Gizmodo: draft n

Sanyo LP-WXU700 Projector Utilizes Draft N Wi-Fi, FIRST!!

Mark Wilson — Tue, 12 May 2009 08:53:05 EDT

The Sanyo LP-WXU700 is the first projector on the market to integrate the no-longer-so-new 802.11 Wi-Fi. And it's happy to work in offices and home theaters alike.

Faster Wi-Fi should imply higher quality signals for video streaming, with "n" speeds having set the benchmark for wireless HD in the home theater industry already. But technically, no streaming bitrate limitations are listed on the product at this time.

The system also features a Vista-friendly Windows CE infrastructure with 4GB of storage that's compatible with MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, and WMV. You get home theater ports like HDMI and component. And the projector itself creates a WXGA (1280 x 800) image at 3,800 lumens.

Oh...but...it's gonna be like $6500 when it hits Japan this June. (The headline read "first!!" not "cheap!!") [Sanyo via SlashGear]

Buffalo Draft N Wireless Dongle Makes Your Netbook Look Huge

John Herrman — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 06:46:16 EST

Buffalo Electronics is claiming that their WLI-UC-GN Wi-Fi dongle is the smallest Draft N 2.0 adapter in the world. Is it? Who knows. But it's definitely tiny, and surprisingly cheap.

At 33mm by 16mm, this dongle really couldn't be much smaller—the brains of the unit are almost the same size as the plug itself. Nor could it be much more affordable. Though it's only available in Japan for now, the price translates to about $25.

It doesn't appear to be crippled in any serious way either, claiming official B/G certification for assured backwards compatibility, base station operation for bridging connection between peripherals or other PCs, and the automated WPS security system, along with Buffalo's own AirStation One-Touch Secure System. The main selling point here, obviously, is size—the WLI would make a great company for a netbook that needs to make the Draft N jump. [Buffalo via Akihabara]

Trendnet's Wireless N Router Fits in Your Pocket

Sean Fallon — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:11:00 EST

Trendnet has unveiled what they are calling "the world's smallest wireless N travel router" with the TEW-654TR. There have been other pocket-sized routers of course, but not one this small with Draft N support.

Measuring 2.5 inches wide by 3.25 inches long by 0.75 inches high (slightly smaller than the AirPort Express), Trendnet's router claims to pack speeds up to 300Mbps (a significant upgrade from the current crop at 54Mbps). The carrying case comes with a thin 3-foot Ethernet cable, an electrical adapter and an alternate USB cable—allowing you the convenience of powering up via your computer. If you travel a lot, and it works as advertised, this little router would be well worth the $90 price tag when it is released in March. [Trendnet via CNET]

MSI U110, U115 Netbooks To Pack Draft-N Wi-Fi, Faster Processors

Kit Eaton — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 06:56:24 EST

We've only just been getting excited about MSI's U120 3G-packing netbook, but now it looks like MSI has even more interesting machines just around the corner. Apparently due sometime in January, the U110 and U115 will run Atom Z530 chips, drawing less power than the "typical" N270 netbook processor. And they'll pack a hybrid drive system, with the OS on fast SSD and conventional HDD for user storage. Plus they'll run the Poulsbo US15W chipset instead of the usual Intel 9456G. If that's not interesting enough, there'll also be Draft-N Wi-Fi, and up to 250GB HDD for the U110. The price is unknown, though a guess around $700 seems sensible, given the higher price of the Z520 Atom. [UMPCPortal]

Belkin N1 Vision Router Makes 802.11n Sexier Than Ever With Built-In Screen

Matt Buchanan — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 10:38:53 EDT

Belkin's latest N1 series router, the N1 Vision, isn't just hands-down the smokiest 802.11n draft 2.0 router we've seen—it tries to one-up everyone else with a built-in LCD screen that displays info ranging from a bandwidth speedometer to the number of neighbors leeching your internet. At $200, the sexiness doesn't come cheap, but it can be yours later this month. More details after the jump.

