Although it was announced some time ago, the Philips SLM5500 wireless media streamer has only just reached Europe. It allows you to watch video stored on your PC on your television. You can also stream music and set up slideshows of your photos.

Philips’ device itself is extremely compact. The front of the unit houses a single button to switch the unit on and off, while a series of LEDs indicate what the SLM5500 is up to. At the rear are Scart and component video outputs; the latter is able to output high-definition video.

Audio is taken care of by a digital coaxial socket, while a wireless antenna and Ethernet socket complete the ensemble. The remote control is reasonably compact. Although it takes a while to get used to its rather cluttered button layout, it feels comfortable and sits well in the palm of the hand.

Wireless streaming devices such as this frequently look impressive on paper but prove a total pain to set up the Pinnacle Showcenter instantly leaps to mind. Thankfully, the SLM5500 bucked the trend for providing setup headaches, and we didn’t experience any difficulties getting it up and running.

Novices might come a little unstuck when it comes to locating and connecting to a wireless network, but thanks to the clear on-screen instructions and the step-by-step nature of the installation process, anyone with even a limited knowledge of wireless networks should be able to set it up with ease.

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Products with new Wireless USB links rated at 480Mbits/sec is available now, but they won’t have native Windows driver support.

Many were on show at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF), including digital cameras and printers. The new link replaces the USB 2.0 cable with an Ultra Wideband (UWB) wireless signal rated at full speed over three metres and up to 110Mbits/sec at 10 metres.

Real data rates are likely to be rather less than the rated speeds.

Windows XP lacks driver support for the technology and Microsoft has said it won’t be supported in the first release of Vista, but will be added later. This will not help the reputation of a standard already tarnished by delays. Wired USB had a similar problem when it was first released and early adopters had to rely on drivers supplied by device manufacturers.

In a couple of years the receiver will be integrated into computers, eliminating the need for a dongle.

A spokesperson for Intel commented: “Soon, we will see early shipments of wireless USB products. It will go mainstream next year and by that time drivers will be in place.”

Alereon showed wireless USB in action at IDF, displaying pictures from an adapted Kodak Easyshare V610 camera on a nearby monitor. Chosen images appeared instantly.

NEC showed a four-port hub (pictured) with a wired connection to standard USB peripherals, such as a printer, but linked wirelessly to a PC with a dongle adapter.

If several hotspots exist in the same general vicinity, you may need to specify the network to which you want to connect. To view the available wireless networks, right-click the Network Connections icon in the System Tray and click View Available Wireless Networks. Click Advanced to open the Wireless Network Connection Properties dialog box. Next, select the wireless network’s SSID (Service Set Identifier) from the list of available networks that appears on the Wireless Networks tab.

Click the network you want to connect to and select the Allow Me To Connect To The Selected Wireless Network, Even Though It Is Not Secure checkbox. Next, click the Connect button at the bottom of the dialog box to continue. If you aren’t sure which network you want to connect to or you don’t see the network you’re looking for, click the Advanced button. From this dialog box, you can rescan for the available wireless networks by clicking Refresh.

Windows 2000 users don’t have a utility designed to detect and configure wireless networks. As a result, you need to use the software that came with your wireless adapter or an application provided by the wireless IP. For example, if you have Intel’s PRO/Wireless network adapter and the PROSet profile management software, you can double-click the Intel PROSet icon and select your wireless adapter from the left pane of the General tab. Click the Networks tab and click Scan. A list of Available Networks appears and displays the SSID names of the available networks. Select the network from the list and click Connect.

Cut the cord!

The trouble with an Apple iPod or a cell phone headset is the cable running from the device to your ears. It always seems to be at odds with your arms as you exercise or carry things around.

Perhaps the answer is a wireless headset. I-O Data’s wiREVO connects to any Bluetooth device within 30 feet, the company says.

You could listen to your iPod across the room while you pedal an exercise bike, for example. When your cell gets a call, you’ll hear the ring in your wiREVO headphones. Click a button on the headset’s remote control to take the call. After you hang up, the rechargeable wiREVO will automatically resume playing your music.

The base wiREVO model, the WRHS30, comes with earphones, a microphone, and a remote. Step up to the WRHH20 model with earbuds, and the remote will have a little LCD screen that can give you Caller ID numbers. This version also comes with a neck loop that helps keep the wiREVO’s cords out of your way.

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Don’t let your wireless network hold you back. D-Link’s High-Powered Wireless 108G Notebook Adapter (DWL-G680) offers superior bandwidth and consistent signal strength whether you’re on the road or in the office. When paired with other D-Link Wireless 108G devices, the Wireless 108G Notebook Adapter is capable of nearly twice the bandwidth of standard 802.11g adapters. And it’s backward compatible with other 802.11b/g access points, bridges, and adapters.

This AirPremier notebook adapter is no security slouch; it offers 64-bit and 128-bit WEP as well as Personal and Enterprise versions of WPA and WPA2 security. Network traffic is encrypted using the AES or TKIP protocols. Furthermore, the unit supports three EAP WLAN authentication protocols.

D-Link also ships the adapter with business class WLAN software that stores multiple SSID profiles to make accessing frequently used networks easy. The DWLG680 adapter can connect to other 802.11b/g wireless enabled computers, access points, and routers in both peer-to-peer (ad-hoc) mode and client (infrastructure) mode.

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Nokia brings Mobility Solutions to Businesses
Flexible, modular program lets channel partners leverage expertise, invest at own pace in new competency areas
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PROLiNK’s PIC1002 IP Camera Offers You Security Anytime, Anywhere
More than just a typical IP Camera for chatting with friends, the IP Camera is also an ideal solution for remote security monitoring or broadcasting of live events
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Intel Enables Rapid Delivery Of WiMAX Networks
Standards-Based WiMAX Base Station Building Block Lowers Development Costs, Improves Time to Market for Equipment Manufacturers
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AZTECH Introduces PC-Free SKYPE Cordless Phone
Aztech will be delivering the next generation of PC-Free Skype phone - V500DS, offering Skype users the ultimate convenience in mobility at homes or at offices
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Microsoft’s new Wireless Headset rectifies the Dork Factor of the bundled 360 headset by removing the tether. Included in this package is an AC adapter for charging the headset. After juicing up, all that’s required is to sync your headset with the 360, a process virtually identical to setting up a wireless controller.

Up to four headsets can be used simultaneously with one console. There are LEDs on the inside of the microphone piece to inform users of the connection strength and power.

The round loop design comes in two sizes; the headset sits more securely on your ear than it may feel like at first. The power button/volume/mute controls are conveniently located on the outside center of the earpiece. Real-life battery usage runs between six and seven hours, which is not enough for long-haul gamers. Also, audio quality was not noticeably better than the wired headset. By the time you read this, Microsoft will have released a wireless receiver for the PC so you can use the headset on two platforms.

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