Google is listed as the manufacturer of the devices, described as “in the prototyping phase”, and says that they will be connected to home internet connections via WiFi. Staff in Mountain View, Los Angeles, Cambridge and New York will all be involved, using the gadgets at work and at home. It’s also possible that the device is Google’s HUD Smart Glasses project, being tested in the wild.

Although the Home Entertainment System was immediately connected with the Android@Home, there are other possibilities for these latest filings. Google has also requested permission to test a “fiber residential gateway” including WiFi and Bluetooth wireless options as part of its 1Gbps Google Fiber project that recently broke ground in Kansas City.

This next-gen personal communication device, therefore, could be related to Google Fiber – perhaps linking wirelessly to the residential gateway, as some sort of portable Google Voice or Google Talk comms gadget – or it could be an element of the home entertainment system. Although talk so far has positioned that system as a Sonos rival, Android@Home supports a broad range of functionality thanks to the underlying app support, and personal communications could easily be an aspect of that.

Google demonstrated Android@Home at Google I/O 2011 last year; it’s entirely possible the new hardware could be prepared for the same show this year, which is expected to take place in late June 2012.

[Thanks Si!]

Hardware

While the key components of the Web Cube may be the same as your average, pocket-sized mobile hotspot, the device as a whole is much bigger. Almost a 10cm cube (it’s 9.5cm high) it’s a distinctive addition to your desktop, with white base and top plates sandwiching a frosted midsection that reveals a fluted inner pillar. An array of blue LEDs cause the whole thing to glow when a device is connected via WiFi.

Physical controls are limited to a single button on the top, which doubles as a WPS pairing key and, with a longer press, a power button to shut the Web Cube down. Three of the top edges have tiny hatches, one sliding out for the SIM card, another hiding a reset button and external antenna port, and the last a microUSB port used for firmware updates. Unfortunately you can’t plug an external drive into the USB connection and share its data across the network.

Inside the Huawei-made device there’s a HSPA+ radio supporting up to 21.6 Mbit/s downloads and up to 5.76 Mbit/s uploads, network depending, along with a WiFi b/g/n router supporting up to five WiFi connections at any one time. 3G signal strength is shown via blue LEDs on the top panel.

Setup

Three is aiming for plug and play simplicity with the Web Cube, and the most confusing part is probably going to be loading the SIM. The quick-start guide shows where to slot it in, though hopefully in-store sales staff will do that for most users; then it’s just a case of plugging in the mains power lead and watching the Web Cube load up automatically.

Both the SSID and WPA2 encryption key are preconfigured, each printed on the base of the Web Cube as well as on the back of the quick-start guide. We were connected and surfing in sixty seconds from plugging the modem in, in fact.

As with most routers, there’s a browser-based control panel for checking status and accessing more complex settings. The home view shows data connection, upload/download speeds and a data counter, along with icons for signal status and how many WiFi clients are connected; you can also turn off the main body light. There’s also text message support, including incoming and outgoing messages; it’s worth noting that any WiFi user can access this and send SMS billed to your account. While you can’t turn off text messaging or lock it down with a passport, you can put in an incorrect service center number and block the functionality that way.

Log into the admin pages, and the Web Cube’s true router abilities become visible. It may look toylike but there’s most of the advanced settings and options that you’d expect from any wireless hardware: a DHCP server, static routing, MAC filtering and optional WiFi bridging, a firewall (sensibly on by default) and IP filtering, virtual server support and a DMZ. If you want to lock down the Web Cube to only support visiting certain sites, you can do it.

Performance

Mobile broadband download speeds are obviously dependent on carrier coverage, and the Web Cube’s 110cm cable doesn’t give you a huge amount of flexibility to move the modem around. Still, the integrated signal strength meter does make positioning easier, though we’d recommend doing some online speed tests just to see where the best results can be had.

Shifting the Web Cube one meter closer to the window saw download rates double (to 4.06 Mbps) and upload rates more than quintuple (to 1.72 Mbps), for instance, so there are significant benefits to be had in experimenting. At least, unlike most wired home broadband connections, you can take your pick of locations, as long as they’re near enough to a power socket. Moving to the other side of the building saw download rates jump to 5.89 Mbps and upload rates to 2.74 Mbps.

As for WiFi strength, we had no problems keeping a connection even with three walls (one external brick) and solid wooden doors between us and the Web Cube. In fact, our test computer was still showing full signal strength at the time. This could be the Web Cube’s biggest advantage over traditional mobile hotspots, which generally suffer from relatively short range WiFi radios.

Pricing

Three offers two options for Web Cube data packages. If you’re willing to commit, you can get 15GB of data per month on a two year £15.99 agreement, and pay nothing upfront for the modem itself. Those feeling more flighty can opt for a £15 month-to-month package, getting them 10GB of data instead; they’ll also have to pay £59.99 for the Web Cube.

There’s no unlimited data option, however, and Three tells us the target audience wouldn’t really want it, though we’re not so sure that’s actually the case.

Wrap-Up

It’s easy to be dismissive of the Web Cube, at least at first glance. Three’s HSPA+ can deliver reasonably speedy burst rates but still lags behind top-tier wired broadband connections, while you also miss out on the battery-powered portability of a traditional mobile hotspot. Unlike the carrier’s own WiFi Hub – which shares a USB modem’s connection over WiFi – you don’t get wired ethernet either, and the Web Cube is even larger.

