Sure it's good for showing pictures and some lower resolution videos, but I wouldn't have it replace a boxee or anything. I mean the two solutions are for different audiences. The Boxee can handle Blu-Ray quality material and this tech downrezes and transcodes. Neither are acceptable to the target market of a Boxee.
It will hit 1080p one day but again there will be transcoding. It will be great when quality doesn't matter so much though. It's nice to have, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.
Like others have mention this device is not cool because it is already been done. You think it cool because it came from Intel. One technology that makes this happen is VNC or X Window System (X11). Intel just created a similar technology and re-branded as theirs. VNC such as TightVNC can already do this and the network does not matter. It will be better to create an HDMI+DVI to ATSC converter. Then all the user needs to do is tune to the desire channel. Since everything is in digital, nothing is reduced. Also no processing power is used because it takes the signals from either HDMI or DVI and converts them to ATSC which today's TV have. At this time all stations should have been converted to ATSC anyways. When will Intel stop being a copy-cat and start being innovative.
It's just not MS-like. I was a big fan of Win 7 until I discovered it is POS as is typical of MS. Server execution failed, jumbo frames doesn't work, network drivers cause disconnection, WMC crashes -> it's the same crapware just jazzed up again. I can't stand Apple's "walled garden" but sometimes it seems preferable to MS's pure garbageware.
Umm, this is all great but I already have an IOGear wireless video adaptor that does the EXACT SAME THING. It cost me $129 at F*y's and I easily stream 720p to my 42" LCD and I can use up to 1680x1050 native rez. Yes, it isn't "built-in" to my laptop, but seeing as the USB adaptor is about the size of a memory stick (plus a small antenna), that matters little.
So, how exactly is this "new" technology? I'm just saying.
It would be okay, as some have mentioned, for the office. Set these up in boardrooms, etc. Except... we had wireless KVMs installed when we built our new HQ and they suck. Bad. We ended up tearing up the floor and running cables from the AV equipment up into the center of the tables. It "just works". :)
For home... I don't see the point at all. Now you have to use your laptop as your "remote"...? I mean, I wouldn't run that way wired OR wireless. I'll take my HTPC (or any set-top device) with a remote any day... whip out the wireless keyboard when/if necessary. If this feature made its way to netbooks, that might help, but... I just don't see it.
Plus... your laptop batteries won't last forever. So at some point, you end up plugging into the wall anyway. I really don't see this as a set-top box "killer" at all.
Wired, in my opinion, will always be the way to go. Wireless is great when you don't have another option, but there's a reason I just ran CAT6 through our new house.
I just wanted to say this has been basically out for a while. Its called the Sling Catcher! Only it works even better! Just draw a box around what you want to send to your TV and it sends it there. Works wonderfully!
(I just set up 2 of these for my parents and they work great) I just wish they had WiFi built in I had to use a WiFi bridge for them.
[quote]The demo worked flawlessly when I saw it. I hate to keep saying this but it just worked. It's amazingly Apple-like to be honest. It's something I definitely want on my next notebook.[/quote]
Its been more my experience from trade shows that often the demos work flawlessly, because everything has been carefully setup and tested and the variables are controlled. It gets you excited about the possibilities. When you actually get the technology you find out how limited it is in a more dynamic environment.
...that if one spends too much time sitting between laptop and TV the chances of getting brain cancer increase by 200%. Oh wait, our cell phones already do that :)
I have trouble with dropouts just trying to stream DVD-resolution video from my server downstairs to my TV upstairs over 802.11g. Under good conditions I'd get a steady 2.9MB/sec throughput, which was enough for an MPEG2 transport stream, but there are so many other 802.11b networks around my neighbors that there's always interference trashing the signal.
Now you want to stream an HD video from a notebook to a TV over 802.11n? I guess that's doable if the video is already on the local drive, but if you're simultaneously streaming it onto the notebook from Hulu or some other content site, nah, forget it. In the real world this is just going to be an exercise in frustration.
