This isn't a print server situation, or a network-attached storage thing either, from what we can tell. Technically, D-Link didn't say a whole lot, except:

SharePort turns the local USB port located on the back of the 802.11n family of Wi-Fi routers into a fast and responsive virtual port so users can access a range of USB devices, by utilizing a new technology of USB over TCP/IP.

Models that can be upgraded include D-Link Xtreme N Gigabit Routers DIR-655, DIR-825, DIR-855 and DGL-4500 Gaming Router, plus the RangeBooster N DIR-628. We'll try to run a test of this soon, but if you beat us to it, tell us about your experience.

Press Release for DIR-825 Router

D-LINK NOW SHIPPING COST-EFFECTIVE DUAL BAND 802.11n Wi-Fi ROUTER WITH SharePort(tm) TECHNOLOGY

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Oct. 1, 2008 - D-Link, the end-to-end provider of network solutions for consumers and business, today began shipping an Xtreme N(tm) Dual Band Gigabit Router for the home or small office, featuring dual band access that simultaneously creates two networks to provide superior clarity, faster Wi-Fi and wired gigabit speeds and HD Fuel(tm) enhanced Quality of Service (QoS).

The D-Link(r) DIR-825 also features SharePort(tm) technology that allows users to share USB devices such as printers, multi-function printers (MFP) and storage drives with other computers on the network — in either a wired or wireless environment.

SharePort turns the local USB port located on the back of the DIR-825 router into a fast and responsive virtual network port so users can access a range of USB devices regardless of their location in the home or office. With the power of 802.11n Wi-Fi technology, D-Link's latest addition to its Xtreme N wireless family allows the user to check email and browse the Internet on the 2.4GHz band while simultaneously streaming high-definition (HD) movies and other media on the 5GHz band, making it ideal for online gaming applications on the PC and gaming consoles such as PS3(r), Xbox 360(r) and the Nintendo Wii(r).

The latest offering in the D-Link Green(tm) family of routers, the DIR-825 integrates D-Link Green Ethernet(tm) technology that uses an innovative, energy-saving feature that automatically detects link status and network cable length, then adjusts power accordingly. D-Link routers also feature Wi-Fi scheduling that allows customers to easily program when the Wi-Fi radio signals are turned on and off to further save energy consumption.

With the router's powerful new HD Fuel technology users can enjoy the clarity of the 5GHz wireless band while benefiting from intelligent quality of service ideally suited for streaming HD media and for other bandwidth-intensive applications such as online gaming applications.

HD Fuel takes wired and wireless data traffic, categorizes and separates it into multiple data streams and assigns priorities - Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), video streaming and online gaming are given priority over Web browsing, for instance. The dual band capability helps to enhance speed even more by using the 2.4GHz band for regular computer applications and the 5GHz band for larger, more intense data transfer.

"By expanding our Xtreme N wireless router product line, we are further meeting the consumer's need for full Wi-Fi network functionality and reliability for powering their digital home at prices they can afford," according to Steven Joe, president and CEO, D-Link Systems, Inc. in Fountain Valley, Calif.

Key Features and Benefits
? Xtreme N technology for farther home or office coverage
? Support for advanced WPA and WPA2 encryption, advanced firewall and
parental controls for maximum security
? D-Link's Quick Router Setup Wizard for easy installation and online access
? Good Neighbor Policy support to prevent interference with other wireless
networks
? Backward compatibility with 802.11g, 11b and 11a devices, including game
consoles and digital media players.
? Compliance with D-Link's ongoing Green initiatives to promote energy
conservation and environmental protection
? 24/7 basic installation support
? One year limited warranty

Price and Availability
The DIR-825 will be widely available Oct. 1, 2008 through D-Link's network of retail, etail and solution providers, and online at www.dlinkshop.com for the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $199.99. SharePort also will be available in D-Link's family of high-end 802.11n routers, including the DIR-628, DIR-655, DIR-855 and DGL-4500**. Current owners of those routers will be able to upgrade to SharePort technology by downloading the firmware and client utility from the D-Link website, www.dlink.com.

