The aim of the new Halon Security Router Firewall is to bring the Internet firewall into the IPv6 age.

Halon Security claims that despite the move to IPv6 looming on everyone’s doorstep, “few firewall manufacturers seem to focus on the greatest change in how the world communicates since the Internet was born”. The company’s innovation is to build a custom, OpenBSD-based OS from the ground up with a focus on IPv6, security and performance. Core features include high-performance routing, wire-speed throughput and hardware-accelerated AES IPSec VPN, load balancing and failover.

Customers can choose a hardware appliance, a virtualization environment or a standard server hardware solution, all of which offer identical security, performance and management capabilities. A free evaluation copy is available for download from Halon Security’s Web site.

According to device-maker Opengear, existing tools for remote monitoring and management tend to be complex and costly. Problem solved, says Opengear, thanks to the firm’s new Opengear ACM5500 family of customizable remote monitoring and management gateways. The product line makes it convenient for managed service providers to monitor and manage their customers’ network infrastructure remotely, whether on the road, in an office or at another customer site.

Customized alert thresholds proactively track device status, and problems often can be fixed earlier than ever, allowing for satisfied customers and avoided crises. A key product feature is Opengear’s dedicated secure hardware agent, which gives MSPs visibility into and the ability to monitor and control customers’ network infrastructure devices even behind a firewall. Based on open standards, the Opengear ACM5500 product family complements the tools currently used to manage customers’ IT environments (such as Cisco, Juniper, Avaya, F5 and so on), so there is no “rip and replace”.

Boost your wireless signal with the Linksys RE1000 Wireless-N Range Extender and enjoy Wi-Fi in every nook and cranny of your home. 802.11n wireless technology and multiple-input and multiple-output antennas help extend your router’s wireless coverage to the hard-to-reach areas of your home.The Linksys RE1000 Wireless-N Range Extender works with all b/g/n Wi-Fi devices and includes a built-in Ethernet port, so any wireless or wired Ethernet device will function seamlessly with your wireless network.

Click for Linksys RE1000 Wireless-N Range Extender

Creative Ziisound D5X wireless speaker

The Creative ZiiSound D5x is Bluetooth-compatible and allows wireless linking, so you can get great sound anywhere and from devices such as mobile phones and notebooks, too.

The Creative ZiiSound D5x speaker’s efficient digital amplifiers deliver striking accuracy, detail and atmosphere, while the DSX subwoofer incorporates Creative’s Symmetrically Loaded Acoustic Module (SLAM) for that signature deep, tight and fast bass sound. The D5X is easily upgradeable — adding additional D5X or DSX modules is a cinch and robust wireless technology gives you flexibility when placing them.

Reduce cable clutter with PROLiNK new entry-level wireless mouse, the Prolink PMO717G. It features advanced Bluesurf technology which allows the mouse to glide effortlessly across most surfaces and comes with a 1,600dpi
sensor for smooth, precise tracking., making it great for a variety of activities, from image editing, to gaming or just plain surfing the Internet. Available in five colours, the PMO717G will make a stylish, high-quality addition to your desktop.

Time to cut the cords and lose the handset tethered to your ear; sometimes you just want to listen and chat in comfort.

The Logitech Wireless Headset pairs with the iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, and other Bluetooth devices for listening to music, watching videos, playing online games, and making phone calls. Logitech includes laser-tuned drivers that produce rich sound, and the adjustable microphone features noise-canceling technology to reduce background noise during phone calls and FaceTime chats. When not in use, the mic flips up so it is hidden under the headband, which is also adjustable. The right side includes the power switch, mute button, volume control, and charging port, and the rechargeable battery is rated for up to six hours (USB charging cable included). The headset is lightweight and folds into a compact package, making it a good choice for travelers.

Get a local data SIM card when you travel so you can hop online at lower rates instead of racking up data roaming charges.

That plus a device like this Vertix may save you from huge phone bill.

So if you can get it, using a local data SIM when overseas is a no-brainer. But sharing that bandwidth with your laptop, tablet and smartphone can be trickier.

Use a 3G wireless router or Mi-Fi device like this Vertix. It becomes your own hot spot that your devices can log on to.

This gadget works just like your home router. But it is battery driven so you can use it even when you are en route to a meeting in a speeding taxi. Charging is via a standard mini-USB port so there is no need to pack an additional charger when you travel.

