but the main issue has been bandwidth. Sure, it's easy to send a wireless mouse signal through the air, but try shoving 720p video, four USB signals and a little bit of arrogance though those highly-spaced particles. Toshiba's new dynadock wireless U USB docking station does a commendable job of doing the best it can with what it has, tapping into wireless USB technology in order to nix the need for your laptop to actually be seated into your docking station. The device can be setup to auto-connect when your machine is in range, and a one-touch undock button carefully shuts down all of your peripherals as you exit. There's six USB 2.0 sockets (included two of the Sleep-and-Charge variety), integrated 7.1 audio and support for a VGA / DVI monitor with resolutions as high as 1,680 x 1,050. Nah, that's not quite 1080p, but we'll take it for now. The $299.99 asking price, however, is a bit harder to swallow.

Filed under: Laptops, Peripherals

Toshiba's dynadock wireless U: it's a universal docking station, but wireless originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Atlona HD-AiR wireless HDMI system hands-on and impressions

Nilay Patel — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:03:00 EST

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.

Gallery: Atlona HD-AiR unboxing and hands-on

Continue reading Atlona HD-AiR wireless HDMI system hands-on and impressions

Filed under: Other hardware

Atlona HD-AiR wireless HDMI system hands-on and impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Atlona HD-AiR wireless HDMI system hands-on and impressions

Nilay Patel — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:03:00 EST

Gallery: Atlona HD-AiR unboxing and hands-on

Continue reading Atlona HD-AiR wireless HDMI system hands-on and impressions

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Wireless

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Wireless USB 2.0 to dawn on the Japanese horizon?

Vlad Savov — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:03:00 EST

Japanese researchers at KDDI have spliced two technologies that didn't seem to have much of a future in the wireless realm -- USB and Infrared -- and come up with a method for achieving transmission speeds of up to 1Gbps. Their innovation is in overcoming a latency problem that until now prevented USB 2.0 transmissions from being converted into Infrared signals and then back into electronic form. While still very early in the development and standardization process, this is a tantalizing premise, especially with ever-increasing storage capacities in portable devices. The new communication medium, which admittedly sounds a lot like irSimple, will be demonstrated for the first time at the Wireless Japan 2009 exhibition later this month, but we wouldn't hold out hope for an imminent release.

Filed under: Wireless

Wireless USB 2.0 to dawn on the Japanese horizon? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source announces Warpia wireless USB-to-HDMI adapter

Nilay Patel — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:26:00 EST

We've been waiting for an inexpensive wireless USB-to-HDMI solution for what seems like forever now, and it sounds like we'll finally have some options soon: Source R&D has just announced that it's going to be shipping the Warpia Wireless USB Adapter set at the end of May for an estimated $129-$149. Just like the Atlona AT-HDAiR, the Warpia kit is just a rebranded OEM unit from Wisair, so most of the same caveats apply: max resolution is 1400 x 1050, range is about 30 feet, and HDMI and VGA are the only output options. Still, we can't really think of a better way to do some quick'n'dirty Hulu watching, so we'll be on the hunt for one of these soon -- keep an eye out.

P.S.- Yes, we hope image quality is better than this totally bunk press pic on the Warpia site.

Filed under: Media streamers, Other hardware

Source announces Warpia wireless USB-to-HDMI adapter originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 May 2009 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source announces Warpia wireless USB-to-HDMI adapter

Nilay Patel — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:26:00 EST

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Source announces Warpia wireless USB-to-HDMI adapter originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 May 2009 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Atlona teams with Wisair for wireless USB to HDMI adapter

Darren Murph — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:06:00 EST

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.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Peripherals, Wireless

Atlona teams with Wisair for wireless USB to HDMI adapter originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Atlona teams with Wisair for wireless USB to HDMI adapter

Darren Murph — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:06:00 EST

Filed under: Cables, Ports, Switches, Others

Atlona teams with Wisair for wireless USB to HDMI adapter originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UWB is dead! Long live... UWB!

Darren Murph — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:12:00 EST

Wait, let us get this straight. UWB is dead, but it's... not? According to a melancholy release issued today by the soon-to-shutter WiMedia Alliance, said entity has reached technology transfer arrangements to shuffle its ultra-wideband workings to groups within Bluetooth SIG and Wireless USB. After that process is complete, the WiMedia Alliance will -- in its words -- "cease operations." According to WiMedia president Stephen Wood, it has "reached a point in specification development and product availability where it is more efficient for the related industry groups to oversee future specification development in-house." It's tough to say whether this move will add yet another nail in ultra-wideband's coffin or act as the spark it has been longing for since its introduction, but we're cautiously hoping for the latter to prove true. Alright new management, time to see what you're made of!

Filed under: Industry, Other formats, Other hardware

UWB is dead! Long live... UWB! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UWB is dead! Long live... UWB!

