MediaGate has announced the release of its MG-450HD entertainment server, offering both wireless and wired streaming of high definition video, music, and photos directly from a networked PC or USB stick to HDTV.

The unit can also be fitted with an additional hard drive for local storage of multimedia.

It works over 802.11g Wi-Fi networks, HDMI output, plus composite, S-Video, and component video outputs, plus stereo, optical/coaxial digital, and 5.1 analogue audio outputs.

Available now for $229 (around £140)

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I can't get particularly excited about HDMI cables, but IXOS has launched the XPP158 aimed specifically at PS3 users who want a decent high definition picture from their games and movies.

Naturally, it meets the full HDMI v1.3a 1080p specification, features 24k gold-plated connectors, a patented four-layer PC board in the plug to minimise far end crosstalk, has Pure Crystal Oxygen-Free Copper conductors, dual moulded strain relief, and high-density cable jacket and braiding. Its black-grey plugs are also aesthetically matched to the PS3.

Price to be confirmed.

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LINDY has announced its smallest HDMI switch to date. The two port unit can fit into the palm of a hand, allows two high definition source to be connected to a TV or projector.

The switch is HDCP compliant, supports 1080p and multichannel audio, can accommodate cable runs up to 30 metres, has a remote control unit for easy switching, and costs just £49.99.

Available now.

LINDY

D-BOX Technologies, developers of the D-BOX Motion Code system, has announced that it has struck a deal with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to trial their system on the forthcoming Blu-ray title "The 6th Day".

This will mean that anyone having compatible D-BOX motion generation equipment will be able to enjoy motion perfectly synchronised to the film.

Wiring is an unexciting but essential element of a home cinema set up, and LINDY has introduced a set of flat, white HDMI cabling which should make it easier to blend or hide them in the background.

Just 3mm thick, these flat cables are fully HDMI 1.3 compliant, and feature hardened 24K gold plated connectors and double shielded, high intensity twisted pair cabling. They're available in one, two, and five metre lengths.

“With more companies following Apple’s lead in stylish design it can be frustrating to spend time and money setting up an installation only to have the effect ruined by thick dark coloured cables,” comments Stephen Fawcett, Senior Product Manager of LINDY Electronics. “Flat, white cables not only make it easier to hide them out of sight, they have the added advantage that even where they are visible, at least they blend in with users’ equipment.”

IXOS has announced the availability of their Overture range of sculptural wall mounts for large flat screen TVs.

These are full motion flat screen mounts, offering the IXOS Easy Touch system which allows easy adjustment of even heavy TVs. The large stand can accommodate up to 65-inch screen sizes, and is constructed from die-cast aluminium and steel. The stands also feature built-in cable management, and can be extended, angled, and tilted to suit the viewer.

The stand's arms can be extended to allow the TV to be pulled away from the wall. Easy Touch features a patented counterbalanced design to allow for smooth, effortless movement.

The stands are pre-assembled in the box, hence they are quick to fix to the wall and then mount the TV. All Overture mounting brackets feature an easy-levelling system which allows users to easily adjust the bracket to make sure the TV set is perfectly level, even if the holes in the wall aren't quite level.

The XHM468 Large, for up to 65-inch or 90kg screens, costs £449.99, while the XHM464 Medium will accommodate up to 48-inch or 70kg screens, and costs £349.99.

IXOS

Though Philips may currently have the monopoly on built-in mood lighting, thanks to its much touted Ambilight system, Illuminaire has launched a range of flat TV ambient lighting which can be installed in any home theatre set-up.

Ultra-thin LED wands offer a variety of options including full-spectrum colour changing, powerful 130 degree light dispersal, strobe lights, a "breathing" sleep mode, and remote control.

They're available in 14 and 23 inch lengths, and have a life expectancy of 50,000 hours.

The PLX312 is a 2 x 14" solid state unit suitable for TV units between 17 and 32 inches, and costs £124.99, while the PLX318 2 x 23" unit is sutable for 32 to 60 inch sets and costs £169.99.

Illuminaire

I'm sorry... I know that memory cards aren't exactly exciting, and the title really has given much of the game away.

Basically, SanDisk is concerned that people keep choosing the wrong type of flash memory card for their camcorder, or at best, getting a bit confused.

That's why they're launching their bright red range of SanDisk SDHC and Memory Stick PRO Duo cards, which clearly state not only the storage capacity, but the recording time available.

Sony has expanded its range of Memory Stick products with the introduction of its 16GB Memory Stick PRO Duo media.

Sony is pushing it as the ideal companion to their new Handycam camcorders, which utilise the AVCHD video compression technology, claiming that up to 110 minutes of high definition video can be recorded in 1920 mode, and almost six hours in 1440 LP mode.

The Memory Stick PRO format has Mark2 certification, which means that it meets the standard for higher writing speeds, and is suitable for use with equipment that uses the AVCHD format.

Available from March, priced at around US$300.

More HD news from CES | Tech Digest CES coverage

Gefen has announced the availability of their TV Signal Generator, designed to offer home cinema system installers a portable way of testing video displays in real-time.

Nearly 40 video testing patterns including HDCP verification, three audio testing signals, a sine-wave formation and 35 timing settings are accessible through the unit's LCD display menu. These features enable a complete evaluation and calibration of HDTV systems, offering an easy method of locating where problems lie so they may be eliminated.

