CES: IOGear Unveils Wireless, HDMI Home Theatre KVM Switches

CES - IOGear - LogoIOGear is more commonly known for its desktop and laptop KVM switches and peripherals, but at CES this year, home theater and media devices dominated the company’s booth. It is making a strong push into the home theater market, including the ability to wirelessly transmit HD content from the devices in your entertainment center to your TV. 

IOGear’s wireless HD products are designed for a range of audiences. For most consumers, the new 2- and 4-port HDMI switch will draw the most attention, since you can connect all of your HDMI capable devices in your home entertainment center to it and then connect the switch to your TV, freeing up valuable HDMI ports.

The HDMI switch is completely wired, but both
models come with a wireless keyboard that can be used to control any
device on the switch that accepts keyboard input. For example, a key
combination switches the input from your HD receiver to your XBox 360,
where you can use the keyboard to update your Twitter or Facebook
status. IOGear’s HDMI switch also has USB ports on the front for
additional peripherals if any of your connected devices need them.

Aircell to start in-flight video download service later this year

Aircell may have skipped out on having a presence at CES this year, but that doesn’t mean that nothing is going on in the wide, wacky world of in-flight internet. The company confirmed to us via email that it’s planning a new video download service for 2010, a little something that’ll go by the name Gogo Video. PC World was able to sit down with Eric Lemond, director of product management for the company, and they found that the service will be a lot like the iTunes Video Store in function. Users will be able to tap into their onboard WiFi in order to suck down TV shows and film rentals, which will be available for viewing up to 24 hours from the time of purchase. The files themselves will remain on the laptop (as in, this isn’t just a streaming service), and while the exact launch date has yet to be nailed down, we are told that it will only be available for Windows laptops initially. Prices should range from $2 to $4 based on the programming, though we’re still waiting to hear what kind content partners will be signing on. Fret not, jetsetters — the unfriendly skies are about to get a bit more bearable.

Aircell to start in-flight video download service later this year originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jelfin ball-shaped mouse hand-on

Some wanted to call the Jelfin ball-shaped mouse a crapgadget, but that was until they wrapped their hands around the spherical mouse. We aren’t saying the Jelfin is the best mouse in the world or that it makes you forget about your mouse-woes — that’s if you’ve even ever had them — but the gel covered ball is comfortable. At first it was a bit odd to navigate our MacBook Pro 13’s desktop with a ball in hand, but we got the hang of it. But while we like the feel of the buttons, which are differentated with raised gel lines, they don’t have enough give and we had to press too hard to double click. We also aren’t thrilled that its got a long white USB cord, either. Chances are you’ll be better suited by a Logitech for real productivity, but we did enjoy using a ball as a mouse more than we ever could have imagined.

Jelfin ball-shaped mouse hand-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sideline Cinq USB companion monitor hands-on

We don’t normally get adrenalized with LCD monitors, but when they get a dash of that DisplayLink magic then it’s another story. Enter the Sideline Cinq — a 10.1-inch, 1024 x 600 vibrant LCD (with SD card reader) that needs just one USB cable for both data and power, plus it’s kosher with both Windows and Mac. Sure, the Cinq looks bulky, but at 15.6 ounces you’d likely need some serious lottery luck for it to cause any damage. There’s also a stand to avoid the attachment’s sticky tape mess on your machine — you can go landscape or portrait. The only grumble we have is that it needs a non-glossy option. $249 and the Cinq’s yours in Q3, or $199 if you pre-order from Sideline’s site. Now, how about three of these for some hardcore flight-sim sessions?

Sideline Cinq USB companion monitor hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monsoon adds streaming, sideloading sweetness to new Volcano placeshifting box

Blazing a different path from Sling or even its own HAVA line, Monsoon’s Volcano is not just an HD placeshifting device — it can play back video from attached storage devices, NAS or PCs, plus internet video from YouTube or CinemaNow. Existing remote DVR and streaming features are joined by sideloading, as it can deliver compressed recordings to compatible mobiles (Android, iPhone, BlackBerry, Symbian, Windows Mobile) over 3G for later offline viewing. Other additions include an OS X client, MPEG-4 support plus plans for downloadable apps like Boxee and an open SDK for developers. Pricing is set at $199 with 4GB of flash memory included or $299 with 250GB HDD. Check out a video of our quick demo of the client running on a Motorola DROID and a press release with all the other details after the break.