The Vertix is the size of a memory card reader. It fits easily in your pocket. Compared to another battery-driven 3G router of about the same price, the Edimax 3G-6218n, the Vertix is only half the size.

To work, such routers need a USB modem dongle, the type that is supplied by telcos with mobile data subcriptions – unlike Huawei models that have integrated modems.

Within 25 seconds of powering it up, it could connect an iPhone 4S and HTC Desire HD to it. We tested two USB dongles with it with a ZTE MF626 and Huawei E1550.

A straightforward set-up is needed via a Web browser. For convenience, the settings for the networks in more than 40 countries are preloaded: from Argentina to Singapore.

Streamimg the high-definition version of the trailer for the Hobbit on an iPhone 4S up to 20m away across office cubicle space without much problem. This little gizmo pumps out more than enough bandwidth for a hotel room.

The device is rated for four hours. It lasted about that time in continuous testing.

• Wireless range of up to 10m
• Battery life of up to eight hours
• 1.3kg

Good looks can be deceiving and this was unfortunately true for the Bose SoundLink Wireless Mobile speaker. Sporting a beautiful brushed metal grille and a simple but classy design, this portable Bluetooth speaker scores high in the looks department.

Weighing a hefty 1.3kg and the size of two CD jewel cases put side by side, it is much bulkier compared to other Bluetooth speakers.

While the SoundLink produced better sound than the average wireless speaker, it did not deliver the sound quality that I would expect from one with such a steep price tag.

Mid-tones came across a little too stiff. While the treble notes were clear, I felt that they sounded a tad too shrill for my liking. The bass notes disappointed me the most. They lacked the richness and punch that I have come to expect from the Bose brand.

Bose SoundLink Wireless Mobile Speaker
This wireless speaker can play music through a wireless connection from any Bluetooth device.

Connecting a device, such as an iOS or Android smartphone to the SoundLink was a fuss-free, one-step affair.

For devices that do not support Bluetooth, the SoundLink has an auxiliary 3.5mm audio-in jack.

I did not notice a significant difference between the sound quality of a track played via the Bluetooth connection and the auxiliary-in connection.

This SoundLink Wireless Mobile Speaker can be plugged to a power source or rely on its built-in Lithium-ion battery. The rechargeable battery stores enough juice for about eight hours of music playback and takes about three hours to fully charge.

This feature makes it great for longer getaways when you have no access to a power source.

Its weight and large size do not make this Bose SoundLink Wireless Mobile Speaker suitable as a travel speaker as well.

Click for more on Bose SoundLink Wireless Mobile Speaker.

Connectivity WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, USB 2.0; data speed up to 150Mbps

Looking to stay connected wherever you are?

Prolink’s new WNR1011 4G Wireless-N Mobile Router lets you do just that. The router, enhanced with 802.11 b/g/n technology, lets you create a wireless hotspot just about anywhere with the insertion of a 3G or 4G dongle, so you can easily access your favorite Internet sites. Sleek, portable and compact, the router’s casing even
has a compartment to store your USB 2.0 cable so you’ll never forget the essentials. The powerful WNR1011 has a data speed of up to 150Mbps and can support up to a maximum of 20 WiFi users, with its built-in 2400mAh lithium ion battery lasting up to six hours on a full charge.

• Rechargeable battery
• 802.11b and 802.11g Wi-Fi
• USB port, aux-in
• 2.72kg

The iHome iW1 is among the first few devices featuring Apple’s AirPlay technology and it runs on both wall and battery power.

This sound system can playback wireless audio streams piped by sources like your PC or Mac’s iTunes, iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone. The latter two can also hook up to the iW1 via the speakers’ USB port.

An aux-in port provides added flexibility to connect other MP3 players and audio gadgets via a 3.5mm stereo cable.

The iW1‘s minimalist black design with silver trim should sit well in any room. A discreet slot on the back panel serves as a convenient handle to carry the speakers around.

Bass is slightly lacking but the sound was still energetic enough to get me moving to Smashing Pumpkins’ Feed The Tree.

There were moments when the wireless audio stream was interrupted briefly, but I attributed it to the average signal strength from my router in the living room to both my laptop and the iW1 in the bedroom.

In any case, the setup already has a better range than Bluetooth systems.

Battery life is surprisingly decent – it lasted a total of 5.5 hours over two separate sessions of wireless streaming at 25 per cent volume.

Get it now iHome iW1 AirPlay Wireless Stereo Speaker System with Rechargeable Battery from Amazon at special price.