The unit comes equipped with supplemental RCA and TOSlink audio inputs in addition to the HDMI output, and supports the measurement of both standard and high definition video formats including PAL and NTSC. An overscan option is included when working with undersized video.

Available for US$699, and supplied with a six-foot HDMI cable, six-foot RCA cable, and 5v power supply.

(Via eCoustics)

Supra has introduced its HF100 HDMI cables, fully 1080p and HDMI 1.3 compliant, and available for £49.99 for a one metre cable, then £7.50 per metre up to six metres in length.

Supra manufactures their cables in-house, and offer ultra-wide bandwidth, efficient signal transfer, and impedance stable digital pairs.

Supra Cables

LINDY has come up with a solution to the potential problem of HDMI cables easily pulling out from equipment. Their HDMI Connector Lock is a thermoplastic gadget which easily slips over the cable ending when warm, then cools to provide a tight grip. It is supplied with a built-in thumbscrew, which can be fitted to a compatible wall plate or any device which already has a fixing screw.

"“Unlike DVI and VGA cables, which allow the user to lock the connection into place, HDMI cables have nothing,”" commented Stephen Fawcett, Senior Product manager of LINDY Electronics. “"When you consider that most HDMI installations involve cable runs to the ceiling or wall plates that are open to accidental knocking, not being able to secure the connection in some way is obviously a problem.”"

The gizmo is designed primarily for use with LINDY's Premium Gold HDMI cables.

A pack of two Connector Locks costs £4.99.

Lindy

Mains power accessories aren't the most exciting things going — I'd put them right there with HDMI and audio cables for the "Wow!" factor — but there's little doubt that the UK's mains electricity supply is "dirty" and can introduce noise and signal degradation to any audio-visual equipment connected to it.

Enter the likes of TCI, who have introduced their Baby Constrictor Mains Power Block, a four-way 13-amp UK mains distribution block which filters mains noise and reduces outgoing radiated noise.

Sonic improvements include more detail, bigger sound stage, better dynamics and a deeper bass. Because of the quieter noise floor, low level detail and micro dynamics are also improved.

The unit features 8 x PTFE insulated Silver-plated copper conductors, capable of 40 amps at 500 volts RMS, and has a braided construction for RF rejection and filtering. It also has Polyolefin outer insulation and external Nylon66 braid for abrasion resistance.

It may not look like the most attractive device in the world, but then hopefully it will be tucked away behind your cabinet, just doing its job.

It comes in standard lengths. A unit with a 1.5m cord costs £99.99, 2.0m £119.99, 2.5m £139.99, 3.0m £159.99.

TCI Cables

Sling Media has announced two new ‘Slingboxes’ for the UK market – the Slingbox PRO and Slingbox SOLO.

Both devices mimic the Slingbox range in enabling ‘place-shifting’ TV, which allows users to control their home cable, satellite or digital video recorder on a range of displays including laptops and smart phones, anywhere they can access the Internet.

Lindy Electronics has brought out a Mini HDMI adapter to cater for the latest generation of high-definition camcorders and notebook computers that are using Mini HDMI (type C) connectors.

Although Mini HDMI connectors are appropriate for these kinds of devices, it can be a hassle for users who only have a single HDMI connection on their screen.

The HDMI female to Mini HDMI male adapter allows a standard HDMI cable with a male plug to be connected to a device with a Mini HDMI input – the adapter is also fully HDMI compliant.

IXOS has announced its Studio range of high performance yet competitively priced HDMI cables, which come available in four widely used cable lengths.

HDMI is almost essential for transferring high-definition images between sources and screens and the Studio range meets the latest v.1.3 specification, which is capable of carrying full HD 1080p signals.

Toshiba is expanding its line up of HD DVD-ROM capable notebooks to offer one of the most comprehensive collections of high-definition mobile computers.

The five HD DVD enabled notebooks cover a range of price points and screen sizes. All models feature high-definition widescreen displays with either 720p or 1080p resolutions and sizes ranging between 15.4in to 17in.

The five new models are the Qosmio ® G45, Qosmio F45, Satellite ® X205, Satellite P205, and Satellite A205 and prices start as low as around £600. All notebooks can be connected to a large screen HDTV via an HDMI output with support for up to 1080p signals.

Computer chip manufacturer, Intel has announced the formation of a promoter group to develop the next generation of USB connections. The group also includes HP, Microsoft, NEC, NXP semiconductors and Texas Instruments.

The next generation standard, USB 3.0 or SuperSpeed USB, is expected to support transfer rates of 4.8GB per second – 10 times faster than the current USB 2.0 standard.

That would dramatically reduce the time it takes to transfer large files such as high-definition movies – from 15 minutes to 70 seconds.

LG has supported the release of its dual format high-definition disc player with a PC featuring the same Super Blue drive, which allows users to watch both HD-DVD and Blu-ray discs.

The LX97WH is only 89mm high and is based on Intel's Bearlake platform with a dual core processor and graphics card supplied by GeForce.

Although LG's hybrid BH200 disc player will be shipped worldwide there are no plans to make the dual format PC available outside of Korea.

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One of the most impressive demonstrations we saw at this year’s IFA exhibition was at the Texas Instruments DLP stand – where they were showing off the latest 3D TV technology.

The display creates two independent images for viewer’s left and right eyes. The two images are then displayed alternately at 60 frames per second while specialised glasses synchronised by the TV stops the right eye viewing the left eye image and so on.

The brain then combines the two images to perceive a single picture in three-dimensions.