UWB
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Ultrawideband and coax distribution announced from PulseLink
PulseLink has introduced a solution for combining 1394 (aka FireWire), coaxial ethernet, and Ultra wideband connections and distributing high-definition video throughout the whole home. It combines the wired technologies from the HANA and DLNA specifications, as well as UWB wireless tech for the "last mile" to compatible devices. As the connection between devices can be up to Gigabit speeds, PulseLink claims to be able to stream four 1080p HD signals at the same time, with wireless HDMI connections at the endpoints. The company's chipset will be available to manufacturers this quarter.
Philips intros Wireless HDMI
Philips has announced its showing off a wireless HDMI product, based on Ultra Wideband at this year's CES. With enough bandwidth to send an uncompressed HD stream of up to 1080p resolution, the company claims its solution solves the problem of arranging components and display devices without affecting the A/V experience. The ultra wideband frequency range should keep it free from interference caused by cell phones, WiFi or microwaves. Oddly, the press release continually refers to the SWW1800 as a "wireless cable", which would likely explain the dearth of available pictures as they try to find a way to photograph it. We'll have to see if we can get a look at it on the CES show floor, but the company expects to debut it in May with an MSRP of $299.Update: We've got a picture of the wireless adapters from Philips' press conference yesterday, where they were pretty tight lipped about availability, pricing or specifics on the technology, but later issued a press release with two of the three.
WiMedia and Mercedes to demo in-vehicle, HD streaming over UWB
In what the WiMedia Alliance calls a "first of its kind demonstration," DaimlerChrysler Research will roll-out a Mercedes-Benz R500 SUV at CES next week all dolled up in Intel's and Alereon's Ultrawideband (UWB) USB technology. The demonstration will pump high-definition video from a handheld mobile device to an array of factory installed headrest monitors for the middle and third row passengers. Great, let's hope they do better that we did with the Belkin's CableFree USB Hub which wasn't quite up to the task of streaming HD with a paltry 6.35Mbps measured. But Belkin's box packs Freescale's flavor of UWB -- this is WiMedia kids, the favored child of the Bluetooth SIG. So let's hope they can demonstrate something a bit closer to the "480Mbps and beyond" transfer speeds they like to boast about. You know, so your kids can someday sit zombied in the backseat watching their videos on a 7.1-inch, 1080p display just as the Good Lorf intended.
WiQuest launches two new UWB-based WiDV chipsets for wireless HD
While the Wireless USB solutions that UWB presents are a fun ideal for the wire-free desktop of the future, it seems like for the present, UWB is getting quite the workout as a video streaming workhorse. WiQuest's new WiDV technology streams up to 1Gbps of HD video for PC or home entertainment applications -- exact device compatibility is undefined, but we're guessing the usual suspects like DVI, HDMI and Component will be worked into this mix. To start of its WiDV revolution, WiQuest just announced its WQST100 and WQAST101 chipsets to support the new standard. Based on UWB technology, the streams shouldn't interfere with other WiMedia-based devices. Now we've just gotta wait for these chipsets to start showing up in real devices.[Via gizmag]
UWB about to get legalized in the UK
While we Americans are probably taking for granted the legal status of ultrawideband technology while we grumble over the RIAA, MPAA, and host of other pesky agencies, the folks in Europe still haven't had a taste of UWB in their own homeland. That tidbit is getting set to change, however, as a recent meeting of the Radio Spectrum Committee reversed the decision to keep the technology illegal in the UK. Ofcom's chief technologist, Professor William Webb, was "delighted" at the approval, and he expects the decision to accept UWB across all European states will be made "within the next six months." But don't think the RSC is going to let those waves run loose, as Ofcom noted that the UK would impose "even tighter restrictions" than ones currently in place elsewhere to ensure no complications or interference during the rollout. Although the formal decision hasn't exactly been announced, all signs are pointing to a green light in the near future, and we suspect companies in the UWB game are already gearing up that 220-volt gear in anticipation.[Via Slashdot]
Belkin Cable-Free USB Hub available for purchase this month
Belkin's award-winning wireless USB hub is finally expected to be available this month, after several delays. According to Belkin's press release earlier today, the Cable-Free USB Hub will be available for purchase mid-December, for $199 USD. We first told you about the Belkin Cable-Free USB hub back in January when they were demoing in at Macworld. It's a 4-port USB hub that uses Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology, based on the Wisair chipset, and needs no drivers to deliver high rate, high quality transfers - up to 480Mbps for USB 2.0 devices - making it perfect for wireless streaming HD video and audio, as well as communicating with printers, scanners, cameras and other USB devices up to 30 feet away without being tethered to them. The only thing you're tethered to is a small USB dongle.The hub will launch in the US first, with launches in Asia, Europe, and Australia to follow "at an indefinite date, pending respective country's regulatory approvals."Yup, I still want one, despite the price jumping from $130 to $190. Bring it on, Belkin... Bring. It. On.