Where the Web Cube begins to show merit is in its ease of setup and WiFi performance. Ignore the advanced settings – as most users will – and you can be up and running moments after plugging in. It’s portable enough that you can take it on holiday with you, and the data plans, while missing an unlimited option, are probably enough for casual users. The dramatically stronger WiFi range than a battery-powered hotspot singles the Web Cube out for semi-fixed usage too.

Definitely a niche gadget, then, but if you fit the target demographic then there’s plenty of appeal. We can see the Web Cube being ideal for broadband-shy grandparents or catering to a temporary office; it’d make a good backup option if your home broadband goes down. More advanced users will undoubtedly be able to find cheaper ways to share out a 3G connection, but if simplicity is your guiding star then the Web Cube will take some beating.

PowerShot SX260 HS – 12.1-megapixel CMOS and 20x optical zoom with optical image stabilization. 1.29-inches thick. Supports 1080p Full HD video recording and GPS phototagging. 10.3fps burst mode. Ships March 2012 for $349.99.

PowerShot D20 – 12.1-megapixel CMOS and 5x optical zoom in waterproof, shock-proof and freeze-proof body. Full HD video recording and GPS integration for location tagging. 3-inch preview display. Ships May 2012 for $349.99.

PowerShot A4000 IS – 16-megapixel sensor, optical image stabilization and 8x optical zoom. 3-inch preview display. Ships February for $199.99.

PowerShot A3400 IS – 16-megapixel sensor, optical image stabilization and 5x optical zoom. 3-inch touchscreen with touch-focus and touch-shutter. Ships March for $179.99.

PowerShot A2400 IS / A2300 – 5x optical zoom and 2.7-inch display. A2400 IS adds optical image stabilization. A2400 IS due March for $159.99; A2300 due March for $149.99.

PowerShot A1300 – Optical viewfinder along with 2.7-inch LCD. 5x optical zoom and uses AA batteries. Due April for $199.99.

PowerShot A810 – 5x optical zoom and 2.7-inch LCD. Uses AA batteries. Due April for $109.99.

A WiFi SSID and encryption password are preset, and once you plug the Web Cube into the mains it automatically starts sharing its HSPA+ connection. Up to five wireless clients can be connected at any one time, and the range is around 30 feet.

Three says 2-5Mbps download speeds should be typical, though suggests peaks of up to 10Mbps could be achieved. Two packages will be offered, a month-to-month option at £15 with a £59.99 upfront hardware charge and 10GB of data, and a 24-month agreement for £15.99 per month with no upfront charge and 15GB of data.

The carrier is targeting students, renters, those who frequently move and people who don’t want the hassle of a landline for traditional wired broadband, though we can see the data cap being a potential issue if the Web Cube is your sole connection. Three intends to trial the modem in Leeds, Glasgow and Edinburgh before a broader roll-out across the UK this year.

Hardware

Dropcam’s is rightly proud of the HD: its first-gen hardware, the Echo, was designed externally, but the company brought development in-house for this new model. The end result is something that looks far more consumer-friendly than the blocky white Echo. The Dropcam HD itself is a small glossy black puck that slots into a detachable metal stand with a posable base: together, they’re 4.5-inches high and about 3.15-inches across.

The hinged base is stiff enough to stay at whatever angle you set it to, and you can tilt the Dropcam HD itself in the stand to fine-tune things. Power is courtesy of a compact AC brick with a long microUSB cable up to the camera itself; unlike the previous Dropcam models, there’s no ethernet option, only WiFi b/g/n, though that’s no great loss for the consumer market. A rubber foot for the stand has a clip to keep the power cable in place.

Setup requires plugging the Dropcam HD into your computer via USB, creating an account through Dropcam’s site and punching in your WiFi network credentials. After that, it automatically logs on overtime it’s powered up. There’s a 12-LED infrared light array around the lens, for nighttime use, along with a speaker and a microphone.

Service

Part of the easy setup of the Dropcam Echo is the absence of any local software to install: everything is accessed – and stored – in the cloud. The company offer several tiers of service: the free “Basic” package allows you to log in and view live streaming video, either through the regular browser or the iOS app, but no recording functionality. There are also email and mobile (iPhone-only) alerts triggered by the sound and motion sensors. For $9.95 per month and the “Plus” package you get live streaming together with seven days of archive access (and the ability to download select clips or photos to your own computer).

Finally, the “Pro” plan offers 30 days of online recording for $29.95. It’s worth noting that the subscription fees increase per camera you add: $4.95 per extra for the Plus plan or $14.95 per month for the Pro plan. If you have, say, three cameras and want a month’s historic access to the footage each records, you’re looking at almost $60 per month. The Android and iPhone apps themselves are free and work with all tiers of service, though there’s no iPad-specific version. If you have a device with Flash support in the browser, you can log into the Dropcam site and stream video that way instead.

Performance

Where the original Dropcam was limited to QVGA 320 x 240 resolution video, and only offered streaming two-way audio on a more expensive model, the Dropcam HD promises both 720p HD footage and sound as standard.

Unfortunately video quality is only average, suffering particularly in low-light, though it’s reasonably smooth thanks to the 30fps refresh rate. Audio quality is fair, and the microphone is actually quite sensitive, though we noticed a significant amount of crackling both through the desktop UI and the mobile apps. The speaker – used for two-way audio – is small and subsequently suffers very low volume, and there’s no audio output for plugging in a more vocal system. With observed a roughly 2-3 second delay on audio.

