Most new homes these days come with Cat5 cabling in every room so when you decide to upgrade your devices to HD, you will be able to use that cabling to deliver HD video to your displays. How? Using Gefens HDTV Extender... the HDTV Extender uses proprietary, integrated circuitry combined with new chip technologies to send HD video over CAT5 cables, a solution that was before limited to 15 feet. The extension systems work through sender and receiver units that extend the video and is HDCP (high definition content protection) compliant, an encoded "key" engineered to protect content from unauthorized reproduction. Gefen’s HD extenders are designed to accommodate DVI and HDMI equipped components that support HD video resolutions up to 1080I (1920x1200 for computer systems). Increasingly, HD displays and projectors are utilizing either DVI or HDMI to connect to the video source via cable. Both transmit the higher resolutions of HD video, however, DVI uses a 24-pin connector while HDMI uses a smaller connector that transmits video plus multi-channel audio in one cable. HDMI is backwards compatible with DVI, making inexpensive adapter solutions available for system integration possibilities. The HDTV Extender will cost you about $500 and is available directly from Gefen.

Smarthome announced today a new home automation networking protocol, "Insteon" (pron: "instee-on"). It combines the home's existing wiring, or powerline, with radio frequency (RF) communications to deliver a secure, reliable and fast connection for automatic or remote control of lighting, security, entertainment systems, appliances, climate and more. They have been working on this technology for the past four years and the result is that it works 30 times faster than X10, which has been the home automation standard for the past 30 years. By combining the powerline with RF, Insteon offers the cost benefits and efficiencies of powerline communication and the wireless connectivity required for certain applications in or outside the home. I checked out their website, but didn't see anything mentioning Insteon. I can't wait to check it out for myself.

Compared to the standard issue Proximity Magnetic Access Cards we use today to get access to our offices, a Biometric Hand Reader looks like something from Star Trek. IR Recognition Systems has released a biometric Hand Reader that simultaneously analyzes more than 31,000 points and instantaneously records more than 90 separate measurements of an individual's hand-including length, width, thickness and surface area-to verify that the person using the device is really who he or she claims to be. The HandReader compares this information with a "template" of the individual's hand that has previously been stored in the reader, on a server or on a card. Once the person has been identified as a valid user, a door can be opened, access can be provided, or time recorded. The reading and verification process takes less than a second with impeccable reliability. I think I like this technology better than a retina scanning alternative.

I own a couple of the Axis Communication network cameras, they weren't the smallest cameras around but they are the best quality and easiest to set up. Today, Axis has released, what they claim to be "the world's smallest megapixel network camera", the 206M. It delivers clear, sharp images at resolutions of up to 1280 x 1024 pixels, and can also produce HDTV 16:9 widescreen format. As the smallest megapixel network camera on the market today, the AXIS 206M can easily be placed and installed in many environments. It contains a built-in Web server, Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support and free AXIS Internet Dynamic DNS Service, connecting directly to a local network or the Internet. This camera will cost you about $400 (MSRP).

Sony unveiled a portable LCD TV that is completely wireless and is so portable it even has a built-in handle. The two models introduced are part of Sony's LocationFree Portable Broadband TV series. The flagship 12.1-inch LF-X1 model, weighs about 5 pounds with a screen resolution of 800 by 600 and will sell for $1500. The 7-inch version, the LF-X5, has a screen resolution of 800 by 480 and will be priced at $1000. Both models are scheduled to ship this fall, each bundled with a required base station.

PCWORLD.COM -- Sony's LCD TV Goes Portable
Sony Japan Press Release

I just realized that this is my first Sirius satellite receiver entry. The past weeks we've seen a lot of XM satellite devices and I've felt bad for leaving Sirius out. Sirius has a total of 184 channels vs. 120 on XM... but who's counting? That's a lot of stations either way. Anyways, if you have been holding back on satellite radio for your multiroom audio system, wait no more... the Antex SRX-3 TriplePlay gives you three zones of pure commercial free digital radio. It can be controlled via its RS-232 port (interface with your home automation controller) or infrared remote. You're going to pay a premium for this luxury, about $2000 for the SRX-3 and about $27 a month for the service ($12.95 for zone 1, $6.99 for zone 2, and $6.99 for zone 3). If you'd like to go with the lifetime subscription, you're looking at about $1500... which equals out to about a years supply of Starbuck's Tall Mint Mochas.