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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.
Could your next laptop double as an HTPC?
Crazy, right? But let's think about it -- the market for standalone HTPCs is clearly narrowing, while Media Center Extenders are still far too pricey for many (and far too complicated for some) to be taken seriously. Meanwhile, just about everyone can find a reason to own a notebook, and the newer rigs are tossing in gratuitous amounts of RAM and CPU power alongside Blu-ray drives, HDMI sockets and enough wireless protocols to warrant a tin-foil hat. Granted, there are some limitations, but if someone were to pump out an AV dock (of sorts) to house a few OTA TV tuners and a digital audio output, one could essentially dock their laptop, step back and have a full-fledged HTPC. Chances are your gears are already turning, so tune into Ross Rubin's writeup in the read link for even more food for thought.
IOGEAR unveils new HDMI switches and DVI / HDMI extenders
Here lately, it's been the more prosumer / professional-focused brands kicking out the extenders and switches, but IOGEAR is returning to the fold by introducing two CAT5e / 6 MiniExtender Kits and a pair of HDMI switches to boot. As for the extenders, you'll find one for HDMI ($279.95) and one for DVI-D ($69.95); the former provides "an additional 100 feet between a 1080p display unit and media source or an extra 200 feet for 1080i display units," while the latter "extends a DVI PC source 100 feet away from a single link DVI-D display with resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 60Hz." Closing things out are the 3-Port HDMI Automatic Switch ($89.95) and the 4-Port HDMI Switch with Remote ($89.95), both of which are fairly self-explanatory. The whole lot is available as we speak.
Impact Acoustics reveals diminutive HDMI repeater
It's not the first HDMI repeater you've seen, and it most definitely won't be the last. Impact Acoustics is pumping out its own tiny box in order to extend that HDMI signal of yours another 130-feet (or 200-feet if using two). Nothing too special going on with this one, just the obligatory HDMI 1.3, Deep Color, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio and 1080p support. If this is just the thing you've been looking for to run HDMI to your garage / sun room / etc., you can claim your own for a penny under $200.
Open Media Library beta available, easy access to DVD rips via extenders for all
Forget about waiting for Niveus to open up its slick Movie Library to the public, now that the Open Media Library is available. The GPL v3-licensed project just rolled out the 0.1 beta version, designed for users to access their entire movie library and associated metadata (actors, summary, etc.) no matter the format, through extenders like the Xbox 360 or HP MediaSmart Connect. Turning Media Center Extenders into DVD streamers has been done before, but this should streamline things even further, with the added bonus of playing back Blu-ray and HD DVD rips. If you've got Vista Media Center, check it out and give some feedback for future editions.[Via eHomeUpgrade]Read - Release AnnouncementRead - Feature List
Sprint's Airave signal booster goes on sale nationwide
Just as July began, we heard that Sprint would finally begin shipping its Airave signal booster nationwide before the month ended. It cut things close, but we can't deny that the rumor proved true. Starting right now, Sprint users with horrendous service in their own homes can begrudgingly cough up $99.99 to have the base station sent directly to you. From there, you'll have to throw down $4.99 per month for extending your coverage but still using your plan minutes, $10 per month if you're looking to make unlimited calls (through the Airave) with a single Sprint phone or $20 per month for unlimited calling for multiple lines. Critics have already harshed on the $50 increase in price from when it launched in Denver and Indy last year, not to mention the relatively high monthly fees, but we suppose you can take it or leave it depending on how regularly you drop calls from your couch. Oh, and don't even think of using this overseas -- the required GPS module makes sure you're in the US before enabling calls.[Via PhoneScoop] Update: Sprint pinged us to say the official "on sale date" is August 17, 2008.
Samsung reveals $200 MediaLive Media Center Extender
Ever since we got our hands on Samsung's Media Center Extender at CES last year, we've wondered how the CE giant's rendition would stack up against the rest. Rather than build the Media Center Extender functionality into a TV the way HP has, or make a completely separate set-top-box like Linksys or D-Link, the $200 MediaLive Media Center Extender is designed to be a companion product for Samsung HDTVs. It can be mounted to the back of certain Samsung sets, and with the help of HDMI-CEC, the TV's remote will control the box even while it's out of sight -- of course, this begs the question of whether or not it will work with other TVs, but we'll just have to wait and try it ourselves when it launches next month. Oh, and in case you don't know already, Media Center Extenders are not just another media streamer, because it will allow you to have the full (almost) Vista Media Center experience -- including the ability to watch live HD from CableCARD tuner -- on any TV (connected wired or wirelessly) in your house.