Desktop

iPhone 4S

Galaxy Nexus

Motion and audio detection are both very sensitive, and lack controls to adjust exactly what they’ll respond to. Each will mark the online timeline (in the Plus and Pro subscription packages) to indicate when noise or movement was spotted; both packages, plus the Free plan, can optionally send out an alert to let you know something has happened. Their effectiveness is generally down to where the camera is positioned, and if you have pets you can expect plenty of false alarms.

Still, the automatic flagging makes reviewing footage a lot more straightforward than scrubbing through the entire timeline, and you can request a download clip of any section that comes through in MP4 format with audio.

Wrap-Up

Setup, convenience and – if you opt for a subscription – functionality can’t be criticized in the Dropcam HD. The camera is compact, discrete and easy to place, especially if you use only the puck central section, which blends reasonably well into the shadows, and the desktop UI and mobile apps are straightforward to use.

Although the subscription-free option is welcome, we can’t really recommend it for any but the most casual of users. Even with the real-time movement alerts, you’ll probably struggle to access the webcam feed quickly enough to see what has been happening; that’s when the online DVR feature comes in most useful.

That said, the $149 starting price for the Dropcam HD is just that: a starting figure after which you have to take into account subscription fees. Dropcam offers a year’s access to the Plus plan for $99.95 if you pay upfront; still, scale up to a few cameras spread about the house, as many home surveillance enthusiasts would prefer, and you’re looking at a few hundred dollars each year. Contrast that with Logitech’s Alert camera system, which offers local DVR-style storage on your home network (and premium remote access to recordings for $80 per year, per system).

The Dropcam service is certainly easy to use, and there are handy sharing features, which allow you to send clips and images to others – great for showing grandparents what the baby is up to – but it’s an expensive way of doing things. In the end, you pay for the privilege of Dropcam’s simplicity.
-dropcam HD

The mirasol appeal, of course, is the combination of E-Ink style low power consumption but with video-capable refresh rates, as well as outdoor visibility. mirasol builds on the same light-bouncing principles that make a butterfly’s wings shimmer, only Qualcomm uses it to produce a color display that gets brighter and more color-saturated the more light is directed at it.

Design-wise, we’re guessing all of the four mirasol ereaders we’ve seen so far – the Kyobo model, the Bamboo Sunflower, the Hanvon C18 and this new Koobe version – are all based on Qualcomm’s own reference design. That would explain the lack of pure tablets using mirasol; Qualcomm had always said it intended to target ereaders first, though larger mirasol panels for iPad-rivals are also in the pipeline.

Koobe says the Jin Yong eReader will include WiFi and come preloaded with content by the Chinese author it’s named after. No word on pricing, nor when we might see a version arrive in North America or Europe.

The AirPort Base Station and Time Capsule Firmware is being upgraded to version 7.6.1 and will allow you to get remote access to an AirPort disk or a Time Capsule hard drive with your own iCloud account. This upgrade will be to your Firmware and should be done only AFTER you grab AirPort Utility 5.5.3. Additionally, you should have AirPort Utility 6.0 at least (this being the other part of the upgrade) as well as Mac OS X Lion version 10.7.2 or later so that you might work with iCloud. Update all of this via your Software Update screen under the apple in the upper-left of your screen.

AirPort Utility 6.0 for Mac OS X Lion will bring you the power of being able to manage your Wi-fi network and all manner of AirPort base stations, those being of course your Time Capsule, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Express. You’ll be able to change base station and network settings, manage advanced features including wireless channels, security modes, and more, and all of it from this download site. Grab it all now and wifi your way into the future!

These regulations had recently diminished, and current requirements state that a device has to have geolocation capabilities and access the spectrum database. Regulations were formerly in place because it was thought use of this spectrum would interfere with TV signals. When in fact, the white space will operate at 40 milliwatts alongside these stations. Without interference, the network will operate at 100 milliwatts, and users should see much faster speeds.

Hanover County is the precise location for this project, and if successful it would be great to see it blanket the nation. It would help those in rural areas finally have a decent internet connection. Actual purchase for these white space spectrums will be very competitive. They are essentially untouched television stations, so all broadcasting and wireless companies will be potential buyers.

[via NetworkWorld]

Both kits boast easy setup: one plug adapter slots into the wall near your router, hooking up via an ethernet cable to spare socket, while the other adapter goes next to your PC, A/V rack or whatever other device you want to get online. 128-bit security is offered between each adapter, and there’s no software to install.

As for the Linksys PLW400 Powerline AV 1-Port Wireless Extender, that will drop in March and offer a way to create a distant WiFi b/g/n bubble somewhere in your Powerline network. It will be priced at $119.99, while the AV 1-Port (PLEK400) and AV 4-Port (PLSK400) are $99.99 and $119.99 respectively.

TI’s targets include TVs, fridges, HVAC systems, printers, energy meters and more, each of which could be persuaded to share their data in a way that might better allow users to monitor and control how technology plays a role in their lives. Although low-power WiFi chipsets are already available, the CC3000 is appealing because TI has done most of the hardware already: no display for setup is required, it can be integrated “within hours” to existing hardware, has minimal microprocessor demands and needs no specific OS.

As Texas Instruments’ video below suggests, everything from bikes to dishwashers and industrial equipment could end up talking to you via your smartphone or tablet, or indeed to each other, using standard WiFi with the promise of whole-house range. It’s a gleeful idea for home automation enthusiasts; now we just have to see which vendors pick up TI’s chip.