Darren Murph — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Wireless

UWB is dead! Long live... UWB! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IOGEAR Wireless USB Audio / Video Kit, more wireless USB eyes-on at CeBIT

Darren Murph — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:36:00 EST

While wireless USB hasn't exactly, um, taken off, there's definitely still some promise here. We swung by the USB-IF's booth today at CeBIT in order to have a look at a new single-chip Fujitsu Siemens' solution along with IOGEAR's recently released Wireless USB Audio / Video Kit. The former is mostly a European version of the Wisair Wireless USB Display Adapter Set, and while the latter seemed to work perfectly fine in the demo, the resolution was decidedly not 1080p. Nowhere close, actually. We reckon this stuff will get some real traction if and when two things happen: 1) the industry embraces it and begins embedding it into products (no one likes dongles, sorry!), and 2) when prices fall to reasonable levels. Can we get somebody on that, or what?

Gallery: IOGEAR Wireless USB Audio / Video Kit, more wireless USB eyes-on at CeBIT

Filed under: Peripherals, Wireless

IOGEAR Wireless USB Audio / Video Kit, more wireless USB eyes-on at CeBIT originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung's tiny 120Mbps Wireless USB chipset ready for Q2 launch

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:56:00 EST

Today things are a bit more clear as to why Intel abandoned its own Ultra Wide-Band efforts in favor of off-the-shelf solutions: Samsung just announced its ultra-fast Wireless USB chipset. Samsung's tiny 8 x 8-mm (0.31 x 0.31-inch) chip operates in the traditional 3.1 ~ 10.6GHz Certified Wireless USB space and delivers a relatively blistering 120Mbps data transfer rate (measured, not theoretical) compared to the 50Mbps achieved by current solutions -- that's a single ripped 700MB film transferred in about a minute from a range of about 3 meters. It also features 128-bit AES encryption and other security mechanisms meant to safeguard your data during transmission. The SystemOnChip design consumes 300mW of power and brings a built-in ARM core, UWB (ultra wide-band) physical layer, and memory controller while interfacing with SD cards, MMC, NAND, and USB 2.0 without any additional circuitry. In other words, expect to see Samsung's Wireless USB in digital cameras, MP3 player, speakers and more when these chips hit mass production in Q2.

It's worth noting that Samsung is a member of the Wireless USB Promoter Group that pushes the "Certified Wireless USB" standard. However, with Wireless USB start-up WiQuest out of the picture and zero references made to the standard or use of the group's logo, this might very well be a proprietary grab at the short-range wireless space that has received very little interest from vendors to date. We'll find out more more when Samsung presents its WUSB solution for the first time at Mobile World Congress next week.

[Via Samsung Korea]

Filed under: Wireless

Samsung's tiny 120Mbps Wireless USB chipset ready for Q2 launch originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IOGEAR's Wireless USB Audio / Video Kit ships soon for $350

Darren Murph — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:31:00 EST

Based on the fact that this kit contains connectors for stereo audio, VGA and Wireless USB, we're inclined to believe that this here product is actually a renamed version of the Wireless USB to VGA kit we caught wind of last year. Even if not, however, this will help you stream content at up to 720p over VGA for 30 feet sans wires, and it's fully compatible with Windows XP and Vista. The bad news? The price has increased by around $50 since last mention, with the latest report suggesting a $349.95 sticker and a March ship date.

Update: The Wireless USB Audio / Video Kit allows users to stream both audio and video content. It provides HD streaming at resolutions up to 720p and supports stereo sound, while the Wireless USB to VGA Kit supports only video.

Filed under: CES, Peripherals, Wireless

IOGEAR's Wireless USB Audio / Video Kit ships soon for $350 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wisair's Wireless USB Display Adapter Set coming soon for $129

Darren Murph — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:37:00 EST

It's debatable whether wireless USB is on its way out or on its way in (for real this time), but regardless of which way it's swaying, Wisair's got some availability you should know about. The outfit's Wireless USB Display Adapter Set, which is a screen-centric variant of the kit introduced back in November, will be available this quarter in the US and Europe. Based on Wisair's WSR601 Wireless USB single chip solution, the device offers up VGA and HDMI connectivity options, supports resolutions up to 1,400 x 1,050 and is USB-IF certified. If you're struggling to understand the purpose here, the two-piece bundle enables USB-equipped PCs to stream content to TVs, monitors and projectors sans cabling, and it'll do so for just $129. Now, if only it were 1080p compatible...

Filed under: Media streamers, Other hardware, Others

Wisair's Wireless USB Display Adapter Set coming soon for $129 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wisair's Wireless USB Display Adapter Set coming soon for $129

Darren Murph — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:37:00 EST

Filed under: Peripherals, Wireless

Wisair's Wireless USB Display Adapter Set coming soon for $129 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wireless USB / USB 3.0 exhibitors to be out in full force at CES

Darren Murph — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 07:50:00 EST

So here's an interesting one. The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) will be pumping up two standards at CES 2009: one with great potential for the future, one that'll be lucky to survive the rest of this decade. Despite setbacks for Wireless USB, the USB TechZone will be showcasing the latest and greatest in cordless USB, though we suspect we'll be spending most of our time checking out the progress on SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0). Hit the read link if you're interested in seeing what involved firms will be taking part, and keep it locked right here for live coverage as the mayhem unfolds in early January.

