Do you recognize YOUR living room? The landscape in your family’s favorite room has changed dramatically the past few years as the Internet (as a main source of media content) begins to take over from your old favorite, the traditional cable model.

With these changes come dynamic new equipment options and possibilities. In this post IOGEAR is your fearless guide to help navigate this new media landscape and take advantage of the exciting changes in home entertainment.

HDTV

The TV remains the centerpiece of most entertainment centers in the home. Today, most homes enjoy the power of an HDTV, with newer models now equipped with Internet connectivity, effectively creating a web TV. Most recently, 3D enabled HDTV’s have joined the mix, promising a more vibrant (and dimensional!) future ahead.

The following resources will help you navigate the various options and discover the right choice for your particular needs:

• Understand, choose and optimize an HDTV at Cnet
• Compare prices, features, and reviews at PC World

Audio Systems

For fussy audiophiles, the sound quality built into most HDTVs is not enough to satisfy discerning ears. Those looking for a better quality sound experience may find the need to augment their system with full home theater capabilities.

Before you begin your search, it’s important to spend some time determining what’s important to you, based on how you will be using your system. For example, is full surround sound a priority? Do you want to be able to easily play music from your radio or iPod? Will you need headphones if thumping bass is an issue for the neighbors downstairs?

The following resources will help guide you to system suited to your lifestyle:

• About.com’s Home Theater guide
• Home theater system guide by ConsumerReports.org
• How to buy the right headphones from PCMag.com

PC Media Centers

For those who want to combine their computing experience with a little quality couch time, there are many options available to turn your PC into a full featured media center. While many newer HDTV’s have integrated Internet on TV abilities, they are usually limited to certain content sources. A quick solution is to include your PC as a media player – not only will this give you the full PC to TV computing experience on your HDTV, the IOGEAR Wireless Audio / Video Kit will allow you to cut the cord and work wirelessly!

These resources are a great start when looking for the best fit PC media center option for you:

• How to build an HD media center for under $1000 by EngadgetHD
• Using Apple TV with Boxee to create a easy-to-use media center by LifeHacker.com

Single/Multi Purpose Media Devices

From video game consoles to DVD and/or Blu-Ray players, there are a bewildering variety of add-on options for your home entertainment center. It’s important to consider your entertainment needs before making your selections, since some devices, such as the Xbox or Playstation 3 perform several functions (e.g. gaming, Netflix streaming and DVD or Blu-ray playback).

Here are some resources to help you decide how to extend your home entertainment center:

• Choosing between an Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 or Nintendo Wii
• Stand alone home media player comparison: Vudu, Roku and Boxee
• Recommended Blu-ray & DVD players from ConsumerReports.org

Bringing It All Together

Feel like you’re stuck in a cable nightmare? Today’s devices often come with cheap, low-quality cables, or cables designed to frustrate you by being short or easily broken. The good news is, you don’t need to spend a fortune to get the quality you need. The better news is, there’s no longer any need to even leave the comfort of your couch to switch between one device and the next. Cutting-edge technology provides solutions for that problem and keeps you couch-side in comfort!

These links will help you navigate today’s A/V connectivity options:

• Cnet’s quick guide to HDMI and HDMI cables
• Audio/Video Cables and Connectors explained by eCoustics.com
• Wireless resources by IOGEAR

Your Solutions and Experiences

Have you begun a high-tech upgrade of your living room, or are you hanging on to old technologies? What’s missing for you to be able to truly integrate the Internet experience into the living room? Please take some time and share your thoughts here on the blog, on Twitter or FaceBook.

Don’t forget to participate in this month’s Twitter contest where a USB Laptop KVM Switch is up for grabs. Entering to win is as simple as following us on Twitter!

For those who dream of enjoying their favorite YouTube clips, Hulu episodes or other streaming Internet content on their favorite widescreen televisions, Walt Mossberg’s recent Wall Street Journal article How To Watch Video, Wirelessly, on Your TV Set may sound familiar.

