Wired@Home.blog

ZeeVee Expands it's ZvBox Product Line

ZeeVee, Inc. announced a significant expansion of its critically acclaimed and award-winning ZvBox® and ZvPro® product line, allowing system integrators to bring their customers state of the art, brand-enhancing HD Video capabilities at prices previously impossible. Businesses in hospitality, medical, educational, sports, and casino markets have been demanding HD Video capabilities at competitive prices. ZvBox box delivers.

 First, the new ZvBox 180 combines the advanced 1080 video processing of the flagship ZvPro 280 and the front panel ease-of-use of the top-selling ZvBox 170, delivering 1080 video performance at a price that’s fully one third less than previously available. 

“Our customers have been asking for 1080 performance in our most popular ZvBox 170 package, all at a much more affordable price,” said ZeeVee’s co-founder and CEO, Vic Odryna. “We are very proud to be able to deliver.” 

Second is the new ZvBox 160, which replaces the ZvBox 150, an entry-level product that carried an aggressive price point but was not meant for multi-channel deployments in commercial applications and did not contain ZeeVee’s most powerful HD encoding technology. The ZvBox 160 is a full 720p-60fps powerhouse that contains ZeeVee’s latest breakthrough Generation 3 video processor, all deployed in a fan-cooled, easy to configure package at a very aggressive price. 

The new ZvBox 180 and ZvBox 160 are immediately available from Wired@Home.com. 

 

 

 

How to Connect your iPad or iPhone to your HDTV with the Atlona AT-HDVieW

Check out this video from Atlona that will show you how to connect you iPad or iPhone to your HDTV using Apple's VGA adapter and Atlona's AT-HDVieW VGA to HDMI converter. The AT-HDVieW, which is a plug and play device, will automatically sense the native resolution of the display and scale the device's output to match it. The converter will take audio signal from the device and embedded it into the HDMI signal output, so that user is able to enjoy both audio and video though one cable. The HDVieW is a scaler-converter, which means that it will always work without any adjustments to the video card software in addition to that the video quality will be dramatically increased due to the built-in high quality scaler. The Atlona converter is USB powered and therefore will not require additional power supplies.

The Atlona AT-HDVieW is also PC compatible. 

Atlona PC to HDTV, Projector or Monitor Wireless Adapter with 1080p

New Product Announcement:

Atlona's all new AT-AiR3 is designed to connect any Windows or Mac Based computer to your HDTV, Projector or Computer Monitor wirelessly though HDMI or VGA Connections. The AiR3 is based on a powerful Ultra Wide Band technology, allowing users to extend high resolution content up to 30ft away from any computer’s USB port. Atlona wireless PC to TV transmitter is capable of supporting resolutions up to 1080p. The AT-AiR3 features dual video (HDMI and VGA) and dual Audio (HDMI-Audio and 1/8" mini stereo) outputs which are active simultaneously.

The versatile AiR3 serves both in commercial and home applications, giving users an easy way to connect projectors in meeting rooms or HDTV’s in living rooms to any computer or laptop. The Atlona AiR3 gives users the flexibility of being able to conveniently extend their computer’s visual workspace to a larger screen. The AiR3 features the two most common interfaces for both TV and computer displays, HDMI and VGA interface. Both HDMI and VGA output connections are active at the same time, allowing the AiR3 receiver supply content to both a digital and an analog display, such as an HDTV and a projector in a conference room.

Applications:

1. Education: Many K-12 and higher education schools and Universities utilize the Atlona AiR3 wireless PC to Projector solution for their class rooms. The lack of cables allows instructors the mobility needed to move around the class room, while maintaining connection to their display. The “USB stick” can be transferred from computer to computer like a USB flash drive, accommodating learning environments where multiple instructors use the same classroom. The AiR3 also serves as a way to take traditionally single user education software, such as language learning programs like Rosetta Stone, to a more communal learning setup where multiple users can learn at the same time.

2. Conference Room: The Atlona AT-AiR3 is the perfect device to allow a simple PC to TV conference room environment. Each presenter can connect the small USB dongle to their laptop to and see their presentation in seconds on a shared screen for everyone to see. Using Microsoft’s Power Point or Apples Keynote extended monitor mode, presenters can control and modify their presentation, while displaying slides to their audience.

