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Imation's wireless USB Apollo Pro WX external HDD does backups sans wires
We knew wireless USB would eventually rise up and become more than a pitiful excuse for not plugging in your digicam to transfer photos, and lo and behold, it has done just that. Imation's latest Apollo drive packs a lot of promise, thanks in huge part to the integrated WiQuest WUSB solution tucked within. Put simply, the Apollo Pro WX can begin to backup user data as soon as the machine in question comes "into range." Without any wires (save for that pesky AC adapter), this one no-touch backup system can ensure that your most precious 1s and 0s aren't lost for eternity when unforeseen disaster strikes. There's no word on price just yet, but expect these to sell like hotcakes when they ship in Q4.[Via EverythingUSB]
Samsung's NaBee brings wireless USB to any digicam
Samsung has just introduced a product with a name we can't help but love: NaBee. The smooth sounding device is actually a system for bringing wireless USB technology to any camera with a USB connector. Packed within is Alereon's AL5000 Worldwide Wireless USB Chipset, which enables cordless communication between one's PC and digicam so long as the receiver and transmitter are within reach. Yeah, it's not nearly as elegant as inbuilt WiFi solutions, but at least it gives those a year or two out from upgrading a shot at enjoying wireless USB transfers in the here and now. Mum's the word on pricing, but it should be out this December.
IOGEAR's USB to VGA transmitter gets USB-IF approval, October release
Just in time for CEDIA, IOGEAR's Wireless USB to VGA Kit has received passing marks from the USB Implementer's Forum, so you can rest assured that the $230 kit will play nicely with any other USB gear you have now or may get in the future. You can expect to see the wireless duo on shelves in October, so Windows XP and Vista users with a free USB port can cut the cord, clean up the rat's nest of cabling and start beaming 720p signals around the living room or conference room -- just mind the 30-foot limit. Full release after the break.
IOGEAR's Wireless USB to VGA kit extends your monitor sans wires
Wireless VGA? Been there, done that. Wireless USB to VGA? Hello, IOGEAR. Said outfit has just revealed the world's first Wireless USB to VGA kit that enables users to extend or clone their desktop to another monitor sans wires. Certified by the USB-IF, this unit enables any machine with a spare USB port to stream video to a TV or projector with resolutions as high as 720p. So long as your USB dongle is plugged into your machine and the VGA adapter is connected to a display, you'll be good to go within a 30-foot radius. According to IOGEAR, the product is only compatible with Windows XP 32-bit or Vista 32- / 64-bit, but those with no qualms about that can grab one next month for $229.95. Full release after the jump.Update: IOGEAR pinged us to say that it's still waiting on USB-IF approval, though that should hopefully go down soon.
NEC produces Wireless USB host controller, on the hunt for end products
Oh sure, Wireless USB products are out there, but they're pretty far out there. We're talking deep back shelf type stuff. NEC Electronics is hoping to get the cord-free version of the well known peripheral standard into more and more gizmos by cranking out the uPD720171 Wireless USB host controller. The unit was designed with the PCI Express bus interface in mind, and it can also provide laptops with connectivity via the ExpressCard slot. The company claims that the $10 device can handle transfers up to 480Mbps within a range of three meters, but you'll be waiting a little while yet before testing out said claim in a finalized product.[Via SlashGear]
Kensington kills a few more cables with Wireless USB Docking Station
Look out, cable pundits, your next must-have gadget has arrived. Kensington's Wireless USB Docking Station is pretty straightforward -- you simply plug in up to five USB devices along with your external monitor in order to access all of those gizmos sans cabling from your Wireless USB-enabled machine. Sure, the range is capped at 15-feet, but never having to plug in that printer / scanner / external HDD / USB-powered fan again when setting up your work lappie at home will be a huge relief. Look for this one to ship soon for $229.99.[Via Electronista]
WiQuest makes secure pairing simple for display-less Wireless USB devices
Pairing up display-laden Wireless USB device with another machine is quite possibly one of the easiest processes known to man, but what if your W-USB device is screen-less? Enter WiQuest, the self-proclaimed leader in WiMedia-based ultra-wideband solutions, which has just revealed a new Wireless USB PIN Association method "specifically designed for Wireless USB-enabled devices that do not have a display." In its words, "once the Association process is initiated, a software screen on the host PC requests that the unique PIN printed on the Wireless USB device be entered and the secure pairing is completed -- wirelessly." We just love it when a good plan comes together.