This can not replace a "Boxee-like" media player like the WD TV. First this netgear thing seems huge probably bigger than the wd tv istself (it's tiny) and no 1080p. Basically what you to is replace the remote with a like 100x times bigger and heavier thing called notebook.
And any person that actually buys a "Boxee like" thingy probably knows where to get content. No need for Hulu. Not to mention that some devices support it and/or youtube if you connect them to a network.
Might be usefull for beamers/projectors that are mounted on the celling but else?
like i've said in my previous post, I don't see this as the greatest thing at CES.
"For me it must be USB 3. One interface to rule them all essentially. No more choosing between eSATA, USB 2 or firewire and fiddling with separate power cables since the spec allows for more power than USB2. Also we have a fresh new line SSDs."
I will step out on a limb and make a prediction, Apple's tablet will have this technology built-in. Of course, Apple being Apple will force you to buy the receiver separately if you want to use it.
Beyond the integration into the laptop aspect (yay, fewer dongles!) I'm not seeing the super-duper wow factor here. If they had launched with HDCP, 1080p, and decent audio I would have been impressed - as it is, not so much.
Best Buy sells a wireless 720p video adapter under either the Rocket Fish or Monster brands... What I think makes this one Anand is talking about so different is the fact that everything except the receiver is currently integrated into the laptop... It requires very little effort to make it function... And it operates over an existing 802.11N with a small, for transmitting video, bandwidth requirement...
To truly make this technology even more interesting I'd prefer to have the receiver integrated into the TV as well, but then that is wishful thinking...
I could easily see this being very useful in a classroom and business environment where Jimmy from accounting can throw up his nifty video presentation of why the company needs to stop buying so many pencils and switch to ball points... Then instantly turn around and walk into his night class where he can use the same presentation to wow his masters level accounting class all by just hitting a button on his laptop... (Assuming the receivers are already there)
Which he then accidentally hits and displays his rousing game of Torchlight on the big screen behind his prof. as he tries to entertain himself during a boring lecture about the apparent effect of using a pencil on the 1040 EZ forms instead of ball point pens...
I have a wireless vga adapter purchased last year, it works GREAT...there are even versions that send sound too (i took the one that only sends HD video).
It works flawlessly...and the ONLY reason it has a "dongle" connected on the laptop too is because you still don't see manu wireless USB (WUSB) devices around...as soon as laptops start coming with wireless usb (should be soon) even the dongle would not be necessary anymore.
Ya I think the "one-touch" button and "Apple-like" functionality out of the box on a PC is the takeaway here. With the nightmare that is DRM, HDCP, Blu-Ray playback, 1080p and lossless audio support on the PC I guess the importance of seamless compatibility and support shouldn't be taken too lightly. Spend some time setting up an Auzen X-Fi HT HD and you'll know what I'm talking about.
I agree with you though, if it managed to support all of the features I listed above wirelessly with the touch of a button I'd be Wow'd but as it is now it seems like Intel is doing more of the same from the last few years: trying to convince the general public 1080p is overrated and 720p is really, just fine. /laugh.
This is big, it is huge. I can imagine all sorts of applications for this technology, especially if they come out with a dedicated encoder for this to work with netbooks.
Imagine your science/math/engineering professors recording their lectures(all those hour long proofs) on their tablet pcs while transmitting it to the projector with this wireless technology. All this is recorded via camstudio or a similar program. When everything is said and done, they post the lecture on blackboard for all students to download and study from!
I've always read from more interested parties that the biggest limiting factor for wireless streamed video was bandwidth and you start running into some of these issues even with HDMI. The compression makes sense here, and the wireless connection makes it simple enough, but the technology doesn't seem to be all that ground-breaking.
Couldn't similar be accomplished with a network capable HDTV with a built-in decoder? Seems like more and more HDTVs and receivers are becoming network capable, just include a decoder or light-weight processer capable of doing the decoding. Use Powerline network adapters from a wireless router to the HDTV and stream video from not just your laptop, but any PC attached to the network. After that it just seems like software support to make it all work.