The Price: $240

The Verdict: Works mostly as advertised, but at a price of $240, we expect a bit more polish to the unit.

The 10-inch display is roomy, but its 800x480 resolution looks somewhat pixelated when you get up close. Loading photos from its internal memory and USB slot (or SD slot) works just as well as you'd expect, which is nice. However, 1GB of built-in memory is pretty tiny for something that costs $240.

You can also stream photos from various online photo sharing networks, which works pretty well over its 802.11g connection or its 10/100 Ethernet port (you really want to use the Wi-Fi to make this truly wireless, but seeing as there's a mandatory AC adapter, that's pretty much an impossibility anyway).

One of the goofs we find is that the default setting on FrameChannel.com, the online utility you use to manage all your internet feeds, sets the default photos at a maximum of 5, so you only get 5 pics in your rotation at once. Easy enough to fix if you know where to look, but your parents would have to call you first. Again, for $240 we expect the kind of user interface that you can actually tweak settings on without having to use a separate computer.

Is it fairly solid? Yes. Would we recommend this to our parents? Probably not. We'll wait for the second-gen (or is it fifth-gen now) photo frames—something we can give to our parents and have them figure out themselves. [D-Link]

[Price Comparison]

D-Link doesn't have images of this thing, so I made my own interpretation of what it looks like. We've got actual pictures! See my original interpretation below. [D-Link]

The DIR-855 also features three dual external antennae, an OLED network activity display, Dual Active Firewall (SPI, NAT), Green Ethernet technology, backwards compatibility with 802.11a/g, and a 1 year warranty. Not to mention a hefty £169.99 ($340) price tag. No word on when we might see it in the states [D-Link and Trusted Reviews]

D-LINK DEBUTS Wi-Fi INTERNET AND WIDGET CONTROLLED DIGITAL PHOTO FRAME

Frame Easily Managed Using Web or Drag and Drop Desktop Widget

LAS VEGAS, NV, Jan. 6, 2008 - D-Link, the end-to-end networking solutions provider for consumer and business, today announced future release of a digital photo frame that enables users to quickly and easily manage content displayed using a convenient website or with a drag and drop desktop widget.

The D-Link® Internet Photo Frame (DSM-210) is easily managed using an intuitive website (dlink.framechannel.com), where users can organize photos online for display as well as remotely stream content such as weather, news, trivia and more using popular Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds.

With built-in wired and wireless adapters, the DSM-210 also gives users the choice to simply drag and drop digital photos into photo frames using a "widget" located on the computer desktop, which then automatically displays the photos as a slide show on the photo frame. The widget also allows a user to remotely manage a frame over the Internet using the same drag and drop method, making it the perfect gift for someone who is a novice computer user, letting the giver of the frame remotely manage the photos and content displayed.

Unlike traditional digital photo frames, this next-generation photo frame is designed to enhance the home entertainment experience by allowing users to view their favorite photos easily and conveniently virtually anywhere in the home or over the Internet - providing a high-resolution 10" LCD display connected over a wired or wireless home network.

The DSM-210 features a 16 x 9 inch screen and includes an interchangeable black or white frame. It contains slots for USB and common memory cards, and can be networked via an Ethernet connection or Wi-Fi. The digital photo frame is widget compatible and can connect directly to the PC or via Internet options. With a rechargeable battery and premium content available, the frame comes with a one-year subscription for basic Internet content.
D-Link also plans to introduce custom skins, via a partnership with Skinit, to allow customers to personalize the outer portion frame to whatever color or pattern they choose.

Price and Availability
The D-Link DSM-210 is expected to be available in Q1, 2008 through D-Link's network of retail outlets, value-added resellers, solution providers and distributors, or at the company's online store, www.dlinkshop.com, for the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $249.99.

