Archive for Ethernet – Page 2

LinkE Kit – Featuring the World’s Smallest Powerline Ethernet Adapters

Does the word ‘LinkE’ sound strange to you? If it does, well it’s now time to find out what it is, just so you wouldn’t be left behind when it comes to HD videos streaming with CinemaTube. The LinkE is a HomePlug AV-compliant powerline communication kit that comes with two Ethernet adapters (1-port and 4-port). Such adapters leverage the current electrical wiring in your home to generate a high speed network connection for Internet access or for in-house media streaming.

This gizmo offers plug & play function for home network extension. It can be an Ethernet cable replacement or Hub replacement when putting up a small workgroup, when connecting your computer to a broadband connection, or when extending the reach of your CinemaTube or other media streaming players. Travelers will benefit from this product’s small and slim qualities. The LinkE 1-Port Bridge is, in fact, among the thinnest in the market, measuring only 2.36 x 3.7 x 1.12 inches. With this size, it comes much smaller than its competitors. Additionally, the LinkE 4-port switch only measures 2.95 x 4.17 x 1.12 inches to ensure that this wall-mounted component will not obstruct your home furniture installation near your wall.

This brite-View product is energy efficient. It consumes less than 2.0 Watts of power when it’s in idle mode. Because of the development of AV Powerline technologies, the LinkE is able to offer lowest power consumption as well standby kmode feature. With such mode, consumers will realize after long years of use how big their electricity savings is. So better check out the Brite-View LinkE BV-210C Digital Home Powerline Ethernet Adapters 1-port Bridge amd 4-port Switch (White), which is now offered at Amazon for less than $100.

Moneual MiNEW A10: HTPC or nettop?

moneual

Do you spend more time watching videos on your computer? Koren HTPC producer Moneual introduced a new mini PC under the name of MiNEW A10, based on the Intel Atom 230 1.6GHz and running the operating system Windows XP Home Edition. The company is billing the MiNEW A10 as a basic HTPC (Home Theater PC). Though looking at the specs, it’s hard to see how – connectivity lacks even an S-Video port to hook up your TV. Even if you could, it is arguable how much value the single-core processor, 1GB of DDR2 memory, GMA 960 graphics, and 2.5-inch 160 GB 5,400rpm hard-drive could bring.

When it comes to connectivity, the MiNEW A10 does have four USB 2.0 ports, a VGA output, Ethernet and audio in/out, PS/2 and a serial port – these are all pretty standard for nettops. It also comes with a touch power button on the front panel. Of course you want to know the size. Well, it just measures 7.95 x 8.66 x 2.75 inches or 220 x 67 x 220mm and, uses 70-percent less power than a traditional desktop PC, according to Moneual.

It will cost around 400,000 KRW ($314) when it lands in Korea and it seems to come in at least four attractive colors – red, blue, black, and silver. This simply means that you get to choose the color that will blend in your living room or anywhere you want to place it.

While we’re waiting to see if this will reach Western shores, you can browse around for some nifty nettops here.

Samsung BD-P4600: Flat Is Phat

Now, you can give your flat-screen TV a companion with Samsung BD-P4600 wall-mountable Blu-Ray player. Yes, your wall-mounted TV won’t be alone anymore with the P4600 being a mere 38mm thick — it’s the “world’s thinnest Blu-ray player”. And it’s ideally designed to be bolted in place beneath your television. You don’t like the idea of wall mounting? Don’t fret! You can still show off the good-looking Samsung BD-P4600 with its especially designed stand that angles the Blu-ray player at 25 degrees.

samsung-blue-ray

The BD-P4600 comes with a piano black design infused with ruby highlights and finished with clear, prism-like edging. Features include touch sensitive controls, BD Live (Profile 2.0) and Bonus View (Profile 1.1) support, Full HD 1080p Blu-ray playback with DVD upscaling, total HD soundtrack support, and standard CD playback with support for JPEG photos and DivX videos. There’s a pair of pair of USB sockets too.

When the included 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi dongle is attached to one of the USB 2.0 ports or via the traditional wired Ethernet connection, you can easily connect to your home network. It can also stream more than 12,000 movies and TV episodes from Netflix and Pandora music services (subscription required), so you’ll have an ever-expanding library of entertainment into your living room. The BD-P4600 also boasts 1GB internal memory so you can keep the movies and songs you download.

Can’t wait to experience the Blu-ray difference? Look for the Samsung BD-P4600 in stores in late April. But while you’re waiting for that, shop around for some Blue-Ray players that are currently available.

“Plant Twitter” Household Plants are now Online!

Can you imagine getting a Twitter message from your plants reminding you to give them some water when you get home? Well, you don’t have to imagine it, because that technology is now available for purchase. The Chief Scientist at CERN was attempting to converse with a patch of catnip when he realized that the Twitter technology would be perfect for communication.

It connects to the Internet through a built-in Ethernet jack then metal leads stick into the plant’s soil and transmits directly to the plants Twitter feed. It communicates when it needs watered, whether it is overwatered, and then thanks you afterwards.

This product is similar to the “Blogging Plant” that was introduced last year, but the Twitter plant actually communicates at all times. It will send a Twitter message the moment it needs assistance and give gratitude the moment it is fulfilled. Currently this technology is sold as a kit, meaning you will need a soldering iron, and some patience. For $99 you get the fun of communicating with your plant via the internet and creating the technology that made it possible.

This product won’t “change” lives, but it does make life a little easier. If you are like me and definitely not blessed with a “green thumb”, then you kill most of your plants, you forgot to water them or didn’t realize they were in trouble until it was too late. This technology makes it possible for those with “green thumb” handicaps to become responsible plant owners.