Belkin claims that its new Gigabit Powerline HD Starter Kit adapters can outpace the current 200Mbps standard speed of most other powerline devices by five fold! Sure you’ll able to get 1000Mbps under ideal settings only. But even half of gigabit will be nice. Especially that the price of pair of Belkin’s Gigabit Powerline Adapters is just $150 in US. The European version will be released at the begining of August and it isn’t priced yet.
[via Engadget]
Belkin announced its new product (perfect as usual) – HDMI Wireless Transmitter FlyWire. It allows to transmit full HD signal (1080p, 24-frame) up to 30 meters away. The transmitter has 6 inputs: 2 HDMI, 2 component, a composite/S-Video AV set, and a SCART (SCART is gonna be replaced by third HDMI for the North American version). Different sources have different opinions about transmitting non HD signal from non-HDMI sources: same of them say that FlyWire can upconvert SD signal to 1080p, the rest – it leaves it at its native resolution. In any case, it should be available detailed specification till the HDMI transmitter will start to sell in summer 2008. Expected price of the FlyWire is $500 – $600 which seems reasonable for possibility to get rid of wires.
[sources: eHomeUpgrade and CNet]
Belkin recently introduced its new Desktop Internet Phone for Skype which doesn’t need a PC for making calls. It features speaker, speed dial, call hold/release, call pickup/park, mute, redial, hold, call-timer display and contact list for comfort and productive work. Its contact list supports over 500 sets of Skype and SkypeOutâ„¢ contacts. The phone also supports SkypeInâ„¢ – a personal and portable Skype number that people can use to call your Skype phone.
The setup of Belkin’s Skype phone very simple. Just connect it to your router using WiFi or Ethernet and type your Skype username and password.
The new Belkin’s Skype phone can be purchased in March 2008 at $99. So, if you works hardly with Skype don’t miss that date. Personally, I prefer more generic solutions offered some alternatives such SIP, GTalk, Skype or Gizmo in one. For example, I’m going to use my Nokia E65 make VoIP calls via VoipStunt (SIP protocol). In my mind Skype works unstable last couple of months and it’s expensive a bit (I mean SkypeIn and SkypeOut). In any case it’s just a matter of preferences.
[via eHomeUpgrade]
Belkin recently announced its new HDMI 2-to-1 Video Switch. Just for $54.99 you can get a support 480i, 480p, 720i, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p resolutions, maintaining highest HDMI single-link video resolution, possibility to connect both HDMI and DVI devices, selecting inputs from the IR remote control. The switch is compact and powered by HDMI cable connection to HDTV. So, you don’t need additional power socket.
Now most of TVs supported HD signal include more than one HDMI input (I saw one model with three ones!). But if you’re not lucky HDMI 2-to-1 Video Switch definitely will help you.
[via Business Wire]
