TRENDnet has launched recently the TEW-633GR Wireless N Gigabit Router. The device incorporates the latest wireless technologies to increase the range, the speed and the security of data transfers.

The router uses an optimized Atheros xspaNTM chipset and three external antennas that utilize Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) technology to boost wireless signal range, signal strength and transfer speeds. The Wireless N Gigabit Router is compliant with IEEE 802.11n and IEEE 802.11b/g standards. It supports Cable/DSL modems with Dynamic IP, Static IP, PPPoE, PPTP, L2TP & BigPond connection types.

It features 4 LAN ports ( 4 x 10/100/1000Mbps Auto-MDIX) and one WAN port (1 x 10/100/1000Mbps Auto-MDIX). The high performance represents high security too. The Wireless N Gigabit Router is well protected. Security measures include a unique wireless on/off button allows users to instantly turn off the wireless signal while maintaining wired networking, Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) allows users to securely synchronize wireless peripheral devices at the touch of a button. Besides, the firewall features Network Address Translation (NAT), and Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) to protect it against DOS attacks.

The TEW-633GR router boasts a maximum working range of 400 meters (outdoors) and 150 meters (indoors). It is the perfect solution for office or for home users.

Product page

After having San Francisco covered with WiFi from Google and Earthlink it’s time for another big announcement. A massive WiFi network will be built to cover 37 cities in Silicon Valley, by a group of companies including IBM and Cisco that will spend somewhere between $85M and $150M. Basically the WiFi network will offer high-speed free internet to everyone in the area and extremely safe communications.

Tests will begin in Palo Alto and San Carlos this year and the whole network will begin the building process in 2008.

[Source via Engadget]

This Christmas will bring more than one Zune model in stores since Microsoft apparently confirmed the rumours regarding the second generation of its wireless portable device. As anticipated, the news confirms the coming of more than one flavored Zune but it doesn’t reveal details concerning what the coming models will be (Draco, Scorpio and maybe more …).

To better battle Apple’s dominance on the market the new Zune models will support more iPod like features (podcasts), but some extra ones as well. One thing is for sure there will definitely be WiFi support and it will probably be expanded beyond what we see in Zune 1.0.

The portable device is set to come in time for the Holiday season and Microsoft promises also ” to expand the international footprint of Zune” for other geographical markets.

[Source]

Sony is getting really creative. Have you guys noticed the new colors for the new PSP slim models? If you put them one near another I am sure it looks just like a pastel, with warm and soft colors that might convince (or not) my father into playing poker. Sony guys, they are not really for 10 years old or for those over 50. We the 20-30 years old usually take some time off for a game on the new PSP. Why don’t you guys make something to suit our tastes, too?

The new PSP colors are Piano Black, Ceramic White and Ice Silver which are almost obligatory, and then Rose Pink, Lavender Purple and Felicia Blue. People are screaming for “bloody red”, “screaming yellow” and “midnight blue” not some threatening manhood colors.

I agree that many will like them, but please Sony, think of everyone. Bring in some more!

[Sony via Gizmodo]

Recently, a free wireless network has been launched in London. The free service is provided by the Free-hotspot.com and the Wi-Fi network infrastructure firm MeshHopper. They offer Wi-Fi access along the River Thames. The free access area covers 13.6 mile. The two companies intend to extend the network up to 22 mile by August this year.

The free wireless network is not really free. Its users must agree to view an advertisement at every 15 minutes. Otherwise they are charged with $6 (2.95 GBP) per hour. The wireless public operates with modest download speeds of 256Kbps. On the other hand the paid-for services operate at a faster 500Kbps.

“This really marks the arrival of free Wi-Fi in Greater London. Millions of Londoners, as well as commuters, visitors and tourists, can now expect to find free Wi-Fi as they work or play along the Thames.” - Dan Toomey, chief executive of Free-hotspot.

Similar free access networks will be created for other cities across UK.