Seems like a good option I suppose for business travelers/presenters or those who rely more on a laptop for their computing needs, but for people who still maintain performance desktops, built HTPCs or use something like a Ion-based Revo, it just doesn't seem all that spectacular.
This might not be a mainstream scenario, but I'd love to be able to use this wireless receiver box on my desktop. Right now, the only solution I have is to run a 50+ foot HDMI cable from my PC to my TV, but having this box would negate the need to do that.
I wonder if someone from Anandtech could check to see if this box could be used for that?
Granted cost of entry for a media center pc is probably more than this box but you get alot more as well. With the Dell Zino HD ringing at <$250 I'd say its worth it just to go the Media Center PC route. Plus you can have this tech now
Either way I presume your laptop has to have some virtual display driver installed and minimal linux and some vnc like app is running on the box.
I think blu ray is out for now because quality compression in real time would be too process expensive. As processors and wireless technology improve, though thats probably a matter of time. Video cards might be able to offload some of the compression as well.
This is less like innovation and more like corporate muscle getting behind a good idea seen elewhere. I hope MaxiVista and VNC are seeing some money on this but I doubt it.
Being able to do this with an unlimited number of screens ( maxivista limits to 3 currently I believe), would be ideal in a corporate environment.
You could have truly cabless conference rooms and any person could take over the display if need be (the way this sort of thing is currently implemented.) tie this in with existing web conferencing and you have quite a teleconferencing solution.
You can get the same effect with something like a popcorn hour box. Even with this wifi video solution you still need a box attached to the tv. Why not make it a useful box and not this expensive one trick pony
Well, it's not free is it, you still have to buy a HDMI cable, and maybe a hole new laptop with HDMI out.
The main point is that it's wireless and you can have your laptop on your lap/coffee table/wherever add not have to worry about you or anyone else tripping over the cable strung across your living room to the TV. Maybe you could get this working remotely from a hand-held device too, controlling a PC/Laptop in a different room entirely too?
Seems like a pretty good idea and this is the first public iteration of the tech, to expect it to be perfect straight off would be a bit silly really, it'll get there.
hold on what? why are technical people excited about this. If i'm going to have to attach a decoder to the tv i might as well spend a little more and get something like popcorn hour or the many other streaming boxes. that way i can still put content on the tv/projector wirelessly and if there is cenrtal storage you can stream uncompressed video.
I really don't get why this is the most exciting thing at CES. You still need to be tech savvy to set up the d-link decoder box (again i would imagine that a basic streaming box wouldn't cost much more). I can see that it will be useful if the TV is in a bedroom without any wiring to the router. Convenient: yes, most exciting tech for 2010: WTF?
For me it must be USB 3. One interface to rule them all essentially. No more choosing between eSATA, USB 2 or firewire and fiddling with separate power cables since the spec allows for more power than USB2. Also we have a fresh new line SSDs.
Wireless video streaming is nice and new but the most exciting?
Yeah you're right as a CONSUMER device this is way too much hype. I could see a lot of utility for this in business settings, but the C in CES stands for what again? :p
Good point. This can be very useful in a business place for showing presentations and low res video. Instead of running extra cables you can install one of these boxes but you will probably need a very recent wireless adapter for this.
Also you would need to secure this somehow in places such as classrooms.
As someone who is in charge of dozen smart rooms and the associated technology at a large public university, I can tell you this technology is a toy.
Even after having our building outfitted with enterprise class draft N 2.0 routers I do not connect our meeting room technology through those systems. Students and academics love their smartphones and if you have a room of 50 people and 20 connect to that router while you're running latency sensitive application...bad things happen in my experience.
Video over IP has existed for a long time...this is simply an integrate digital video over wireless IP solution. Unless you plan on creating a dedicated wireless network just for this purpose, configuring all the other routers in the area to work in a different wireless channel, I would let this one go. Unless you would like dropped videos packet during a major presentation.
Besides, the installed base of analog only projectors is pretty high. And in many conference/classroom/presentation environments they use extron or extron like wall plates to make connecting technology fairly easy.
