iogear
Latest
IOGEAR's Wireless USB Audio / Video Kit ships soon for $350
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.
IOGEAR's 4-port KVMP switcher might possibly do it all
If you've got a slew of systems, a pocket full of cash, and a lot of work that needs to get done, then IOGEAR might have a little something that you're interested in. Enter the company's new GCS1784 4-Port Dual Link DVI KVMP switch, a fairly robust system that allows you to control all four of your gaming / science-calculating / video editing / email-sending machines simultaneously. The device features 7.1 audio, video resolutions up to a whopping 3840 x 2400, and the company's patent-pending "Display Emulation Technology," which apparently remembers your monitor's preferences so you don't have to. The GCS1784 is $799.99 and available now.
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 DVI Net ShareStation networks one display for multiple users
While we imagine that some folks are sick and tired of fighting over the sole display in the house, some people out there are looking for a reason to quarrel over the biggest one. IOGEAR's DVI Net ShareStation is here to help, providing one display with an Ethernet connection so that any and all computers on the same network can battle for it share. Debuting at CEDIA, the tiny box includes a DVI / VGA adapter and an Ethernet jack, and it supports streamed resolutions up to 1,600 x 1,200. Furthermore, users who just want to add an external display to their system can do so by simply connecting the device to a USB port. It's available now for $199.95, and the release can be seen in full by clicking through below.
IOGEAR's USB Laptop KVM Switch provides your portable with impressive new powers
Despite the best attempts of computer manufacturers, most of us still need two computers to make it through the week: perhaps a laptop for the daily grind and a desktop for transcoding h.264 files... whatever works for you. IOGEAR is looking to cash in on this trend with its new USB Laptop KVM Switch, which, unlike traditional KVMs, allows you to use your laptop's keyboard, mouse and display to control a second computer over USB. Setup couldn't be simpler, with a USB 2.0 plug on each end of the widget, and a USB port in the middle for hooking up to printers or external drives and such. You can drag and drop files between environments, and obviously switch on the fly between the two computers. Only trouble is that it only works with Windows operating systems -- no cross-platform switching -- and it'll run you a steep $130.
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.
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.
Switched On: More options for getting from scribble to screen
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment. With all the hoopla around the iPhone 3G, the finger has taken center stage as the input device of choice on the go. However, last week's column on the prospects of the Livescribe Pulse was actually the penultimate one on the subject of smart pens -- at least two alternatives have entered the market. Both are based heavily on reference designs from Israeli companies that have taken a different approach than Livescribe.Rather than relying on a camera to read small dots on special paper, these pens work with practically any paper. And unlike the bulky Pulse with its ostentatious display, they are practically indistinguishable from normal pens and both come with software that can do a decent job of converting handwriting to text. The tradeoff is that some of the electronics have been offloaded to a small receiver that must be positioned on the paper, creating a two-piece solution. IOGEAR's Mobile Digital Scribe, powered by Pegasus Technology, is a follow-on from a similar earlier product that required that the receiver be tethered to the PC. The Scribe can still function this way. In fact, when connected to a PC, the pen can be used to scribble (presumably for quick doodles, otherwise why not just use the keyboard?) just as its tethered predecessor could. Writing appears on an on-screen note that appears as soon as the writer begins to write, and the software can have these pages "float" on the screen as sticky notes..
IOGEAR's AA-powered GearJuice gives you 15 more minutes to yap
Oh yeah, we've seen dedicated battery pack extenders for a plethora of the most popular gizmos, but IOGEAR's looking out for the run-of-the-mill crowd with its GearJuice Rescue Charger. Essentially, the wee device accepts any 'ole AA cell, and upon plugging it into your mini-USB-equipped PDA / mobile / DAP / fish tank, it provides an infinitesimally small boost of power. Okay, so it's said to give you an extra 15 minutes of talk time, but we'd probably go in with even lower expectations just to be safe. It's available now for $11.99 (battery not included).[Via Gearlog]
IOGEAR rolls out USB-sharing Net ShareStation
We're not exactly hurting for wireless, USB-sharing options right about now, but when it comes to devices that let us yank another cable from our desk, we're all for a bit of excess. This latest one comes to us from IOGEAR, which opted for the sharing-over-network method with its new Net ShareStation. Like other similar devices, this one plugs straight into your router (wireless or otherwise) and, in this case, accommodates up to four USB devices of your choice, although you'll need to provide your own AC-powered 4-port USB hub if you plan to use more than one device with it. If that last rather lame detail isn't a deal-breaker for you, you can get your hands on this one now for $80.[Via Blast]
IOGEAR intros Dual-Link DVI KVMP switch alongside two others
Eager to get busy with multiple workstations on a single monitor, are you? If so, IOGEAR's providing three more ways to get you there, starting with the 2-port GCS1802 and 4-port GCS1804. The $199.95 / $299.95 KVMP (Keyboard, Video, Mouse, Peripheral) switches each enable USB 2.0 peripherals to be shared, and you'll also find support for 2.1 audio. The real winner, however, is the 4-port GCS1204, which handles dual-link DVI with nary a grumble. Granted, that one will set you back a stiff $449.95, but at least it -- along with those other two -- is available right now.