It looks like today is Samsung announcement day. There are news about the long waited CES announced DLP models in the 76 , 87 and 89 series that are now live. The models we’re talking about are all 1080p with 3 HDMI plugs, are 3D-ready if you get the $100 kit that includes the LCD glasses and are getting refreshed with 10,000:1 contrast ratios. The 87 series also have CinemaSmooth LED Light Engine and the 89 series adds Bluetooth headphone capability. The prices are as follows:

Samsung DLP 76 Series

50-inch : $1,899
56-inch : $2,199
61-inch : $2,599

Samsung DLP 87 Series

50-inch : $2,299
56-inch : $2,599
61-inch : $2,999

Samsung DLP 89 Series

50-inch : $2,499
56-inch : $2,799
61-inch : $3,199

Another news from Samsung is that they are launching a 94 series 1080p plasma HDTV with WiFi. How sweet is this? It has a 15,000:1 contrast ratio, 3 CEC HDMI ports, 18-bit color processing, USB, ATSC / clear QAM tuners and Ultra FilterBright light diffusion. What adds up is the 802.11n WiFi to stream up to 1080i video.

The prices are :

94 series

50-inch : $3,600
58-inch : $5,300 - both to go out during the fourth quarter of 2007

84 series

58-inch : $4,700 - will go live in September.

Source : Engadget 1, 2

It looks like we have a new world record for the longest communication link via Wi-Fi, in Venezuela where researcher Ermanno Pietrosemoli managed to establish a 802.11 connection between El Aguila and Platillon Mountain. The distance is 382 kilometers or ~238 miles and the strength of the connection was great. He managed to get speeds of up to 3MBps in each direction by using Intel long-range WiFi technology and Linksys hardware (worth $60) even if it’s between two mountains. The former record was 310 kilometers (192 miles).
The experiment was successful thanks to the fact that the two points form fairly jagged peaks so there were not many things to block the signal. There are currently other experiments for long-range Wi-Fi that take place in Uganda and other emerging markets as a solution for long distance communications.

Since I cannot get 3MBps in my apartment right now I would definitely enjoy mr. Pietrosemoli to come and install such a Wi-Fi connection in Bucharest. Or imagine yourself in the woods being chased by a bear, and searching information on the web how to get out of trouble. Neat!
[Source : CNet]

NEC Aterm WR8400N the four port WiFi router and the Aterm WL300NC PCMCIA card promise to deliver a theoretically maximum speed of 300 MBps, which for our actual standards is pretty big. Looks like Nec is ready to push the limits further, of the
802.11n technology. However to get to 300MBps you need to equip yourself with a network adapter, PC or laptop that is compatible with the same wireless standard.
Engadget also said that if we talk theory, both the Aterm WR8400N router and the WL300NC PCMCIA card are compatible with 802.11 a/b/g devices, support WEP/WPA protocols and connects on bands from 2.4GHz to 5GHz.

Still, there is room for development, and since Nec has no release date and no price so far, many alternatives (probably from China - cheap?) will pop out. - ALEX ION

Not once I needed wireless and I had to find it with my laptop, searching and searching. I am in a hotel right now and they have so many available connections, but if I am in the middle of my town and I need to send an email quickly it’s hard. Not to mention that my laptop battery will not be good enough to search Wi-Fi more than 45 minutes.

Therefore the digital WiFi detector is the best solution. It works powered by 2 AAA batteries and it does just what it says : detects wireless connections in the area you are. IT will show you how good the signal is, info about the network, SSID and the encryption status. Thinking how will the digital WiFi detector do when there are many connections? Scroll for each and every one of them! Apart from the fact that it’s very useful, you can call it really handy because it will slip easily in the pocket of your jacket.

The price is not cheap, $120 (£59.95) but I want one. - ALEX ION
[Source : TechDigest]

Ever thought you will need a digital picture frame that has WiFi connectivity? You don’t know exactly how to use it? It was something new for me too, since there was nothing available, so far, with such functionalities. MemoryFrame MF-8104 Premium is very smart (but very expensive) because it lets you add any picture from Flickr, Windows Live Spaces and Webshots on the 10.4-inch display without paying any subscriptions. Also if you mention that it can play both video and audio files, I think this is a very good gift. The digital frame has a resolution of 800×600 which is great for standard 8×10 picture frames.

I don’t see any big disadvantages, other than the price of $350. It’s already shipping and if you have that kind of money, it’s a great gadget. - ALEX ION
[via Ubergizmo]