A HDMI cable (or VGA and audio cables) is cheaper than a $99 adaptor, or the new 802.11n router that you'll need (or does it do this ad-hoc, and if so, do you need to wifi chips in your laptop to remain connected to your home network?).
The VGA cable will give better quality than this compression technology. If it can stream video, then I presume it is compressing the display using H.264 or similar, and the receiver is decompressing. No excuse to not support 1080p now either.
I agree...
wired is cheaper, faster, better quality, more secure...
Frankly wireless is a huge downgrade from wired, the only reason to run wireless is if, for some reason, you can not run wired. In places where there is no ready access this can be justified, but usually it is a waste of money, time, effort, and quality.
Seems like a great idea and it's well thought out, but one of the things I appreciate is the fact that I can push 1080p and 5.1 audio from an MKV I'm watching to my TV. Even if it is through cables.
I was standing next to Anand when Intel did the demo and it was pretty amazing that they were able to do the encoding and decoding using basic laptop graphics. VERY BASIC.
"CPU utilization on a Core i5 540M is basically around 15 - 20%"
If you are using a small laptop, you won't get much remaining performance.
As for OS/X, it will probably work when Apple enables it.
So you need A BOX connected to your TV (and to a power socket) AND a special notebook to view 720p non HD stuff with some lag, eating CPU power, but saving you from plugging HDMI cable into your notebook.
Groundbreaking indeed... But I've never seen anything even remotely less groundbreakingly "groundbreaking"...
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sxr7171 - Friday, January 15, 2010 - link
Sure it's good for showing pictures and some lower resolution videos, but I wouldn't have it replace a boxee or anything. I mean the two solutions are for different audiences. The Boxee can handle Blu-Ray quality material and this tech downrezes and transcodes. Neither are acceptable to the target market of a Boxee.It will hit 1080p one day but again there will be transcoding. It will be great when quality doesn't matter so much though. It's nice to have, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.
SFNR1 - Thursday, January 14, 2010 - link
is audio supported? hope so.jmurbank - Thursday, January 14, 2010 - link
Like others have mention this device is not cool because it is already been done. You think it cool because it came from Intel. One technology that makes this happen is VNC or X Window System (X11). Intel just created a similar technology and re-branded as theirs. VNC such as TightVNC can already do this and the network does not matter. It will be better to create an HDMI+DVI to ATSC converter. Then all the user needs to do is tune to the desire channel. Since everything is in digital, nothing is reduced. Also no processing power is used because it takes the signals from either HDMI or DVI and converts them to ATSC which today's TV have. At this time all stations should have been converted to ATSC anyways. When will Intel stop being a copy-cat and start being innovative.rs1 - Sunday, January 10, 2010 - link
Not everything that "just works" is "Apple-like".sxr7171 - Sunday, January 17, 2010 - link
It's just not MS-like. I was a big fan of Win 7 until I discovered it is POS as is typical of MS. Server execution failed, jumbo frames doesn't work, network drivers cause disconnection, WMC crashes -> it's the same crapware just jazzed up again. I can't stand Apple's "walled garden" but sometimes it seems preferable to MS's pure garbageware.Donkey2008 - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
Umm, this is all great but I already have an IOGear wireless video adaptor that does the EXACT SAME THING. It cost me $129 at F*y's and I easily stream 720p to my 42" LCD and I can use up to 1680x1050 native rez. Yes, it isn't "built-in" to my laptop, but seeing as the USB adaptor is about the size of a memory stick (plus a small antenna), that matters little.So, how exactly is this "new" technology? I'm just saying.
drpete - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
i was all, 'yeah this is cool cuz i hook my netbook up via hdmi presently and cable are for nancys'then i was all, wtf does lauras bf know about shit. hes just couchboulder v.2
Booty - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
...because, to me, it just seems "cool".It would be okay, as some have mentioned, for the office. Set these up in boardrooms, etc. Except... we had wireless KVMs installed when we built our new HQ and they suck. Bad. We ended up tearing up the floor and running cables from the AV equipment up into the center of the tables. It "just works". :)
For home... I don't see the point at all. Now you have to use your laptop as your "remote"...? I mean, I wouldn't run that way wired OR wireless. I'll take my HTPC (or any set-top device) with a remote any day... whip out the wireless keyboard when/if necessary. If this feature made its way to netbooks, that might help, but... I just don't see it.