The good news: wireless PC-to-TV solutions are officially here to stay! With a growing number of solutions that allow consumers to play Internet media in full TV screen glory on the market, sharing and enjoying Internet content has never been easier.

The days of huddling over a small PC screen to share a favorite clip or video will soon be a distant memory, as Internet content makes the leap to center stage in the evolving living room landscape. Whether for work or play consumers can browse the Internet, watch online video, or edit spreadsheets on a widescreen TV from the comfort of their couch.

The GREAT news: Thanks to IOGEAR, finding a wireless solution has never been easier or more affordable. Our Wireless Audio / Video Kit is a user friendly and all-in-one solution which can help you bring your wireless digital lifestyle up to date – all at an affordable price point of under $300. With three easy adapters and a few simple steps, eliminating the clutter of wires and bring your living room into the digital future is within reach!

What’s the first thing YOU’D want to stream from your PC to your TV screen? Movies…video clips….or something else? Let us know!

Don’t forget to enter this month’s competition over at Twitter, where we’re giving away a USB Laptop KVM Switch. Entering is as simple as following us on Twitter and retweeting all messages that mention the March competition. Good luck!

Cheers
The IOGEAR team

No two days in the life of an installer are ever the same. Whether you’re outfitting a raucous sports bar with the latest flatscreen TVs, equipping a family of four with a solution that will work for Jimmy’s playstation, Dad’s high-definition TV AND Mom’s Wii Fit, or simply hooking a customer up with his dream AV set-up, every day is a new challenge.

We here at IOGEAR salute the installers! Without these everyday heroes supporting our every entertainment whim, we may never be able to effortlessly switch between web and TV, wirelessly control several computers or sync all of our AV equipment, all with the help of artfully concealed switches and control centers.

So what’s in your friendly installer’s bag of tricks? Our IOGEAR product portfolio helps simplify and streamline installers’ lives with a selection of customizable solutions for all spaces – from stadiums to studios.

Our selection of KVM switches range from 2 to 16 port, and give installers the freedom to design an easy solution based on the needs of the customer. From business control centers to living rooms jam-packed with entertainment equipment, each switch is a vital installer tool and gives them the freedom to meet any AV needs.

Dreaming of a cozy family scene around your high-definition TV? The installer can also play a part in making complete convergence between home electronics and home computing a reality.  By leveraging IOGEAR’s HDMI Control Center, an installer can design an all-in-one solution for convenience and functionality – making flipping from your set-top box, to your DVD player/Blu-Ray player to a personal computer and back again, as easy as the flip of a switch.

IOGEAR is proud to bring the installer community the latest and greatest tools as they continue to make our AV and convergence dream come true!

To our installer friends – what’s been YOUR biggest project? And how else can we help you in your everyday work life?

Don’t forget to enter this month’s competition over at Twitter, where we’re giving away a USB Laptop KVM Switch. Entering is as simple as following us on Twitter and retweeting all messages that mention the March competition. Good luck!

Cheers
The IOGEAR team

Congratulations to our lucky February winner, @djh_artist, who will be able to celebrate Earth Day in style this year with a Solar Bluetooth Hands-Free car kit!

For all of you eco-warriors out there who are green with envy, don’t worry – IOGEAR will continue to give away highlights from our green product portfolio until Earth Day. If you had your heart set on getting the Solar Bluetooth Hands-Free car kit, you still can purchase your own via our reseller partners or on our e-store directly.

MARCH COMPETITION ANNOUNCEMENT!!

This month, one lucky Twitter follower will be grabbing our USB Laptop KVM Switch, one of the latest portable innovations from IOGEAR.  Leveraging the convenience of an all-in-one USB cable, the USB Laptop KVM Switch allows you to easily work and switch between two computers on one monitor and file transfer between the two computers connected. Cutting down on unnecessary wires and inflated power bills, the Laptop KVM Switch is a multi-tasker’s best friend!

As a reminder, entering is as easy as these three simple steps…

• Follow us on Twitter
• Re-tweet any message that mentions the March competition
• Cross your fingers!

