Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Wireless

You’ve got to be kidding us. No, seriously — this has to be a joke. Just last month, we witnessed in person a FlyWire unit beaming a 1080p Blu-ray signal wirelessly to an HDTV, and the results were nothing short of astonishing. For whatever reason, the box — which was officially unveiled back at CES 2008 — won’t even be ready for next year’s Vegas extravaganza. While we were told at CEDIA that the unit would begin shipping out in October (like, right now), Melody Chalaban, a marketing executive and spokeswoman for Belkin has informed Electronic House that it “won’t be able to make [its] anticipated deadline of the winter CES show.” Unfortunately, she gave no indication of when it actually would ship, leaving us to wonder if the dawn of the wireless HD era is being pushed back altogether. Again.

Update: Melody herself contacted us to clarify a bit and provide some guidance for release. According to her, the FlyWire is being delayed due to “compliance issues, and it will be available late January 2009.”

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Filed under: Digital Cameras, Wireless

If you’re still in disbelief that wireless HD is finally catching on, here’s yet another demonstration that just may sway you into being a believer. Hitachi demonstrated a wireless HD camcorder setup at CEATEC in Japan, which saw a hacked up handycam get fitted with a protruding wireless card and stream high-def content to a nearby TV via DLNA (got all that?). Obviously, there’s no telling when or if the company will clean the application up and bring it to retail, but in all seriousness, we have our doubts about the value proposition here.

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Filed under: Displays, Wireless

What’s better than a (cheap) XEL-1? How’s about a wireless, battery-powered XEL-1? Sony has recently shown off a completely cordless OLED TV with the same ultrathin chassis as used in the aforementioned 11-incher. Bulking things up a bit is the integrated HDTV tuner, and of course, it’s wall-mountable for midgets who live in a Little Tikes playhouse. Unfortunately, there’s no real mention of specs (aside from the whole “3-millimeter thin” part), and even worse, there’s no telling how long we’ll have to wait before we see it hit shelves (let alone grow to a size that’s actually useful). Anywho, tap the read link for a plethora of images.

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Wireless

With Belkin’s FlyWire just about to hit the market, JVC’s planning to ride the wave and produce a wireless HDMI box of its very own. The unit was said to be a last minute addition to its CEDIA arsenal, and the representatives on hand weren’t even briefed on what wireless technology the demo was using. Of note, there was a live demo involving no smoke nor mirrors, where the box received a 1080p signal via HDMI and beamed it out to a hidden receiver that was connected to an HDTV via (you guessed it) HDMI. JVC is obviously aiming for consumers with just one primary set-top-box (a PS3, for instance), and the plug-and-play nature means it can work with any source and any display so long as HDMI is involved. Pricing hasn’t been set, but we were told to expect a Q1 2009 launch. Check out the prototype in the gallery below.

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Peripherals, Wireless

Belkin has been dangling its FlyWire wireless HD box for, what, ever now? Thankfully, it seems that all the kinks have been worked out, and the October ship date should actually stick. A few tidbits we learned while hanging out at the outfit’s CEDIA booth: first, we confirmed that the technology within the device is AMIMON’s, so we’re guessing it’s WHDI. Secondly, we heard that the retail price of the top-end AV69003 may scoot up to $1,499 when it’s finally released. We know, that’s a lot of coin to make your components cord-free, but the demonstration showing off Blu-ray streaming through thin air was nothing short of astounding. No hiccups, no jaggies, no hints whatsoever that there wasn’t a direct HDMI connection. Check the box (and the receiver) out in the flesh over at Engadget HD.

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Home Entertainment, Peripherals

For awhile now, ultra-wideband (UWB) has been on the way down in terms of popularity, and all the while, AMIMON’s WHDI technology has been racking up an unprecedented amount of support. At this year’s CEDIA conference, we’ve got adapter manufacturer Gefen backing both sides by introducing separate wireless HD solutions built around Tzero’s UWB tech and the aforesaid WHDI. It’s hard to say if both of these formats will continue to be supported (though if we had to guess, we’d say WHDI has the upper hand), but at least for now, Gefen’s playing it safe rather than casting a vote. We’ve a term in Washington for your kind, Gefen, and that term is fencesitter.