Plus... your laptop batteries won't last forever. So at some point, you end up plugging into the wall anyway. I really don't see this as a set-top box "killer" at all.
Wired, in my opinion, will always be the way to go. Wireless is great when you don't have another option, but there's a reason I just ran CAT6 through our new house.
Randog77 - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
I just wanted to say this has been basically out for a while. Its called the Sling Catcher! Only it works even better! Just draw a box around what you want to send to your TV and it sends it there. Works wonderfully!(I just set up 2 of these for my parents and they work great) I just wish they had WiFi built in I had to use a WiFi bridge for them.
aapocketz - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
[quote]The demo worked flawlessly when I saw it. I hate to keep saying this but it just worked. It's amazingly Apple-like to be honest. It's something I definitely want on my next notebook.[/quote]Its been more my experience from trade shows that often the demos work flawlessly, because everything has been carefully setup and tested and the variables are controlled. It gets you excited about the possibilities. When you actually get the technology you find out how limited it is in a more dynamic environment.
wildcat293 - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
I think a lot of you are missing that you need a supported laptop to use this. The current list is 3 according to NetgearDell: Studio 15z
Sony: VAIO VPCS111FM/S
Toshiba: Satellite® E205
So as far as I can tell you can't just get this $99 adapter and install some software on any old laptop.
It's still a neat little device!
GTaudiophile - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
...that if one spends too much time sitting between laptop and TV the chances of getting brain cancer increase by 200%. Oh wait, our cell phones already do that :)hyc - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
I have trouble with dropouts just trying to stream DVD-resolution video from my server downstairs to my TV upstairs over 802.11g. Under good conditions I'd get a steady 2.9MB/sec throughput, which was enough for an MPEG2 transport stream, but there are so many other 802.11b networks around my neighbors that there's always interference trashing the signal.Now you want to stream an HD video from a notebook to a TV over 802.11n? I guess that's doable if the video is already on the local drive, but if you're simultaneously streaming it onto the notebook from Hulu or some other content site, nah, forget it. In the real world this is just going to be an exercise in frustration.
JohanDevos - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
Full Wireless HD (1080p) + HDCP + integrated in TV already exists in the Panasonic TX-P46Z1ESee (german) test at
http://www.areadvd.de/hardware/2009/Panasonic_TX-P...">http://www.areadvd.de/hardware/2009/Panasonic_TX-P...
beginner99 - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
This can not replace a "Boxee-like" media player like the WD TV. First this netgear thing seems huge probably bigger than the wd tv istself (it's tiny) and no 1080p. Basically what you to is replace the remote with a like 100x times bigger and heavier thing called notebook.And any person that actually buys a "Boxee like" thingy probably knows where to get content. No need for Hulu. Not to mention that some devices support it and/or youtube if you connect them to a network.
Might be usefull for beamers/projectors that are mounted on the celling but else?
Dobs - Thursday, January 7, 2010 - link
Engadget story on Infinitec Ad-hoc streaming device:http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/07/exclusive-infin...">http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/07/excl...strates-...
Interested to hear what other AnandTech readers think is the best thing from CES 2010?
semo - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
like i've said in my previous post, I don't see this as the greatest thing at CES."For me it must be USB 3. One interface to rule them all essentially. No more choosing between eSATA, USB 2 or firewire and fiddling with separate power cables since the spec allows for more power than USB2. Also we have a fresh new line SSDs."
Great for consumers and pros alike.
KeithP - Thursday, January 7, 2010 - link
I will step out on a limb and make a prediction, Apple's tablet will have this technology built-in. Of course, Apple being Apple will force you to buy the receiver separately if you want to use it.-KeithP
GeorgeH - Thursday, January 7, 2010 - link
Wireless VGA adapters and the like have been around for a while; here’s a video of one such device taken over a year ago:http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7igff_iogear-guw...">http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7igff_iogear-guw...