Fujitsu alone has been spared the lawsuit hammer because it caved and struck a deal over the summer to license Wi-LAN's whole patent portfolio—such transactions are why "patent holding" companies like Wi-LAN exist, not for anything productive. Be brave! Let loose the fury of your legal team to crush patent trolls into oblivion, since the patent office isn't doing much about it. The court system will ultimately thank you. [Reuters, Flickr]

On the mobile front, it now supports the Archos 405 and 605WiFi, as well as Creative's Zen, Zen Vision:M and Zen Vision W.

The software will also make streaming video to Media Center Extenders possible: it is compatible with the new lineup from Linksys, D-Link and Niveus that are soon to hit the market. (We'll add Vongo to our list of tests for those products.)

Vongo has also added new picture-in-picture resizing options for the desktop, and an updated user interface with improved personalized recommendations and better device management. [Vongo]

New Vongo 2.0 Application Makes it Easier to Take Your Movies with You, Enjoy on Your PC, and Watch on TV

Newly Certified Portable Devices Announced, Vongo Service Enhancements Implemented, More Support of Extenders for Windows Media Center

Ushers in Next Generation for Movie Download Service

Englewood, Colo. - October 25, 2007 - Starz Entertainment announced today that the company has launched Vongo 2.0 with enhanced functionality and performance to create a more robust, smoother overall user experience for the broadband subscription movie and video download service. As part of Vongo 2.0, Vongo has expanded the number of certified portable media devices it supports by five to now include a total of seven different models from ARCHOS, Creative, and Toshiba. Movies downloaded are now also watched more easily on the TV with the announcement of new Vongo compatibility for several recently announced Extenders for Windows Media Center.

Starz Puts More "GO" in Vongo

Vongo has certified five new portable media devices as officially compatible with the Vongo service and which it will offer customer support. These include the ARCHOS 405 and 605WiFi and the Creative ZEN, ZEN Vision: M, and ZEN Vision W. Adding these five devices to the previously certified Toshiba gigabeat S and V series family of devices - which Vongo continues to support - brings the number of Vongo compatible portable devices to seven, with multiple models and versions of each.

"Since Vongo's inception, our goal has been consistently to provide an entertainment service and ecosystem that allows movie lovers to enjoy content on their terms," said Bob Greene, executive vice president, advanced services, Starz Entertainment. "We are listening continually to our passionate customer base. The top request voiced is the ability to watch our movies on the TV (see more below) and the next request was more choices for portable devices. Vongo 2.0 and the associated support for all of these new devices addresses many of these needs."

The certification of new portable media devices with the Vongo Internet movie and video download service expands the way consumers can enjoy the more than 2,500 movie and video titles available on Vongo, including first-run Hollywood blockbusters, anime, concert and extreme sports videos. Taking Vongo's robust subscription movie and video library beyond the PC through portable media devices allows Vongo users to become immersed in entertainment content anywhere from the comfort of their home to the hustle and bustle of a city subway. Vongo subscribers may register up to three devices, including PCs and the aforementioned portable media players, per account as part their $9.99 monthly subscriptions.

Multitask with Work and Entertainment on your PC
Starz is providing Vongo consumers with a thoroughly more convenient way to access and watch movie and video content. The new, enhanced Vongo application allows the user to resize and pin the Vongo video player in order to watch a movie or concert while doing other tasks on the PC. Vongo now also runs faster through better PC resource utilization and offers an updated recommendation engine to further personalize the service.

Updated Personalized Recommendation Engine - Enhancements to the Vongo personal recommendation engine have made it easier for users to find a movie they will enjoy by the genre with more recommendations listed. Particularly appealing with Vongo's unlimited subscription model - encourages sampling and experimentation.

Better Device Management Screen - The updated Vongo device management screen allows users to more easily swap out old registered devices with new ones.