•Interactive network display •Plug-and-Play "CD-less" setup •Operating Range: Up to 1,600 ft.** •Link Rate: Up to 300Mbps in 20/40MHz channel mode •Compatible with IEEE 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11n draft 2.0*, 802.3ab •Ports: WAN - 1 Gigabit port; LAN - 4 Gigabit ports •Security: Wi-Fi Protected Setup™; WPA™, WPA2™; 64-/128-bit WEP encryption; multiple SSID •VPN Support: PPTP; IPSec pass-through

Belkin N1 Vision

Wi-Fi Alliance Will Start Certifying Draft N 2.0 Products in June; Worrywarts Rejoice

Matt Buchanan — Wed, 16 May 2007 18:45:09 EDT

The Wi-Fi Alliance is going to start certifying 802.11 Draft N 2.0 products late next month. While the final standard won't be set in stone until 2008, certified Draft N 2.0 products will have guaranteed interoperability with future N versions so you can get your N on without worry and will sport the fancy sticker on the right. CNET estimates that badge-bearing equipment will hit stores in July, so if promises and rainbow stickers are your thing, you've got about six weeks to go. – Matt Buchanan

Wi-Fi Alliance to begin certifying 802.11n gear [CNET]
Wi-Fi Alliance® Reveals New Logo and Announces First Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ 802.11n Draft 2.0 Products and Test Suite [Wi-Fi Alliance]

Apple AirPort Extreme 802.11n Naked, Maybe Shamed

Matt Buchanan — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 10:30:51 EST

The guys at AppleInsider thought they would beat the system by pre-ordering the new AirPort Extreme with its supersonic N and other goodness the day of MacWorld. Turns out, it was quicker to just walk to an Apple Store and snag it in person than to wait for the mail guy. However, shipments to the stores have been sporadic so you might want to call around first. Unboxing pr0n highlights post-jump.

Definitely not shaped like a boob anymore. – Matt Buchanan

High-quality Apple AirPort Extreme 802.11n unboxing photos [AppleInsider]

Etri Wi-Fi Router Has Half-Mile Range, Beaucoups Bandwidth

Charlie White — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 14:15:00 EST

We're looking at our Linksys Wi-Fi router with disdain now that we've discovered how weak it is compared to this Etri Wi-Fi mofo. Besides the Etri router's awesome 240Mbps speed, it has a range far beyond ordinary Wi-Fi, cranking out signals at a claimed range of 100m to 1km. Sheesh. Our Linksys can barely get from one side of the house to the other.

Etri hops up that speed by using a combination of the 802.11n (so far, that's draft-N), and the MIMO spec that uses multiple signals to increase bandwidth. Plus, its security protocols have been beefed up to keep those curb-dwelling bandwidth suckers off your ass. It's only been demonstrated in Korea so far, but this monster will give you a preview of the Wi-Fi tech that will be commonplace in a year or two. – Charlie White

Long range WiFi router [ubergizmo]

Apple Airport Extreme Shipping Today: Free 802.11n Updater, More Details

Brian Lam — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 13:43:07 EST

In case you didn't notice, there's a little $2 bonus included with the new, non-conehead, draft 802.11n, 5x faster, 2x ranged, Airport Extreme. The highly controversial update that cost 499 pennies at first, then 199 pennies, then falsely zero pennies, then back to 199 pennies, is free if you buy the whole Setup. That's a little bit of trivia for you following the somehow thrilling story.

Beyond that, there's actually a bit more going on with the Airport Extreme that I just learned today in terms of its USB drive capabilities.

It'll have that USB port for turning storage into networked drive, but did you know that drive can be set to automount upon connection to the network? It can also be locked down with specific user accounts. These features are part of the brave new world of Mac gadgets. One that supports PCs as well as Macs. Does this mean this works with Vista? The USB ports also work with Printers.

The rest of the Airport Extreme's features, like encryption, and security, are standard fare.

The Airport Extreme's unlocking software will work on Mac Pros from august 06. Here's the total list of machines that already have the DNA for going Extreme.

