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Friday 7 January 2011

Cambridge Audio’s NP30 Network Music Player scoops a coveted ...


The following release has been received from Cambridge Audio. The product has not been submitted by the manufacturers for eval. Reader comments are welcomed.


Home | Products | Reviews | Dealers 
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Dear Karl,

Another key Cambridge Audio launch for 2011 has just scooped a coveted CES Innovations Award. 

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innovations-award-2011.pngThe NP30 unleashes the potential of digital music stored on computers and home networks delivering premium quality 24-bit playback through any hi-fi or home entertainment system. In addition, the NP30 offers fast and easy access to a range of streaming music services and over 20,000 Internet radio stations via its in-built UuVol Radio internet portal. 

Digital music collections
Share music across the home from PCs, laptops, Macs or network storage devices in radically enhanced quality
"Better than CD" 24-bit/96kHz studio quality playback of 24-bit WAV or FLAC downloads

Music streaming services
Experience the world's best streaming services in premium quality 

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Internet radio
Fast, easy access to over 20,000 internet radio stations, Podcasts and "listen again" shows 24-7!
Search by genre, country, language or quality

iphone4+np30.pngUsability and set-up simplicity 
Experience the power of UuVol Remote App for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch  
Wired or wireless connection to any home network 

Further establishing Cambridge Audio's reputation as one of the most progressive specialist hi-fi manufacturers, the NP30 is the first in a range of network music players and we're delighted to have been recognised with this excellent award. 

You can read all about the NP30 by downloading the full press release and hi-res images www.cambridgeaudio.com/press

Username - CES2011
Password – Showtime 

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Simon Hewitt
Director of Marketing and Press Relations
Cell +44 7974 227574
 





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Posted By Karl to SoftwareDaily on 1/07/2011 04:41:00 PM

Thursday 6 January 2011

Wireless HD video sticks demoed • The Register

Amimon has been showing off its HDMI stick, which converts any HDMI source into a WHDI transmitter. WHDI has some advantages: it operates at 5GHz so can pass through walls – unlike the 60GHz WirelessHD and WiMedia standards. Also, as it is focused on uncompressed video, it requires very little processing on reception, while avoiding the introduction of artifacts from repeated compression.
The full report can be viewed at Wireless HD video sticks. demoed • The Register

Wednesday 5 January 2011

D-Link have announced new media routers for home networks

The following release comes from D-Link in USA and all dates, prices etc relate to the US market. No information is available for UK or other markets as of yet.

HD Media Routers prioritize application content for Smooth, Seamless A/V Experiences — Even with Huge Files and 1080p Content

D-Link is launching a new breed of DLNA-certified HD Media Routers incorporating HD Fuel technology, a Quality of Service (QoS) engine, to prioritize High Definition traffic for uninterrupted video streaming with services like YouTube HD, Netflix and VUDU throughout the home. The HD Media Routers come with an SD card slot to easily share media files across the home network or remotely and two HD Media Routers come with a USB 3.0 port for smooth HD content streaming from USB hard drives.

The new HD Media Router family includes:

  • HD Media Router 1000 (DIR-657) is configured with single band 300Mbps Wireless-N, SD card slot, four built-in Gigabit Ethernet ports, and a USB 2.0 SharePort Plus port.
  • HD Media Router 2000 (DIR-827) is configured with simultaneous Dual Band 300Mbps Wireless-N, SD card slot, four built-in Gigabit Ethernet ports and USB 3.0 technology for 2 Gbps transfer rates (10 times faster than USB 2.0).
  • HD Media Router 3000 (DIR-857) is configured with simultaneous Dual Band 450Mbps Wireless-N, SD card slot, four built-in Gigabit Ethernet ports and USB 3.0 technology.

The HD Media Router 1000 was selected as a CES Innovations 2011 Design and Engineering Award honoree in the Home Networking product category.

D-Link HD Media Routers guarantee video quality for wireless streaming across set-top boxes (like Tivo, Slingbox, and Boxee Box by D-Link), network storage devices and PC-to-PC traffic. Consumers have had access to rich content for some time, but it's been difficult to provide a consistent streaming experience in the home.

The D-Link HD Media Routers feature a new sharing platform made available through a partnership with miiiCasa. miiiCasa enables household members to easily and freely organize, play and share their content among any IP-connected device. It's like a secure cloud for the home. The technology is specifically designed for people with little technical background, with everything managed via a simple browser interface.

miiiCasa completely eliminates the need for configuring storage settings, using FTP servers, disk mounting, or tweaking user access controls. It's embedded in new D-Link HD Media routers, and it integrates seamlessly with D-Link storage solutions.

