Hasta La Gadget!

And you wonder why people refuse to take wireless HD / HDMI seriously. A full 15 months after Belkin’s FlyWire was introduced at CES 2008, the world is still waiting for it to ship. When launched, it promised the consumer world a device that would take multiple HDMI devices and stream them (one at a time, obviously) to your HDTV sans wires. The box itself relies on AMIMON’s WHDI technology, and while we’ve seen with our own eyes just how marvelous it works, Earthlings won’t be able to purchase one until — drumroll, please — August 2009. According to a Belkin PR manager that we spoke with on the matter, the January 2009 ship date has now slipped to late summer for the US market, though the altogether painful $1,499 price tag remains firmly in tact. So, what’s the over / under on Belkin actually keeping its word this go ’round?

Update: Contrary to some reports, the delay is absolutely not related to WHDI. Belkin’s own PR team has confirmed that the hold-up is in no way related to WHDI, but that it is “paying very close attention to the user experience.” In other words, it’s delaying things to get things totally right, and for $1,500, we’d expect nothing less than perfection.

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Wireless

Belkin’s $1,500 FlyWire delayed again, now slated for August release originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We know what you’re thinking. A global economic downturn can only mean one thing: savings! Perhaps, but if you were holding out for a price break on that new Intel-powered laptop, it looks like you may have a little longer to wait. According to DigiTimes, Intel is notifying its partners that it won’t be cutting notebook prices before the end of May. If the report is correct, the company will start reducing the price of some notebook CPUs (including the Core 2 Duo T9600) by 13-40% in June, adjusting the launch schedule of its Calpella platform “based on its partners’ inventory status and market demand.” You know what that means — no new processor, and no price cuts, not until manufacturers get rid of their current inventory. And it looks like Intel means it. Now go clean up your room or you won’t get any dessert.

[Via SlashGear]

Filed under: Laptops

Intel puts the freeze on notebook prices, ponders Calpella delay originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Last we’d heard, that aborted Treo Pro launch on Sprint had been pushed back to mid-February, but according to some fresh dealer docs floating around, that launch is now “TBD” — and more often than not, we find that “TBD” actually stands for “too little, too late.” In the face of the impending Pre launch, it seems like it’s getting harder by the second to justify sinking any significant marketing revenue into making folks aware of the Treo Pro’s existence — and while we totally buy Sprint’s statement that it’s the testing process holding up retail availability, we’re wondering who’s going to come rushing with cash (or plastic) in hand when this sucker is sitting next to its webOS-powered sib a few months down the road. Anyone?

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Sprint Treo Pro getting delayed into a bleak, uncertain future? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you’ve been waiting (and waiting) for Plastic Logic‘s ultra-durable e-reader, you’ll have to stick with recycled paper for another dozen months or so. According to a company representative at the outfit’s CES kiosk, the device is now scheduled for an “early 2010” release, and as expected, final pricing has yet to be determined. Though, Mr. Joe (seriously, that’s his first name) did admit that it would be “competitively priced for rapid adoption” and that the company would be pushing hard to get this into corporations / enterprises. Don’t believe us? The full five minute interview is there in the read link.

[Thanks, credo]

Filed under: Displays

Plastic Logic e-reader not coming until early 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shortly after Barack Obama’s transition team urged Congress to postpone the looming digital TV transition, FCC chairman Kevin Martin has hit back with suggestions to keep things on track. His primary concern is that delaying the cutover, which has been scheduled for years and advertised as such, will confuse consumers — and honestly, we think he has a point. If the February 17th changeover date suddenly becomes meaningless, we could definitely see consumer confusion about this whole ordeal hitting an all-time high. Martin was quoted at an interview at CES as saying that “there are options they can do without having to delay to get coupons flowing immediately,” suggesting that extra funding should be hastily given or that those 90-day expiration dates be marked null and void. Additionally, many broadcasters have already scheduled work to take down their analog equipment, and cancellations could be costly and disruptive. Oh, brother — just call us when this mess is over.

Filed under: Home Entertainment

FCC’s Kevin Martin proposes alternatives for delaying DTV transition originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 04:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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