HP's shiny new concept devices
Looks like Fujitsu's not the only company showing off products that you're not likely to get your mitts on anytime soon, with HP recently unveiling its vision of personal computing in the year 2016. The centerpiece of the lineup is this wouldn't-be-caught-dead-wearing watch seen here which, if HP has its way, could someday come loaded with a holographic display and Ultra Wide Band (UWB) connectivity. That'll let the watch communicate with the array of other equally shiny devices HP's showing off -- including laptops and tablet PCs -- that rely entirely on network storage, as well a so-called "smart shelf" which can be used to recharge the watch and display information on a huge screen atop it. Other non-working prototypes include a smart coffee table with built-in interactive displays and slots for a tablet PC, rollable multi-purpose display mats, and a digital wallet that'll keep track of your online transactions. Of course, HP then went on to show off some of its current products at the same event, successfully dampening whatever enthusiasm there might have been for Pocket PC phones and GPS devices. More pics after the break.[Via Slashgear]
Freescale sells out for $17.6 billion, wants more
While cellphone giant Motorola has been busy selling endless iterations of the RAZR and other oddly-named phones, their semiconductor spin-off Freescale has been doing quite well for itself, and is on the verge of being purchased for quite a few billion dollars. Freescale just got a $17.6 billion offer from some private-equity types led by Blackstone, which values Freescale stock at $40 a share -- quite an improvement from the $13 a share Freescale went public with in 2004. Freescale has accepted the offer, on the condition that they can accept a better offer within 50 days, with a break-up fee to be paid to the Blackstone types if they do. We just looked between all the couch cushions, but we're still coming up a few billion short, so if you've got $18 bil or so burning a hole in your pocket, now's your chance to break into the hip and happenin' world of UWB, MRAM and other fancy microchips.[Via El Reg]
Wireless HDMI over UWB? Heck yes!
Some buzzwords just sound good together. Like robots and flamethrowers -- those two just hit it off right from the start. Now Tzero Technologies and Analog Devices are teaming up for a new standards-based wireless HDMI tech that marries UWB with everybody's favorite home theater plug. Tzero is bringing the UWB to the table, while Analog Devices' is sharing their JPEG2000 video codec. A UWB transmitter compresses all the HDMI data on the way out of a video device and a receiver converts it back to HDMI on the way back into your display. With a range of 30 meters, and no line of sight requirements, all sorts of diabolical home theater configurations become possible. For instance, we can envision a ceiling mounted projector without all the wiring, or a noisy HTPC hidden away without similar hassles. According to Tzero, the first adapters should be out in a couple of weeks, and the price should be "similar to other WiFi devices." We'll be sure to test out the performance before we jump in with two feet, but if the price is right we're liking where this wireless HDMI thing is headed.[Via Cnet]
Y-E Data announces new UWB hub
It looks like Y-E Data Inc. announced the "Wireless Hub," the so-called "first" UWB wireless device on the market (other than this, and that thing), to be released on October 21. Coated in bondi blue translucent blue-tinted plastic, this newfangled USB dongle comes with a wireless transmitter and a USB hub, into which you can plug in your favorite USB devices, like scanners, printers and the limited-edition Michael Young USB bracelet that you know you bought three of. Nikkei Electronics reports that the price is expected to be around ¥25,000 - ¥40,000 ($213 - $342) and that the data rate "reaches around 100 Mbps" at an unobstructed 10 meter distance. We won't laugh at that, now will we? Ok, fine, proceed. (Don't forget a chuckle at that awesome press shot, too.)[Via Slashdot]
Samsung's 50-inch PDP brings wireless HD
We all know that Sony's been doing their LocationFree wireless TV gig for years, right? Still, that little fact won't stop Samsung from stretching for yet another world's first by introducing the SPD-50P7HDT which they call the "world's first large-size HD-compatible wireless PDP TV." Yeah, whutevs Sammy, if it makes you feel better then go ahead, call it. The new 50-inch Plasma Display Panel supports an unspecified high-def resolution and touts the inclusion of a wireless AV center to float the TV upon your wall (nearly) cable-free. Apparently, the AV center is the mystery box on the shelf below the PDP in the picture above which will magically bundle the various signals from your tethered devices such as DVD, set-top box, etc. and then feed 'em up to the TV over 802.11a WiFi. Yeah, 802.11a -- at least that's what's being reported in the digital rags. However, we'd love to see Samsung slip in a little UWB which we've already seen them playing around with as a more appropriate short-haul cable replacement. Maybe the official specs will hold a surprise once released... hey, we can dream can't we? Suggested retail is about 4,800,000 South Korean Wan or about $5,000 of the green stuff if it this kit ever ships Stateside. [Via Akihabara News]
1394TA and HANA to offer "1394 over coax via UWB" home networking
Although coax isn't the freshest medium on the block, there's still a good bit of potential yet to be realized in your household cable wiring. The 1394 Trade Association has teamed up with the High Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance (aka HANA) in hopes of networking the electronics in your crib by tapping into the copious amount of cable you've probably already got installed. While turning all of your home entertainment devices into one big happy family has been a long-standing fantasy, these two organizations are hoping to bring the ideas to complete fruition via ultrawideband technology (UWB). Plans are to leverage the bandwidth in your home's coaxial cable to network HDTVs, PVRs, set-top boxes, HTPCs, NAS drives, DVD players, and whatever else you can throw in the mix by using hardware and software developed by PulseLink (which we've already seen in action), Freescale Semiconductor, and Samsung Electronics. The technology will reportedly play nice with your legacy programming, meet the current FCC mandates, and even support IP. As expected, 1394 over coax via UWB will support DRM, so even though content guardians of the world can rest easy, we could potentially endure a bit of headache in the "seamless networking" that we're led to expect. This promising application will supposedly feature "real-time QoS [quality of service]" and raw data rates "exceeding 1Gbps," which combined with its long list of attributes, sounds like a match made in heaven for those looking to network their currently disconnected entertainment devices. But until we see hard pricing and implementations beyond a trade show setup (i.e. some industry support), we'll continue to keep our fingers patiently crossed, and our coax patiently un-networked.