Filed under: Peripherals

Wireless USB / USB 3.0 exhibitors to be out in full force at CES originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 07:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ratoc introduces Wireless USB kit for your PCMCIA-equipped laptop

Darren Murph — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:54:00 EST

Still getting by with PCMCIA, are you? Looking to get into the potentially crumbling world of Wireless USB? Well then, step right up! Ratoc is pumping out its very first WUSB kit with the REX-WUSB1, which includes a rather bulky PC Card (with ultra-wideband antenna) and a four-port WUSB hub. Users with Windows XP / Vista-based machines simply plug in the card, load up the drivers and link their favorite USB peripherals to the hub; from there, you can kick back and enjoy the spoils of wireless printing, wireless cooling and wireless warming -- two of which really aren't all they're cracked up to be. Anywho, the bundle is expected to go on sale in the Land of the Rising Sun later this month for ¥31,500 ($340).

Filed under: Wireless, Networking

Ratoc introduces Wireless USB kit for your PCMCIA-equipped laptop originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Olidata rolls out Wisair-based Wireless USB adapter set

Donald Melanson — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:31:00 EST

Well, it's increasingly starting to look like the reports of Wireless USB's demise may have been at least slightly exaggerated, as Italy's Olidata has now followed Cables Unlimited's lead in releasing a Wireless USB adapter set based on Wisair's WSR601 single-chip solution. Like the Cables Unlimited set, the Olidata combo includes one adapter that plugs into your printer or other device and one that plugs into your laptop or desktop computer, which magically work together to let the two communicate with each other as if they were actually connected -- you can also plug the dongle into any old USB hub and instantly have a Wireless USB hub. Of course, with WiQuest now out of the picture, it's still far from a sure thing that Wireless USB will be around for the long haul, but those looking to get in on the standard while the going's good can apparently pick up Olidata's set in Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and the U.K now for €59, or roughly $75.

Filed under: Peripherals, Wireless

Olidata rolls out Wisair-based Wireless USB adapter set originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cables Unlimited Wireless USB kit replaces wires with dongles

Darren Murph — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:20:00 EST

Wireless USB might be heading toward the cemetery, but that doesn't mean it has expired just yet. With WUSB startup WiQuest calling it quits, the window of opportunity is wide open for rival Wisair. If you'll recall, one of the biggest hurdles WiQuest never could overcome was generating an energy-efficient one-chip solution; lo and behold, Wisair has done just that. We can't say with any level of certainty that this Wireless USB Adapter Kit contains the module we saw hit the FCC nearly a year ago, but regardless, the new set enables non-WUSB-enabled devices to still enjoy the spoils of cordless USB transfers. The $79 to $99 set contains a pair of dongles -- one for the computer, one for the device -- and the company is already planning to sell 'em individually so you can make every last USB device you own a cable-free one. Can Wisair single-handedly revive the flagging technology? Let's kick back and see, shall we?

Filed under: Peripherals, Wireless

Cables Unlimited Wireless USB kit replaces wires with dongles originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel pounds another nail in UWB's coffin

Nilay Patel — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:27:00 EST

It's starting to look pretty tough for UWB -- WiQuest totally shut down yesterday, and now Intel's decided to abandon its UWB dev efforts. The company says that it'll be easier and cheaper to buy off-the-shelf UWB chips instead of continuing its own five-year-old engineering efforts, but those shelves aren't exactly overflowing, and the lack of enthusiasm for this tech in the marketplace suggests this trickle of bad news could turn into a flood -- we'll see how things shake out.

[Via Phonescoop]

Filed under: Wireless

Intel pounds another nail in UWB's coffin originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wireless USB startup WiQuest shuts down, leaves the standard in limbo

Darren Murph — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:44:00 EST

Let's be honest -- Wireless USB has never been much more than an afterthought. Sure, we've seen it pop up on a few laptops and USB hard drives, but it's never grabbed hold the way that, say, Bluetooth or WiFi has. On top of that, the underlying technology behind WUSB (that'd be Ultra-Wideband, or UWB) has yet to find favor in the market, with the surging WHDI stealing most of the limelight in the wireless HD arena. At any rate, one of the (only) companies keeping Wireless USB alive has kicked the bucket, as startup WiQuest officially shut its doors after being unable to concoct a "one-chip solution that was capable of delivering the upper-band support necessary for worldwide acceptance." Granted, Wireless USB isn't quite six feet under, but it's safe to say one foot is planted in the proverbial grave.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

Filed under: Peripherals, Wireless

Wireless USB startup WiQuest shuts down, leaves the standard in limbo originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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