3. Home use: So much digital content is available online such as video, books, music and more, home users are doing more and more with their computers. The AT-AiR3 allows user an ability to move the small laptop screen to a Large HDTV or a Projector to enjoy Netflix, Youtube, Showing their Picassa Photos or viewing any other content on the big screen. The AiR3 is a no-wire solution to enlarge your computer screen to the size of your HDTV and move it to a living room.

Atlona says the AT-AiR3 will be available February 8th, 2011 and will retail for $199. We're taking pre-orders right now at Wired@Home.com for only $179 so check it out!

ZeeVee - Send HD Video Over Your Existing Coax Wiring

Why Send HD Over Coax? Because it's there!

Based on the same technology used by TV stations and cable companies,ZvBox^® turns the output of a VGA or HD source into an HDTV cable channel and broadcasts it over coax cabling to all connected HDTVs. To view the HD source, simply tune in your new Zv channel at any of the HDTVs.

The Key Benefits of Coax:

• Coax already in place in vast majority of homes- reduces or eliminates the need to cut holes in walls or run new wires.
• Proven method: cable companies light up entire cities with coax
• Easy to deploy and expand coax systems using simple hand tools
• System parts (splitters, amps, etc.) inexpensive and widely available
• Connects to off-the-shelf HDTVs without additional set top boxes at each TV
• Handles up to 135 simultaneous channels

An ideal retrofit solution: Distribute HD video sources over existing coaxial cabling‐‐no set top boxes required.

Existing solutions Existing HD video distribution solutions are often labor intensive, requiring new cabling to each display.To share an HD source with 3 HDTVs in remote locations, you might pull new component cables to each HDTV, or CAT5 cabling (with baluns to provide the appropriate connection at each end), or perhaps HDMI cabling. Each represents substantial installation effort, and the expense of a hub of some sort. A new (old) way in contrast, distributing HD over coaxial cabling often allows the use of existing cabling, substantially reducing labor. This is accomplished using RF modulation of the source‐ a technique that’s been around for some time, but has recently made the leap to HD.

HD Encoder/RF Modulator

RF Modulator Basics

An RF Modulator turns an AV source into a TV channel, which is then broadcast over coaxial cabling. At the TV, tuning in that channel displays the source connected to the modulator. All that's required is an "empty" or unused channel that the modulator can "take over" for broadcasting it's source. 

Standard Definition (analog) RF Modulators are common, and fairly simple; they turn the input source into an NTSC (analog) TV channel. If you've ever tuned in channel 3 or 4 to watch a VCR, cable box, or play a video game, then you've used an analog RF modulator, it was built into the device you were watching.

HD Modulators, which convert AV sources into HDTV channels, are more complex. When they receive an HD analog input, they must first encode the video as an MPEG2 stream (the DTV video format standard) and convert the audio to the DTV audio standard. Because the HD source contains many times more data than SD sources, this real-time conversion requires serious processing power. Finally, the encoded stream is modulated onto an RF channel for broadcast. The modulator may create an ATSC channel, which is the standard for over-the-air broadcasts, or it may create a QAM channel, the standard for digital cable broadcast. The new channel can share coaxial cabling with other existing NTSC, ATSC or QAM channels. Finally, the channel is tuned in at the HDTV in true HD, so picture and sound quality are far superior to SD modulation techniques. 

Killer apps

With an HD RF modulator, you can share an HD DVR, cable box, media server, or Blu ray player with all the HDTVs in a home using existing coaxial cabling. Or, connect the Zone 2 output of an AV receiver to the modulator, and all sources connected to the AV receiver will be available on all of the HDTVs via coax. Or connect the VGA output of a computer to a modulator, and distribute digital signage to all connected HDTVs in a corporate setting, using simple to deploy coax cabling. 

Here's a comparison of the 3 ZeeVee HD Encoder/Modulators available:

 

Features	ZvBox® 150	ZvBox® 170	ZvPro® 250
1080p / 1080i
720p 60fps
720p 30fps
480p, 480i
VGA Video input
Component Video input
Broadcast two HD channels in different languages
Front panel configuration
PC configuration via USB connection
Analog audio inputs
Assignable Coax and Optical Digital Audio Inputs
Closed Captioning Ready (with optional ZVCC1)
IR control for switching inputs via direct IR input
IR control for switching inputs via IR window
RS 232 for switching inputs and configuration
Broadcast on any digital cable channel 2-135
Spectrum Analyzer to find open channels
Firmware updatable
Integral power supply and fan cooling
Rack mountable/Includes rack ears
Warranty	1 Year Parts and Labor	1 Year Parts and Labor*	3 Year Parts and Labor

Amazon.com Launches Amazon Video On Demand

Amazon.com has launched it's Amazon Video On Demand service for movies and TV shows. You can now choose from thousands of movies and commercial-free TV shows to watch from your PC or Mac, no downloading required! They even have new Fall TV shows that you can watch before they premier on TV!






