For many Americans, Sunday is not just a time to spend with family and friends — it’s Football Time! All of a sudden, space becomes a premium as family and friends appear out of the woodworks.

If you have more than one HDTV, we have the solution to a crowded living room! Our brand new Wireless 3D HD Digital Kit allows you to view the game in two rooms simultaneously, and without wires!

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What games are you planning to watch? Who are you rooting for? We would love to know how you think this device would make game day reach a whole new level of awesome. Let us know here in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.

The Wireless 3D HD Digital Kit is now available at Costco.com!

*Distances may vary depending on environment; solid objects such as steel, concrete and brick may view shorter distances

The Hollywood Reporter, a longtime home for behind-the-scenes reporting on celebrities and the entertainment industry, offered some interesting statistics on the Internet’s growing influence over what we watch on TV. The article, quoting analyst reports from research firm SNL Kagan, stated the following:

“…homes that rely on Internet-based distribution to view professionally produced content in lieu of a traditional pay TV subscription will grow from 2.5 million at the end of 2010 to 8.6 million in 2013 and 12.1 million in 2015. Those estimates amount to 2 percent of occupied U.S. homes in 2010, about 7 percent in 2013 and nearly 10 percent in 2015.”



With the range of wired and wireless AV streaming products now available, it’s not hard to understand why so many more people are opting for a connected TV experience. Just recently, we shared a list of over 700 streaming media links (thanks to those who submitted!) that prove a content migration is in effect. TV is being re-defined progressively as each new media source draws another user away from cable.

But of all the content available, there is one glaring omission. Whether it’s the commoditization of sports by ESPN or the growing number of profitable team networks, the Internet lacks live sports coverage, though channels such as ESPN are pushing viewers to view content online that augments their live coverage. Major League Baseball has the Extra Innings package, and ESPN3 helped us procrastinate at work by airing the World Cup and March Madness and the biggest playoff games are always shown on a major network. But day-to-day sports fanatics will likely not find the variety of sports content that can be delivered by expanded cable.

In addition to the ESPN family, cable provides Foxsports, the aforementioned team networks, not to mention specialty networks like the Golf Channel, NFL Network and MLBTV. Bluntly, cable has a lot more to offer over the Internet when it comes to exclusive and in-depth sports content.

Of course, in a perfect world, we can stream HD content and have our cable too, providing the best of both worlds, but the economy and excessive cable fees are making some people question this decision. We’re curious, is sports entertainment important enough to keep cable, or will you be saying sayonara cable and cutting the cord?

Let us know in the comments, on Facebook or via Twitter.

Not too long ago, we delved into the history of Bluetooth, with humble praise to the Danish king who lent the far-reaching mobile technology his name. For this week’s history lesson, we move outside the world of mobility into the highly competitive audio technology segment. With the explosion of iPods, iPod Accessories as well as digital music shopping and storage, audio technology has seen seismic changes over the last 10-15 years.


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Certainly music has gotten easier to store, making it more mobile, but the proliferation of surround sound could be viewed as equally monumental in the overall field of audio development. There are two-channel purists who argue that we have two ears, and thus, two-channels are best, but that hasn’t stopped manufacturers and consumers from creating 5.1, 7.1 and even 11.2 surround sound speaker configurations.

While he wasn’t the first to experiment with it, a gentleman by the name of Walt Disney was one of the earliest pioneers of surround sound technology. His use of Fantasound to reproduce the orchestral production accompanying Fantasia set a benchmark for what could be achieved with multi-channel sound. After Disney, Dolby really became a dominant force in the surround sound game with Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic II and a host of other technologies. They remain a player to this day.

Just about 20 years ago, another major surround sound player took the field, bringing new thinking and hitting the mainstream in 1993 when it introduced its master-quality sound with the release of Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster, Jurassic Park. According to the DTS website, every major film studio in the United States uses DTS multi-channel digital sound, and virtually all major Hollywood feature films are released with soundtracks in the DTS format. DTS entered the consumer product marketplace in 1996, and now more than 200 millions devices include DTS trademarks or technologies.

Fast forward to present times and IOGEAR is carving its own niche as the first manufacturer to have DTS Surround Sensation | Headphone™ technology available in a new surround sound headphone adapter called the USB Theater Sound Xperience. An in-depth explanation appears in a previous post, Mobile DTS Surround Sound Adapter for Headphones and Speakers, but we see this as a major progression in the pursuit of surround sound.


