With broadband connections rising in the United States and YouTube kicking off the share your video genre of Web sites that now has dozens of copycats, consumers have become more accustomed to watching TV, movies and videos on their computers. Additionally, with the dropping price of digital cameras and video cameras, and the video and photo features in cell phones, we now witness a whole new generation of consumers that are creating, editing, sharing and consuming media content online.

Pay-per-view options via Amazon and iTunes deliver video instantly to your computer as opposed to the now dated act of getting in the car and heading to the local video rental store, or waiting for your Netflix movie to physically show up in the mail. Netflix offers a wide collection of streaming video content but rarely provides newly released items for instant streaming.

Realizing consumers’ needs, Hollywood is now listening. They’ve Studio executive have slowly warmed to the idea of putting full shows online within 24 hours of the original air-date on traditional TV. This recent UK article shows the dramatic spike in online views of video based content, further reinforcing how much consumers want this option. With more than 80 sites available to legally stream movies, TV shows and short video clips now, clearly the shift to online content viewing is happening now and fast.

All of this is great news for consumers as it makes entertainment easier and cheaper, however, being stuck to your desk, office or kitchen table with a laptop is not the most enjoyable way to watch his newly available content. Having a dedicated computer to soley serve as a multimedia station for most, is a burden they’d rather not deal with. The set up, the proximity to the TV and figuring out how to use it and where to put it, can cause a huge headache. Anyone who’s taken the time to hang their flat panel TV on the wall and fish the cables down through it to have a clean look knows parking a computer tower under it is not the most aesthetically pleasing option.

There is now a better option available.

IOGEAR has introduced the Wireless Audio / Video Kit, which is changing how everyone views multimedia content from the Internet. A simple, clean and no-hassle hookup with no cables will have the video transmitting from your computer to your HD TV up to 30 feet away.

Now you can easily enjoy your HD TV from the comfort of your couch with the near limitless content available online. Unlike digital video recorders which cost several hundred dollars and require a monthly service fee, once you purchase the Wireless Audio / Video Kit it’s yours. The only other requirements are a TV and a broadband Internet connection.

Use the Wireless Audio / Video Kit for more than just streaming video. Easily show videos you’ve made on your camera after you’ve transferred them to a computer, or setup a slideshow of still photographs on your computer to be displayed when you aren’t watching videos. This technology easily converts your TV into a digital photo frame!

Showing you just how easy it is to connect your PC to TV can be opens a whole new world of exciting possibilities, entertainment and cost savings for you and your family. The added benefit of embracing one of the newest and fastest growing digital trends also means quicker delivery of media and instant gratification.

Internet on TV is a trend that still at the beginning stages of explosive growth and IOGEAR is at the forefront, bringing you cutting edge technology to allow full enjoyment of everything the Internet has to offer and will offer for years to come.

You can pick up or order a Wireless Audio / Video Kit today at Best Buy, Micro Center, Fry’s, Amazon or at our own IOGEAR store.

The Wall Street Journal recently published a story predicting that the larger big-ticket technologies will remain on the shelves and consumers will instead go home with the latest gadgets this holiday season. As this article and other industry experts predict, the average consumer will purchase more affordable gadgets and less ‘blockbuster’ devices this season.


So what does this mean? Well, consumers, like you, are prepared and willing to spend $300 or less on tech gadgets this year. With most of today’s most popular consumer electronics (CE) products falling into this price category, it looks like everything from netbooks, to the latest e-book reader and high fidelity speakers might top 2009 Christmas shopping lists.

As we reflect on these predictions and the recent CE trends, we believe that IOGEAR’s Wireless Audio / Video Kit (MSRP @ $299.95) is a perfect fit for this year’s gift exchange.

We offer the Wireless Audio / Video Kit which allows users to stream both audio and video content (up to 720p) wirelessly from their PC to their TV up to 30 feet away. Users can eliminate unnecessary cable clutter and enjoy the best of the Web on their larger TVs from the comforts of their couch. This solution truly gives you or the person receiving this gift the ability to stream wirelessly from PC to TV a reality.

What other gadgets are you looking to put under your tree this holiday season?

Cheers,
The IOGEAR Team

Is your small screen shrinking? That’s the question asked of you in IOGEAR’s latest commercial airing on the popular site Hulu.

As people continue to turn to the Internet to view content, they turn to Hulu, one of the most popular sites for entertainment content.

You may remember, Hulu’s own funny commercials featuring Alec Baldwin and Seth McFarlane were a hit when they aired during last year’s Super Bowl.

We thought this would be a perfect place to share with Hulu users just how much better their viewing experience could be with our Wireless Audio / Video Kit.

As you probably know by now, the Wireless Audio / Video Kit helps take you from the small screen to the big screen by wirelessly streaming content from your PC to your television.

What’s your favorite part of the commercial? We really got a kick out of the opening scene.