IOGEAR intros USB 2.0 external DVI video card
Just in case IOGEAR's USB 2.0 External VGA Video Card (pictured) wasn't swank enough for your DVI-equipped display, the firm is introducing a variant just for you. Designed to give users the ability to spread those 80 column spreadsheets over two monitors without cracking open the case, the USB 2.0 External DVI Video Card enables the use of a multi-monitor setup for folks with leased / locked machines and those absolutely terrified of seeing PCB in the flesh. Of course, the $149.99 unit is only designed to operate with Windows XP / Vista, but chances are your corporate box isn't running anything else, anyway.
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.
IOGEAR's Portable Media Player skips the whole "portable" part
If you need a handy way to tote around your digital movie collection, and can overlook the aesthetic criminality of this product, IOGEAR's Portable Media Player maybe, just maybe, could be meant for you. The $350 unit can play back standard def videos and upconvert them to 720p over its component outputs -- or just sacrifice quality altogether and output over composite. There room for 50 hours of "DVD-quality video," which we're guessing means about 120GB of storage, but we're still waiting for word on codec support. Obviously without a screen you won't be watching any of this stuff on the go, but if none of that deters you, the unit is available now. Update: Codecs include AVI, DivX, XviD, MP3, MPEG-2 and so forth, and the capacity is indeed 120GB.
IOGEAR's PCPortal remote desktop KVM is a little less virtual
Remote desktop clients are great for those one-in-a-million scenarios when your computer is working well enough to connect to the internet and run a remote desktop app, but still requires technical assistance. In contrast, IOGEAR gives IT types full control from boot with the spendy-but-useful PCPortal GCN1000. The internet-connected KVM switch is completely hardware-based, meaning the computer you're controlling needs no working operating system to be taken control of, and IT people have about as much control over the remote PC as they would if sitting directly in front of it. You can also plug the GCN1000 into regular KVM switches to manage multiple computers remotely, as well as use the Virtual Media port to give remote users data straight from whatever's plugged into the USB port. Unfortunately, all this hotness comes at a cost: the GCN1000 is available now for $500.[Via Blast]
EPA fines IOGEAR $208,000 for making unverified claims about germ-resistant mice
Okay, raise your hands if the first thing you thought when you heard about IOGEAR's Germ Free Wireless Laser Mouse was "That probably uses an unregistered pesticide that warrants government involvement." Yeah, that's what we thought -- but it appears some freak concerned citizen had your best interests in mind, because the EPA just fined IOGEAR $208,000 based on a tip that the company's Germ Free keyboard and mice peripherals were violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. Apparently no one ever verified that the titanium dioxide and silver nanoparticle compound on the mice is actually effective at killing nasties, and even if it is, it's illegal to sell pesticides without Uncle Sam's blessing. IOGEAR's stopped claiming that the products kill germs and forked over the cash, but it's not clear if the products still have the coating on them. Either way, you should probably start washing your hands more, Mr. Filthy.[Via Nanotech Project]
IOGEAR's Mobile Digital Scribe lets you ignore digital pens on the go
We're not sure how many of you were so hopelessly addicted to the IOGEAR Digital Scribe that you clamored for a mobile version, but the company has somehow heard your cries and duly provided. Just like big brother, the Mobile Digital Scribe comes in two parts: the pen itself, which uses ordinary ink in addition to transmitting your doodled masterworks, and the USB receiver, which has been shrunken in size and given a detachable mini-USB cord. The receiver also now has enough memory to hold up to 50 pages of scribblings, which you can download back to your PC for OCR later. Interestingly, you'll pay a $30 premium over the original Digital Scribe for all these hot new features -- we suppose no one at IOGEAR has used one of these to sketch out a demand curve, eh?
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.
IOGEAR intros SRS WOW-equipped Bluetooth Audio Transport
It looks like SRS Labs has found yet another outlet for its sound-enhancing technology, with the company today announcing that it's signed up IOGEAR as its latest partner. What's more, it seems that IOGEAR isn't wasting any time in getting its first piece of gear out the door, as it's also taken the opportunity to introduce its new Bluetooth Audio Transport device, which promises to "dramatically improve the audio performance of content played on any Bluetooth-enabled audio device." The unit also boasts a microphone to let you get in some SRS-enhanced calling, and it should last you around six hours before it needs a recharge. If that's enough to get you to ditch your current headset, you should be able to grab one of these right now for $80.
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.