PC Speed and Efficiency - Vongo now uses less memory, runs more quickly, and taps less of the PC's memory and core operating resources.

New Extenders for Windows Media Center Offer More Ways To Bring Vongo To the TV
Further enhancing how Vongo can be used by customers in the near future, the availability of new Extenders for Windows Media Center platform will allow individuals to play Vongo movies and videos on their TVs. Vongo content watched in one room from a Windows Vista or Windows XP-based PC can be streamed to any room in the house utilizing Extenders for Windows Media Center, as well as the Xbox 360.

New products featuring the Extender for Windows Media Center technology will be available shortly from companies such as D-Link Corporation, Linksys, a division of Cisco Systems Inc.; D-Link Corporation, and Niveus Media Inc.

Greene continued, "Wireless connectivity is a recipe for success in bridging the gap from the PC to the TV. Since January, the Xbox 360 has ably provided a successful solution to get Vongo movies and videos to the TV. These recently announced devices illustrate new ways Extenders for Windows Media Center can wirelessly bring Vongo to the TV. With Vongo and Extenders for Windows Media Center, our subscribers are empowered with the ability to enjoy movies from their comfort of their sofas, while the movies are downloaded to the PC."

Microsoft will also introduce a new Internet TV service for all Vista Home Premium and Ultimate users: starting this Friday, those customers will find the option in their Media Center interface, and can use it to get a range of video programming without the need for a TV tuner. Check out more details on that and the MCEs in the press release below:

Microsoft Unveils Extenders for Windows Media Center and Internet TV Beta - Connected Entertainment Comes Home for the Holidays New devices from Cisco's Linksys division, D-Link and Niveus Media deliver new video formats, form factors and HD TV over wireless home networks; Internet TV Beta debuts with more than one hundred hours of free full-screen video

NEW YORK — Sept. 27, 2007, 12:01 AM EST — Today at DigitalLife, Microsoft joined initial launch partners in revealing highly anticipated details on new Extenders for Windows® Media Center. These devices, which are expected to be available for purchase this holiday season, will allow easy access to premium cable, high-definition TV, popular video formats including DiVX, music, paid movies, photos and more from any TV in the house, with a wired or wireless network connection. People can even pause a recorded show in one room, and then resume it from the same moment in another room. Adding to the wealth of content available on Windows Vista Media Center PCs, Microsoft launched a beta test of Windows Media Center Internet TV, which will offer more than one hundred hours of ad-supported entertainment from MSN Video, including full-length shows, music concerts and movie trailers.

"These new extenders bring the Media Center experience on a Windows Vista PC to any TV around the house in full HD over a standard wired or wireless home network connection," said Joe Belfiore, Corporate Vice President, eHome division at Microsoft. "We are excited to show consumers how easily they can enjoy their digital lifestyle around their house with any of the new sleek looking and quiet Extenders from our launch partners."

New devices build a wireless entertainment bridge throughout the home

The Cisco/Linksys DMA2200 Digital Media Center Extender with DVD Player is an elegant solution integrating an upscaling DVD/ CD player with wireless Extender for Windows Media Center in a single box, letting people reduce clutter while still having easy access to their HD television content with 5.1 audio, using just one remote control. Linksys will also offer the DMA2100 Digital Media Center Extender, which delivers all the appealing features of Extender for Windows Media Center in a compact wireless device. Both products support dual-band draft Wireless-N networking for high quality video and the utmost in convenience. Both devices will support WMV, DivX and XVid formats and are expected to be available for consumers in the US before the end of the year. Pricing has not yet been announced.

The D-Link DSM-750® MediaLounge® Media Player is housed in a sleek 17-inch black aluminum chassis, and connects to the home network using Ethernet or dual-band draft Wireless-N networking to make it easy to enjoy the Windows Media Center experience with friends and family on a home entertainment center. The player will support WMV, DivX, and XVid formats and the DSM-750 includes a USB 2.0 port for instant access to music, photos and videos stored on removable USB flash drives or hard drives.