Cheers,
The IOGEAR team

It’s been a busy week here at IOGEAR as we prepare for the 2009 CEDIA EXPO, September 9-13 in Atlanta, GA at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Attendees this year will be able to test drive our recently launched Wireless Audio / Video Kit, a product that bridges the gap between the computer, home theater, and stereo systems by streaming both audio and video content (providing HD resolutions up to 720p) to an in-room VGA or DVI display as far as 30 feet away.

We’re also going to be showing off our new HDMI Control Center. The HDMI Control Center gives users the power to control, watch, navigate, switch and interact with various HDMI devices and computers on an HDTV. We’ll share more news on this product next week.

Come by booth #5715 and check out our latest products in the Audio / Video market. We’re excited to continue our innovation and momentum into this space.

Cheers,
The IOGEAR team

The search for the ultimate game-changer in technology is still on, many have tried, but where we use our apps has changed more than the apps themselves lately. Six months ago we did a roundup covering several popular models of what we consider the game-changer of 2009, Netbooks. Here we update what we found in our previous roundup and then look at the hardware you need to get the most out of your Netbook experience.

Bridging the gap between smart phone and laptop computer, these lightweight, ultra-portable, power-house Netbooks are finding a way into more homes, offices, briefcases and purses this year. One of the front-runners from the Netbook roundup was the Dell Mini 9. Partly due to a large advertising budget combined with funky colors and the ability to run OS X software, sales of them quickly took off.

Dell had so much success with the Mini 9 they launched the Mini 10 and Mini 12 (though the Mini 12 was discontinued), with more colors and configurable options. Solid state hard drives continue to grow in size but drop in price, increasing value, along with other features found in these Netbooks. The Mini 9 starts at about $230 for a feature-rich computer and has stayed aggressively priced, compared to the market, while the Mini 10 weighs in near $300.

Asus, a pioneer in the Netbook space, continues to dominate the market with the Eee PC. With more than twenty models currently available in sizes ranging from 7” to 10” and now a new touch-screen tablet, Asus continues to move forward with innovative design and development.

While new technology is implemented into Asus Netbooks to make them thinner, lighter, faster, have more storage and better graphics, the price has stabilized at around the $200-250 level. Considering an unlocked smart phone often runs twice this price and full sized laptops can be double or triple the price, the value in these Netbooks really starts to shine through.

The aggressive pricing of the major Netbook manufactures continues to push smaller companies to offer unique features, special promotions or try to carve a niche out for themselves. BenQ released a selection of Netbook / laptop hybrids in the 12” range, bridging the gap between the 10” Netbooks and 14” laptops. Better known for memory, OCZ Technology released a 10” DIY Netbook called the Neutrino, aimed at being more customizable. Some assembly is required, but this was done on purpose to keep the price down.

Netbooks can be so much more than a bridge between smart phone and desktop computer. The Asus touch-screen tablet is evidence of that, with the ability to easily show clients work, share the screen and let the ideas flow through.

Keeping your Netbook in sync with your home and office computer is often required, and the USB Laptop KVM is the perfect accessory to help facilitate this. An on-screen manager lets you access either computer to share files when connected via the USB adapters and you can utilize the full sized desktop monitor from your Netbook too. Small, sleek and unobtrusive, this KVM is an essential additional to both home and office settings.

Maximize your Netbook’s screen with a Wireless Audio / Video Kit, making a 9 or 10” screen 54” within minutes. This breakthrough product uses ultra wide-band (UWB) technology to transmit 720p HD video from your Netbook to your HD television or monitor, wirelessly! Streaming your favorite movies, TV shows and music from your Netbook now makes it a home media center that you can control right from your couch, up to 30’ away.


Keep a clean and clutter free workspace, living room and office by eliminating Netbook cable clutter. Adding a Wireless USB Hub & Adapter can transform your Netbook into a serious wireless workhorse, without tripping over cables. Installation is simple and straightforward and will allow the connectivity of USB powered devices from up to 30’ feet away. Attach a printer, scanner, hard drive and just about anything else that’s USB powered and never worry about a tangled cord mess on or under your desk again. Because all that gets plugged into the Netbook is a USB transmitter, picking up the Netbook and taking it with you is easy, and syncing to the USB devices when you come back is a snap.

Like most new products to the marketplace, Netbooks are still finding their way into our lives and will endure more changes, features, size and configurations to meet our needs. Less and less 7” models are available because users deemed them too small to use, while the eight and nine-inch models become top sellers. Users are also realizing that having a 500 GB hard drive in a super-portable isn’t always needed, especially when utilizing products like the USB Laptop KVM to off-load and transfer files, or attaching an external hard drive to a Wireless USB Hub. Integrating, utilizing and maximizing your Netbook with IOGEAR products allows you to be more productive at home and in the office with less wasted time, which is always the goal and now it is easier than ever.

A recent study by Yahoo finds that “daytime video streaming is right up there with nighttime in terms of the number of eyeballs.” The study found that peak hours for online video viewing are between 12:00 and 3:00pm and again between 9:00pm and 1:00am.
We’ve been staying on top of this growing trend on how viewers are spending more time watching online video as opposed to traditional television programming. With consumers spending more time viewing content online, it makes sense to offer something for them to easily enjoy their entertainment from the screen of a large HDTV versus a small laptop or desktop monitor.

