Hasta La Gadget!

Yesterday, HTC introduced the Connect program, a spin on Apple’s own AirPlay mode allowing you to wireless stream content across the home on supported devices. Pioneer is one of the launch partners for Connect, and it looks like it wants all the connectivity it can gets its hands on. The company has announced the new SMA range of wireless speakers, which feature both AirPlay and Connect.

Pioneer has introduced three new wireless speakers in total, the the XW-SMA1, XW-SMA3 and XW-SMA4. The XW-SMA1 kicks things off as the cheapest of the three, offering two 3-inch speakers as well as “a ¾-inch soft dome tweeter”. Bass response has also been tweaked to get the best performance possible out of the speaker.

The XW-SMA3, meanwhile, is the same as its younger brother but adds in a rechargeable battery and ruggedized exterior for wireless music on-the-go. Pioneer say that you should be able to get around 6 hours of music playback out of this model with volume set to 50%, or around 4 hours if you crank it up to 11.

Finally, the XW-SMA4 commands a total of five speakers, which includes the aforementioned dual 3-inch speakers, a dedicated 4-inch subwoofer, and dual ¾-inch tweeters. Pioneer say that all three speakers should ship sometime in August, with prices set at $299 for the XW-SMA1 and $399 for the XW-SMA3 and XW-SMA4.

[via Engadget]

Pioneer SMA wireless speakers add HTC Connect and AirPlay is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Cisco announced the new Linksys EA6500 today, its first 802.11ac router with up to 1,300Mbps data rate on the 5GHz and 540Mbps on the 2.4GHz. The announcement of the EA6500 also comes at the same time as does the Linksys AC Universal Media Connector featuring 802.11ac connectivity to a maximum of four ethernet devices. Both the Media Connector and EA6500 router should be available in August or September.

Another big announcement Cisco made today was the availability of Cisco Connect Cloud for Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers–a software platform that allows you to remotely manage your home wireless network from your computer, Android or iPhone. It works with new Cisco EA series routers and existing EA routers with updated firmware. After setting up an account, Cloud Developers can also write and create apps so that other devices can be managed when connected to the home network.

Six developers have been set up already for the start of a new Linksys Developer Community, which was launched to encourage more apps for people that need help managing their home networks. The community will offer resources like SDKs, tutorials and samples. Cisco has also joined up with major appliance companies like Whirpool to help create a home environment with more devices supported by Wi-Fi connectivity.

This could definitely be the start of a completely connected home in which all appliances and major devices are entirely automated through the home Wi-Fi network.

Cisco announces Linksys 802.11ac router and Cloud Connect platform is written by Elise Moreau & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Stoked about the gigabit speeds your new 802.11ac WiFi router is pumping out? One group of scientists hailing from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and universities in the US, Israel and China isn’t so impressed, having generated a wireless signal clocking in at 2.56Tbps. Proof of the feat was published in Nature Photonics, which details their use of orbital angular momentum (OAM) to make the magic happen. Current wireless protocols alter the spin angular momentum (SAM) of radio waves to hold info, and by combining both methods the team was able to pack eight data steams into a single signal, resulting in the mouth-watering number noted above. The best part is, applying different levels of OAM twist to SAM-based transmissions theoretically allows an infinite number of streams per signal, meaning seriously increased bandwidth without the need for additional frequency. So far the wireless tests have only been conducted over a measly 1m, but the scientists reckon it’ll work at distances up to 1km and that the concept could also be used to boost speeds in existing fiber-optic cables. As with many scientific advances, it’s unlikely hardware capable of such speeds will be available any time soon, so 802.11ac will have to suffice… for now.

New wireless transmission tech hits 2.56Tbps, leaves WiFi feeling inadequate originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 05:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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