The IOGEAR surround sound audio adapter will do for computer audio, what the home-theater-in-a-box did for entry-level home theaters; provide an affordable and enveloping audio solution. More content is making its way to and from PCs, so it’s only natural people will embrace advancements that make the experience more riveting, whether it’s on their headphones or computer speakers.

If you haven’t seen, we’re giving away 100 of the USB Theater Sound Xperience Adapters via a Facebook contest, so go over and like us for a chance to win.

We personally feel this is one of the most innovative implementations of USB 2.0 technology available, but we are curious what you think. How important is audio to your entertainment? Do you think surround sound adds significantly to the amount of enjoyment you get from movies and video games? Let us know in the comments, our Facebook page or via Twitter.

Once again, your friends at IOGEAR are in the giving mood. We have 100, yes you read right, one hundred USB Theater Sound Xperience PC adapters to give away!

The rules are simple:

1) Like Us on Facebook and enter your email
2) Like DTS’s Facebook page for an extra entry
3) Invite Your Friends – Each friend that joins gets you 5 additional entries!

For all of the specifics, please see our official sweepstakes rules.

So what exactly is a USB Theater Sound Xperience PC adapter (GUADT51), you say? Check out this recent blog post for some real world scenarios of how this device can forever change the audio experience on your laptop.

Be sure to follow our Twitter account also, as we will be providing timely updates there as well.

Terms and Conditions:
5,000 fans must be reached by August 31st, 2011 5pm PST when the sweepstakes ends. If 5,000 fans have not been reached by the time the sweepstakes ends no USB Theater Sound Xperience PC Adapters will be given away. A list of winners will be posted at the end of the sweepstakes. Winners will also be contacted by e-mail in order to retrieve mailing address. We will only mail to a U.S. address.

Surround Scenario 1: Pinned down behind enemy lines while playing Call of Duty®, you’re attempting to complete a mission without being decapitated. With the help of surround sound headphones, you hear shots and explosions from the rear and turn to face your objective. After some sniper fire and a few precisely placed explosives, the mission is a success.

Surround Scenario 2: On a coast to coast flight, you load Tron: Legacy into your PC once a safe altitude has been reached. Blessed with one of the best DTS-HD Soundtracks available, you want to take full advantage of headphones with surround sound to drown out your snoring neighbor who won’t stop jostling for the armrest. Plugged in and tuning out, you’re immersed in the unfolding drama and the six-hour flight turns into a movie theater with less legroom.

Surround Scenario 3: You’re a metal head, plain and simple, but there’s a real lack of quality when it comes to metal albums that are produced to achieve high-quality 5.1 surround sound. Having recently read MetalInsider’’s recommendation of Must-Own Metal 5.1 Surround Sound Albums, you feel compelled to buy the music but not replace your new stereo headphones and two-channel computer speaker set-up. After amassing a collection that includes Porcupine Tree, Mastadon, Pig Destroyer and NIN, you complement with an IOGEAR DTS Audio Adapter surrounding yourself in wicked guitars, drums, keyboards and vocals that get in your face and all around you.

The above scenarios highlight the benefits of surround sound with various forms of entertainment. One of the pioneers of surround sound and many other audio technologies, is DTS. Present in AV receivers, PCs, game consoles, Blu-ray players and a host of other devices, DTS technologies are ubiquitous in the audio world, and now, an integral part of the IOGEAR PC Accessories line.

We can proudly say that the first USB Audio Adapter to ever feature DTS Surround Sensation | Headphone™ technology is our USB Theater Sound Experience, now available in the IOGEAR e-store. Utilizing a transparent vacuum tube-style design — a classic look for audio enthusiasts — the USB Theater Sound Xperience takes two-channel (stereo) audio and processes it with DTS Surround Sensation | Headphone technology to give the effect of sounds occurring outside the boundaries of two channels. Audio cues such as special frequencies, volume intensity and time delay help create the USB Theater Sound Xperience.