For all the folks who tweeted the February contest but did not win – you are welcome to re-tweet the March round and try again. IOGEAR will be announcing a March winner at the end of the month. For full rules of entry and other legal jargon click here.

Find out more about IOGEAR’s GREEN initiative, and stay tuned for more exclusive announcements and offers in the run-up to Earth Day.

This week we watched in fascination as Chatroulette fever took the teen nation by storm.

For anyone not living with a technology-crazed teen, or who hasn’t suffered a bout of insomnia in front of a computer screen recently, Chatroulette is a Russian based video chat service that brings you face-to-face, via webcam, with an endless stream of random strangers all over the world. With a few clicks, you could be talking to music enthusiasts in South Africa, swapping cookery tips with viewers in Paris or just shooting the breeze with new friends in Belgium – all for free!

While swapping pleasantries with random strangers may not be everyone’s idea of a good time (and certainly not an advised activity for your teen), it got us here at IOGEAR thinking: is this the future of the internet, or its demise? Either way, it shows us one thing very clearly – our attention spans are getting shorter and shorter. We need constant stimuli to keep us interested.

Luckily, we here at IOGEAR have long understood this theory of multitasking. From our HD Matrix Switch with Remote, which allows you to switch between up to five of your favorite devices with a simple remote control, to our selection of KVM switches, which allow you to control multiple computers using one keyboard, monitor and mouse, IOGEAR products offer enough options and flexibility to satisfy even the itchiest remote trigger finger.

So whether it’s switching between YouTube videos, the latest Xbox 360 shoot-em-up or movies on your HDTV, we can help provide the kind of variety that keeps your entertainment center new and fresh each time you return – no webcam and strangers required!

Don’t forget about our Twitter competition! You could win a Solar Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit for the ultimate multitasking and charging on the go!

Entering is as easy as…

1. Follow us on Twitter
2. Retweet any message that mentions the competition
3. Cross your fingers!

IOGEAR will be announcing a February winner at the end of the month.

Are YOU a multitasker? How many windows do you have open right now? Let us know!

Cheers
The IOGEAR team

With WiFi and 3G (and now 4G) getting all of the attention recently, we don’t think about Bluetooth very often. According to Wikipedia:

“Bluetooth is an open wireless protocol for exchanging data over short distances (using short length radio waves) from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks (PANs). … It can connect several devices, overcoming problems of synchronization.”

The last time Bluetooth received significant media buzz was when several states decided to pass a law outlawing cell phone usage while driving. This sparked a surge in Bluetooth usage and sales, putting the technology once again in the spotlight.

At IOGEAR, we have taken the technology to another level, by adding solar technology to the mix with our Solar Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit, stirring up a bit of buzz during CES 2010.

For a hands on, in-depth review, take a look at this blog post by TechBucketBlog.com.

Even before this innovation, IOGEAR has been utilizing bluetooth technology to help our users improve their digital lives. Let’s take a look at a few our Bluetooth enabled devices and how they can improve your experiences.

Bluetooth 2.1 USB Micro Adaptor

This award winning device is about the size of an adult fingernail, allowing your non-Bluetooth enabled computers to now utilize the benefits of bluetooth connectivity, such as: wirelessly communicating with other Bluetooth-enabled computers, printers, PDAs, cell phones, headsets at a rang of up to 30 feet (10 meters).

This little guy also supports a myriad of services including A2DP stereo audio wireless streaming. No worries about backward compatibility either, as this device also supports the Bluetooth 1.1 & 1.2 specifications.

Bluetooth Stereo Audio Transmitter

Have you ever been at the gym working out, listening to music on your mp3 player, and end up getting a wire caught in something? We feel your pain. This device allows you to go wireless with a variety of music and audio sources such as the iPod, iPhone, various MP3 payers, computers, home stereos and on and on …

The device features a 3.5 standard jack with a range of up to 33 feet (10 meters) allowing connectively with most modern devices. The built-in rechargeable battery gives you up to 6 hours of continuous operation. That should hold you through a few workouts.