Beyond the integration into the laptop aspect (yay, fewer dongles!) I'm not seeing the super-duper wow factor here. If they had launched with HDCP, 1080p, and decent audio I would have been impressed - as it is, not so much.
Lemonjellow - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
Best Buy sells a wireless 720p video adapter under either the Rocket Fish or Monster brands... What I think makes this one Anand is talking about so different is the fact that everything except the receiver is currently integrated into the laptop... It requires very little effort to make it function... And it operates over an existing 802.11N with a small, for transmitting video, bandwidth requirement...To truly make this technology even more interesting I'd prefer to have the receiver integrated into the TV as well, but then that is wishful thinking...
I could easily see this being very useful in a classroom and business environment where Jimmy from accounting can throw up his nifty video presentation of why the company needs to stop buying so many pencils and switch to ball points... Then instantly turn around and walk into his night class where he can use the same presentation to wow his masters level accounting class all by just hitting a button on his laptop... (Assuming the receivers are already there)
Which he then accidentally hits and displays his rousing game of Torchlight on the big screen behind his prof. as he tries to entertain himself during a boring lecture about the apparent effect of using a pencil on the 1040 EZ forms instead of ball point pens...
marcusvgarcia - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
I still don't see anything special.I have a wireless vga adapter purchased last year, it works GREAT...there are even versions that send sound too (i took the one that only sends HD video).
It works flawlessly...and the ONLY reason it has a "dongle" connected on the laptop too is because you still don't see manu wireless USB (WUSB) devices around...as soon as laptops start coming with wireless usb (should be soon) even the dongle would not be necessary anymore.
sprockkets - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
Wireless USB is dead, I hope you know that.chizow - Thursday, January 7, 2010 - link
Ya I think the "one-touch" button and "Apple-like" functionality out of the box on a PC is the takeaway here. With the nightmare that is DRM, HDCP, Blu-Ray playback, 1080p and lossless audio support on the PC I guess the importance of seamless compatibility and support shouldn't be taken too lightly. Spend some time setting up an Auzen X-Fi HT HD and you'll know what I'm talking about.I agree with you though, if it managed to support all of the features I listed above wirelessly with the touch of a button I'd be Wow'd but as it is now it seems like Intel is doing more of the same from the last few years: trying to convince the general public 1080p is overrated and 720p is really, just fine. /laugh.
Hacp - Thursday, January 7, 2010 - link
This is big, it is huge. I can imagine all sorts of applications for this technology, especially if they come out with a dedicated encoder for this to work with netbooks.Imagine your science/math/engineering professors recording their lectures(all those hour long proofs) on their tablet pcs while transmitting it to the projector with this wireless technology. All this is recorded via camstudio or a similar program. When everything is said and done, they post the lecture on blackboard for all students to download and study from!
straubs - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
Uh, you don't need wireless to do that. Schools have connections for the projector where the prof is standing anyway!MrDrinkingLysol - Thursday, January 7, 2010 - link
"Your screen is sent compressed and up/downscaled to 720p"In the age of Blu-Ray, anything less than 1080p is useless.
apocryphal - Thursday, January 7, 2010 - link
PS MaxiVista will do 1080p today.AS I alluded to in my post, full screen bluray will stutter. Not sure if this is processor or network bandwidth or both.
chizow - Thursday, January 7, 2010 - link
I've always read from more interested parties that the biggest limiting factor for wireless streamed video was bandwidth and you start running into some of these issues even with HDMI. The compression makes sense here, and the wireless connection makes it simple enough, but the technology doesn't seem to be all that ground-breaking.Couldn't similar be accomplished with a network capable HDTV with a built-in decoder? Seems like more and more HDTVs and receivers are becoming network capable, just include a decoder or light-weight processer capable of doing the decoding. Use Powerline network adapters from a wireless router to the HDTV and stream video from not just your laptop, but any PC attached to the network. After that it just seems like software support to make it all work.