A TI SimpleLink Wi-Fi CC3000 FRAM evaluation module kit is available from today, priced at $199, for those keen to integrate the chipset into their hardware.

Either way, the Aria set tracks weight, percentage body fat and calculates BMI, meshing those results with the feedback from the Fitbit dongle. That way, the company reckons, you can see which elements of your exercise regime are really working. It can also feed into a food planner, with users logging their diet and getting suggestions on calorie consumption.

An iPhone app allows you to track your progress while on the move, and all eight users of the scales have private accounts so that you can’t see how much everyone else weighs. User identification is based on weight, so it might not work if you’ve suddenly lost or gained a huge amount, or live with people who all weigh the same.

The Fitbit Aria scales will go on sale in late April 2011, priced at $129.95. They’re available to pre-order now.

The BD-E6500 comes in a sleek low-profile design and offers two HDMI inputs, allowing you to connect a game console or set-top box to the player that then connects to the TV via only one HDMI output. It’s capable of playing 3D Blu-ray Discs and supports Full HD 1080p video playback. But most notably is the built-in WiFi and full web browser that lets you access web-based content and to connect to other WiFi devices.

The BD-ES6000 lacks the 3D and WiFi capabilities of the BD-E6500, but it features a very compact design with a footprint that’s just slightly larger than a disc. It also supports Samsung’s new Disc to Digital feature that allows users to register physical DVDs that get copied to users’ UltraViolet collection and can then be accessed from multiple devices. The content is made available through the Flixster app in Samsung’s Smart Hub.

As for the TDi2340 universal display, that’s an altogether more interesting proposition. Described by ViewSonic as an “anchor for cloud computing devices”, the 23-inch monitor supports 10-point multitouch and wireless connections with your smartphone, tablet, or notebook.

Inside there’s an ARM11 processor running a custom ViewSonic UI, that supposedly makes viewing photos and streamed video more straightforward; Netflix and YouTube get name-checked. For more businesslike purposes, you can apparently either set the TDi2340 up as an extended desktop or in dual-display mode.

No word on pricing for either monitor, but they’re both expected to drop sometime in Q2 2012.

As you might have guessed, the ViewPad E70 is most definitely a case of price leading functionality, with ViewSonic shaving away at the spec sheet in order to hit the expected $169.99 price tag. The single-core processor is the start of that, but we’ll also be looking closely at whether important things like the display are usable, or if the E70 is just another crap tablet.

The ViewPad E70 will arrive sometime in late Q1 2012. We’re hunting hands-on with the slate now, and will update later when we know more.

The built-in WiFi allows you to share your images and videos in several ways and also adds other functionality. With a free app for your Android or iOS device, you can wirelessly transfer videos and still directly from your camcorder to your smartphone. This also lets the phone to be used as a remote control and have its GPS data used for geotagging. You can also email your images directly from the camcorder and there’s a function called Video Email that lets you send 15-second video clips to up to eight email addresses.

The WiFi-enabled Everio also has additional capabilities like a Live Monitoring feature that lets you see in real-time on your smartphone or computer any images or videos taken with the camcorder. An Auto Photo Email feature automatically takes a still photo and emails it to you when it detects movement.

There are three main series in the lineup that breaks down into the E/EX series, the V/VX series, and the GX series. The E/EX models offer simple point-and-shoot functionality great for beginners. The V/VX models steps it up with a sleeker design and higher grade materials such as an aluminum panel LCD door and front panel. It also adds more features like Hi-Speed Recording, Super Slow, and Motor Drive for rapid-fire stills. The top of line Everio is the GX model that records in 1920×1080 Full HD at 60P and shoots 11-megapixel stills.

Connectivity includes both WiFi and ethernet, and there’s a digital audio output socket to hook up a separate amp system along with an analog input for non-Apple PMPs. On the front is an iPhone/iPod touch/iPod dock for local playback, or alternatively you can stream using AirPlay from your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or iTunes on a PC or Mac.

Two way sync means you can use the volume controls on the Contour 200i Air itself to adjust the settings on your Apple device, and Pure throws in a remote control as well. The company also offers the Pure Lounge app, to tune in to internet radio through your iOS device, as a free download from the App Store.

The Pure Contour 200i Air will go on sale in March 2012 for $329.

The WB850F (pictured above) is a world-class travel camera boasting a 16.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, 21x zoom, and Full HD 1080p video capture, while the WB150F features a 14.1-megapixel sensor and 18x zoom. The ST200F has a 16-megapixel sensor, 10x zoom, and is extremely compact and pocketable.

The DV300F is Samsung’s new DualView offering that features a 1.5-inch front-facing LCD viewer, perfect for self-portraits. And for the line-up’s camcorders, there’s the compact QF20 that features a swivel viewer and Full HD 1080p video recording.

Images and video captured can be directly uploaded from the cameras to Facebook, Picasa, or Photobucket through Samsung’s Social Sharing feature. The images can also be saved to Samsung’s free AllShare Play cloud storage or Microsoft’s SkyDrive as well as emailed to family and friends using the camera’s onscreen keyboard to type in messages.

Additional features include Samsung’s Remote Viewfinder that lets your remotely compose a shot via a connected smartphone. Photos on the cameras can also be automatically backed up directly to your home PC. Pricing and availability for the new lineup have not been announced yet.