Bluetooth in Your Life

If you want to explore what can be done with Bluetooth technology further, take a look at this article from Accenture.com that talks about six cool uses for Bluetooth beyond the desktop. Now that it is on your mind, how has Bluetooth technology effected the way you interact with your devices? What Bluetooth enabled devices do you own?

As Earth Day approaches, we here at IOGEAR have green on the brain and we want to help YOU get leaner, greener and more streamlined this spring! Read on for tips on how to cut down your electronic waste, as well as exclusive competition details where you can win some of our greenest products!

Helping to sustain the environment is about more than just recycling – it’s about making intelligent purchases and streamlining your electronics to avoid waste. Minimizing your eco footprint is easy with products designed to work with your entertainment systems – and IOGEAR provides easy and flexible solutions to keep things simple and cut down on unnecessary waste.

IOGEAR’s commitment to green products is at the heart of our business. From flexible KVM switches which allow the user to control their system using just one keyboard and mouse and reduces energy consumption to the Solar Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit for clean, green charging on the go, IOGEAR combines the latest in environment technology with products that work for your everyday life.

EXCLUSIVE COMPETITION!!!!

To celebrate the approach of Earth Day, IOGEAR will be giving away some of our best and brightest green products exclusively to Twitter followers each month until April!

First up is the Solar Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit. This road-companion harnesses solar energy to enable you to wirelessly place and receive calls on your Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone while keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the steering wheel when driving.

Entering is as easy as…

1. Follow us on Twitter
2. Retweet any message that mentions the competition
3. Cross your fingers!

IOGEAR will be announcing a February winner at the end of the month, so get Tweeting!

For full rules of entry and other legal jargon click here.

Find out more about IOGEAR’s GREEN initiative, and stay tuned for more exclusive announcements and offers in the run-up to Earth Day.

What will YOU be doing to celebrate Earth Day 2010?

It won’t have escaped the attention of any outdoor sport enthusiasts that the Winter Olympics have kicked off in Vancouver. While agile skiers, snowboarders and other cold-weather athletes compete fiercely for gold, there’s another army at work bringing you the action straight to your living room – the technology geeks.

What couch surfers might not appreciate is the full weight of technology behind the games. According to reports by CNET, powering the Winter Games requires more than 5,000 kilometers of cabling and 6,000 computers – and that’s before it even reaches your living room.

Although there may be no easy way to simplify the technology behind one of the largest events in the sports calendar, viewers at home can escape the crawl of wires and experience seamless enjoyment of the games, courtesy of IOGEAR. Solutions include the Wireless Audio/Video Kit, allowing consumers to combine audio and video streaming through one connection, cutting down on the hardware needed for the perfect entertainment setup. No additional snaking wires here to trip you up – just uninterrupted, high-quality snow action from Vancouver!

In addition, snow bunnies and chairmen of the (snow)boards can benefit from IOGEAR’s recently announced Wireless HD Kit in the AVIOR Series, helping to eliminate home theater clutter even further. This new kit can wirelessly transmit up to 100 feet through walls your Blu-ray / DVD players, DVR / Set-top box, VHS players, computers and media servers / Home Theater PC’s to HDTV’s or projectors. Whether you’re replaying the highlights or jumping online for ‘web TV’ to get a close-up on the best shred, it’s all seamless and customized with you in mind.

As part of IOGEAR’S AVIOR product series, the Wireless HD Kit is part of a broad product suite, which enables entertainment enthusiasts to bridge the gap between the computer and home entertainment center, providing internet on TV as part of a customized solution. From crime dramas to curling, and from PC to TV, IOGEAR has you covered this winter season!

For more information on IOGEAR items online, visit www.iogear.com.

Cheers,
The IOGEAR Team

Are your holiday gadget gifts still uninstalled? Or worse … still in the box? Have you begun the installations only to find a key cable missing? Are your new gadgets gathering dust alone, dying to be connected and used?

At IOGEAR, we’re here to help! Read on for ideas on how to use our many devices designed to connect, de-clutter, enhance or just help your gadgets reach a new level of cool.