By simply plugging traditional stereo speakers or headphones into a PC’s USB 2.0 port, an enveloping and immersive surround sound effect is achieved for movies, PC gaming and music. The magic is in the processing and DTS provides three unique DTS Surround Sensation technologies in IOGEAR’s new surround sound audio adapter, including:

• Voice Clarification Technology: Enhances the signal clarity to improve the audio quality of dialog derived from Blu-ray Disc™ or standard DVD

• Bass Enhancement Technology: Restores the perception of fundamental low-frequency tones by dynamically augmenting harmonics, yielding improved bass performance without the additional hardware costs of adding a subwoofer

• Soundstage Expansion Technology: Broadens the soundstage and creates a phantom center channel for improved clarity and audio crispness

For a more visual look at how the technology works, check out the DTS Surround Sensation video on their site.

Surround sound headphones or a 5.1 speaker set-up can costs hundreds or thousands of dollars. Our USB Theater Sound Xperience costs a fraction of that and delivers a mobile solution with industry leading DTS technology. In the race to achieve the best performance out of all our converging AV and PC gear, this is yet another boost to the entertainment experience.

We want to hear from you though, what’s your favorite movie or music title to enjoy in surround sound? Do you think multi-channel audio enhances the entertainment experience? Chime in on our Facebook, Twitter or Blog.

“Convergence” is one of those budding buzzwords that marketers and even scientists use when describing the prolonged combination or mixing of various entities. The blending together of traditional and social media is one example as is the simultaneous inward movement of eyes towards each other.


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Blurred media and crossed eyes aside, the most relevant form of convergence is happening in our living rooms and offices. Traditional forms of entertainment, like radio and TV, are being re-invigorated by a new breed of AV and computer accessories that allow formerly disjointed systems, to work in harmony. Echoing this sentiment is a trade industry publication called Dealerscope, which recently pegged convergence as THE driving force for consumer electronics sales as we head into the second half of 2011 and beyond.

Culling information from interviews with the magazine’s annual 40 Under 40 list of young consumer electronics leaders, convergence was a common theme among those who responded. Quoting the article, Mid-Year Prediction: Convergence To Drive CE,

“We’ll see more technologies being brought into tablet devices that will involve HDMI jacks, and consumer formats that fit the AV world. Your TV is just the gateway drug… The proliferation of high-speed broadband into the home, along with more robust home networks, will continue to change how and where people consume video and audio.”

IOGEAR’s product development has always accepted the TV as a hub (or gateway drug) and considered how TV can be used to enhance the digital home experience. The convergence concept has really become a rallying point for consumers and installers considering new wireless AV streaming and other technologies. Think about the number of devices you interact with on a daily basis. We have content stored on laptops, smartphones, gaming consoles, NAS storage devices, desktops, digital music players, DVRs and even in the cloud. Currently, not all of this content is readily available from all access points at all times, but that’s where we’re headed, Netflix Instant Streaming and HBO GO for example.

Currently, we have solutions like the iPhone/iPad Composite AV Cable and the Wireless AV Kit for bringing non-networked content on our devices to a display, but we’re merely scratching the surface of what’s to come. Imagine a scenario where your iPad can act as a complete control device for the entire home. Take the idea of having a TV remote, but make it a tablet and have it control everything from lights and thermostats, to the music that is playing and what will be downloaded for Friday movie night. The best part is, it’s already happening.

There will always be a need for accessories, connectors, and devices that make these convergence scenarios possible, and that’s why IOGEAR is committed to the Convergence through Connectivity ethos.

What convergence advancements would you like to see? Does the concept of an iPad controllable home appeal to you? Let us know here on the blog, on Facebook and/or on Twitter.

With CNET reporting that 123 million connected TV’s will ship in 2014, it’s clear there’s mounting demand for a single screen that can give us access to all of our traditional TV content and our web content at the same time. While many predicted 3D to be the driving force behind future video purchases, it is clear Internet connectivity means more to consumers than goofy glasses.


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And while early-adopters with disposable income will flock to the new smart sets, many mainstream consumers will be left wondering how they can get in on the action without replacing a practically new 50-inch 1080p LCD. Fortunately, solutions exist that provide a connected TV experience without actually requiring a new TV.

Two of the benefits of connected TV are the apps and on-demand features, which provide convenient access to a wealth of content not available on “dumb” TVs. Additionally, if you introduce a USB to HD adapter to the mix, it’s just like adding a video card to your PC, providing an instant connection for watching HD quality video or other content on a flat panel TV. No need to buy another set.

For a wireless solution, the Wireless Audio Video Kit can stream the content from PC to TV through the air. With few easy steps, you can eliminate cables and relocate the PC, but keep the Internet connection, making it an integral part of your media consumption experience. Add a wireless keyboard and you can easily browse the Internet, watch online video, or edit spreadsheets on the flat-panel TV, without ever leaving the couch or recliner.

