networking

Acer has solidified its intention to join the connected home market with the launched of LumiRead an eReader and Clear.fi, a content sharing solution.  I have not seen much yet on how Acer plans to combine the products as a solution for the connected home. So far most of the information that I have seen is about the LumiRead. According to Acer Clear.fi is a solution that enables devices to talk to each other simplifying the process of sharing content and will put the human element above the technology.

The BCM4331 chip is the newest member of the Broadcom Intesi-fi range to offer consumer a better wireless multimedia experience.  The new single-chip solution achieves up to 450Mbps data rates in client devices such as laptops and over 600Mbps throughput (TCP/IP) in 3x3 AP/router configurations.  With Broadcom’s new Intensi-fi system-on-chip (SoC) solution HD video content can be downloaded to a notebook computer 50 percent faster than existing 802.11n 2x2 technologies.

Atheros has upgraded their XSPAN solutions to offer a better quality viewing of video over wireless.  The XSPAN router solutions (AR938 and AR390) are the world’s first 3-stream 802.11n that supports reliable video over wireless and other bandwidth hungry applications.  The new architecture will boost performance by 50 percent across the entire wireless link, said Atheros.

Powerline Ethernet adapters are seen as a better alternative for streaming HD content around the home, but developers of wireless devices are not put off by this and are making devices that can compete with Powerline alternative to offer the same quality viewing experience.  This is where the new IOGEAR Wireless HD kit (GWAV8141K) comes in. It was designed IOGEAR to create a seamless Full 1080p HD solution for all digital home entertainment centers.
 

HomeGrid Forum, today announced the formation of a Clean Tech Working Group to support technology innovations in next-generation home networking products. So far seven organisations have joined (University of British Columbia, Offsetters Clean Technologies, British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), Future Shop (Best Buy Canada), BC Hydro,  Corinex Communications Corporation and BC Hydro). The working group will be chaired by Corinex.

Liberty Global (LGI) has promised to deliver the Home Gateway the European market has been waiting for. The company announced that they are partnering with some of the world’s biggest names in consumer electronics development and supplies, to build the best home gateway yet.  The new home gateway promises to revolutionise how the connected home access, consume and share digital content.

BT (British Telecom) is the UKs largest telecom provider and it is one of those companies that you would love to hate but you can’t, because from time to time they do or say something that causes you to love or hate them all over again.  This week BT pledged to spend an extra £1bn pounds to bring super-fast broadband to UK homes; this is one of those occasions.

Cisco announced today that they have teamed up with Cox Communication to deliver new Cox “Plus Package”, which features Cox's new Trio tru2way(R) interactive program guide, Whole Home digital video recorder (DVR)and expanded line-up of HD channels. With Cisco’s next generation Explorer range of set-top boxes.

TiVo today announced a new wireless adapter for in home wireless transfer of digital data.  The new Wireless N Adapter works with TiVo Premiere, TiVo HD, TiVo Series3 HD or TiVo Series2 dual-tuner DVRs. Anyone who hasn’t got the network to move their media content around can use this adapter.

At the moment the Chinese technology market represents many different things to technology companies. For one company in particular it seems to be a market of opportunities.  At this year’s China Content Broadcasting Network (CCNB) Conference Broadcom, a supplier of semiconductor for wired and wireless systems, introduced products specially design for the Chinese converging network market.