Seems like a good option I suppose for business travelers/presenters or those who rely more on a laptop for their computing needs, but for people who still maintain performance desktops, built HTPCs or use something like a Ion-based Revo, it just doesn't seem all that spectacular.
bobjones32 - Thursday, January 7, 2010 - link
This might not be a mainstream scenario, but I'd love to be able to use this wireless receiver box on my desktop. Right now, the only solution I have is to run a 50+ foot HDMI cable from my PC to my TV, but having this box would negate the need to do that.I wonder if someone from Anandtech could check to see if this box could be used for that?
apocryphal - Thursday, January 7, 2010 - link
I already have this functionality and more between my media center PC and MaxiVista. http://www.maxivista.com">http://www.maxivista.comGranted cost of entry for a media center pc is probably more than this box but you get alot more as well. With the Dell Zino HD ringing at <$250 I'd say its worth it just to go the Media Center PC route. Plus you can have this tech now
Either way I presume your laptop has to have some virtual display driver installed and minimal linux and some vnc like app is running on the box.
I think blu ray is out for now because quality compression in real time would be too process expensive. As processors and wireless technology improve, though thats probably a matter of time. Video cards might be able to offload some of the compression as well.
This is less like innovation and more like corporate muscle getting behind a good idea seen elewhere. I hope MaxiVista and VNC are seeing some money on this but I doubt it.
Being able to do this with an unlimited number of screens ( maxivista limits to 3 currently I believe), would be ideal in a corporate environment.
You could have truly cabless conference rooms and any person could take over the display if need be (the way this sort of thing is currently implemented.) tie this in with existing web conferencing and you have quite a teleconferencing solution.
Doormat - Thursday, January 7, 2010 - link
What kind of audio does it support? As the post above mentions, can it support a non-DRMed MP4 with AC3 5.1?Souka - Thursday, January 7, 2010 - link
That's another button for your laptop in the Spring model...;)
mooncancook - Thursday, January 7, 2010 - link
Most new notebooks already equipped with a HDMI port which you can hook up to a HDTV easily and is lossless and does 1080p for free.crimson117 - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
With this you don't have to keep your laptop tethered and within 2 or 3 meters from your television.semo - Saturday, January 9, 2010 - link
You can get the same effect with something like a popcorn hour box. Even with this wifi video solution you still need a box attached to the tv. Why not make it a useful box and not this expensive one trick ponyAloonatic - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
Well, it's not free is it, you still have to buy a HDMI cable, and maybe a hole new laptop with HDMI out.The main point is that it's wireless and you can have your laptop on your lap/coffee table/wherever add not have to worry about you or anyone else tripping over the cable strung across your living room to the TV. Maybe you could get this working remotely from a hand-held device too, controlling a PC/Laptop in a different room entirely too?
Seems like a pretty good idea and this is the first public iteration of the tech, to expect it to be perfect straight off would be a bit silly really, it'll get there.
semo - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
hold on what? why are technical people excited about this. If i'm going to have to attach a decoder to the tv i might as well spend a little more and get something like popcorn hour or the many other streaming boxes. that way i can still put content on the tv/projector wirelessly and if there is cenrtal storage you can stream uncompressed video.I really don't get why this is the most exciting thing at CES. You still need to be tech savvy to set up the d-link decoder box (again i would imagine that a basic streaming box wouldn't cost much more). I can see that it will be useful if the TV is in a bedroom without any wiring to the router. Convenient: yes, most exciting tech for 2010: WTF?
For me it must be USB 3. One interface to rule them all essentially. No more choosing between eSATA, USB 2 or firewire and fiddling with separate power cables since the spec allows for more power than USB2. Also we have a fresh new line SSDs.
Wireless video streaming is nice and new but the most exciting?
mcnabney - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
Key problem:Your screen is sent compressed and up/downscaled to 720p, regardless of source resolution.
Pass. Wireless HDMI is around the corner. This is just a WiFi hack. There will also be a ton of latency. Have fun with games and audio sync.