Prophesying about the future, the CNET writer quotes a DisplaySearch analyst report stating:

Looking ahead, DisplaySearch sees the connected TV market splitting apart. One group of televisions will feature “basic video on demand [and] appeal to consumers who expect TV to remain a passive experience,” the research firm projects. Those who are looking for something more substantial will find other sets offering “configurable apps, sophisticated search and navigation engines, and advanced user interfaces.”

While the future holds many possibilities and prices will likely drop as Connected TVs become more prevalent, there’s no need to wait until 2014 to bring an Internet experience to your TV. With a few inexpensive AV convergence accessories, you can have the same experience at a fraction of the cost.

If you already own a Connected TV, how’s the experience been? If not, how important is having a Connected TV and why would you consider purchasing?

Anyone who’s tried to install a video card in a computer knows it’s not a simple DIY project. In homebuilding terms, it’s akin to furnace or electrical work and not something for the inexperienced. However, fiddling with your computer’s internals can be a thing of the past with the new IOGEAR USB to HD Adapter.


A.K.A the GUC2025H, the new adapter connects additional HD displays to a desktop or laptop computer using a USB 2.0 cable, something all computers have (as opposed to HDMI). Throw in an HDMI to DVI Adapter and you’ve got a set-up that will complement almost every modern computer and TV combination.

Going even further, because the increased bandwidth of HDMI and DisplayLink™ technology are utilized, the USB to HD adapter provides both video AND audio support, a huge advancement from the traditional internal video cards or external DVI/VGA adapters that only supported video.

Need proof, here’s what Engadget says:

Pumping out video content to the big screen has been simplified, sure, but audio has always been the Achilles heel of the diminutive dongles. Enter IOGEAR, whose GUC2025H USB External HD A/V Adapter solves this exact problem — without taking up any additional ports to boot.

With a USB to HD Adapter in place, laptop users will be able to have up to three displays showing content; the laptop screen, a second display via the built-in VGA port and a third from the USB port courtesy of IOGEAR’s new adapter. In the home, the GUC2025H complements convergence since it provides a hard-wired streaming solution of standard or HD content from the PC to the TV with only a single HDMI cable connection. Youtube, Hulu and other computer content can be streamed to the TV interference-free with ease.

Outside the home, the USB to HD adapter is made for multitasking. Office accounting and marketing personnel will appreciate the ability to view large spreadsheets across two screens without sacrificing continuity. Graphic designers can queue up editing tools and pallets without constantly minimizing and maximizing windows, while data analysts can type in one document while viewing reference material elsewhere. Lastly, anyone who works heavily with email will appreciate the ability to open attachments on one screen while staying in the inbox to manage email functions.

Installing the USB to HD Adapter is quick and easy for anyone who’s ever plugged in a mouse or other USB peripheral. No need for multiple software and hardware updates to get both audio and video, and no need
for an external power supply since the adapter runs via the USB port. With video cards, it’s sometimes necessary to remove a computer’s back panel, locate the existing video card, remove and replace it with a new one, all without affecting any of the sensitive electronics. While certainly possible, these actions can void a manufacturer warranty, or worse, cook the motherboard.

Because the IOGEAR USB to HD Adapter connects externally, there is no threat of memory loss or inadvertent collateral damage from the installation. With support of resolutions up to 1600×1200 / 1920×1080 and 32-bit color, the USB to HD adapter shares content at its ideal resolution for the purest viewing experience possible.

For a wireless solution, IOGEAR also offers the GWAVKIT2, a wireless HD streaming kit that serves a similar function as the USB to HD adapter.


We’d love to hear from you, what computer content is best for streaming to the TV? Do you prefer a wired or wireless solution?

If there’s one thing Internet users like, it’s a good list. Whether it’s the top 10 ways to tell if your man is cheating or five killer iPhone apps for foodies, as Internet users, we’re drawn to random bulleted rankings like college kids to dollar drafts.

While scouring the Internet recently, we came across an interesting story by Geoff Morrison from Sound and Vision titled Seven Home Theater Myths Debunked that highlighted some obvious and not-so obvious beliefs people have about the gear and performance that makes up their home theaters or media rooms. Most people know that owning an HD TV doesn’t guarantee your watching HD content. You need an HD equipped source component (like a Blu-ray or HD cable receiver) and the necessary cables. File that under obvious.