Octava unveils HDMI over Ethernet extender
If slinging HDMI signals over Ethernet sounds appealing to you, look no further than Octava's newest box. The HDMI over Ethernet extender enables users to transmit 1080p HDMI signals up to 150-feet over Ethernet (300-feet for 1080i), and while CAT6 is recommended, CAT5 should do the trick in a pinch. Of note, two Ethernet cables are necessary in order to carry audio / video as well as HDCP data, and both the receiver and transmitter are bundled with dedicated power supplies to ensure maximum performance. Expect the kit to ship next week for $199.
HP MediaSmart Connect brings digital media to your HDTV
Yeah, you may be burning that midnight oil, but your weariness isn't the reason you're certain you've seen this thing before. Touted at CES as the MediaSmart Receiver, the re-dubbed MediaSmart Connect is finally available for pre-order. Just as we heard before, this unit takes full advantage of Extender for Windows Media Center technology, and although it possesses no internal storage space, it will pull in digital media from around your home (and a variety of online media outlets) and pipe it straight to your HDTV. The unit plays nice with other UPnP- and DLNA-compliant devices and includes 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, an Ethernet port, HDMI / component jacks and support for MPEG2/4, DivX, XviD, WMV, MP3, WMA, AAC, JPEG and BMP files (among others). Prospective buyers can get their order in today for $349. %Gallery-25329%
AdderLink X-DVI KVM sends DVI / USB over single CAT6 cable
Apologies for the onslaught of acronyms up there, but here's the skinny: Adder has just loosed its AdderLink X-DVI, which claims to be the "world's first extender to send both USB and DVI signals over the same CAT6 cable." Reportedly, the KVM supports the extension of USB keyboards / mice and high-definition video over distances up to 165-feet, and just in case any updates make their way down in the future, the unit is "fully flash upgradeable." There's nary a mention of price, but it should be available through various worldwide distribution partners this fall.
Matrox delivers Dual-Link Extio F1240 remote graphics unit
Look, you never know when you'll be 820 feet away from your gorgeous duo of dual-link displays, audio inputs, six USB 2.0 ports and piping hot cup of joe, but Matrox is here to make sure that's never a concern you'll have to sweat. Upping the ante from last year's Extio F1220, the Dual-Link Extio F1240 now plays nice with those swank 30-inchers that are gracing your desk and extends of all the aforesaid parts some 250 meters via a single fiber-optic cable. Better still, the whole thing is fanless, and there's even a mini-Toslink audio port, VGA sockets and stereo audio in / out connectors to boot. Mum's the word on a price for the currently available unit, and just FYI, that whole transfer of coffee thing is totally not recommended.[Via BIOS]
vmcNetFlix add-in enables Xbox 360 viewing of Netflix 'Watch Now' content
We've already seen Orb play nice with DirecTV's HR21, but what about integrating Netflix's "Watch Now" content into one's Xbox 360? vmcNetFlix, a brilliant add-in for Windows Vista Media Center, enables users to manage their Netflix subscription, stream Netflix "Watch Now" movies directly from the Media Center player or download those movies for playback at a later time from a "WatchLater" gallery. Theoretically, this will enable any Vista Extender to play nice with Netflix, but for those with an Xbox 360 laying around already, there's no need to go out and purchase a standalone unit. There's a plethora of additional information and near daily updates with changes and bug fixes going on in the read link, so be sure to give that a look if this sounds like something you'd be interested in.[Via Thomas Hawk's Digital Connection]
Gefen's latest extender sends HDMI, RS-232 and IR over CAT5
If you've been on the hunt for a multifaceted extender to handle just a bit more than HDMI, look no further. Gefen's HDMI RS-232 Extender is able to casually transmit HDMI, RS-232 control commands and IR signals up to 150-feet at 1080p (300-feet at 1080i) over standard CAT5 cabling. As expected, the device is HDCP-compliant, and it'll play nice with any IR unit you feel like attaching. Unfortunately, such convenience demands a serious premium, as this five-pound box will erode your savings account by $599. %Gallery-22330%
Apogee reveals HDMI 1.3 CAT5e / CAT6 Extenders
Not like you really needed another option when selecting a HDMI 1.3 extender, but Apogee's giving you just that, anyway. The firm's new HDMI 1.3 CAT5e / CAT6 Extenders enable users to stretch 1080p signals up to 60 meters and 1080i signals up to 120 meters, and if you're serving up 480p / 720p, you can string those over 200 feet without degradation. Additionally, it's backwards compatible with older HDMI versions (and DVI, too), and it appears to function with CAT5e or CAT6 cabling. You can get yours this very moment for $109.99.
