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This week's best deals: $200 off the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and more
Labor Day deals you can still buy today include $200 off Samsung's Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, $50 off Apple's latest iPad Pro and more.
What to buy for your new 4K TV
It's that time of year -- the one when everyone is looking at a new TV. If you've picked out a brand new 4K set, then congratulations, there's more beautiful HDR -- and not-quite HDR -- footage to experience than ever before. Of course, the journey doesn't end there, and now that you've got your new TV, it's time to think about what you're putting around it. Have you thought about sound, or what remote control you'll use? After more than a decade of reviewing TVs, accessories and watching the sales every year, I have some advice on what else you'll need after the TV is out of the box, so that you can get to the part where you're on the couch enjoying it as fast as possible. All prices listed are accurate as of this writing.
Nintendo is reviving the NES' hint line for one weekend
When Nintendo releases the NES Classic Edition on November 11th, it won't limit the nostalgia to the hardware you take home. The company is marking the launch by resurrecting its classic Power Line for that weekend. Call 425-885-7529 between 9AM and 10PM Eastern each day (until the night of the 13th) and you can get both hints for "several" games as well as stories from people who manned the phones on the original line back in the 1980s. The tips are pre-recorded, alas, but this could easily rekindle memories of a pre-web era when your best bets at help usually involved calling the Power Line or asking a friend. Our main question: will the phone line stick to the same tips you got as a kid, or offer a few juicy secrets?
Netgear transforms your power plug into a fast WiFi hotspot
2016 is here, and the flying cars and hoverboards are disappointing, to say the least. Worse yet, we still can't get a decent internet connection in our man cave, but Netgear is at least trying to solve that problem with a string of new devices for CES 2016. The most interesting is the PowerLine WiFi 1000, a product the company claims is the first to marry gigabit powerline (aka HomePlug) with 802.11ac WiFi. (The Devolo DLAN 1200+ also does the trick, but it's only available in Europe.) The idea is to plug the base unit into an electrical plug and hook it up to your router, then plug the WiFi extender into another socket. You can then connect via 802.11ac WiFi in a remote room to your device of choice.
The best powerline networking kit
By Samara LynnThis post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. Read the full article here.After 5 hours of research and 29 hours of testing with 12 different kits, we found that the best powerline networking adapter for most people is the ZyXEL 1200 Mbps Powerline AV1200 Gigabit Adapter. A powerline networking adapter transmits an Internet signal over your home's electrical wiring, so it is a good way to provide Internet access to a distant part of your house without running additional cables or using a Wi-Fi extender. The ZyXEL model offered the best combination of price, performance, and power efficiency out of all the adapters we tested. Its speed is matched only by adapters costing significantly more, it's easy to set up, and it's the only model we tested that includes a browser-based management interface.
D-Link's new routers look crazy, but they're seriously fast
D-Link has just jumped the router shark with its latest AC5300, AC3200 and AC3100 Ultra Performance models. On top of speeds up to 5.3Gbps for the AC5300 model, the 802.11ac devices feature, um, striking looks that hopefully won't frighten animals or small children. D-Link calls the models "attractive" with a "modern form factor for today's homes," and we'd agree -- provided you live in some kind of rouge-accented spaceship. Performance-wise, however, the new models are definitely drool-worthy, thanks to 802.11ac tri-band beamforming speeds between 3.1 and 5.3 Gbps, along with Gigabit Ethernet, high-power antennas and onboard USB 3.0 ports.
nVoy program will certify hybrid networking, aim for digital harmony
There's practically an overabundance of certifications for individual networking standards, but we haven't seen many attempts at an uber-certification that ties it all together. Enter nVoy: the upcoming program will greenlight Ethernet, HomePlug, MoCA and WiFi devices that obey the IEEE 1905.1 standard for hybrid networks. Any gadget that gets the new seal of approval should be easier to set up and troubleshoot when it's talking to other nVoy-ready products, whatever networking method they use. The first certified hardware won't surface until the end of the year, but we'll bide our time if it simplifies wiring up a basement home theater.
Amped Wireless' PLA2 super power-line adapters are available from today
A few months after Amped let us peek at its Spring/Summer 2013 lineup, those products are now making their way to retail. The first of the bunch is the PLA2, a pair of power-line Ethernet adapters that are designed, as always, to push your internet where other hardware fears to tread. In addition, the units come with a pass-through socket, so you don't need to choose between sacrificing a plug and working internet. It's launching today for $99, and the PR is attached on the other side of the wall break.