Designed for the high-end home theater enthusiast, the Niveus Media Extender offers a high fidelity experience, uncompromised 1080p video, digital audio, and the same amazing 3D user interface found on the award-winning Niveus Media Center. Additionally, the Niveus Media Extender features the proprietary Niveus Glacier™ Passive Cooling system for cool and quiet performance and a sleek and stylish A/V form-factor.

Windows Media Center Internet TV Beta Launches

On Friday morning, September 28, 2007, United States users of Windows Vista Home Premium Edition and Windows Vista Ultimate Edition will find a new feature inside Media Center - the beta release of Internet TV. This new feature will allow people to enjoy a range of television and video content on their PCs and TV sets, without the need of a TV tuner in their PC. This streaming video content will be supported by advertising technology provided by YuMe Networks, and will be available to viewers for free.*

The content available in Internet TV comes from MSN Video, with more than 100 hours available during the beta period, including:

· Full episodes of TV shows such as the critically acclaimed "Arrested Development."

· Full-length music concerts including Chris Cornell, Snoop Dogg, Elton John, Pink, John Mayer, The Pussycat Dolls and many more.

· High quality movie trailers from major movie studios

· The latest news segments from MSNBC

· Sports clips from FOX Sports Television

Internet TV has been designed for both the TV and PC screen, and features high quality video optimized for broadband streaming. Viewers can enjoy these high quality videos on Media Center Extender devices, including Xbox 360, as well as Windows Vista Media Center PCs.

Extend Your Digital Entertainment to the Whole Home

Watching a recorded TV show in the living room, pausing it, and then quickly resuming it from the bedroom or kitchen will soon become even easier with these new low-heat, quiet, home-theater designed devices. Extenders for Windows Media Center support streaming live high-definition TV, including premium cable channels in the US, along with formats such as Windows Media HD. The D-Link and Linksys devices add built-in support for dual band Wireless-N networking and expanded support for popular video formats such as DivX, XVid and H.264. These devices allow people to almost instantly start enjoying their entertainment - there's no need for a built-in hard-drive to cache the video before viewing.

New Extender devices are expected to be available this holiday season, and will unleash photos, music, videos, live and recorded TV from PCs with Windows Vista Media Center for viewing and listening on big-screen TV displays or standard definition TVs - delivering the ultimate entertainment solution with a wide range of flexibility - ready for today and the future.

These Extenders will lead the industry in supporting the ability to send protected HD content to additional rooms, including recorded TV from over-the-air Advanced Television Systems Committee or Digital Cable Tuners. Extenders also support on-demand broadband content from Media Center Online Media partners such as up-to-date sports reports from FOXSports.com, kids programming from Nickelodeon, downloadable TV episodes from Showtime Networks, and subscription movies on demand from Starz VONGO, along with support for a wealth of 3rd-party plug-in applications.

More information on new Extenders for Windows Media Center is available at http://www.windowsvista.com/extender

Microsoft Shatters the PC-to-Television Barrier, Releases First Details on Extenders for Windows Media Center New devices from Cisco Systems' Linksys division, D-Link and Niveus Media to bring the ultimate audio/video experience to any room in the home.

DENVER — Sept. 5, 2007 — Watching a live TV broadcast in the living room, pausing it, and then effortlessly resuming it at the same moment from the bedroom or kitchen will soon become even easier, as Microsoft Corp. provides a first look at the new Extenders for Windows® Media Center platform, which will power a variety of devices to be released this holiday season. A wave of new cool, quiet, home-theater-quality devices from companies such as Linksys, a division of Cisco Systems Inc.; D-Link Corporation; and Niveus Media Inc. may incorporate new features, including live high-definition (HD) video, wireless networking and expanded support for audio and video formats such as DivX and Xvid.