Read - Gefen supports WHDI!
Read - But wait, Gefen supports UWB!

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV

Panasonic’s welcoming you to the future of plasma HDTV, starting along with the stunning 150-inch 4K plasma, that is, surprisingly enough bigger than its old 103-inch model (shocking, we know) leading to the debut of three “super thin” plasma prototypes measuring 24.7mm deep in 50-inch and, for what it claims is the first time, 58- and 65-inch sizes that also include Wireless HD. One-fourth the thickness of current Panasonic models and one-half the weight combined with no wires leads Panasonic to believe we’ll be able to reorganize the living room shortly, without silly mounting issues and need to run cables. If that fails to inspire, how about a 42-inch prototype that claims twice the luminance efficiency and the same brightness as its current 42-inch 1080p model while only sipping half the power — if that’s a concern. Check out more pics after the break.

Continue reading Panasonic IFA 2008 plasma prototypes: super thin, super green, super big

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Filed under: Networking

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment.

The past few years have seen a wide range of wireless technologies proposed to substitute for the now nearly ubiquitous (at least in terms of new HDTVs) HDMI connectors, but the dust is just starting to settle. Some proposals involve squeezing more juice out of 802.11n. Others rely on ultrawideband technology. Yet another that has many in the industry excited is from SiBeam, which intends to use the 60GHz band to deliver uncompressed 1080p video at 4Gbps. That technology, embraced by a group called WirelessHD, had received the most public support among major consumer electronics companies, with Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, Toshiba and LG listed on its site as promoters (and others listed as adopters).

But WirelessHD is still a ways from consumer availability and recently another wireless high-definition technology has attracted some heavy hitters of its own, including Sony, Samsung, Sharp and the cable set-top division of Motorola. Amimon’s WHDI (Wireless Home Digital Interface) is different from many of its emerging competitors because it is designed, like WiFi, to be a technology that blankets the home, whereas most competitors focus on an in-room solution. WHDI even operates in the 5GHz band (like 802.11a and 802.11n), but sheds the costly bandwidth overhead WiFi utilizes to correct transmission errors. In contrast, WHDI is a “video modem” technology that attaches to a device’s video output to send uncompressed 1080p video. After that, it’s survival of the fittest for the bits.

Continue reading Switched On: WHDI seeks to unplug hi-def

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Wireless

Be still, our hearts! After watching the wireless HD / HDMI sector fumble along for years on end, a team of mega-corps have finally agreed to push their self-interests aside and collaborate on a standard. WHDI creator AMIMON has joined forces with Motorola, Samsung, Sony and Sharp in order to form “a special interest group to develop a comprehensive new industry standard for multi-room audio, video and control connectivity” utilizing the aforementioned Wireless Home Digital Interface technology. Reportedly, the group will have a standard completed before 2009 dawns, but we all know how easily these things can get pushed under the rug. Nevertheless, the overriding goal here is to “enhance the current WHDI technology to enable wireless streaming of uncompressed HD video and audio between CE devices such as LCD and plasma HDTVs, multimedia projectors, AV receivers, DVD and BD players, set-top-boxes, game consoles and PCs.” A tall order, sure, but one we’re elated to see taken on. Full release after the break.