The Powerline 500 Nano (XAVB51010) provides consumers a simple plug-and-play networking solution when connecting a single device that converts a standard electrical wall outlet into a high-speed network connection. To connect multiple devices in a room, NETGEAR offers a new N900 Video and Gaming 4-Port WiFi Adapter (WNCE4004) that can simultaneously connect to up to four wired devices to your WiFi router.

The Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender (WN2500RP) boosts dual band WiFi coverage in home networks to allow users to enjoy fast WiFi speeds at longer distances. It extends both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, reducing WiFi interference. It’s easy to setup, no need for a CD or Ethernet cable, and it’s ideal for homes with a mix of high bandwidth video streaming devices sch as Smart Tvs and network DVRs.

The Media Storage Router (WNDR4700) is a high-speed wireless router that offers 2TB of hard drive storage that makes it simple and secure to store and stream HD content and other media over a high-speed WiFi network.

Additionally, NETGEAR is debuting the N900 Wireless Dual Band USB Adapter (WNDA4100) that provides a high speed connection between a notebook or desktop computer and a wireless network. It delivers up to 450 Mbps WiFi speeds and complements the N900 Dual Band Wireless Router (WNDR4500) and the previously mentioned Media Storage Router.

On the bottom there are two ports, which look to be microUSB and microHDMI, but otherwise the design is clean and clear. No physical controls are visible, though we’re assuming there’ll be at least a power button on either the top or side edges, along with a headphone socket and – most likely – volume controls too.

OS is unstated, but given Vizio’s previous tablet – an 8-inch model we reviewed last year - runs Android, we’re guessing the same can be expected from the VTAB 3010. What processor it will use is another mystery, though we’ll keep our fingers crossed for Tegra 3 or something similarly potent. The 8-inch VTAB ran a single-core 1GHz Marvell chip.

No word on pricing, nor any availability details beyond the fact that the VTAB 3010 is “coming soon” to the market.

Vizio claims all of the new desktops and notebooks will run “a clean system image optimized by Microsoft” and, while the company’s TVs are primarily known for their budget pricing, it seems this time around it’s targeting a somewhat more refined niche. “Our new line of VIZIO PCs are truly high quality and consumer focused,” CTO Matt McRae insists, ”delivering enhanced multimedia capabilities while upholding our high standards of performance, style and design.”

The new range consists of two all-in-one desktops, one 24-inch and one 27-inch, together with a 15.6-inch regular notebook and two ultraportables, one 14-inch and one 15.6-inch. There’s also a dual-band, gigabit wireless router in the pipeline.

We’ll be digging for some hard specifications when we catch up with Vizio at CES this week, but the deciding factor is likely to be pricing. More details on Vizio’s vision in the videos below.

Trendnet is positioning these devices as the perfect products for streaming HD video around the home. Both use 802.11ac specifications theoretically able to accommodate up to 6.8Gbps. The devices use the 5GHz spectrum and are backwards compatible with dual-band 802.11n gear.

The hardware will not work with single band 2.4GHz wireless devices. The wireless coverage is similar to that of 802.11n according to the company. The 811DR has WPS integrated and uses beam forming with a late 2012 availability for under $200. The 800MB also has WPS and will be available at the same price and date range.

The webcam supports night vision and two-way audio, and footage can be streamed to a desktop browser, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Alternatively you can scroll back through up to thirty days of cloud-stored archive footage, though you’ll need to sign up to a service plan for that; they start at $9.95 a month for 7 days of archive access, or $29.95 for the full month.

A free plan allows you to simply view what’s going on there and then, complete with alerts if the camera spots any movement. The Dropcam HD WiFi camera is priced at $149 and is up for pre-order today; the company tells us that it will begin shipping on January 31.

That little creature is finding his way into everything this season, Android here and Android there, Android everywhere. This Samsung device isn’t the first and isn’t the last to use a heavily skinned version of the Google mobile OS, with other examples existing inside the same show we got to see this device in! How about that?

You just connect this device to your television with a single HDMI cable and wham, you’re well on your way to creating a chatting station for you, your son or daughter, and your grandmother. This device will go on sale in March and will be priced at the low low spot of $199.99. Sounds like a fabulous deal of a grab to us, especially since it comes with such a radical remote control as well!

Unlike the TP-LINK TL-SC4171G we reviewed recently, the SmartCam doesn’t offer motorized pan/tilt for scoping out the room. There’s still nighttime illumination, however, thanks to infrared LEDs, along with audio and motion detection and – for those nude refrigerator raids you’d rather nobody find out about – a privacy button.

Video is streamed at either 640 x 480 or 320 x 240 and at up to 30fps, and there’s two-way audio support too. Up to five viewers can access the camera at any one time, and you can set the SmartCam to automatically begin recording and uploading clips, when triggered with movement/sound, to a secure YouTube account with a push notification sent out to alert you.

The Samsung SmartCam is set to go on sale in March, priced at $149.

The unit can be used free-standing or fixed to the wall with the bundled bracket, while the lens itself can be tilted between 0 and 150 degrees. There’s an integrated microphone and speaker, for two-way audio – ideal for remotely chiding your child – along with IR LEDs for keeping an eye on them when the lights go out.

If movement or sound is spotted, the camera can be set to automatically begin recording and upload the footage to a password-protected YouTube account; meanwhile a notification is sent out to the owner. Free Android and iOS apps are available, and setup is apparently the work of seconds thanks to WPS WiFi pairing and simple account setup through Samsung’s online portal.

The Samsung WiFI Video Baby Monitor will go on sale in March, priced at $149.