IOGEAR announces UWB hub
IOGEAR is showing off their new Ultra-Wideband Hub and Adapter solution at Computex in Taiwan this week. Like the Belkin CableFree USB hub we've seen ponied-out at trade shows previously (but still not launched), this 4-port hub offers wireless USB 2.0 connectivity to desktop peripherals via a USB dongle which communicates with the hub at 480Mbps at up to 30 feet away. However, unlike Belkin's Freescale-based solution supported by Motorola, IOGEAR's box is based on the WiMedia Alliance MB-OFDM technology backed by heavy-hitters such as Intel and Philips. IOGEAR claims a ship date of Q3 2006 but remains mum on the price. Oh, and we'll slap up a product image just as soon as we troll one down.[Via MobileTechReview]
Wisair UWB USB hub: 480Mbps at 100 feet... wirelessly
Wisair just announced a new ultra-wideband (UWB) hub reference design (read: available to OEMs, not you) capable of 480Mbps data rates at a distance of 100 feet, wirelessly. That's a pretty big leap over the current 30 foot max reached by their first gen design. The 4-port USB 2.0 hub is based on the WiMedia UWB radio platform and is destined to appear in existing, wired USB hub cases to free laptops (with accompanying USB dongle) from desktop peripherals or reduce desktop clutter for workstations. With any luck someone might pick this up and properly bring it to market someday soon. Anyone listening, D-Link, Belkin, IOGEAR, the Republic of China? [Via TGDaily]
Bluetooth SIG drafting Medical Device Profile
Your Bluetooth-enabled PC or handset will soon be able to do more than just stream audio and sync data, as the SIG responsible for the wireless protocol has announced a forthcoming profile that will enable pairing with health and fitness monitoring equipment. Although several proprietary monitoring solutions are already on the market, the so-called Medical Device Profile will allow third-party manufacturers to release hardware with guaranteed interoperability, which should help grow this nascent use of the technology. Scheduled for completion sometime during the first half of next year, the new profile will allow users to both track pertinent statistics on their Bluetooth devices and easily send that data to doctors, coaches, or trainers. Luckily for us heavy Bluetooth users, the profile will also be compatible with the upcoming Ultra Wideband (UWB) standard, meaning that the fitness-related bits traveling to our smartphone won't have to fight for bandwidth with the tethered GPS receiver and A2DP tunes we rock during our workouts.[Via MedGadget]
IBM working on wireless HDTV
Don't you just dream of a time where that nest of wires behind your entertainment rack can just *poof* disappear! Ultrawideband is right around the corner and that might be the solution but IBM might just have a thing or two up their sleeve. They are working on a solution that would be able to transmit data wirelessly at 630 Mbps. This would of course be a short range transmission. This is not just a theory though. Oh no. Those mad scientists at IBM have a working prototype the size of a dime. They used a silicon germanium to manufacture the chips in order to cram the receiver, the transmitter, and two antennas onto it. This is still a few years away; even if we see it all. Wireless is the way of the feature and with IBM at the helm.
CES: Connect your 360 to an HDTV wirelessly using UWB
In another sign the future is almost here (only 6 years late) Pulse~LINK is showing off their gigabit-rate wireless Ultra Wideband platform by streaming HD video from both an Xbox 360 to an HDTV and a PC to an HDTV. Made possible with their PLK23300 UWB chipset, the technology allows "for real-time visually lossless HDTV and the ability to provide an interactive wireless connection between HD video game consoles and HD displays." To verify that the latency will be low enough to use the technology for gaming, PulseLink will have a side-by-side setup available. "The Xbox™ 360 will be connected during active HD game play to two High Definition displays, one which will receive its signal directly via the component video cables currently shipping with the CWave™ , the other display will receive its signal wirelessly using Pulse~LINK's CWave™ UWB radios. The side-by-side wireless versus wired displays showcase the “wired equivalency” of CWave™ wireless UWB."In related news, be sure to check out Engadget's already outrageous CES coverage. [Via Engadget]