Continue reading Monsoon adds streaming, sideloading sweetness to new Volcano placeshifting box

Monsoon adds streaming, sideloading sweetness to new Volcano placeshifting box originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba introduces DisplayLink-enabled Dynadock V10 USB port replicator

Don’t call it a docking station. Toshiba’s latest Dynadock is classified as a USB port replicator, but what makes this one a wee bit special is the integrated DisplayLink DL-165 chip that enables 1080p content to flow from a USB port and onto a DVI monitor. Put simply, this device acts just like a typical USB docking station, but with minimal bulk; as for inputs, you’ll find four USB 2.0 sockets, a single DVI port, mic in, headphone out, a power port and support for resolutions as high as 1,920 x 1,080. It’s available now in Europe for an undisclosed amount, but who knows if it’ll ever head Stateside.

Toshiba introduces DisplayLink-enabled Dynadock V10 USB port replicator originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Disney’s KeyChest is not DRM

Disney KeyChest

There’s a lot going on at CES, and one of those things was a presentation by Disney explaining its KeyChest concept. We attended and was surprised to learn that KeyChest has almost nothing to do with DRM. We were rolling our eyes when we heard Disney proclaim that KeyChest was complementary to DECE, but now that we understand what KeyChest is, we agree. The easiest way to explain it is with an example and the most obvious to us is iTunes and Comcast. Both companies offer video on demand and use their own DRM to prevent copying. If both participated in KeyChest — this isn’t studio based — and we bought a movie on iTunes, the next time we hit up Comcast VOD we’d be able to watch the same movie without paying again. The genius of the idea is how simple it is, basically the participants report your purchases to the KeyChest and query it to see what else you bought. It is a simple transaction, but Disney didn’t tell us what strings were attached to join up, but did say that the the product wasn’t meant to be profitable, but of course would not operate at a loss either. The other obvious thing mentioned was that Disney realizes that the entire system is useless if it doesn’t reach critical mass.

Disney’s KeyChest is not DRM originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 07:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buffalo brings 4TB TeraStation III WSS NAS to America, streamers in tow

Remember that 4TB TeraStation NAS that we saw surface in Japan last September? Liar. We know you’re faking it just to save face, but we’ll let you slide — next time, just be straight with us, cool? The TeraStation III WSS has just been cleared for takeoff here in America, boasting four quick-swap SATA hard drives, Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 Express Edition and native Active Directory support. Check it right now in 2TB and 4TB editions for $1,599.99 and $1,999.99, respectively.

Buffalo brings 4TB TeraStation III WSS NAS to America, streamers in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 07:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla taps Panasonic to create next-generation EV battery packs

As Tesla continues on its commendable journey to surpass Ford, GM, Toyota and everyone else in total sales, it’s evidently hoping a tie-up with Panasonic will help it accomplish said goal. The two outfits have just agreed to work together in order to develop next-generation battery packs to be used within electric vehicles, which are based around “Nickel-based Lithium ion chemistry.” It sounds as if the two are hoping the collaborative effort will actually be mutually beneficial, though both have been coy about when or where this research will lead to implementable results. Hopefully we’ll end up with a Model S that can roll 724 miles on a single charge, but it’s not like we’d complain (much) if we only got 722.

Tesla taps Panasonic to create next-generation EV battery packs originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 06:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stuart Hughes goes low-end with $160k Nokia Supreme

Stuart Hughes aficionados take note. The luxury bedazzler is now back with an entry-level alternative to its $3.2 million iPhone 3GS Supreme. Of course, the new Nokia Supreme will still set you back a suitably ridiculous £99,995 (or $160k), which will get you a Nokia 8800 encrusted with 12.5 cts of pink diamonds, some handmade veneers made from 83 grams of platinum, a navigation button topped off with a single 3 ct diamond, and the usual granite box to store it in. Only three have been made, but it looks like today’s your lucky day — it’s still in stock.

Stuart Hughes goes low-end with $160k Nokia Supreme originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 06:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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