March 2007

Linksys Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter

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“Only the Zyxel HomePlug AV adapters could stream high-def video perfectly… Based on our tests, we recommend HomePlug AV over other power-line technologies (and Wi-Fi) for multimedia tasks. Zyxel's gear streamed HD video best and, bought individually, cost the least.” – PC World

HomePlug AV Whitepaper: Click here.

HomePlug AV 1.0
Technology Whitepaper: Click here

3rd Powerline Communications World Asia 2007
7-8 March, 2007
Harbour Plaza Hotel, Hong Kong

CeBIT 2007
15-21 March, 2007
Hannover, Germany

Connections 2007
1-3 May, 2007
Santa Clara Convention Center

Please visit http://www.homeplug.org/

for more information about the HomePlug Alliance.

President’s Letter         
Matthew Theall, Intel Corporation

For the HomePlug Alliance and our member companies, 2007 has already jumped off to a very exciting start with our big splash at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show in January. You can read the details in the article below.

The Alliance has been moving ahead on the establishment of rigorous testing and certification processes to assure seamless interoperability of HomePlug products. Earlier this year, the HomePlug Alliance granted the "Designed for HomePlug AV" mark to 14 products from 11 different companies. Be prepared to see HomePlug AV products in the marketplace from companies like Actiontec, Asoka USA, Aztech, D-LINK, devolo AG, GigaFast, NETGEAR, LINKSYS, Intellon Corporation, Solwise, and ZyXEL .

The certification was based on tests conducted by an independent laboratory and confirmed that the products were fully compliant with the HomePlug AV specification. This represents another step by the HomePlug Alliance to help build and extend a solid ecosystem of HomePlug AV certified products and to ensure that consumers will enjoy a robust and user-friendly experience.

As we move forward in 2007, I invite all member companies and prospective members to take full advantage of the HomePlug Alliance's programs and resources. We have implemented a new member's website that allows us to work in a more collaborative fashion. Also toward that end, in future newsletters, we will be publishing contributed articles from member companies such as case studies and whitepapers on various aspects of HomePlug implementation. We plan to keep the subject matter informative, so if you are bringing products to market, it is a good opportunity to demonstrate your leadership and innovations in the development of HomePlug technology. Please contact me directly if you are interested in contributing.

Feature Story: Consumer Electronics Show
HomePlug Alliance Members Showcase Rich Line-up of Multi-source Solutions

With the slogan "Content. Technology. And everything in between," CES 2007 heralded a new age of digital entertainment where content, internet, networking, and consumer electronics combine to create a new digital world in today's living rooms, and all other rooms of the house.

In keeping with this vision, members of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance came together to create a tremendous presence at CES 2007, with a large percentage of the alliance's 70+ members displaying HomePlug products.

CES 2007 was the beginning of a whole new era in the delivery and distribution of audio/video content throughout the home. The full spectrum of inter-related products ranged from semiconductor level solutions and reference designs up through networking, content delivery, display and security products. These new products are clearly constituting an entire ecosystem of HomePlug enabled capabilities that streamlines and unifies consumer home electronics, and is laying a new foundation for the digital home.

One important highlight at CES was from Sharp, a long time Alliance BoD member. Sharp displayed a new HomePlug AV PLC Adapter transporting HDTV content to a Sharp AQUOS high-definition television. Another was the family of products designed by GigaFast Inc. that enable consumers to distribute audio around a house by using HomePlug technology. Prototypes shown by Good Way Technology will allow consumers to use an iPod powerline docking station and powerline audio adapters to connect to traditional speakers, delivering music from the iPod throughout a home over conventional electrical wiring.

Other new and exciting capabilities included audio enhancement products for improved sound through HomePlug networking, IPTV-based home security and surveillance capabilities, video processing and channel management solutions.

HomePlug chip vendors such as Intellon, Arkados, SPiDCOM, and others were showing their various implementations based on HomePlug standard technologies. It has now become clear that, as in-home communications moves from relatively low-bandwidth HTML content to latency-sensitive high-bandwidth audio and video, a key enabling factor will be the ability to leverage existing residential electrical wiring to dynamically delivered content anywhere within the home.
As shown by the impressive line-up of implementation solutions, consumer electronic products and prototypes of new emerging innovations demonstrated at CES, HomePlug Alliance members are leading the way to make that vision a reality.

CES Photo Gallery

To see more from CES, click on any of the thumbnail images above or below.

CES "Treasure Hunt"

Among the HomePlug Alliance events at CES was a "Treasure Hunt" in which lucky participants won prizes donated by HomePlug member companies. Prizes were provided by Linksys (HomePlug AV Ethernet adapters), Zyxel (HomePlug AV and HomePlug 1 Adapters), WiLife (Lukworks Security System), and GigaFast (HomePlug 1 Ethernet adapters). The winners were: Anthony Atkinson, Mark Bradshaw, Greg Evans and Nick Northrup. Congratulations to all.

HomePlug Powerline Alliance Demonstrates Interoperability of 14 HomePlug AV Products
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Arkados Acquires Aster Wireless
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Linksys Announces Availability of HomePlug AV Ethernet Kit
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