The EGO comes with a tripod mount and a multipurpose mount, and will have a range of suction-cups, surfboard and handlebar mounts, and other options available separately. It has a 136-degree wide-angle lens and measures 1.6 x 1.2 x 2.5 inches, controls boiled down to two buttons, and an LCD preview screen. Alternatively, full control is courtesy of a wirelessly-connected smartphone app. Storage is via a microSDHC card (up to 32GB).

As for the TORQUE HD and APEX HD, they’re Liquid Image’s more traditional video goggles, each with WiFi and GPS for geotagging stills and clips. Both have simple onboard controls along with remote app control, microSDHC storage, 30-degree adjustable camera angles and a replaceable, rechargeable battery good for 1.5 to 2hrs of use.

Liquid Image’s EGO 727 will arrive in June priced at $149, alongside the $399 TORQUE HD. The Apex HD will follow on in October 2012, priced at $399 for either the black or white models.

WiDi was announced several years ago, a special feature of Intel Core CPU-based computers using the company’s WiFi chips. With it – and a WiDi-compatible set-top receiver box – it’s possible to instantly connect to a secondary display and funnel across any sort of content, including YouTube clips, full-screen DVD and Blu-ray playback, and presentations and Word documents if you’re feeling sensible.

Future iterations of smart TV and STB, then, will allow for direct streaming of a laptop or PC’s display output, using a point-to-point wireless connection. That saves the $50-$100 for a WiDi adapter, and also potentially bites into other smart TV boxes like Apple TV and Google TV: why buy a standalone box, so the argument goes, when your laptop can turn into a multimedia hub just as easily.

Intel also says projectors and consoles could be similarly equipped. No word on when the first WiDi-enabled STBs and TVs will go on sale, however, though Intel reckons it will be “soon”.

The company’s MDDi deinterlace tech is also baked in, combining the MPEG decoder, format converter and video enhancement unit. It’s capable of 120Hz pictures, as the name suggests, as well as crunching both 2D and 3D graphics.

Interestingly, MediaTek isn’t just focusing on Google TV with the new chip; instead, it’s positioning it as a platform agnostic solution, ideal for those companies who might want to follow their own smart TV strategy. Still, the cross-platform support would mean Google TV would be a minor step later, should those manufacturers change their mind.

That’s something that will have to happen if Eric Schmidt’s vision of most new TVs supporting Google’s smart TV platform by summer this year is to come true. We’ll see the first fruits of the new SoC at CES 2012 next week.

Currently Broadcom has five new wireless chipsets delivering 5G WiFi: the BCM4360, BCM4352, BCM43526 and BCM43516. Each uses the 80MHz channel, as well as beamforming to direct the signal at the recipient rather than simply radiate it out generally. That boosts performance and data reliability, and Broadcom also reckons there are power savings too since data is transferred faster and devices can go into low-power modes more promptly.

The four different chipsets differ in the number of simultaneous streams they can handle. The PCIe BCM4360 uses 3-stream 802.11ac for up to 1.3 Gbps, while the PCIe BCM4352 and USB BCM43526 use 2-streams for up to 867 Mbps. Finally the USB BCM43516 manages up to 433 Mbps with a single stream.

Broadcom is sampling the new 5G WiFi wireless chipsets now, though there’s no telling when exactly we’ll see them show up in routers, phones, tablets and computers.

5G WiFi overview:

That WiFi connection allows the HT-E6730W to access social networks like Facebook and Twitter, browse websites and use Samsung Apps for other content. It’s functionality shared by the Samsung HT-E5500W 3D Blu-ray Home Theater System, a 5.1-channel setup with twin HDMI 1.4a inputs, iPhone/iPod dock, “Disc to Digital” feature for ripping DVDs to digital copies (when the DRM permits it), and upscaling from DVD, streaming or other digital media to 1080p.

Finally there’s the Samsung HW-E550 Surround Sound Bar, three slender rods making up a 2.1-channel system with virtual surround sound and proprietary 5.2/5.8GHz wireless connectivity between the upright left/right channel speakers and the primary soundbar. A separate subwoofer handles the bass.

The HW-E550 gets twin HDMI inputs and an HDMI output, Bluetooth and USB. No word on pricing or availability for any of the three systems; we’ll have to wait until SlashGear heads out to CES for that.

Apparently, the city officials will be enforcing the law as well. The new WiFi requirement will start in April 2012. The law applies to cafes, pubs, bars, and club lounges that are larger than 120 square meters. I wish we had a requirement like this in the US where it can be hard to find a hotspot in many areas.

This is a good thing for many customers who need web access. I am sure there will be lots of restaurant owners who aren’t happy about having to provide WiFi. If you are a city manager or planner looking to get your area wired for internet, this law is certainly, the fastest way to speed that roll out.

[via TheNextWeb]

There’s DLNA support, along with preconfigured access to Boingo and Telmex, and it’s possible to upload photos and video directly from the camera to Facebook, PhotoBucket, YouTube and other sites. Alternatively you can email direct to others.

Storage is via microSDHC card, and there’s optical image stabilization and ISO up to 3200 supported. A 5x optical zoom rounds out the main features, and Samsung throws in plenty of image and video mangling presets, too.

Pricing for the DV300F is $199.99, and Samsung will be showing the new DualView camera off at CES 2012 later this month.