MacBook Pro with Intel Core 2 Duo
MacBook with Intel Core 2 Duo
Mac Pro with Intel Xeon and AirPort Extreme
iMac with Intel Core 2 Duo (except iMac 17-inch, 1.83GHz)

One wish: Since my cable modem is near my livingroom setup, wouldn't it be nice if there was a super AppleTV box that had both Airport Extreme and AppleTV in one? And if it came in the same colors as the Shuffle? No? Never mind.–Brian Lam

[Gizmodo]

802.11n Finished 1/08, Rubber Stamp Coming 10/08

Matt Buchanan — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 20:32:19 EST

IEEE's 802.11n working group has given Draft 2.0 of the spec a thumbs up, sending it off to members for approval by the end of this month. The upshot is that once it's okayed by all members, work on Draft 3.0 starts in earnest, to be sent out for voting by June. As long as everything goes off without a hitch over the next year, Draft 3.0—which will be the foundation for the final spec—should be approved in January 2008. This means that everything made after next January will be the real deal, just without the official label on it until October. – Matt Buchanan

802.11n in all but name: draft hardware in the clear [Ars Technica]

Intel Centrino Finally Juiced Up to 802.11n Spec

Matt Buchanan — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 18:35:56 EST

Starting later this month with Vista-loaded laptops from Acer, Asus, Gateway and Toshiba, Centrino Duo systems will come with Intel's new rhythmically named "Next-Gen Wireless-N" network setup, bringing them into line with the wave of other wireless-N products now hitting the market. It's obviously based on the draft 802.11n standard, but with approval coming ever closer , and Intel's new "Connect with Centrino" initiative—which specifically aims to ensure compatibility of its wireless-N setup with access points from Asus, Belkin, Buffalo, D-Link and Netgear, among others—conflicts with future N products seem unlikely. Of course, both Next-Gen Wireless-N and "Connect with Centrino" products will come with their own fancy "blah blah Intel" sticker, so be sure to scope it out before you take your new toys home if you're looking for some blistering 802.11n action. – Matt Buchanan

New Intel Wireless Product for Laptops Extends Networking Speed and Range [eHomeUpgrade]

Want Some 802.11n Action? Mac Owners, Get Your Wallets Out

Matt Buchanan — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 19:20:36 EST

Owners of most Core 2 Duo-based Macs already have machines with native 802.11n wireless support. You just can't use it right now. If you want to unlock it without dropping $180 on the new 802.11n AirPort Extreme that launches in February, however, you'll need to pay five bucks to download the AirPort Extreme 802.11n Enabler 1.0 patch which looks to come out at the same time. Apparently, some sort of legal mumbo-jumbo about unadvertised features is "forcing" Apple to take your lunch money. Couldn't they just have slapped a sticker on the box in a surreptitious place in a very tiny font? – Matt Buchanan

Apple to impose 802.11n unlocking fee on Intel Mac owners [AppleInsider]

D-Link Brings 802.11n Speeds to Your ExpressCard Slot

Louis Ramirez — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 10:15:26 EST

Here's one more device you can slide inside your notebook's ExpressCard slot. D-Link's DWL-643 Xtreme N adapter supercharges your throughput by hitting speeds that max out at 300Mbps when connected to an Xtreme N router. The card was designed to automatically detect and connect to any of D-Link's wireless products and is also backwards compatible with 802.11b/g networks. Just remember that you'll need an Xtreme N router to take advantage of the speeds, otherwise save your cash and stick with your notebook's built-in wireless support. – Louis Ramirez

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

Linksys WRT350N Gigabit 802.11N MIMO Router

Jason Chen — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 18:30:55 EDT

Both a 802.11N wireless router and a gigabit ethernet router, the Linksys WRT350N also has Storage LInk, which lets you add additional storage to your network. Attach any USB 2.0 hard drive to the router and it becomes accessible to the WRT350N's media server so you can access all your files anywhere in the home. It's even UPnP compatible, so your Windows XP box can detect it immediately.

The wireless portion uses MIMO, which increases range, decreases dead-spots and overall gives you more speed for your money. Since it's draft 802.11N, there's no guarantee it will work with the final N products. Since the WRT350N isn't' actually available yet, you won't have to make up your mind whether to go draft N or wait for full N just yet. – Jason Chen

Wireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage Link [Linksys]