Workaround enables DVD Library streaming on Media Center Extenders
Check it Media Center Extender owners -- a fancy new workaround is reportedly enabling users to stream DVDs via their DVD Library, which isn't enabled by default on any MCE. For starters, Vista SP1 is required for everything to work correctly, and once you've confirmed that you're running said OS, you can hit up the read link for a how-to guide explaining the steps to creating symbolic links; essentially, the hack tricks the device into playing .VOB files. It's noted that symbolic links shouldn't be created on Windows Home Server shares, but if you do as you're told, everything should turn out peachy. Just don't come barking up our tree if it doesn't, alright?[Thanks, Ryan]
Vista Media Center update for HP's MediaSmart HDTVs now available
Owners of HP's older MediaSmart HDTVs, your sometime is now as Chris Lanier reports the company's posted the long-awaited Vista Media Center Extender update. The SL4278N and SL4778N model TVs should prompt for the update automatically if they're connected to the internet, and afterwards connect to your fully patched Vista Home Premium or Ultimate edition machine and access your Media Center library (DivX, Xvid, h.264, MPEG-2 and WMV of course), live TV, recorded TV or other features directly through the TV. Check out HP's support page for a full walkthrough on the process and keep your Windows Media Center remote close by.[Via Chris Lanier, HP press release]
IOGEAR extender takes DVI signals 100-feet over CAT 5e / 6
Granted, we've cast our glances upon DVI Extenders before, but IOGEAR's latest comes in just south of the magical $500 price point and is apt to warm the hearts of digital signage professionals everywhere. The simply titled DVI Video / Audio Extender Kit consists of a pair of DVI units, a local transmitter and a remote receiver, which owners connect with a CAT5e / 6 Ethernet cable. You'll also find an analog 3.5-millimeter jack for hooking up stereo speakers, and the three-year warranty should help you rest easy all the while. Available as we speak for $499.95.
Inteset's Vana VA6420-Si media extender system gets Blu-ray
Back when the format war was still a-brewin', Inteset saw fit to offer up Blu-ray / HD DVD combo drives on its media PCs. Now that said war is behind us, the firm is plugging Blu-ray drives into its Vana VA6420-Si media extender system. The device, which can also be used in standalone form, enables users to bring content from varying locales within the domicile to a central home entertainment center, and aside from the 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo CPU, 2GB of RAM and GeForce 8400GT graphics card, you'll also find 7.1-channel audio outputs, a slew of video ports including HDCP-compliant DVI / HDMI and even an option for a CableCARD tuner. Unfortunately, we've no idea how pricey this rig will be, but with specs like that, we can't imagine it being cheap.[Via eHomeUpgrade]
Avocent offers up Emerge MPX1500 wireless HDMI extender
It's been a tick since we've heard a noticeable peep from Avocent, but the firm has recently unveiled the true successor to its Emerge MPX1000. The aptly-named MPX1500 is still a high-definition multipoint extender at its core, but rather than relying on swappable output modules, this unit packs a single DVI-D output and uses adapters to output HDMI, component, S-Video, VGA and composite. Additionally, this newer iteration comes in a much smaller enclosure and offers VGA resolutions up to 1,360 x 768 (while HDMI / DVI still goes to 1080i). Reportedly, users can still expect to see signals transmitted sans wires up to 150 feet through walls, and if interested, can pick one up as we speak for $995.
Brando offers up CAT5 / CAT6 HDMI extenders
The same folks bringing you a colorful line of HDMI cables are also doling out a new set of HDCP-compliant HDMI extenders. Up first is the VP3OT001200, which enables 1080p signals to be carried an additional 30 meters over CAT5, promising signaling rates up to 2.2Gbits / second. If 30 meters won't quite cut it, the VP3OT001300 enables transmissions to go an additional 20 meters by utilizing CAT6 cabling instead. Both choices come with a power supply, sender and receiver module and can be snapped up now for $59 and $71, respectively.Read - 30 meter VP3OT001200 HDMI extenderRead - 50 meter VP3OT001300 HDMI extender