I will give the new service a try and report back here later this week. You can check it out now as there's some great content to choose from including hours many worth of free content. Let us know what you think of Amazon's new Video On Demand service.

DIY: Calibrate your HDTV (or become a professional and make money!)

Here's your chance to learn how to calibrate your HDTV set like the pros. Better yet, if you're going to spend the money on the top 9 calibration tools, why not become a professional and charge others for the service. Read the CE Pro Article.

Toshiba to drop HD DVD?

Well it certainly seems that way according to an article in the Hollywood Reporter that quotes sources from Toshiba. Jodi Sally, VP of marketing for Toshiba America Consumer Products, was quoted as saying "Toshiba will continue to study the market impact and the value proposition for consumers, particularly in light of its recent price reductions on all HD DVD players." Another HD DVD source is quoted as saying “An announcement is coming soon, It could be a matter of weeks.”

It's unfortunate but not surprising given the hundreds of millions of dollars that Sony's Blu-ray camp has thrown at the movie studios. 

Earlier this week, Netflix and Best Buy announced their support for Blu-ray. You can also look to Amazon.com who is offering 50% off HD DVD's and other online retailers that have or will follow.

CES 2008: CES - It's a Wrap

Well, another CES has come and gone and I'm still recovering. The early numbers show the attendance was down from about 150,000 last year to about 140,000 this year. Really? I didn't notice, the show seemed more crowded and bigger than ever, covering over 8 football fields! There was so much to see and no matter how long you're there, it's still tough to see and touch everything. There really wasn't much this year that stood out and grabbed me. Yes, I laughed at Bill Gates final Keynote address, drooled over Panasonic's 150" Plasma TV that would require a crane to lift it into place, Kid Rock and the new Corvette ZR1, Comcast's new FREE VOD website Fancast, XStreamHD, Logitech's SqueezeBox Duet...actually, there was some cool stuff to see this year.

Here's some more great CES 2008 Wrap Ups:

About.com
Best of CES 2008

CNET CES 2008 Wrap Up
Home Audio Wrap Up
Home Video Wrap Up
HDTV Wrap Up
Computers Wrap Up
Emerging Technologies Wrap Up
Car Tech Wrap Up
Portable Wrap Up
Cell Phone & Smart Phone Wrap Up

DigitalCameraReview.com
CES 2008 Wrap-Up

Earth2Tech
CES Green Gadget Wrap Up

Engadget
CES 2008: Everything you must see
The Best of Crapgadget

Engadget HD
CES 2008: The Best and worst of HD
CES 2008: The Best of Set Top Boxes
CES 2008: The Best of LCD TV HDTVs
CES 2008: The Best of Plasma HDTVs
CES 2008: The Best of Blu-ray Players

GearLog
Best of CES 2008

Gizmodo
Best of CES 2008

Mahalo
Everything CES 2008
CES 2008 Videos

PC Magazine
Best of CES 2008

popgadget
CES - It's a wrap

Tech Digest
CES 2008: The 50 Hottest Products

CES 2008: CNET's Best of CES Awards

CNET has posted it's annual Best of CES Award winners. The winners range from a green eco friendly TV to DIY gadgets. Check it out...

Over 10,000 CNET members also voted on the People's Voice Award winners in each CE category.

You can also watch a video of the awards here.

Panasonic Announces New LiFi Rear Projection Technology

Panasonic has developed a new rear projection backlighting system called LiFi. Most rear projection TV's are using UHP lamp technology which uses filaments that will eventually burn out but LiFi does not so basically, you buy the set and it may last forever! Well, they are claiming at least that the bulb may never burn out. As an added bonus, the Lifi sets will have a much faster power up time which Panasonic says is about 10 seconds vs. 60 seconds with the traditional lamp systems.

Panasonic will will begin shipping the new LiFi powered LCD sets of 61", 56" and 50" in May 2007. No pricing as of yet.

[photo courtesy of Engadget HD]