HDMI

HDMI is a high quality interface designed to work with devices such as AV receivers, cable boxes, DVD & Blu-ray Disc players, PCs and video game consoles to HDTVs and computer monitors. HDMI supports HD video and up to 8 channels of digital audio. You can easily make the switch from DVI to HDMI or vice versa with an adaptor without any loss of video quality.

If you are still connecting your devices with a VGA, coaxial, S-video or component video cable, you are missing out on greater quality and aren’t maximizing the potential of your devices. The bad news: a HDMI cable is not always included with your device. The good news: IOGEAR has a variety of HDMI cables to suit your needs, just click this link and choose the “Cables” check box to view our selection.

Matrix Switch Box

Are you overrun with HD source devices – video game console, PCs, set top boxes from cable and satellite providers, DVRs, Blu-ray or DVD players? If so, then you will appreciate the ability to switch between up to five of your favorite devices with a simple remote control using our HD Matrix Switch with Remote. To make life even easier you can even switch between the devices among 2 HDTVs. There’ll be no more crouching down to move fiddly cables around, and no more reasons to leave the couch – ever!

KVM Switch

If you have more than one computer, then a KVM switch might be the answer to simplifying your computing experience. KVM is an abbreviation for Keyboard, Video and Mouse and is a device that allows you to control multiple computers using one keyboard, monitor and mouse. For example, a user could control their desktop and then switch over to their Netbook using the same keyboard, monitor and mouse attached to the KVM.

To make the process of choosing the right KVM for your specific needs simple, we at IOGEAR have put together an easy KVM product selector. Go to this link and click the “KVM Product Selector” banner to the left to get started.

Printer and Storage Server

If you’re adding a new computer to your network, there’s no need to clutter life even more with additional computer-specific printers and external hard drives. Why not share the resources you currently have? With a printer and storage server you can do just that.

You can even attach a portable card reader to make it easy to share your photos and videos around the home. Plug in a USB hub into the server to add more devices to share among some or all of your computers – and banish sneakernet forever!

Your Solutions & Questions

Here at IOGEAR we want to know how YOU currently deal with connectivity issues between your various gadgets. Have you gone wireless? Are you confused about the various options? Do you have some creative uses for the devices mentioned above? Let us know in the comments below, on FaceBook or via Twitter.

Following our glimpse of everything great and good at CES 2010, it’s time to cast an eye towards some exciting developments in the TV market. Hot off the heels of Toshiba’s recent announcement of their brand new state-of-the-art CELL TV, the consumer electronics industry is buzzing with speculation on the future of the humble television.

Toshiba’s CELL TV technology promises an enhanced picture quality and precise image accuracy by sampling multiple frames and restoring the native pre-sampling signal curve – put simply, providing more brightness, more contrast, more detail and more 3D capability.

For anyone lucky enough to be planning a purchase or even for those satisfied with their current entertainment system, here at IOGEAR we provide the perfect accessory so that your pride and joy works seamlessly within your living room, bedroom or any room in the house. The 4-Port HDMI Control Center provides complete convergence between home electronics and computing, allowing you to stream your content directly to one screen.

The 4-Port HDMI Control Center respects your viewing quality – in fact, it’s designed specifically to enhance your viewing experience, whether you’re watching a high definition movie, browsing the internet or sharing photos with family and friends. The center comes fully equipped with IOGEAR’s Display Emulation Technology, which reads and remembers the specifications of your display, cutting down on delay or changes in video resolution when switching between devices.

For wire-free enjoyment of your latest TV, the 2.4GHz Multimedia Keyboard with Laser Trackball and Scroll Wheel adds the finishing touch. Perfect for home theater PC setups or the home entertainment enthusiast, this slim keyboard allows you to type in comfort from any angle in the room and operates with lightning fast cursor speeds of up to 1200 dpi. Slim and ergonomic, it’s a must have for anyone looking to compliment their PC to TV solution.

For more information on IOGEAR items online, visit http://www.iogear.com.

The TV revolution is coming – one pixel at a time! Will YOU be ready?

Cheers,
The IOGEAR Team