Engadget HD

• PPC sees an opportunity, debuts its own locking HDMI cable
  

  Filed under: Cables

  
  
  At first, we figured this whole locking HDMI cable fad would blow over in a matter of weeks. Clearly, we don't have nearly the amount of earthquakes, rambunctious children or wild animals running through the house as the general public. Out of seemingly nowhere, yet another outfit has emerged to showcase its own locking HDMI cable. PPC is sliding into CES in order to launch an HDMI cable (which is likely a rebadged Ottovonmo) with patented technology to hold it onto a port "with a strength that is three times greater than found in conventional connectors." So yeah, if you're fed up with your HDMI cable...
  



• Hisense selects AMIMON for its wireless HDTV, WHDI makes friends with HDCP
  

  Filed under: Industry, Cables, Displays, Other formats, Ports, LG

  
  

  We've got three important tidbits to share this morning from the labs of AMIMON, so we can't afford to waste any time bantering about how far the wireless HD industry as a whole has to go before it becomes even marginally important to the average consumer. First off, LG Electronics has decided to tag along in the WHDI SIG, joining the likes of Motorola, Samsung, Sharp and Sony. Obviously, LG's hoping to push the wireless standard as a protocol that'll be accepted industry wide, and given the amount of...
  



• Celeno and Cavium team up for WiFi-based wireless HDMI solution
  

  Filed under: Industry, Cables, Other hardware, Ports, Others

  
  
  A ProVision exec proclaimed last month that WiFi was the only suitable wireless HDTV medium, and it appears that bigwigs at Celeno and Cavium Networks emphatically agree. The two have joined up to debut a whole-home 1080p60 HDMI over WiFi solution here in the desert, with the gem of the show being the CL1300. Said microchip is designed to be integrated into essentially any device (a set-top-box, router, TV, toaster oven, etc.), enabling the host device to deliver H.264 compressed HD streams over long distances. In fact, it promises 802.11 beaming of up to four concurrent high-def...
  



• QED's Revelation speaker cable is probably really expensive
  

  Filed under: Cables

  
  
  QED's cabling is better known over in Britain, but Lenbrook America is hoping to get the strands into American homes. The cable is said to be a fusion of the company's high-end Genesis and X-Tube technologies, essentially pushing top-tier cable philosophies into a "mid-priced" product. The cable itself relies on a "figure 8" configuration and packs ten 99.999% oxygen-free, silver-plated cores, and while exact figures aren't disclosed, we're told that it's priced between the Genesis Silver Spiral and X-Tube. Which probably means "between expensive and outrageous."

  QED's Revelation speaker cable is probably really expensive originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 05:14:00...
  




• Gefen's CES bounty squealed about early
  

  Filed under: Cables, Other hardware, Ports, Switches, Others

  Gefen knows all too well how easy it is for new wares to get lost in the shuffle at CES, so it's opting to disclose its freshest gear a few days beforehand. This year's show will see four new devices in particular, so we'll start from the top. The Digital Audio Decoder with Dolby will be used to combine older, analog-based audio systems with digital devices of today by converting 5.1 audio to L/R analog audio. Next, the Volume Controller is a completely elusive "fully automated solution which equalizes audio to maintain the same levels consistently." The 2x1...
  



• Blue Echo's hd EZ lock turns any HDMI cable into a locking one
  

  Filed under: Cables

  
  
  At current time, there are only a couple of locking HDMI cable options out there for those who fear that their components could let loose of the signal line at any moment. In just a fortnight, however, all that will change. The little known Blue Echo Solutions has announced that its hd EZ lock -- which coins itself as a universal adapter that converts any vanilla HDMI cable into a locking one -- will be available in early January. The device has snagged a coveted CES 2009 Innovations Honoree Award, and it holds things in place by attaching to your component's chassis using either the existing...
  



• Panasonic set to unveil powerline networking prototypes aplenty at CES
  

  Filed under: Cables, Media streamers, Other hardware

  Panasonic already has a few powerline networking products to call its own (including the adapters pictured at right), but it looks like it's going to be expanding things in a fairly big way at CES next month, with it even set to bring some electric cars into the mix. That latter bit comes in the form of a prototype networking system that promises to let a variety of devices connect to an electric vehicle as it charges in the garage, letting you ensure that everything is set just right for when you drive out the next day. Other devices apparently on tap include...
  



• Ethereal introduces in-line surge protector for HDMI
  

  Filed under: Cables, Other hardware, Ports, Switches, Others

  Now here's something useful. Ethereal has just introduced the HDM-SP, which is being hailed as the world's first in-line surge protector designed specifically for the protection of the HDMI interface. It's built to withstand up to 8KV of voltage surge, and obviously, to keep your HDMI devices from getting fried in a storm. There's no mention of a price / release date (and we can't find an image to save our lives), but we suspect we'll hear more -- if but a whisper -- at CES.

  Ethereal introduces in-line surge protector for HDMI originally...
  




• ATTC, ATSC, other HD makers blessed with Emmy awards
  

  Filed under: Industry, Misc, Cables, Ports, OTA

  
  
  We already caught Panasonic gloating about its H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC-related Emmy earlier this year, but now the full list of award winners are getting their moment in the spotlight. TV Technology is reporting that a number of entities, outfits and agencies responsible for fostering growth in the high-def arena are set to accept Emmy awards on the eve of CES 2009. Some of the big winners are the Advisory Committee on Advanced Television Service, Advanced Television Systems Committee, the Advanced Television Test Center and the Advanced Television Evaluation Laboratory, all of which helped in "devising the...
  



• Furutech intros $700 F-TP615 power filter / AC distributor
  

  Filed under: Cables, Other hardware, Ports, Others

  
  
  Ah, there's the Furutech we know and love! The company made famous for charging obscene amounts of cash for AV items that cannot possibly be worth their weight in gold is back in full force, pumping out a power filter / AC distributor for $700. For those untrained in mathematics, that's around $116.66 per outlet. Of course, these aren't just any outlets, as each one is tested with its own α (Alpha) cryogenic and demagnetizing process and is plated in 24k gold. You'll also notice a proprietary Axial Locking System which purportedly lowers receptacle resonance by a factor of...