The new Extender devices, which will be unveiled later this month in a variety of innovative form factors and price points, unleash the pictures, music, video content and live TV from a PC running Windows Vista® Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate for viewing and listening on a big-screen TV display for the ultimate entertainment solution.

"With more than 60 million Windows Vista Media Center PCs in use worldwide, there are many customers eager to bring the simple and elegant Media Center experience to the televisions in their homes," said Dave Alles, general manager for eHome at Microsoft. "The new Extenders for Windows Media Center make it easy to get a wide range of personal and Internet content not only on someone's main TV but on all the TVs in the house. Whether it's a high-def show recorded from digital cable, new Internet video, or your personal library of pictures, music and videos, it's all on your television — just a remote-click away."

New extenders will be available in a wide range of form factors, including both stand-alone set-top boxes and integration with other devices such as DVD players and televisions, so now connecting to a PC running Windows Media Center is even more convenient and seamless than ever. New support for Wireless N high-speed technology means there is no need to run Ethernet cables throughout the home to watch HD video in up to six rooms at once.

Extenders for Windows Media Center are also, for the first time, enhanced to allow support for popular video codecs such as DivX and Xvid, along with continued support for Windows Media® Video HD files. These extenders will also lead the industry in supporting the ability to send protected HD content to additional rooms, including recorded TV from over-the-air Advanced Television Systems Committee or Cable Card tuners and movies and music available from providers such as CinemaNow, MovieLink LLC and Napster LLC. Extenders also support Media Center features such as Reuters news feeds, National Public Radio broadcasts, up-to-date sports reports from the FOX Sports Lounge, and subscription music from XM Radio. At the same time, these devices support Parental Controls built into Windows Media Center, allowing parents to choose the content their children are allowed to view.

Consumers have already logged millions of hours of use on Xbox 360s as Extenders for Windows Media Center. Microsoft is working first with Cisco/Linksys, D-Link and Niveus Media to deliver quiet, high-quality products, and the company will be expanding the Extenders' platform to other companies in the future. The new Extenders for Windows Media Center are being demonstrated at the Microsoft booth at the CEDIA EXPO 2007 in Denver Thursday, Sept. 6 through Sunday, Sept. 9.

If you go a little glazed over when you hear people talk about media streaming, that's okay: most, I've found, are not convenient enough for regular use with large numbers of music or video files. But one hopes that DivX knows this, and will work hard to make the experience enjoyable. For people in UK, France and Germany, that is, where it will launch at first. [Press release and site]

Connections are up to 480mbits per second, at 30 feet, USB2.0/1.1, and encrypted at AES-128. But as we've seen in the past, these things are never as reliable as the real wired deal. Plus, 30 feet is pretty short range. But I can see the convenience factor of not having to plug in your components every time you enter a room with a laptop, but only if your adapter is built inside. Oh, each adapter can address 3 hubs. This stuff will be available in Q4 for $220 for the hub and $120 for the adapter. Me? I'll stick with a $5 USB cable for now. For the record, IOGEAR has a comparable, and also USB-IF certified setup. Little details were available. [D-Link via PC World]

In a normal, iPhone-free week, you might have been buzzing about announcements from the other big mobile carriers: T-Mobile introduced HotSpot @Home, a way to save mobile minutes by talking over Wi-Fi. Verizon Wireless upgraded its nationwide EV-DO data network to a faster Rev. A status. Sprint announced a follow-up to the LG Fusic names Muziq. (OK, maybe some of these stories were intentionally buried.)

In gaming news, Sony made some rumbles about the return of the PS3 SIXAXIS Rumble controller, while the Wii got itself a billiard cue.

D-Link was the first to get not one but two products approved by the Wi-Fi Alliance as draft 2.0 compliant for 802.11n, meaning guaranteed compatibility with the final draft.