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However, the first “Myth” stated in the article is the one that most caught our attention: Expensive HDMI Cables provide better picture quality. IOGEAR manufacturers many different connectivity and convergence products and it pains us to see other companies charging exorbitant prices for products that deliver the same performance whether you pay $150 or $10.95. There’s no doubt HDMI Cables have done wonderful things for our home AV systems, but many consumers have been taken for a ride.

Few topics have raised the ire of consumers and media alike as HDMI, and more specifically marketing of HDMI. Take for instance this statement by a writer from audioholics.com in a post titled HDMI Cable Speed & Features Explained:

“…if you’ve spent any amount of time around home audio/video and home theater, you probably already know that the sale of audio and video cable is a field in which false and fanciful claims and exaggerations are the rule rather than the exception, and that if a sensational statement is contained on the retail packaging of a video cable, it’s much more likely to be false than true.”

He goes on to explain several of the claims made by pricey HDMI manufacturers, shooting holes in the marketing promises that supposedly make three meters of cable worth over $100. IOGEAR prides itself on a price-driven approach with the quality to match. We offer HDMI cables with Ethernet up to 16.4 feet (5 meters) in length with all the features one would expect, including gold-plated connectors for optimal signal transfer and corrosion resistance.

Some AV equipment is worth spending a little extra on, HDMI cables are not in that category. While the cheapest cables may corrode or fall apart over time, buying a fairly priced cable from IOGEAR will ensure your HD display shows its best for as long as it’s in the house. For the final word, we turn it back over to Mr. Morrison from Sound and Vision:

“Audio and video are transmitted over HDMI as error-corrected, packetized data. 0s and 1s. There is no such thing as better or worse in this world. It either is or isn’t. So if the HDMI cables work—at all— you get perfect audio and video. If it doesn’t work, you get nothing, or next to nothing: no picture, the picture will break up, the audio will drop out, or other unwatchable nastiness.”

Still interested in learning more? This CNET Forum discussion covers all aspects of HDMI cable buying and construction.

What has been your experience with HDMI? Do you see a difference in performance with price or are they all the same? Let us know on our Facebook page or via Twitter.

While the market is slowly making a rebound according to CEPro’s State of the Industry 2011, both existing and new homeowners are still looking to maximize their dollars. The funds might not be in their budget for lavish vacations in faraway lands, resulting in more families spending time together at home. In doing so, their meeting place often tends to be in the family room, on comfortable couches and in front of large HD televisions.


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More money is being allocated into the budget of a home theater or media room when buying a home.Many homeowners who were thinking of selling have decided to keep their current house while the market levels out, choosing instead to make upgrades. The family room, den or basement are prime candidates for conversions into home theaters. What they are buying though, is anything but the same old components.

It’s no surprise that the most requested items in a home theater setup are large, flat panel HD TVs (plasma or LCD), all the required HDMI cables, touch-sensitive remotes, Blu-Ray players and 7.1 audio surround systems. What is surprising, however, is the inclusion of wireless HD setups that collectively link PC to TV setups. Among the boom in this trend is the ease of retrofitting an existing wired system to include a Home Theater Personal Computer, commonly referred to as an HTPC, and new installations by the home owner themselves. No longer does a contractor have to come in and run complex cables through walls, ceilings and floors, nor does a computer need to be running right next to the TV. Rather a home owner can painlessly hook up even their laptop that’s sitting on a coffee table between the couch and TV at their convenience and stream the latest shows right from HULU.

What is most appealing is the comparative cost to run a wireless setup from a PC to TV. Right off the bat it’s easy to assume wired would be cheaper, as it’s an established technology. However, this article points out the added costs of labor associated with a wired solution and the physical limitations. The other major problem with a wired solution is your room is now set up only for that particular setup, leaving you no flexibility down the line to change the layout. Wireless on the other hand is extremely flexible way to transmit HD content between devices and gives the homeowner the most freedom to change the layout of their room, and placement of hardware.

This trend of including home theaters will continue to grow; homeowners and families have been making decisions to stay at home and enjoy time together now more than ever. It’s also an exciting time from a technology standpoint, as the available devices and gear has never offered so much, at such an affordable price.

Do you have a home theater? Are any parts of your setup wireless? Have you joined in on the streaming revolution? We would love to hear your comments here on the blog or on Facebook.