Continue reading AMIMON, Motorola, Sony, et al. join hands on wireless HD standard

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Wireless, Networking

Sigma Designs has been dabbling in wireless HD technologies for eons, so we aren’t going to get too excited until we see this here system-on-chip (SoC) actually hit some products that we care about. Still, the CoAir is a fairly sweet concept, wrapping integrated wireless, coax and gigabit Ethernet capabilities into one single chip aimed at whole home networking. Put simply (or as simply as possible), this chip is the world’s first to “simultaneously deliver multiple independent streams of video and data over coax cable, Ethernet cable and wirelessly without compromising quality of service and throughput.” Based on the WiMedia standard, it can reach speeds of up to 480Mbps with UWB (ultra-wideband) wireless streaming, and room-to-room linkage via UWB-over-coax can peg those same rates. What we have here is a great basis for building a whole home server on, but until said device emerges and performs flawlessly, we’ll just smile and carry on.

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Believe it or not, Aztech’s WL850MS was actually first mentioned way back at CES 2008, but it’s just now finding the limelight at CommunicAsia. The well-spec’d unit supports 1080p media streaming over Ethernet or 802.11n WiFi, and you’ll likely be thrilled to know that it boasts MIMO antennas for extended coverage and 2.4GHz / 5GHz dual-band capability. You’ll also find four 10/100 Ethernet ports for multiple video recipients and a pretty swank enclosure, if we may say so ourselves. Word from Singapore has the unit retailing for around $263, but there’s no telling how long we’ll have to wait before seeing it on US soil.

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV

Remember those “world’s thinnest” X-Series LCD HDTVs we spotted earlier this year? On their way over from Japan to the US, Sharp has whipped up a partnership with AMIMON in order to offer a wireless HDTV link based on the latter company’s WHDI technology. Apparently the 37-, 42- and 46-inch displays will be sold in both nations with an optional wireless video transmitter (read: each set is “wireless ready”), giving users the ability to send uncompressed HD to their HDTV from up to 100-feet away. As for US pricing and availability, Sharp’s not quite ready to dish out those points, and while we’re not exactly sure if this is the launch that finally gets wireless HD headed in right direction, it certainly can’t hurt matters. Full release posted after the jump.

Continue reading Sharp’s X-Series LCD HDTVs offered with WHDI wireless link

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Wireless

We knew Hitachi’s Ultra Thin HDTV family would boast ultra-wideband technology, and while little was said about this aspect during CES, we’ve now learned that Tzero will be responsible for handling the aforementioned UWB duties. As expected, the UT HDTVs will “be able to receive high-definition video wirelessly from any HDMI equipped audio / video component,” as Tzero promises that users will see transmission speeds of up to 480Mbps. Interestingly, we’re told that the UWB-equipped sets are available in Japan right now, but only time will tell if those luscious wireless abilities will make the trip stateside in Q2.

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Wireless

WirelessHD (WiHD) is back, originally announced in late 2006, the 1.0 spec has been pronounced fit for consumption and will be released later this year. What’s changed in the last 14 months? HD dream team Intel, LG, Matsushita (Panasonic), NEC, Samsung, SiBEAM, Sony and Toshiba have added 40 other companies as well as approval from DRM watchdogs MPAA and DTLA for their 60Ghz-based standard. Move over cable vs. satellite, downloads vs. disc and HD DVD vs. Blu-ray, with UWB-equipped HDTVs already on the way, a battle to replace the still-tricky HDMI connection is the new HD battleground for 2008.

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV

Life’s just too good to only unveil one new television in a sitting, right LG? Apparently the firm is in total agreement, as it has decided to also shed a little (and we stress little) light on its (similarly designed) forthcoming 52-incher. The 52LG71 LCD TV claims to be the “world’s first 1080p LCD with an integrated 802.11 Wireless System,” and while we’ve certainly seen a few plasma sets doin’ the WiFi thing before, you won’t find us kvetching about newfound competition. Interestingly, we’re not told what flavor(s) of 802.11 this thing supports, but considering that it can supposedly handle HD streams without a single hiccup, our bets are on 802.11n. Nevertheless, we’ll hopefully be finding out the specifics soon enough, but for now, let this serve as motivation to start packing away any extra pennies as you wait for this to grace store shelves.

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