Netgear's Push2TV device
(Credit: Netgear)LAS VEGAS--Remember the time you needed to hook up your laptop to an external screen, be it a monitor or a TV, and had to fumble around with cables, ports, and the laptop's keyboard? Now, you won't have to do that anymore.
Netgear, in collaboration with Intel, unveiled Thursday at CES 2010 the first Wi-Fi Direct-enabled device that links your laptop screen to a TV. It's called the Push2TV (model PTV1000).
Wi-Fi Direct is a new Wi-Fi-based technology backed by the Wi-Fi Alliance that lets multiple devices connect peer-to-peer at the throughput and range of Wi-Fi but without an access point.
Slightly larger than a deck of playing cards, Push2TV enables consumers to display their entire laptop computer screens on their HDTVs wirelessly without much user involvement. In a nutshell, the device received a signal from the laptop's display and plays that back on the TV via its HDMI or composite video connections.
The Push2TV was announced and demonstrated by Intel's President and ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
The D-Link Touch true dual-band router.
(Credit: D-Link)LAS VEGAS--If you don't want to upgrade to Wireless-N with an access point such as the D-Link Rush , but instead want to replace the router itself, D-Link also has some new options for you.
The company announced at CES 2010 two new Wireless-N routers: the the D-Link Touch DIR-865 and the D-Link Wireless N Pocket Router. The Touch is a flagship high-speed Wireless-N router,whereas the Pocket Router is a minimobile router for people on the go.
The D-Link Pocket Router.
(Credit: D-Link)According to D-Link, the Touch blends power, speed, range, security, functionality, and energy efficiency into one economical box that has the shape of traditional D-Link routers, complete with three external antennas. The router sports a 3-inch interactive touch screen for easy setup, configuration, and management of the router and Internet traffic.
The Touch supports true dual-band capabilities, working in 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands at the simultaneously. Three data streams offer throughput speeds of up to 450Mbps when used with the same standard ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
Zune HD gets a little time in the sun at CES 2010.
(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET)LAS VEGAS--Microsoft didn't exactly take our breath away with yesterday's CES 2010 keynote, but we're getting word that Zune HD users will soon have some good news to shout about.
Come Spring, the Zune HD should receive a firmware update providing support for MPEG-4 part 2 Advanced Simple Profile videos, including the torrent junkie's format of choice, XviD. When pressed on whether DivX support would also be added, our contact explained it was unlikely, because of proprietary restrictions. Also unclear is what range of resolutions will be supported, although we did confirm that the new format support will maintain compatibility with the HD AV dock accessory.
The firmware update will also bring over a Smart DJ feature, which currently is found only in the Zune's client software. The addition of Smart DJ playlists brings the Zune HD in line with the on-the-fly Genius playlist capabilities of the iPod Touch. Better yet, Zune Pass users ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
The D-Link Rush Access Point
(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET)LAS VEGAS--If you want to upgrade your wired network to wireless-N, you probably want to wait for the newest access point from D-Link.
The company unveiled at CES 2010 its most powerful consumer access point ever, the D-Link Rush (DAP-1560) wireless-N access point.
According to D-Link, the DAP-1560 will bring home networking to a new level of performance for those who demand the fastest streaming of high-definition content, such as movies, HD video, and photos. The new access point features a 4x4 antenna design that helps boost the power of any existing router with up to 600Mbps wireless speed and great signal coverage.
The device is compact enough to fit in your palm and comes with four detachable antennas. It has only one WLAN port on the back to be connected to a router, and it supports Wi-Fi Protected Setup, which allows for quickly adding wireless clients to its network via the touch of a button.
The access point is a dual-band selectable device and transmits ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
The ClickFree C2N is just a bus-powered USB external hard drive with a great software solution built-in.
(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET)LAS VEGAS--If you're looking for an effortless way to back up your computer, yet aren't happy with the HP SimpleSave for some reason, an alternative was announced at CES 2010.
The ClickFree C2N from ClickFree, which is the original developer of the backup mechanism that HP implemented in the SimpleSave, can do everything the SimpleSave does but better, plus it works with networked computers, too.
The ClickFree works similarly to the HP SimpleSave on a single computer. All you need to do is connect it to a computer using a USB port via the device's single USB cable. The hard drive is bus-powered and the first time you plug it into a computer, you will be greeted with an End User License Agreement that you will need to click "OK" on to agree before continuing. And most of the time, that's the only click you need to make for that ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
The TrendNet TEW-655BR3G mobile router at work.