ASUS powerline adapter has four Gigabit LAN connectors, one of which gets VIP treatment
ASUS has made a strong case for the future of powerline networking with its new PL-X51P/PL-X52P powerline adapters (the PL-X51P is a single unit while the PL-X52P is a two-adapter bundle). They're the first in the market to have four -- that's right, four -- Gigabit LAN connectors each. If that wasn't enough, one of them is actually a designated VIP port designed to push whatever's connected to it to the top of the bandwidth priority list, presumably so you can speed up the download of that totally legal copy of Game of Thrones on one computer while smacking gnomes around in World of Warcraft on another. The adapters have an extra outlet each so you can still use the socket while an integrated noise filter helps compensate for powerline fluctuations. There's also 128-bit AES encryption and ASUS promises speeds of up to 500Mbps. The model seen here looks to be Europe/Asia only due to the shape of the plug; we've yet to see one suitable for the US. Similarly, there's no word on pricing, but we'll be sure to update you with more information once we find out.
D-Link PowerLine AV+ Mini Adapter kit keeps wired networks as subtle (and cheap) as possible
D-Link still sees there being a place for powerline networking, such as a basement home theater, but knows that many of us don't want an overly clunky set of adapters or to effectively buy a second network. Its new (if slightly awkwardly named) PowerLine AV+ Mini Adapter Starter Kit caters just to that desire for a no-hassle network in places WiFi won't reach. The bundle carries a pair of small, 200Mbps adapters that won't monopolize the wall outlets, a pair of Ethernet cables to link up... and that's it. Apart from the optional 128-bit AES encryption, there's nothing else needed to either make a direct connection or graft powerline technology into an existing network. At $60, the already shipping kit is also just low enough in price that there's very little standing between us and a reliable connection for a console or placeshifter.
Netgear intros sharing-savvy N750 Premium Edition router, powerline and WiFi adapters for media fans
Netgear is giving its home networking the same sort of tuneup going into the fall that you'd give your car -- not a complete overhaul, but enough to keep it running in top form. Headlining the pack, the N750 Premium Edition router you're looking at above upgrades the original N750 through a better ability to play with others: the dual-band WiFi hotspot's ReadyShare file access expands to the cloud, while its USB support now envelops Apple's AirPrint and Time Machine as well as TiVo Storage. Media sharing mavens also get their own, more specific add-ons. The Powerline Media Extender can pipe audio (and USB printing or storage) over a 200Mbps link, with a major emphasis on AirPlay streaming; the N900 4-port WiFi Adapter is a slightly less exotic, 450Mbps wireless-to-Ethernet bridge for multi-device home theaters. If Netgear's refresh is tempting enough to prompt a trade-up, you can snag the N750 Premium Edition immediately for $120 or wait until September and October for the respective launches of the N900 adapter for $80 and the Powerline Music Extender in its single pack ($99) or dual-device starter kit ($139) editions.
China builds $3.7 billion, 1,373 mile power cable, how was your afternoon?
The State Grid corporation of China is constructing a power line capable of transmitting a staggering 37 billion kWh per year. The record-breaking cable stretches from the power rich Hami Prefecture in Xinjiang to the industrial Zhengzhou in its east -- part of an area that's been suffering from power shortages since March 2011, according to China Daily. Costing a twitch-inducing $3.7 billion, when it's completed in 2014, it'll be the most capacious link in the world. Rather than rest on that particular laurel, the company is commencing work on a second, slightly smaller line that'll be used to transmit wind and solar power from Hami to the rest of the country -- here we were thinking that skipping our lie-in was an impressive feat.
HomePlug Alliance AV2 specification promises gigabit class networking over electrical wires
It's been a long time coming, but the Homeplug Powerline Alliance is introducing a new class of home networking technology known as AV2, which is meant to better facilitate HD content transmission over electrical wiring. With MIMO functionality (multiple-input and multiple-output) at its core, the new specification features gigabit class speeds and comes from a decade of field tests. What's more, the new standard promises to bring greater in-home coverage beyond WiFi capabilities while maintaining compatibility with existing HomePlug AV / IEEE 1901 products. Whether consumers are willing to embrace yet another new specification from the HomePlug group remains to be seen, although we can imagine a few Netflix junkies will be downright giddy. For the complete deets, the PR follows the break.
Qualcomm's sounding off about powerline networking for 2012
Qualcomm's taking to the stage at CES to unveil a new chip designed to make power-line communications less of a last-resort for people in lead-lined houses. The Qualcomm Atheros QCA6410 is a single chip designed to make powerline gear much smaller and cheaper than current models. It's also taking the moment to throw weight behind the IEEE 1905.1 hybrid networking standard, which'll be supported in the Hy-Fi portfolio of networking CPUs that coordinates WiFi, Powerline, Ethernet and Multimedia over Coax connections to make sure you can tweet about your new t-shirt in every square inch of your home. PR's after the break, folks.