MadMan007 - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
Yeah you're right as a CONSUMER device this is way too much hype. I could see a lot of utility for this in business settings, but the C in CES stands for what again? :psemo - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
Good point. This can be very useful in a business place for showing presentations and low res video. Instead of running extra cables you can install one of these boxes but you will probably need a very recent wireless adapter for this.Also you would need to secure this somehow in places such as classrooms.
RugbyChix - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
As someone who is in charge of dozen smart rooms and the associated technology at a large public university, I can tell you this technology is a toy.Even after having our building outfitted with enterprise class draft N 2.0 routers I do not connect our meeting room technology through those systems. Students and academics love their smartphones and if you have a room of 50 people and 20 connect to that router while you're running latency sensitive application...bad things happen in my experience.
Video over IP has existed for a long time...this is simply an integrate digital video over wireless IP solution. Unless you plan on creating a dedicated wireless network just for this purpose, configuring all the other routers in the area to work in a different wireless channel, I would let this one go. Unless you would like dropped videos packet during a major presentation.
Besides, the installed base of analog only projectors is pretty high. And in many conference/classroom/presentation environments they use extron or extron like wall plates to make connecting technology fairly easy.
psychobriggsy - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
A HDMI cable (or VGA and audio cables) is cheaper than a $99 adaptor, or the new 802.11n router that you'll need (or does it do this ad-hoc, and if so, do you need to wifi chips in your laptop to remain connected to your home network?).The VGA cable will give better quality than this compression technology. If it can stream video, then I presume it is compressing the display using H.264 or similar, and the receiver is decompressing. No excuse to not support 1080p now either.
It's nothing amazing really.
KeypoX - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
even more not amazing about this is that many new tvs already have this built in for free, ethernet plugs.Wireless is nice but not worth the tradeoffs just yet. Early adapters have fun :).
Chlorus - Thursday, January 7, 2010 - link
I think you've completely missed the point of it being wireless. This sounds great if it can be easily used with projectors.MadMan007 - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
Sometimes I think people get a little too much e-wood over wireless just like they do over touchscreens.makse - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
Yeah, not like you have to make backflips with your laptop while watching a movie or something.taltamir - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
I agree...wired is cheaper, faster, better quality, more secure...
Frankly wireless is a huge downgrade from wired, the only reason to run wireless is if, for some reason, you can not run wired. In places where there is no ready access this can be justified, but usually it is a waste of money, time, effort, and quality.
flashbacck - Monday, January 11, 2010 - link
This is just the first generation implementation. You expecting it to destroy wired standards immediately?mmendoza27 - Thursday, January 7, 2010 - link
Seems like a great idea and it's well thought out, but one of the things I appreciate is the fact that I can push 1080p and 5.1 audio from an MKV I'm watching to my TV. Even if it is through cables.wicko - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
For me, I would use this to hook up my desktop to the living room TV, a few rooms away. No HTPC needed, just a good wireless keyboard and mouse.Jansen - Thursday, January 7, 2010 - link
I was standing next to Anand when Intel did the demo and it was pretty amazing that they were able to do the encoding and decoding using basic laptop graphics. VERY BASIC.Calin - Friday, January 8, 2010 - link
"CPU utilization on a Core i5 540M is basically around 15 - 20%"If you are using a small laptop, you won't get much remaining performance.
As for OS/X, it will probably work when Apple enables it.
pennyfan87 - Thursday, January 7, 2010 - link
Does this require Intel software to be installed on the host PC? If so, will it run on OSX?Also, is the wireless connection through an access point, or ad-hoc?
medi01 - Friday, January 15, 2010 - link
So you need A BOX connected to your TV (and to a power socket) AND a special notebook to view 720p non HD stuff with some lag, eating CPU power, but saving you from plugging HDMI cable into your notebook.Groundbreaking indeed... But I've never seen anything even remotely less groundbreakingly "groundbreaking"...
fuzz - Tuesday, January 19, 2010 - link
Agreed. Surely this is the WORST thing at CES.