We are pleased to offer a product that easily allows these millions of viewers to access the content on the Internet through their TV with the Wireless Audio / Video Kit. (Check out these two contests where we are giving one away! Laptop Magazine, FaceBook)

IOGEAR’s Wireless Audio / Video Kit allows users to utilize their HDTV as if it is a computer monitor without the hassle of excess wiring, as it connects wirelessly. To read a step-by-step analysis of how it works, please visit this CNET piece.

For more information on the Wireless Audio / Video Kit setup, please see the description here.

When do you spend the most hours watching online video?

Cheers,
The IOGEAR Team

Home entertainment has taken a side step recently, more towards the digital realm meant for easy sharing of content. Dinner parties and family gatherings still happen, but with social-networking sites like Flickr, Kodak.com, YouTube, Mevio and Facebook, the ability to directly connect with everyone regardless of how far away they are is only a few keystrokes away.

Because nearly everyone has a digital camera these days and 99% of all cell phones have a camera built in them, photos are being shared like never before. Now consumers can snap a photo, email or text it to someone, share it on Twitter or post the image directly to a Facebook wall.

Capturing special moments on video is easier today too. Most of the current digital cameras come with video functionality, making expensive A/V equipment a thing of the past. Utilizing video hosting services like YouTube and Mevio allow easy and fast sharing with anyone, anywhere. No need to author DVDs and mail them out anymore.

The ability to share memories has never been more simple or fulfilling. Personalized photos and videos delivered to a grandparent’s email can mean the world, especially when they live in far-away places. With modern technologies, families and friends can continue to share in each other’s lives even if they’re unable to be there in person.

Consumers now have various channels to share photos and video with friends and family, through email and social-networking sites. However, this content shouldn’t be limited to a computer monitor that only person can view comfortably. While home media computers have started to become more popular, they aren’t a sure-fire fix, and can often be complex to setup and use.

The next step in bridging the gap is the IOGEAR Wireless Audio / Video Kit, designed to easily connect your computer and your HDTV, enabling an entire room to enjoy photos from Flickr or movies on YouTube. Ultra-wideband technology allows the Kit to transmit 720p HD video up to thirty feet away wirelessly, easily turning nearly any computer in the room into a media center. No unsightly cables or wires hanging down, no complex setup, simply plug the device into one part of your computer and the other into the TV, and enjoy your cherished memories from the comfort of your couch and on your HDTV.

If this sounds appealing to you, check out our contest that ends on August 31, 2009 where we are giving away one of these IOGEAR Wireless Audio / Video Kits. All you need for a chance to win is to join us as a fan on FaceBook.

IOGEAR recently launched a Web page dedicated to consumers looking for a solution to control and work on two separate PCs – with one being a laptop, or netbook – at the same time through one screen, keyboard and mouse.

The USB Laptop KVM Switch provides users the ability to save money, space and resources by consolidating multiple computers into one as well as increasing the efficiency and performance of the computer with the switch.

The new site provides users with a gallery of product photos as well as lifestyle examples of how to use it, a list of all the features, technical details and a clear description of how the product works.

For more information on how the USB Laptop KVM Switch works, please see the setup description here.

Check it out and let us know what you think about the technology!

Cheers,
The IOGEAR Team

We recently made the exciting announcement that IOGEAR’s Wireless Audio / Video Kit will be carried in Best Buy stores nationwide. Not only that, we are giving one away for FREE! All you have to do is join us on FaceBook as a fan between now and August 31, 2009.

Even in this current economic state, tech-enthusiasts are still clamoring for the latest gadgets. As a result, large consumer electronics retailers continue to bring in innovative and affordable home solutions like the award winning Wireless Audio / Video Kit.

This product allows users to stream content (HD resolution up to 720p) wirelessly from a PC to a larger LCD television from up to 30 feet away, to easily watch movies, share pictures or slideshows and enjoy full stereo sound with the new set up.

As more and more Americans are ditching cable and turning to the Internet, we are offering consumers ways to create the most comprehensive, convenient media center.

Stop in your local Best Buy store to find the Wireless Audio / Video Kit or visit the Web site at www.bestbuy.com.

Other retailers will continue to carry the product including Fry’s, J&R Electronics, Micro Center and B&H Photo. You can also find all IOGEAR products available on our site www.shopiogear.com.

Where do you shop for your IOGEAR products?

Cheers!

The IOGEAR team

IOGEAR provides innovative technology solutions that are fun, stylish and enhance people’s daily lives. We want to engage directly with you to help ensure we continue to achieve these goals.

FaceBook provides a platform for us to engage directly with you and we have decided to thank you in advance for joining us on FaceBook by offering a FREE, cutting edge IOGEAR Wireless Audio/Video Kit to one lucky new Facebook fan.

Anyone who becomes a fan of our FaceBook page between July 16 (11:00am PST) and August 31, 2009 (11:55pm PST) is eligible.

The following week from the end of the contest, we will randomly select a winner and announce on Facebook & Twitter.

Learn more about the AV Kit here and here.