AMEX offers up RM-mp1 media center remote
Though we'd certainly like to see a few hands-on shots of this beauty just to quiet that annoying doubter in the rear of our mind that this is merely a concept, AMEX's RM-mp1 is reportedly the real deal. Said remote features wireless USB, support for Windows Media Center, a built-in touchpad / laser pointer and a black or white motif. Beyond that, details are admittedly scant, but we'll certainly be crossing our fingers that this mystical device crosses the waters to America in short order.
NEC gifts LaVie J laptop lineup with wireless USB
We're a bit bummed that wireless USB-equipped laptops are merely trickling in versus pouring, but we reckon we'll take what we can get. Next on the docket is the LaVie J series from NEC, which consists of the flagship LJ750/LH along with the lower-end LJ730/LG and LJ700/LH. Besides the whole cord free USB thing, you'll also find up to a 1.2GHz Core 2 Duo U6700, 2GB of RAM, a 12.1-inch display (1,280 x 800 resolution), 160GB of HDD space, 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR. The pain? Around €1,735 ($2,543) for the top-of-the-line stuff.
IOGear busts out a wireless USB CardBus adapter
We're not certain making a huge investment in Cardbus adapters is the wisest financial decision you can make, but if you're looking to add a little Wireless USB action to your older lappy in the most upgrade-unfriendly way possible, IOGear's got you covered. The company's new Cardbus WUSB adapter does pretty much what you'd expect, but doesn't yet have pricing or availability details. Still, unless you've got a crying need to finally use that empty slot, we'd recommend you stick to one of the many USB-to-WUSB dongles trickling onto the market.
IOGEAR demonstrates WUSB Graphics Adapter
IOGEAR and DisplayLink are here with the second wireless USB demo at CES. This time, we've got an adapter that adds multiple "high-resolution" displays via a WUSB connection between laptops, desktops and their WUSB enabled monitors. IOGEAR's new WUSB to VGA Video Adapter supports "instantaneous mouse and keyboard movements" with output resolutions as high as 1680 x 1050 pixels and 16.7 million colors -- presumably less (they don't say) as you add multiple displays. Expect the Wireless USB Graphics Adapter (UGA) to be commercially available by mid 2008. We don't have a picture yet, but it's likely to look a whole lot like the DisplayLink reference design you're looking at to the right.
Video: WUSB streaming HD video
The Wireless USB packing Toshiba Portege R400 makes an encore performance at CES 2008 in hopes of putting your bandwidth fears to rest. Pushing data at 377Mbps (of a theoretical 480Mbps at 3-meters), you're looking at 1,920 x 1,080 pixel video sourced from the R400 and displayed on a prototype WUSB monitor sitting a few inches away. Not bad, eh?
Realtek and Intel to show off single-chip WUSB solutions at CES
It looks like Realtek and Intel will each be doing their part to push wireless USB (or WUSB) at CES, with the pair set to team up to demonstrate how their respective single-chip solutions work with one another. Those solutions include Realtek's RTU7105 Wireless USB device and Intel's Wireless UWB Link 3480 Single-Chip CMOS Wireless USB host device, each of which are interoperable in multiple WiMedia band groups, including multiple bands that meet existing worldwide regulatory requirements. Not exactly the most exciting stuff for casual consumers to be sure, but according to the two companies, this will be the first public demonstration of WUSB interoperability involving single-chip solutions for both the host and device and, given the likely preponderance of such devices in the not too distant future, that's certainly something at least worth taking note of.