(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET)LAS VEGAS--Do you want a cellular mobile router but can't afford the expensive and limited MiFi 2200 solutions from Sprint and Verizon? Do Netgear's new mobile routers not excite you because of their large size? TrendNet has something that may make you happy.
The company announced Thursday at CES its first cellular Wireless-N router that redefines portability for a router of its type, the 150Mbps Mobile Wireless N Router model TEW-655BR3G.
About the size of a pack of Orbitz chewing gum, the TEW-655BR3G has a USB port so that you can connect a compatible USB modem from 3G/4G Internet service providers such as Sprint, AT&T, or Verizon to it. All you need to do is plug the USB dongle into the port and you have a real Wireless-N network that connects to the Internet. Unlike the MiFi, the TEW-655BR3G can share the Internet connection to a lot more than just five people.
Apart from the USB port, the router also ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
TrendNet's TEW-673GRU, its new true dual-band wireless-N router.
(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET)LAS VEGAS--True dual-band routers are not news anymore; but TrendNet, a networking vendor with many innovative solutions, introduced one at CES 2010 that offers some original features.
The company announced Thursday its brand-new true dual-band router, the TEW-673GRU. According to TrendNet, this new router uses up to 70 percent less energy than other routers with the same features.
The router achieves this by using TrendNet's power saving GreenNet technology that reduces port-based power consumption. It also uses an Energy Star Certified power adapter that reduces energy consumption by 30 percent compared with noncertified adapters.
The TEW-673GRU uses Atheros' XSpan AR9002AP platform that consists of the AR9220 and AR9223 XSpan dual-band radio chipset. This platform features Atheros' powerful 680MHz AR7161 wireless network processor and has all Gigabit Ethernet ports, to offer high bandwidth for wired and wireless clients.
The new router sports a color LCD management interface that provides real time performance, security, and device information without the need to log-in ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
The FreeAgent Theater+ on display at CES 2010.
(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET)LAS VEGAS--If you have a FreeAgent Theater+ from Seagate and are a fan of Internet media streaming, I have some good news.
Seagate showcased at CES 2010 plans to collaborate with content and technology providers, including YouTube, vTuner, and Mediafly to deliver access to more user-generated and licensed Internet content directly on the FreeAgent Theater+ HD media player.
Seagate's FreeAgent Theater+ media player is one of the digital content players on the market that allows people to play collections of photos, movies, and music saved on a FreeAgent Go or any other external hard drive, directly on a TV. The device also has an Ethernet port and an optional wireless adapter for local network access and content streaming.
All these changes will be added in a new firmware update that's slated for next month. The upgrade will make the player UPnP/DLNA compliant, enabling access and sharing of digital content using any DLNA compliant device on a network.
Additionally, FreeAgent Theater+
... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
(Credit:
JVC)
Once upon a time, having an iPod dock was considered a great upgrade to any audio system. But now that iPod compatibility is par for the course, speaker systems are distinguishing themselves from the pack by doubling down on them. JVC was one of the first to offer dual iPod docks on one device with the JVC NX-PN7, but now the company has supersized the concept with the NX-D2. It's a brawny shelf system that boasts 230 watts of power and a three-way (woofer/midrange/tweeter) speaker design. In addition to the dual iPod docks, the NX-D2 also offers an AM/FM tuner and a CD player, and it supports digital audio playback from USB drives (USB Host). Also notable is the remote, which is said to duplicate the iPod's iconic control wheel. The NX-D2 will hit store shelves by the end of January, but the cost of owning the slick-looking stereo is a relatively high $400. If that's too rich for your blood, consider the smaller step-down UX-F3 model, ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
(Credit:
JVC)
LAS VEGAS--We've seen a handful of iPod boom boxes with retro styling--the Lasonic i931 and Altec Lansing Mix iMT800 come to mind--and now JVC is joining the party with the RV-NB50 Kaboom.
This newest Kaboom keeps the CD player, FM radio, and tubular design of the earlier Kaboom model (first launched in 1998), but it adds the requisite iPod dock and line-in port. The Kaboom can also play back digital audio files from USB drives. JVC throws in a shoulder strap too, so you can blast the Kaboom's 40-watt speakers on the go. Look for it later in January for $300.