In the world of home theater, Toshiba mounted a renewed HD DVD offensive, at long last announcing the availability of downloaded content on HD DVD players, and officially lowering the price of two models to celebrate. Meanwhile, the dubious hybrid Blu-ray and HD DVD format known as "Total HD" experienced a bit of a setback.

Dell wins a prize for most products announced while everyone was paying attention to something else:
• New Inspiron Notebooks in Splashy Colors and Re-branded Inspiron Desktops, Plus a Slim-Trim XPS Notebook
• A Speedy High-End Mobile Precision M4300 Laptop
• A Full HD 24-inch Monitor With 92% of NTSC Colors
Of course, it did help that Dell leaked the best bits of the announcement in preceding weeks.

And finally, vacuum wizard James Dyson came to town to show Gizmodo how to wash and dry its hands, inadvertently sparking what will definitely be a historic Battlemodo between the Dyson Airblade and the Mitsubishi Jet Towel.

Are you caught up? Good, now get back to the home page and keep reading about iPhone, because iPhone news will never, ever stop!

Product Page [Outpost via Uber Bargain]

Lock it up tight with WEP, WPA and WPA2 security, and then you're off and running with your choice of Wi-Fi or four ports of full duplex 10/100 switches. Plus, it works like any other Wi-Fi router if you don't have a wireless broadband card plugged into it.

The D-Link 3G Mobile Router will be available in two different models, one for EV-DO (model DIR-450, available now) and the other (DIR-451, available next month) for UMTS or HSDPA networks. Unfortunately, it's not cheap; $300 takes it home. – Charlie White

Product Page [D-Link]

D-Link DWA-643 Xtreme N Notebook ExpressCard USA Bound [Mobile Whack]

Press Release

The router supports WEP, WPA, and WPA2, but is also backwards compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g as well. Compared to the Linksys WRT350N Gigabit Draft N router, we'll have to say the lack of MIMO and missing network storage puts this below Linksys' offering. However, the DIR-655 router is available now and for only $199, whereas Linksys' router has no price and no availability information. – Jason Chen

Press Release [D-Link via eHomeUpgrade]

What does this matter to you? Well, if you're using a SIP VoIP provider like Gizmo Project or even rolling up your own Asterisk box, then this phone can connect to those whenever you're in WiFi range. The phone gets five hours of talk-time in GSM mode and two hours in WiFi mode—kinda puny.

And at a price of $599.99, thanks to the lack of carrier subsidy, we may have to wait until the second model. – Jason Chen

Press Release [DLink via Laptop Mag]

– Travis Hudson

USB Hub Monster [instructables]

Yes, Virginia, complications. Since these pre-N routers and adapters are running off preliminary specs, there's no guarantee, if not even an expectation, that they'll work with the real deal when 802.11n is actually ratified, which is currently looking to be about one year away. It should be noted that unless something drastic happens, a simple firmware upgrade should be able to fix any compatibility issues. If you're willing to take that risk, then the router doesn't look so bad.

The D-Link 650 N is more or less a standard wireless router: three antennae lets users maximize signal direction and the usual host of ports populate the back panel. The range (up to 200 feet) was fairly decent, but at maximum throughput at a distance of only 10 feet, the 650 N was slower than other pre-N routers. Basically, for cutting edge wireless technology, it's really not as impressive as it could, or even should, be.

The Rangebooster 650 N is available now for around $130. – Nicholas Deleon

D-Link RangeBooster N 650 DIR-635 wireless router [C|Net]

To make calls from the phone, users will have to subscribe to a VoIP plan with a 3rd party provider, as D-Link just makes the phones. The phones will cost $249, and is available now for all you flip-phone fans.

In our view, when WiMax and its 3~5 mile range gets deployed in a few years, those phones will prove an interesting competitor to cellphones. Until then, WiFi access spots are a bit sporadic for using these phones as your sole contact device. – Jason Chen

Press Release [D-Link via Digital Trends]

The DCS-2120 has a CPU and a webserver, which means you can view the thing on a standard web browser. There's 4x digital zoom and low light capabilities for when you're monitoring your ex-wife office in the dark.