Wisair wireless USB module hits the FCC
Wisair's been in the wireless USB game for some time already, and it now looks set to expand its offerings even further, with a new WUSB module of it's now making its debut at the FCC. As the device's manual helpfully informs, this one will let you set up an ad hoc wireless network between two computers without the need for a router or any network infrastructure, or between a PC and a USB-equipped peripheral like a printer or an external drive. Naturally, there's no word on a price or release date just yet, although it seems likely that the final product will come from another company and not Wisair itself, at least if the company's past track record is any indication.
Gefen introduces Wireless USB 2.0 Extender
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]
IOGEAR intros USB-IF certified wireless USB hub
IOGEAR has launched its new Wireless USB (W-USB) hub and adapter kit, a combination of a receiving / transmitting base, and dongles which allow USB devices to communicate with the hub. Although we've seen a slew of these devices before (Belkin and Gefen's entries spring to mind), this is the first that we know of to be certified by the USB-IF, or USB Implementers Forum, which is basically the MPAA of USB devices... er, without the ratings. Regardless, the little package can get your USB devices to suddenly start rocking cable-free transfers at 480Mbps from 30-feet away, which should appeal to those of us looking for less clutter, USB-IF-blessed or not. The kit, which contains the base, antenna, power supply, and one adapter is available now for $199.99.
D-Link intros DUB-9240 wireless USB kit
Hot on the heels of several other wireless USB hubs, D-Link is making sure it joins the party with time to spare as it unveils the DUB-9240 kit. The two-piece assemblage consists of the DUB-1210 wireless USB adapter and the DUB-2240 four-port wireless USB hub, and together they enable your machine to connect to USB peripherals sans wires. The unit promises to function within a 30-foot range, and operates on a frequency range of 3.4GHz to 4.5GHz in order to not interfere with any surrounding WiFi signals. Additionally, up to three more DUB-2240s can be connected to the first for a wireless USB overload blowout, and you'll have plenty of time to dream up such a setup while waiting for these to ship in Q4 for $119.99 apiece, or $219.99 for the pair.[Thanks, Allen]
Wisair and Nokia showing off WUSB in phones at 3GSM
Despite the WiFi, IR, Bluetooth and USB connections we already have to our phone, not to mention 3G or 2.5G in-phone connections to the internets, it always seems a bit of a chore to pull the pictures off our camphone. So what do we need? Another connection of course! Wisair and Nokia are teaming up to show off WUSB at 3GSM, with a Wisair 542 chip embedded in a Nokia Nseries cameraphone to send images and video to a laptop. We're guessing Nokia isn't about to get into the business of retrofitting its phones with new radios, so perhaps Nokia is planning some new models before too long with the chip built-in, or perhaps Wisair will at least have some ready-to-go products of the WUSB variety -- we're getting a little tired of all this talk and no action.[Via Everything USB]
Artimi's WUSB camera tech might be in your hands in 2008
Artimi, a fabless semiconductor company, has been working on wireless USB for cameras for the past while, and finally got to show off some of its prototypes at this year's CES. The deets were slim, however, and they've finally come clean with some more specs for our prying eyes. Of course, WUSB is no mystery. 480MB/s up to 10-feet, 110MB/s up to 30-ish-feet, along with the prestige of being the new "it" wireless standard for peripherals. Artimi is taking all that good bandwidth loving to the camera, and is teaming up with "several brand name camera vendors" to do it, the names of which it will announce in Q2. It'll cost manufacturers about $25 to add WUSB at the outset, but within 3 years that figure should be down to $10, and Artimi figures all but the cheapest cameras will have it by then. We might see a WUSB cam get launched in '07, but most likely we'll have to wait for '08 to roll around before this becomes a reality. Artimi also expects WUSB dongles to be fairly common by then, but the first-to-market products will most likely include a dongle just in case. As to battery life, these kids aren't too concerned, 'cause WUSB can toss 1GB of pics in about 30 seconds, so the chip doesn't need to be on for too long.