Netgear at CES 2012: Powerline, wireless routers, home networking and more
As it seems to do every year, Netgear's chosen the Consumer Electronics Show to unveil, well... everything under the sun. Up first, the outfit's launching its WN2500RP, a universal dual-band WiFi range extender ($89.99) that runs both 2.4 GHz and 5GHz bands concurrently. Over on the home networking side, the Powerline 500 Nano and N900 convert a conventional wall outlet into a high-speed network connection, with the former shipping this quarter for $119.99 and the latter this summer for $79.99. Over on the non-product side, Netgear's trumpeting its reception of CableLabs DOCSIS 3.0 certification for the industry's first voice and data gateways (CGD3700B / CGE3700B) with concurrent dual-band WiFi. Head on past the break for specifics across the whole line.
Motorola joins HomeGrid Forum, gets on board with G.hn powerline networking
Sure, we'd all like to have our home's wired with cat 5 cable, but that's not an option for most of us. Good thing there's powerline networking, and the HomeGrid Forum's G.hn powerline home networking standard just got another big name on board by adding Motorola to its list of supporters. With Moto in the fold, it's looking like IEEE's competing standard, P1905, has some catching up to do if it wants to win the hearts and minds of powerline aficionados everywhere. Get all the G.hn good news in the PR after the break.
Switched On: No new wires, one new caveat
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. In the decade that WiFi has blanketed home networks across the United States, several technologies aimed at using existing wiring in the home have met with limited success. These have included MoCA (Multimedia over Coax, which has been adopted by some service providers for implementing multi-room DVRs) and HomePNA (originally for phone lines but later expanded to coax cable as well). At least three dueling standards have also sought to bring high-speed connectivity over electrical wiring. HomePlug, the most successful of these, has had several iterations. The latest – HomePlug AV – is rated at a theoretical throughput of 200 Mbits/sec. However, power line technologies have been held back by high prices and occasional interoperability problems. But a new approach seeks to be the one protocol to rule them all, operating over phone lines, power lines or coax. Dubbed G.hn, the ITU standard promises up to 1Gbps theoretical throughput, with real-world usage over electrical lines expected to reach between 250Mbps and 400Mbps. If that sounds appealing to you, you're not alone. Service providers like the idea of G.hn since it allows them more flexibility than previous efforts. In fact, they like it so much that -- despite G.hn's capacity -- they have insisted on quality of service standards that could limit or prevent consumers from installing it themselves after they buy adapters from retailers.
D-Link's Amplifi networking suite keeps the whole mansion connected
Between our TVs, PCs, game consoles, and even refrigerators, most every room of our homes have devices needing an on-ramp to the information superhighway. To keep these gadgets connected, D-Link has debuted its Amplifi home networking equipment to bathe every square foot of your abode in ample bandwidth. There's the $150 HD Media Router 1000 that does 802.11n WiFi at 300 Mbps and has QoS technology to make sure your HD video streams and games are lag-free, plus four Gigabit Ethernet ports and an SD card reader. The Whole Home Router 1000 is $120 and sports similar specs sans the SD slot, but also packs D-Link's SmartBeam technology that tracks devices and "focuses beams of bandwidth" to keep you connected in every room. D-Link's $160 WiFi Booster also uses SmartBeam tech to extend your network's range via the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands and put four more Gigabit Ethernet ports anywhere you choose. Lastly, the Powerline AV 500 Adapter ($100) and Gigabit switch ($200) give you screaming 500Mbps speeds from any electrical outlet. Interested? Well, they're all available now, except for the laggard Whole Home Router 1000, which isn't available until August. PR's after the break.
D-Link outs hybrid powerline / wired / wireless router, does Atheros proud
Many moons ago, Atheros had a dream, of a future where a single device could simultaneously extend Ethernet, WiFi and powerline connectivity to any part of your home. Well, gents, the future is now, as D-Link has taken the idea (and presumably a presumably paid a hefty licensing fee) to bring just such a device to market. The $130 D-Link DHP-1320 does 802.11n WiFi at up to 300Mbps, sends up to 200Mbps through your house's electrical system and sports three 10/100 LAN jacks as well. Oh, and never you mind that Netgear did something similar a couple months ago. PR after the break.
Netgear announces MBR1000 for Verizon LTE, handful of other wireless routers
Because you shouldn't hog all that 4G LTE goodness for yourself, Netgear's announced a MBR1000 mobile broadband router compatible with Verizon's LTE network and its USB modems. It boasts four Ethernet ports and 802.11n WiFi... nothing mind-blowing, but isn't the LTE part enough? Additionally, we've got a quartet of routers with more traditional origins. Without further ado (and all in one breath, if you can): the N300 wireless router boasting Powerline AV (WNXR2000) coming this month for $119.99, the N750 wireless dual-band gigabit (WNDR4000) coming first quarter for $179.99, the N600 wireless dual-band gigabit ADSL modem router (DGND3700) in second quarter for $199.99, and a premium (albeit lacking ADSL) version N600 (WNDR3800) with ReadyShare hard drive / printer access from outside the network, a clear channel selector, and dashboard control for monitor / repair (also second quarter, for $179.99). There, wasn't so bad, was it? %Gallery-112751% %Gallery-112741%
