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wireless

Wireless home theater in the wings

We've been begging for someone to come up with a wireless home entertainment system for some time, and we're amazed to report that our wishes may actually be fulfilled in our lifetime (maybe). Recently we heard of wireless speakers from Avega and ZON Audio, and now Tech Shout says Neosonik plans to launch what it claims will be "the world's very first fully digital wireless home theater system" next month.

The company makes some pretty bold claims, so we'll be anxious to see if the reality lives up to the hype. Neosonik says signals … Read more

World's simplest plug-in speakers

Technology can be a funny thing sometimes. Just when we've finished carping about something--in this case the dearth of wireless home audio systems--someone comes along with a product that goes in the opposite extreme. Case in point: The "Plug & Enjoy" mini-speakers from Yanko Design.

These tiny speakers do precisely what their name implies, plugging directly into the wall for your listening pleasure. According to OhGizmo, they work this way: "Roughly the size of a power adapter, the speakers plug into any outlet and are designed to receive an FM signal from your stereo, iPod, … Read more

The campaign to liberate speakers

We generally maintain a no-gloat-zone policy here at Crave, but sometimes we just can't help ourselves. Case in point: Just yesterday we wondered aloud why manufacturers were still touting hard-wired speaker systems for the home. If there's any digital consumer product that begs for wireless connections in multiple rooms, it's the entertainment system. And speakers would seem to be the easiest place to start.

Today, News.com ran a story that addressed this very point, focusing on an Australian company called Avega Systems that promised wireless speakers a year ago but then pretty much dropped off the … Read more

A case for wireless audio systems

The trend o' the week (or the day, whatever) seems to be multi-room music. First, we saw the "Eos wireless iPod speaker system," which Gadgetell describes as the world's first "whole home audio" speaker system for the ubiquitous music player. Then we came across the "ZON Multi-Room Audio Range," which Automated Home says can also pipe your iPod into every room.

Both systems can be expanded with additonal speakers, depending on the size of your grounds, and both claim to be affordable products meant for the home. But there's one major difference: … Read more

The world through a USB port

Eons ago, before free Wi-Fi networks existed (yes, there was once such a time), we experimented with a wireless laptop modem that theoretically worked with our Motorola cell phone. It was a bizarre-looking setup that would have had us clip the handset to our notebook screen if necessary to get a better signal.

Naturally, it was an unmitigated disaster that ended up costing more than the phone itself. And, of course, we never were able to browse the Web even once. So imagine our delight at learning of Novatel's "Ovation" USB modem, which Engadget notes is available … Read more

On a WiQuest for wireless video

Wireless digital video connections are all the rage these days. Or at least saying you've made the appropriate chipset is. Companies keep putting out press releases promising that one day soon your television will be able to receive high-definition signals sans wires, but consumers have been, for the most part, left hanging.

Though many have claimed to be first, Texas-based WiQuest Communications says its WQST100/101 chipset is "currently shipping to customers." That still doesn't give us an actual date as to when these will be sold as adapters for TVs, game consoles or DVD players, … Read more

A wireless recharging pad

This sounds almost too good to be true: a wireless technology that can be used to charge all devices simultaneously, regardless of type or brand. Yet that's what a company called WildCharge claims to do with its new product.

All you need to do is lay your cell phone, PDA or other device on or near its "WildCharger," a flexible roll-up pad with a power adapter attached to one edge. The devices, which can even include laptops, then absorb their electrical charge wirelessly, the company says.

Pricing for the WildCharger, which is slated for debut at CES … Read more

Samsung shows off zippy new phone standard

Samsung showed off phones for the coming HSUPA (that's High Speed Uplink Packet Access) standard at the ITU Telecom show in Hong Kong this week, paving the way for universal understanding between nations and fast video downloads.

HSUPA will deliver downlink speeds of 14.4 megabits per second, but a 5.76 megabit uplink. That means uploading five MP3 songs will only take about a minute. By contrast, the same procedure takes about five minutes on the WCDMA standard.

Samsung is one of the more aggressive cellular companies and for the past few years has tried to leapfrog past … Read more

1930s phone without the wires

The retro phone look has gotten a bit out of hand (unintentional pun) but, if you're going to do it, at least finish the job with the entire phone--not just half.

From that perspective, we must give some credit to the designers of this 1930s replica. Although it may look historically accurate from afar, closer inspection reveals a few things that weren't around in the days of Prohibition: a wireless handset and push-button dial among them.

Uber-Review notes that the phone carries only a 900MHz signal, but that would have been plenty to alert the backroom craps … Read more