Wi-Fi Gadgets: Will They Change Your Life?

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,109590,tk,dn031403X,00.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.pcworld.com/news/article...n031403X,00.asp</a><br /><br /></div>"Wireless networking certainly looks like it might change home life: Wi-Fi capabilities are popping up in products where you might not expect it. Some of the more interesting wireless-enabled gadgets are still only prototypes: Sanyo recently built wireless LAN capabilities into a digital still camera, and similar technology is embedded inside a prototype telephone from Mitsubishi. <br /><br />Sony supports Wi-Fi in several new products shipping, at least initially, only in Japan: a handheld file server and an update to its tablet-like Airboard. Still, they hint of a trend: Wireless LAN capabilities are appearing in diverse devices. Other recent consumer electronics announcements of note include new digital still cameras--no surprise there--and the first compact camera from Kyocera to carry the Contax name. <br /><br />Here's an overview of some of the most intriguing electronics introductions in Japan in the past few weeks. For some products, the vendors have not yet determined the overseas sales schedule (although sometimes they can be obtained through other channels)."

[Seraph1024]

What do you mean change my life? They are my life.

;)

L

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

The folks in Japan certainly are embracing WiFi en masse. Several products everywhere support it. On the other hand, it's VERY difficult to find anything with BT support. I was at one of their larger electronic stores over New Years and managed to find (with the help of store employees) one overpriced BT receiver made by an external manufacterer. That was it.

[Seraph1024]

Well

I still don't think BT is marketing right. BT is a great communication method for a variety of different (cross platform) devices where-else WIFI is nothing more than wireless networking protocol. You can't talk to your phone on WIFI. You can't talk to your car with WIFI but with BT, you can.

So I think they are aimed for different things and BT people need to push BT a little more. When I tell people my phone, my headset and my PDA is connected, they assume it's done through WIFI instead of BT. I don't think WiFi can do that right?

I just want to toss in my 2 rather dull pennies. In another word PAN (personal area network) needs to pick up trend. We know WiFi with LAN has done a good job in the last year or two.

-- Lwin

ps. I am using iespell(free addon spell check for IE) and its picking up wifi as wife :D :D

[lurch]

Here's a really cool (in my opinion) product that uses WiFi -- as soon as I can save up the money, and convince my wife, I'm getting one!

www.cd30.com

(in case you don't want to look, it's an 802.11 enabled device which you can direct your audio to and it'll play it out to two RCA jacks (i.e. for your stereo)
I was going to build one, but I don't have the kind of cash I needed for development boards and other stuff. Oh well... :(

[Pony99CA]

When I first heard that the Replay 4000 PVRs would have network capability, I was hoping they'd be WiFi. Sadly, they just had an Ethernet jack, so you need a WiFi bridge to go wireless.

If larger products like this want to support networking, I hope they'll just provide a PC Card slot and a way to install drivers. That way I could choose whether I want wired or wireless networking. Buying a WiFi PC Card would be cheaper than a WiFi bridge, I bet.

Of course, building in support for both would be OK, too. :-D

Steve

[marlof]

I'm pretty much technology agnostic when it comes to hooking up one device to another. I just have one golden rule: devices that can benefit from a continuous connection to another device preferable should be able to connect to those other devices through a wireless connection that doesn't need a line of sight.

Some devices, like my digital still camera, can still come with a cable, since I connect those only for one purpose: get images off the camera on the computer (if I don't use a card reader for that...). The rest of their functionality is so much standalone that I can manage with a cable for that sole purpose.

But for I wouldn't dream of buying a Pocket PC or (Smart)Phone that is not capable of Bluetooth, and preferably also WiFi connections. That's the sole reason why I won't get a HP iPAQ 1910, or an Orange SPV. I like the format, but without Bluetooth they're too limited for my use of those devices. Right now, I'm constantly using some sort of wireless connection with my phone and pdas.

To proof that: this is posted from a Jornada 720, connected over BT with my phone, that uses a GPRS connection to the internet. Doable, but expensive and slow. I'd die for a WiFi hotspot here. :)