Gizmodo: wireless usb

Superbooster Extender Makes Any USB Accessory Wireless, Expensively

John Herrman — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:57:00 EDT

Are your USB peripherals too embarrassing to hang directly from your laptop? Your secret USB spy cameras too creepily hidden to run a wire too? The TruLink Superbooster Extender adds wireless connectivity to anything with a USB plug.

Strictly speaking, this isn't wireless USB—that's its own protocol entirely, and this is more of a workaround. But in any case, here's how it works, I think: The powered base station, which looks a little bit like a tiny router, has a plug for your USB device. It sets up an ad-hoc wireless network with your PC by way of a small USB dongle, and registers whatever you've plugged into the base station, which can be up to 150 feet away, as if it were physically connected to you computer. It's like magic, a little!

Except that it only has one USB port, is only compatibly with USB Specification 1.1 (likely because the wireless spec—a cryptic "2.4 GHz, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum"—couldn't keep up with 2.0 anyway, and costs a painful $190, which seems like an awful lot to make a single accessory wireless—or really, semi-wireless. [Cables to Go via PC Launches via Engadget]

Intel Done With Ultra Wideband Development, Leaving it for Dead

Adrian Covert — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:40:00 EST

Intel halted development of Ultra Wideband technologies, leaving the future of the standard highly in question. According to Electronista, Intel decided to pull the plug on the 5-year-old project last month but only just announced it now. This comes after one of the biggest UWB chip manufacturers, Wiquest, stopped production last week. Intel said the choice was made because it was cheaper to source the chips rather than make and design them in house, but it still seems like a death sentence to me.

Crappy consumer products, a healthy dose of public apathy and a lack of integrated support from most major electronics companies doesn't leave much upside for UWB. But what do I know? I was convinced Minidisc was the music format of the future. [Electronista]

D-Link DIR-825 Dual-Band N Router Gets USB over Wi-Fi (and So Can You)

Wilson Rothman — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:15:00 EDT

D-Link announced a new router yesterday which sounds a lot like other flagship home routers that have already hit market: The $200 DIR-825 is dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz N plus Gigabit ethernet. These are all great features, but the surprising one is that the USB port in the back uses a new protocol that lets networked PCs treat it as a local USB port, even if they're all the way across the house. The good news for your broke ass is, if you have one of several D-Link routers listed below, you can inject your router's USB port with the same virtual connectivity... for free.

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.

NEC Wireless USB Prototype Just As Fast As USB 2.0

Elaine Chow — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EDT

Wireless USB has finally begun to match regular USB 2.0 speeds, making our inevitable launch into a life untethered by the confines of copper and rubber cabling all the more forthcoming. At the Fall 2008 Intel Developer Forum, NEC unveiled a WUSB prototype that transfers at speeds of 200Mbits per second. The company didn't mention the effective range or when it plans on commercializing its new technology, but it's still exciting news for all of us who have trouble finding our desks under the tangle of our various USB doohickeys. [Tech On via EverythingUSB]

Kensington's Wireless USB Docking Station Is the World's First, Supports Five Devices and DVI Monitor

Jason Chen — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:40:00 EDT

Kensington's just released the world's first Wireless USB universal docking station, conveniently named the Wireless USB Docking Station. The thing suppports five USB devices as well as a DVI monitor, which can then be "attached" wirelessly to your notebook whenever it comes into range. Speaker ports round out the solution, and the whole thing is compatible with any Wireless USB notebook brands. You'll be able to pay $230 for one at the end of the month at Dell and Kensington. Is the convenience of not having to plug in five USB devices (or one, if you have a USB hub), a monitor and a speaker every time you sit down worth $230? We say yes. [Kensington]

ASUSTeK and RealTek Collaborate on Wireless USB Monitors

Jason Chen — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EDT

Wireless monitors are in their infancy now, but ASUS and Realtek are teaming up to make a new product series based on Wireless USB. The monitor has an integrated Wireless USB module from Realtek—a technology that's also just barely making it mainstream—and will be able to pair with a Wireless USB Host Wire Adapter or Wireless Host Controller Interface that's plugged into your PC. Unless you really, really need a wireless monitor, hold out until reviews come in to see if it's worth your money. [Yahoo]

IOGear Wireless USB Hub Reviewed (Verdict: Pointless Use Of Good Technology)

Adrian Covert — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:27:55 EDT

Unquestionably, Wireless USB is a technology with great potential. With the introduction of IOGear's Wireless USB Hub, they claim it connects to your PC easily, clears up wire clutter and makes speedy file transfers. But after playing with IOGear's Wireless USB Hub, we can't say this device lives up to that potential. Connecting can bothersome, USB 2.0 is substantially faster and the wires are still there.