D-Link Patented "SmartBeam" Technology integrated in new Whole Home Routers and Wi-Fi Booster to Eliminate Dead Spots and Boost Performance

D-Link is showcasing a new line-up of "SmartBeam" Wireless-N Routers and a Wi-Fi Booster that significantly extends the wireless range in the home and boosts performance. SmartBeam solutions are ideal for consumers looking to solve "dead-spot" issues, ensure seamless Wi-Fi coverage across their property and crank up the speed of network throughput for large-file multi-media downloads, multi-media streaming, and bandwidth hungry applications for any conceivable device (iPad, iPhone, Android phones, laptops, entertainment devices like the Boxee Box by D-Link, and more).

The equipment is breaking new ground for 2011. D-Link's solutions are the only devices designed with smart antennae technology, offering consumers best-in-class advantages with very little incremental cost above conventional Wireless-N routers.

D-Link Whole Home Routers and Wi-Fi Booster feature:

  • D-Link "SmartBeam" multi-element antennae to direct signal transmission directly to the highest bandwidth devices for optimal performance
  • Greater signal gain for better coverage
  • Reduced interference levels
  • Efficient, low-power consumption

SmartBeam solutions being unveiled this week include:

  • Wi-Fi Booster with SmartBeam Technology (DAP-1525) can be added to any existing router to instantly boost a Wi-Fi signal. Configured with switchable 2.4GHz/5GHz wireless bands, 6-element directional antennae, 4 Gigabit ports, Bridge and Access Point mode support, and multiple SSID support for different applications.
  • Whole Home Router 1000 with SmartBeam Technology (DIR-645) is configured with a single-band Wireless-N 300, 6-element directional antennae, 4 Gigabit ports, USB 2.0 with SharePort and WMM for application quality.
  • Whole Home Router 2000 with SmartBeam Technology (DIR-845) is configured with all the features of the 1000 series, but employs simultaneous dual band antennae (2.4Ghz and 5Ghz) for creating two networks at once.

All models employ QoS to ensure consistent, reliable signal quality for each application or service.

Their stylish designs make them subtle additions to existing home electronics equipment and decor.

Powerful 500Mbps PowerLine and Hybrid Home Network Solutions Deliver the Best of Wired and Wireless Networks

D-Link is delivering fast 500Mbps networking solutions that tap into the existing power outlets and electrical wiring in a home for connecting devices at the entertainment center and bringing network connections to any outlet in the home.

The 500Mbps line of solutions includes:

  • PowerLine AV 500 4-port Gigabit Switch (DHP-540) with up to 500Mbps PowerLine performance and 4 Gigabit ports — ideal for connecting multiple devices in the entertainment center. Simply plug in this small 4-port switch and enable networking over existing electrical wiring in your home.
  • PowerLine AV 500 Adapter (DHP-500AV) and PowerLine AV 500 Adapter Kit (DHP-501AV) provides a single adapter and two adapters to configure a PowerLine network across existing electrical wiring in your home.

D-Link's new PowerLine AV Combo Router (DHP-1320), merges PowerLine 200Mbps technology with a Wireless-N router and Ethernet ports offering customers three connectivity options to reach all the devices in the home with the optimal speed and bandwidth without messy cables or dead spots.

When combined with D-Link PowerLine Adapter at the client device station, the solution can push content such as multi-media, VoIP, or any other robust network traffic from the router to the device via the home's existing electrical outlets.

It's a simple way to ensure optimal coverage throughout the home.

All these D-Link solutions are designed to let users work, play, connect, entertain, share and view anything they like, whenever they want to, and wherever they prefer within the home.

Price and Availability

HD Media Routers:

  • HD Media Router 1000 (DIR-657) will be available at the end of 1Q/2011 with a street price expected to be under $140.00.
  • HD Media Router 2000 (DIR-827) will be available in 2Q/2001 with pricing to be announced.
  • HD Media Router 3000 (DIR-857) will be available in early-3Q 2001 with pricing to be announced.

D-Link Whole Home Routers and Wi-Fi Booster

  • Wi-Fi Booster (DAP-1525) will be available in 2Q/2011 with a street price expected to be under $140.00.
  • Whole Home Router 1000 (DIR-645) will be available in 2Q/2001 with pricing to be announced.
  • Whole Home Router 2000 (DIR-845) will be available in 3Q 2001 with pricing to be announced.

PowerLine Products:

  • PowerLine AV 500 4-port Switch (DHP-540) will be available late-1Q/2011 with pricing to be announced.
  • PowerLine AV 500 Adapter (DHP-500AV) will be available 1Q/2011 with a street price expected to be $79.99.
  • PowerLine AV 500 Adapter Starter Kit (DHP-501AV) will be available in 1Q/2011 with a street price expected to be $139.99.
  • PowerLine AV Combo Router (DHP-1320) will be available in February 2011 with a street price of $99.99.
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I'm using Opera Unite to post audio of my songs, poems, interviews etc on the web. With all the recordings I've done over the past half century or so, it's a lot of sorting out to do, but check out this link to lend an ear to this work in progress. The page opens with some miscellaneous items, followed by a series of folders which you can use for navigating through the clips.

Go well.
Karl Dallas


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