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Wireless HD Hubs

Netgear, D-Link and Buffalo’s wireless player all introduced wireless settop boxes that let users play Internet and other digital content on their TVs. These “Media Center Extenders” are basically the same thing as Apple’s iTV, explains ZDNet. They can be used to stream content to a television from a PC over a home network, though they can be tricky to set up and use.

While Apple may launch an ITV set-top box tomorrow, several consumer electronics demoed their boxes today at CES in Las Vegas.

Netgear’s Digital Entertainer HD (right) discovers content on a variety of PCs, servers and storage devices in a user’s home and can play that content, including video in high definition format, or YouTube on a user’s TV.”We access YouTube directly to their servers,” said Michael Spilo, vice president of engineering for Netgear. Users connect the box to their home entertainment system and to a router. Computers, including PCs, Macs and Linux machines, can connect to the router via wireless or powerline networking. The Digital Entertainer HD also includes two USB 2.0 ports to play content from Flash and other storage devices.The Digital Entertainer HD can play music from iTunes but only from PCs, not Macs. It can also record TV content for playback at a later time. In order to stream content in HD, customers will need to use powerline or another high-speed networking. Current Wi-Fi standards aren’t fast enough yet, says Netgear.Users aren’t required to have a computer, but some capabilities require a PC. Live TV requires a PC with a TV tuner in it. A PC is also required to watch YouTube videos.Available Q1 2007, the Digital Entertainer HD will cost $349. It includes an HDMI port, RCA connectors, stereo RCA audio ports, coaxial and optical digital audio outputs, an S-Video port, and supports 802.11g wireless networking.
D-Link put a draft 11n in their new networked media player. The DSM-750 MediaLounge Wireless Media Player that can display HD video and that incorporates draft 802.11n wireless.The DSM-750 player works with Windows XP computers through Microsoft’s Windows Media Player 11 or Windows Media Connect and other Universal Plug and Play (UPnP AV) media servers. It is expected to ship in “early Q2 2007″. Pricing will be announced when the product ships.
D-Link’s Dual Band Draft 802.11n Wireless Router (DIR-855) was also introduced this week in Las Vegas with simultaneous dual band (2.4 and 5GHz) operation. Like most wireless routers, you connect D-Link’s Draft N Router to a cable or DSL modem for wireless Internet access.The DIR-855 is expected to ship in late Q1. Pricing will be announced when the product ships.
Buffalo Technology announced the addition of a dual-band wireless player to its LinkTheater line and an 802.11n router.Buffalo’s wireless player can receive music, video and still image content via 10/100 Ethernet or 802.11a/b/g wireless connections. The player can connect with UPnP AV servers and has certifications for Intel Viiv, DLNA and Dolby Digital.Video output connections include composite, S-video, and D4 component video. The player will be available in this month at an estimated street price of $249.
Buffalo’s 802.N Nfiniti Dual Band Router & AP (WZR-AG300NH) and Notebook Adapte will be available early February at estimated street prices of $299 for the router and $129 for the notebook adapter.
Meanwhile, Ruckus Wireless today introduced the MediaFlex USB Dongle that is designed to provide stable, wireless connectivity to in-home multimedia devices such as set-tops and media center systems.The adapter uses a standard 802.11g radio with the Ruckus BeamFlex smart antenna. It is designed to work with the Ruckus MediaFlex router and be marketed primarily to service providers. Motorola’s VIP1700 IPTV set-top integrates the dongle. USB drivers are being made available for other popular set-top boxes.It’s available immediately for integration with set top box suppliers, and lists at $59.00.
Sony’s new “BRAVIA” Internet Video Link is expected to be announced within the next few months. It will initially be first supported by Sony’s BRAVIA S-series flat-panel LCD high-definition television line, which was also announced today. The new TV models include the KDL-46S3000, KDL-40S3000, KDL-32S3000 and KDL-26S3000 units – all shipping this spring.