[CES 07] Netgear’s Networking Wonder, WiFi Phone, More
January 8th, 2007 — By Christopher JonesGonzo Multimedia Streaming
In one of the first big splashes at CES, Netgear showed off its newest networking wonder, a set-top digital media receiver that wirelessly streams media files from PCs and other storage devices to a TV.
The Digital Entertainer HD (EVA8000) automatically scans available drives on a home WiFi network for videos (even HD), music and photo files, and then organizes the content into a searchable media library that is displayed on a TV. Using a PC with a TV tuner installed, you can also use the Digital Entertainer HD as a DVR for searching program listings, scheduling recordings, and pausing live broadcasts. One of the more interesting features lets you pause a program in one room, and then resume playback in another room. It also supports synchronized playback of audio throughout multiple rooms in a house.
The Digital Entertainer HD has the capability to stream HD content over a wireless network, however, this isn’t possible using the current WiFi standards (802.11a and 802.11g) due to bandwidth constraints; the Digital Entertainer HD requires 25 Mbps of sustained throughput to stream HD content. When the newest WiFi standard, 802.11n, makes its way into products in 2008, its higher bandwidth capabilities will make HD streaming possible, said the Netgear representatives in today’s press conference.
The Digital Entertainer HD has HDMI, composite and component video outputs, coaxial and optical digital audio outputs, and for good measure an S-video port. It also has two USB ports for hooking up portable media players (allowing for yet more content playback), and supports all of the major audio and video encoding formats.
Netgear also announced a new cordless phone that uses WiFi to let you make both Skype and traditional phone line calls. The Dual-Mode Cordless Phone with Skype (SPH200D) uses a base station to connect to a computer network and phone line wall jack, and up to four handsets can be used with each base station (although only one call can be placed at the same time).
Netgear’s final new product, the Storage Central Turbo (SC101T), is used to store and backup multimedia files, and then access or stream the content to playback devices like the Digital Entertainer HD. The SC101T does not come with a hard drive, but can use any 3.5-inch drive of any capacity.
The Digital Entertainer HD (EVA8000) will be available in the first quarter of 2007 for $349. The Dual-Mode Cordless Phone with Skype (SPH200D) is available now for $199.99. The Storage Central Turbo (SC101T) will be available in early 2007 for $249.