In theory, using the Wireless USB Hub is supposed to be as easy as connecting the antenna dongle to your PC, plugging in your hub, and hooking up USB devices. In reality, the hardware requires installing separate drivers for the hub and dongle, associating the hub to your PC via an authentication process and using its custom software to connect the hub. Yet the hub still had trouble maintaining a strong signal despite sitting a foot away from the antenna dongle.

In transferring files, we had issues trying to get a 500 MB file from an external hard drive to the PC. In the one attempt we were successful, it took 2min, 45sec to transfer the file. Compared to the 22 seconds it took using USB 2.0, Wireless USB isn't in the same league. Even smaller files took longer to transfer as a 100 MB folder of MP3's took roughly 45 seconds, whereas USB 2.0 completed the transfer in under 10.

But most interesting of all, is when you get to the bottom of this thing, it isn't all that wireless. Sure, there's a wireless connection between the dongle and the hub, but wires still exist between your USB devices and the hub and two extra pieces of hardware (plus another AC adapter) are added into the mix. So really, whats the point?

If you want to use a laptop in various parts of the house, but still want the freedom of being connected to a hard drive or printer (and for whatever reason don't want to use a wireless network), this hub may be for you. But for anyone else with a desktop or who is OK with using their peripherals in a single room, the $200 price tag of this wireless USB hub just isn't worth it. When USB gadgets and computers start talking to each other directly, I'll start paying attention to wireless USB.

D-Link DUB-9240 Wireless USB Hub and Adapter in the Flesh

Wilson Rothman — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 20:12:29 EDT

Remember that D-Link Wireless USB Hub that can reach a screaming 480Mbps at 10 paces? We caught a glimpse of it at ShowStoppers tonight; nice, sleek and white. (Not that there's much coming out in glossy white these days.) It wasn't yet operational, but once is, sometime towards the end of October, we'll give it a test run, not just using the dongle you see here, but using the built-in wireless USB found in the Lenovo T61 and Dell Inspiron 1720.

Wireless USB 1.1 Already in the Works

Adrian Covert — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 21:00:46 EDT

Despite wireless USB just getting off the ground, Intel is supposedly working on a wireless USB 1.1 standard that will increase data transfer rates to 1Gbps. The standard would move Wireless USB's operating frequency to the 6GHz range, up from the 3-4GHz current wireless USB is operating in. There are detractors, such as NEC's Masami Katagiri, who claim wireless USB is only transferring at 40Mbps right now and would have to hit at least 500Mbps to gain 1.1 approval. Realistic or not, we like the ambition. [EETimes]

DLink's DUB-9240 Wireless USB Hub and Adapter

Brian Lam — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 21:53:42 EDT

D-Link's DUB-9240 Wireless USB hub was announced today. For non-wireless USB equipped PCs (everything but the Lenovo T61 and Dell Inspiron 1720), the kit includes an adapter, called the DUB-1210. It operates with the four port hub (DUB-2240), which your devices connect to by cable, at the 3.4GHz to 4.5GHz range to reduce interference.

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]

Certified Wireless USB Takes Flight In Inspiron, ThinkPad Laptops

kthompson — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 21:49:18 EDT

Kiss your favorite cords goodbye, because Certified Wireless USB is throwing them out with the trash. Industry giants including Dell and IBM have come on board as early adopters of the new USB standard, which combines the data transfer rates of USB with the ease-of-use and cable-free nature of Bluetooth and WiFi. Dell is rolling out its new Inspiron 1720 next month, a mobile media notebook that includes a built-in Certified Wireless USB chip. In conjunction with new lines of CWUSB routers launched by D-Link and IOGear, the 1720 can connect with 127 other devices and swap data at a blistering 480Mb/s (at 3 meters; speeds fall to a respectable 110Mb/s at 10 meters).

The 17-inch Dell laptop is a media machine, sporting a high resolution UltraSharp display, 7.1 surround sound, a 2-megapixel webcam and a Blu-ray player to keep you entertained on the go. Continuing the wireless trend are the included Wireless-N card and mobile broadband capabilities. You can even drop nearly half a terabyte into these creatures (across two hard drives)! Shipping August 9th, the Inspiron 1720 can be yours for less than a grand (if you're willing to make some sacrifices).

The other major Certified Wireless USB notebook launch is the ThinkPad T61. A more modest offering than the Dell, it still manages to be a wireless beast with support for standard WiFi, Bluetooth and USB out of the box. A fingerprint scanner and unique shock absorbing roll cage keep your data safe and secure, though that data is limited to about 80 gigabytes on the top end. The 14.1-inch offering from Lenovo won't play your Blu-ray discs, but it will get your basic jobs done in a compact, wire-free way. Shipping now, the Thinkpad T61 starts around $1,500. [Laptops That Don't Need USB Cables]

Belkin Wireless USB Adapters Forthcoming, Wireless Future Ahead

Charlie White — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 12:25:21 EDT

Here's the world's first pair of wireless USB adapters, the model F5U035 from Belkin that can either communicate with each other for PC-to-PC transfers, or each can act as a link to a wireless USB hub. Or, anywhere you might have a USB cable, these two devices could communicate with each other and eliminate all that wiring.