Skype will be partnering with Towerstream, which operates a network that covers Time Square, West Village, East Village, South Village, Greenwich Village, NoHo, SoHo, Lowe East Side, Clinton, Chelsea, Union Square, Midtown, Midtown South, Murray Hill, Stuyvesant Park, and Turtle Bay.

To connect, make sure you have the latest Skype version installed on your Windows or Mac device. You can also use the Skype WiFi app on your iOS device. Follow the prompts and once you’re connected, you can make Skype video or voice calls, send emails, and surf the web. You can thank Skype by tweeting with the hashtag #freeskypewifi.

[via Skype Blog]

The WiFi signal is strong enough to reach people within 50M. The access is free too, there is no need to pay for the service or buy a drink to get online. The time limit on access is 30 minutes before the connection boots you. However, you can just log back on if you get booted.

Once the user logs in the homepage that opens tells you what stores are nearby for shopping and directs you to sightseeing locations as well. Starting in 2012, there will be 1,000 of these WiFi packing vending machines set up around Tokyo, Sendai, Chubu, Kinki, and Fukuoka. Over the next half decade, the company plans to roll out 10,000 of these machines.

[via TechCrunch]

Not only will this smart thermostat save you money but did I mention it has built-in WiFi and even Infrared proximity, PIR movement, and humidity sensors — and even a mini-USB port. It might not have all the Barry White albums or your favorite 80′s classic music but what it can do is extremely impressive. No one thinks much about a Thermostat — let alone a smart one and Nest has capitalized on that by bringing an elegant design, simple and easy user interface, and simple touch controls all to your living room.

Our link at the top explains this neat little product in-depth but essentially what we have here is a Thermostat that will learn from its master. The system observes your normal heating/cooling routines – using movement sensors, humidity and temperature sensors, and proximity control – and can mimic them itself, as well as automatically tweaking the settings when there’s nobody home. The built-in WiFi can even pull down local outside temperatures and adjust accordingly whether you’re home or not. With iOS and Android apps — not to mention full online access you can control your heating/cooling from the couch, or while on vacation.

I wont get into too many details but the full breakdown by Sparkfun gets into all the little parts and technology inside this gadget. With tons of hackability and even a few parts from Zigbee (yes the home automation group) we might soon see Nest control our lights, refrigerator and possible more with future updates. I can see this project becoming one of those fancy devices seen from movies like Back to the Future in the coming months. Nest is available now for $249 at your nearest Best Buy. For now head on down to the link below for the full breakdown.

[via Sparkfun]

Hardware

This isn’t your regular router: at 93 x 70 x 25 mm it’s a palm-sized glossy black plastic box sitting on four grippy rubber feet. Bigger than a regular mobile hotspot, but the upshot is connectivity: as well as sharing out your USB modem’s connection with up to five WiFi devices, it has a pair of 10/100 ethernet ports on the back for wired devices too. That’s useful if you’re trying to share your connection in a WiFi-saturated environment, where wireless links can often become unstable.

On top is a rotating USB port for your modem, as well as four indicator LEDs for power, WLAN, PPP and WPS status. The back offers two buttons – WPS for easy connections with Windows-based computers, along with power – the two ethernet ports, each with activity LEDs, and a DC power input.

Unfortunately there’s no internal battery for true portable use, so you’ll have to find space in your bag for the included AC adapter. That’s frustratingly bulkier than the Hub itself; ZTE really needs to learn a lesson from the ultra-compact wall warts supplied with recent handsets from Nokia, HTC and Apple.

Software

Unlike USB modems, which generally require an app be installed on your laptop, it’s possible to use the WiFi Hub without any software bother whatsoever. Once your modem is in place and the connection has stabilized, it’s a simple matter of searching for the preset SSID on your tablet/laptop/phone/console and punching in the PIN, both of which are printed on the bottom of the Hub itself. Wired connections are even easier: just plug in your ethernet cable.

ZTE ships the Hub preconfigured to use WEP security, the weakest option but the one with the broadest compatibility. Most users will want to step up to WPA or, preferably, WPA2, (though a fully open WiFi connection is also possible) and that requires logging into the browser-based settings page. That’s found at 192.168.1.1 and logging in with the default username and password (which can be easily changed).

There’s actually a fair range of options available, if you’re of the tinkering mindset. The basics – SSID and security – can be altered, as well as the APN settings for the USB modem, DHCP settings for automatically assigning IP addresses, MAC and IP filtering, URL filtering to limit which sites can be connected to, and port forwarding. There’s also a firewall, with optional DMZ bypass.

Obviously it’s up to the user how deeply they dig through the settings; it’s possible to treat the WiFi Hub as plug-and-play, or get pretty granular with your control.

Performance

We saw no difference in download speeds from Three’s normal performance when using the WiFi Hub, though being able to position the modem near a window meant we could hunt down the best signal at any one time. WiFi range proved sufficient to cover our (admittedly bijou) London flat, with two solid wood doors in-between, with maximum strength showing in OS X.

Unfortunately, our attempts to get the WiFi Hub working with USB modems from other providers than Three failed, even when the modem was unlocked. The settings page refused to recognize that a modem was plugged in, and no connection was automatically made. Three tells us that other operators’ modems should work, but obviously won’t help you out if – like us – you can’t get the Hub to recognize them. It would also be useful if you could plug a wired WAN connection, such as in a hotel room, into one of the ethernet ports, and share it with the Hub.