If you're not using the camera in a remote location, there's 802.11g and 10/100 Ethernet for LAN surveillance. It supports up to 640x480 at 30FPS.

The camera will be available for import from the UK starting July. – Jason Chen

D-Link Launches 3G Wireless Video Camera [Bios Magazine]

From D-Link, the SecureSpot DSD-150 features plenty of things to make you feel safer in your Internet travels, including a firewall, spyware protection, virus protection, identity theft protection, pop-up blocker, spam blocker and plenty of parental controls to make sure Junior doesn't wind up going blind at an early age. Never mind that most, if not all, of these features can be had by using things like Linux and Firefox. The included software can be controlled with a Web-based interface, provided your kid hasn't already blocked access to it. So much for common sense being the best type of security.

She's available now for $99.99. – Nicholas Deleon

Product Page [D-Link via The Red Ferret Journal]

Look forward to an official announcement from D-Link soon, whether this is the DPH-540 or a younger model. – Jason Chen

D-Link's VoWiFi phone has that retro cellphone look [jkOnTheRun]

At $49.99, this is a cheap way to hook up two lines of VoIP to one device. Beats a stick in the eye. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Vonage via Digital Trends]

D-Link's wireless 3G router [Tech Digest]

The short answer is, no. Read on to find out why.

Glenn over at Wi-Fi Net News says it's better to wait. The 802.11n standard hasn't been ratified by the IEEE (it's still in draft form) so there's a significant risk that the equipment bought now won't be upgradable to the final version of N. He continues:

With no hardware replacement guarantee from a manufacturer, why buy today? If manufacturers are willing to step forward and provide explicit offers with their products that they will have the same compliance with the gear they shift today as with the gear they ship in six months, up to and including replacing the hardware you purchase today, then that argument goes away.

On the other hand, Apple, who was first to market with 802.11b routers, is quiet on the whole situation. Andrew at eHomeUpgrade agrees with Glenn and explains why:

The lack of a defined standard certainly has to impact Apple's plans to release an upgraded Airport router. It is most likely stifling product innovations that would require the higher bandwidth throughput capabilities of the 802.11n standard.

It's not that Apple doesn't want to upgrade, they're just waiting for 802.11n to become official in order to save headaches for their customers (and support calls for themselves).

What's our take on it? Well, if you have a situation where it's a necessity to have high speed wireless networking, then by all means get the new equipment. But be aware that there's a risk that any equipment you buy after 802.11n has been finalized may be incompatible with what you buy now. If you take the plunge, let us know how fast your new routers are!

D-Link to Release 802.11n USB Adapter Soon [Everything USB]

D-Link Launches First Flip-Style Mobile Wi-Fi VoIP Phone
[eHomeUpgrade]

Product Page [D-Link via Pocket-Lint]

D-Link DSM-520 on sale for $221 [Amazon]

The tiny MediaLounge DSM-120 Wireless Music Player uses 802.11b/g wireless or a wired network to stream your whole PC-based music library to another computer or any hi-fi speakers. For easy listening when your computer's off, just attach a USB flash drive or USB hard disk drive to the DSM-120 and play music directly from the external drive or do some tinkering and install a 2.5-inch internal hard disk drive that will let you use bundled D-Link Media Server Software and a utility to transfer your tunes from the computer, or use the One Touch Copy feature to do the same from a USB drive. Whew. That was a lot of stuff.

It includes all the standard audio-outs including optical and supports Windows Media Connect and Windows Media Digital Rights Management (WMDRM-10) that allow streaming copy-protected WMA-based music. Oh, and don't forget the alarm clock and sleep timer thrown in for good measure.

D-Link MediaLounge Wireless Music Player [Bios Magazine]

Specs and pricing for more D-Link wireless music players [Shopping.com]