This is an unannounced product, and more info about it thus far is spotty, but its price will reportedly be $179.99 for this duo of wireless goodness. We're also hearing these dongles are certified for the wireless USB standard, making them compatible with upcoming wireless USB webcams, speakers and drives. So if you're looking to eliminate USB cables for distances under 30 feet, this might be something to consider. [Everything USB]

What Do You Guys (and Gals) Want to Read About?

Mark Wilson — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 13:00:25 EDT

NOTICE: By not reading this article, your sexual organs will fall to the floor—where they will get that nasty layer of dirt that something can only get by falling to the floor. Yeah, you know what I'm talking about.

Despite loving to read ourselves talk, Gizmodo wants to know what YOU want to see more of on the site. What gadget or technology is rocking your world? And what do you plan to buy next? And while hitting the comments, do us a favor. Don't turn this into a Mac vs. PC fight, because we'll be here all night and someone will cry. And it will probably be the guy who fell on the floor and has been a complete mess ever since. – Mark Wilson

Wireless USB For Cameras Will Transfer 1GB in 30 Seconds

Louis Ramirez — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 19:44:53 EST

No one ever did master the art of sending photos from your camera to your PC wirelessly, but now a semiconductor company by the name of Artimi is hoping to give the concept another shot. They're working on a wireless USB technology that, with the aid of a USB dongle, would let you transfer up to 1GB of photos from your camera to your computer in about 30 seconds sans cables. Artimi is hoping to get some WUSB cams out the door by end of this year, with bigger names jumping on the bandwagon by 2008. We just hope it works, since last time someone tried this the process were slow and kinda clunky. – Louis Ramirez

Artimi Wireless USB Technology for Cameras [The Future of Things]

Seagate Rolls Out Wireless USB Drive

Charlie White — Wed, 08 Mar 2006 09:13:20 EST

Seagate will launch a wireless USB portable hard drive at the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco this week. The company revealed a prototype of a 1.8-inch wireless USB drive at CES in January, and surprises us with this 2.5-inch portable wireless USB hard drive that it will be showing in the next day or two. No word on transfer speed or availability, but it looks a lot like the Seagate wireless USB drive we saw at CES which was capable of a 480Mbps link. At the time, the company said it would be a year before it would ship. Looks like things could be moving along more quickly than expected.

Seagate launches new hard drives at IDF [MobileMag]

Belkin CableFree USB Hub Delayed Until July

Charlie White — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 12:33:04 EST

A standout at CES was Belkin s CableFree USB Hub, which the company said would be available in April, but now says that release has been pushed back to early July. Belkin attributes the late release to general manufacturing delays. Enabled by Freescale s ultra wideband (UWB) technology, it was to be the first shipping product using that fast wireless protocol. We're still looking forward to roaming free with USB, and are thinking maybe it's better to have a working product in July than a dud in April.

Belkin CableFree USB Hub Delayed [TechNudge Live]

Cut the Cord: USB Runs Free with Freescale

Charlie White — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 14:29:47 EST

Belkin is jumping on the wireless USB bandwagon with this four-port hub. That's right, it's packing wireless USB, letting you roam free with any USB device. Using Motorola spinoff Freescale s Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology, this hot connection gives you data rates that are a hundred times faster than Bluetooth. So imagine, you walk into a room with your notebook, plug in the wireless USB dongle and you're instantly connected to that USB hard drive you have stashed under the desk. No wires, no muss, no fuss. We saw this device in a demo at CES (it's similar to the one from Ripcord that I told you about earlier), and besides that, it actually works and has an attractively-designed form factor, too. You'll have to wait until early spring of this year to give it a try, and when it ships Belkin says it will cost $129.99.

Press release [Belkin]

StitchLink Wireless Sewing Machines

johnb — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 11:08:46 EDT

In the hard-core world of professional seamstressing ('stressing), the first to the sewing machine ("s'mecka" is the street term, I hear) with the pattern is the first out the door with a hot new mumu. I've seen elbows thrown, jaws broken, and feet stamped on in some of these matches, with some of the best 'stressers taken down by an errant button basket.

Well, the geeks have hit the 'stressing scene with their super fly wireless USB pattern transmittal system. You rock the pattern on your laptop, shoot it over to your s'mecka, and yell "Eat me, ladies!" as you roll out to your mini-van AKA s'mobile with your smock in hand.

StitchLink Wireless USB Sewing Machines [StrangeNewProducts]