Wrap-Up

There’s no denying the Three WiFi Hub works, nor that it’s useful. The wireless connection is solid, and the two ethernet ports are a particular bonus over regular mobile hotspots. Ease of use – with a Three USB modem – is another strength, though we wish ZTE had opted for better security with WPA2 by default.

Unfortunately the absence of a battery – even to just power wireless use – significantly limits the usefulness of the WiFi Hub when on the move. Forget dropping it onto the table at your nearest coffee shop or in an airport lounge and getting online in seconds: you need to make sure there’s a power point nearby. For hotel rooms or spur-of-the-moment meeting room connections that shouldn’t be too great a drawback, however.

That power limitation, compounded by the unnecessarily chunky AC adapter, are our main criticisms of the Three WiFi Hub. Those with modems from other providers should also be wary, as compatibility isn’t assured and you’re on your own to figure out any problems. Still, at £39.99, if you’re a Three data modem user who blanches at hotel and conference wireless fees and has enough bag space for the power adapter, the WiFi Hub makes an inexpensive way to get multiple people online.

Skype is, unsurprisingly, hoping that users will take advantage of that WiFi access to make a voice or video call. However, if you’d rather just check Facebook, send a few tweets or even check the latest tech headlines on SlashGear, you’ll be able to do that too.

The full list of participating airports is below, and you’ll need the latest version of Skype for Windows, Mac or iOS in order to get online free. Those outside of the US are out of luck, however.

Participating Airports:

ALB – Albany International Airport
ASE – Aspen-Pitkin County Airport
ATL – Atlanta International Airport
AUS – Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
AZO – Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport
BIL – Billings Logan International Airport
BHM – Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport
BNA – Nashville International Airport
BOS – Boston International Airport
BUF – Buffalo Niagara International Airport
BUR – Bob Hope Airport Burbank
BWI – Baltimore/Washington International Airport
CWA – Central Wisconsin Airport
DCA – Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
DEN – Denver Int’l Airport – Concourse B Mezzanine
DRO – Durango La Plata County Airport
DSM – Des Moines International Airport
DTW – Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
ELP – El Paso International Airport
EWR – Newark Liberty International Airport
GEG – Spokane Airport
GRR – Gerald R. Ford International Airport
GSO – Piedmont Triad International Airport
HOU – Houston William P Hobby Airport
IAD – Dulles International Airport
IAH – George Bush Intercontinental/Houston Airport
IND – Indianapolis International Airport
JAC – Jackson Hole Airport
JFK – John F. Kennedy International Airport
JNU – Juneau International Airport
LGA – LaGuardia International Airport – Central Terminal
MBS – MBS International Airport Terminal 1
MDW – Chicago Midway Airport
MEM – Memphis International Airport
MIA – Miami International Airport
MKE – General Mitchell International Airport (Milwaukee)
MRY – Monterey Peninsula Airport
MSP – Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport – Lindbergh Terminal
OKC – Oklahoma City Will Rogers World Airport
OMA – Eppley Airfield Omaha Int’l Airport
ORD – Chicago O’Hare International Airport
ORF – Norfolk International Airport
PHF – Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport
PVD – T F Green International Airport
PWM – Portland International Airport
SBN – South Bend Regional Airport
SCF – Scottsdale Airport
SDF – Louisville International Airport
SFO – San Francisco International Airport
SMF – Sacramento International Airport
STL – Lambert St. Louis International Airport
SWF – Stewart International Airport
TOL – Toledo Express Airport
TVC – Traverse City/Cherry Capital Airport

There’s also a custom ARCHOS Alarm Clock app, which offers weather, traffic and news updates along with the basics like waking you up in the morning. 4GB of onboard storage, plus a microSD card slot, takes care of local files, while there’s also a front-facing VGA webcam and a microphone.

Many of the usual Android apps, like the browser and email, are still loaded, though you don’t get Android Market access; instead, there’s the AppsLib store and the ability to sideload .apk files to your heart’s content. Inside there’s a 1GHz OMAP3630 processor and USB 2.0 connectivity; Archos isn’t saying how long the non-removable battery will last at this stage.

The Archos Home Connect 35 is available now, priced at $149 directly from the company.

The Transformer Prime currently runs Android 3.2 Honeycomb, with only the Galaxy Nexus – fresh to Verizon today - getting Google’s latest platform so far, at least officially. Android 4.0 brings with it an improved UI, better multitasking control and many other improvements; there are more details in our Ice Cream Sandwich review.

ASUS Italy also confirmed that it would only be offering a WiFi version of the Transformer Prime, rather than WiFi + 3G model, just like ASUS Germany before it. Android smartphones and other handsets are generally capable of WiFi tethering, the company suggests, and so the market for a 3G-enabled slate is minimal.

More on the ASUS Transformer Prime in the full SlashGear review.

[via Electronista]

The number of gadgets that will be able to squirt video over to LG’s new TVs via WiDi is set to increase, however. The technology is gradually showing up in smartphones, and is a natively supported feature in Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon S4 chipsets, so the likelihood is that more than just laptops will be capable of pushing their content to the big screen. Being able to use a phone in that manner is arguably more useful, in fact, since you could easily set up a mini-office or gaming station without being caught up in HDMI cables.

WiDi use should also be relatively transparent to the user, with no active WiFi connection – such as to a router – being required, nor indeed an internet connection. Instead, a point-to-point connection is established with the TV itself.

The first new LG Cinema 3D Smart TV sets with integrated WiDi support will be shown at CES 2012 next month. No word on how much the new models will be, nor when they will go on sale.