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Linksys, a division of Cisco Systems has unveiled its ‘Connected Home’ concept in India, introducing products ranging from Wireless Printers, IP cameras, gaming adaptors, wireless-G Music Bridge and Wi- Fi routers.
The Linksys Connected Home Concept is designed to allow various systems and devices in a home, to communicate and integrate with each other, so people may share multimedia anytime, anywhere at home. For example, the Linksys Music Bridge (WMB54G) lets users wirelessly stream Internet music services and music from PCs, onto their Home entertainment center. The gaming adapter will allow users to connect their gaming consoles to their PCs, while the Internet cameras will enable users to send live video via the Internet, anywhere in the world. The print server will allow users to share a printer without running wires from one room to another.

According to Linksys, “With broadband penetration in India breaking new barriers everyday, the connected home is fast becoming a reality for the average Indian. The solution overall is cost effective as well. A wireless router can cost between Rs 4000 to Rs 6000 depending on the range needed. Most notebooks would have built in wireless capabilities, and each PC would require a wireless adapter, costing Rs 2000 or so. With LinkSys products, various gadgets can be connected in the home network, depending on different needs.”

The pricing for the Linksys Connected Home products is listed as below:Wireless-G Printer Server (WPS54G): Rs 6,600Wireless-G PTZ Internet Camera (WVC200): Rs 19,900Compact Wireless-G Internet Video Camera( WVC54GC): Rs 8,900Wireless-G Gaming adapter (WGA54G): Rs. 5,900Wireless-G Music Bridge (WMB54G):5900

Linksys also unveiled three wireless routers — The Linksys Compact all in one Wireless-G broadband router with a wireless wireless access point which allows users to connect Wireless G (802.11gat 54 Mbps) and Wireless B(802.11 at 11 Mbps) devices to the network. It also features a built-in 4 port full duplex 10/100 switch to connect wired Ethernet devices together. The router function ties all these together, to let users share a high speed cable or DSL connection.

The next product is the Three-in-one Wireless-N Broadband Router. The access point built into a router uses the latest wireless networking technology, Wireless N (draft 802.11N). By overlaying the signals of multiple radios, Wireless N’s “Multiple–In Multiple-Out” (MIMO) technology multiplies the effective data rate. The MIMO technology uses signal reflections to increases the range and reduce ‘dead spots’ in the wireless coverage area.With wireless–N, the farther away you are, the more speed advantage you get. Wireless N technology is backward compatible but when both ends of the wireless link are Wireless N, the router can increase the throughput by using twice as much radio band, offering speeds up to 12 times as fast as standard Wireless G.

Linksys also enables easy setting up of wireless network via its SecureEasySetup (SES). The system enters complicated configuration settings automatically eliminating the need to manually enter them. Linksys says “Configuring a system is more because an encrypted channel of communication is established between the router and access point. This eliminates any possibility of a hijacker intercepting the codes.”

The Linksys wireless access point with push button SES lets users connect Wireless G (802.11b)devices to wired networks, so users can add PCs to the network without using cables.

Nokia has announced an extension of its relationship with Sony Ericsson, bringing Nokia Intellisync Wireless Email to two additional Sony Ericsson devices, the M600 and P990. Nokia Intellisync Wireless Email allows mobile professionals to enjoy a synchronized, real-time email, calendar and contacts experience on their mobile devices. The solution is available immediately.

Nokia Intellisync Wireless Email provides comprehensive wireless communications capabilities for virtually any device built on any platform. In addition, Nokia now enables operators and enterprises to deliver advanced wireless communications services including wireless email, synchronization for calendars, contacts, files, data and applications, and highly secure device management software for Sony Ericsson users.

The Sony Ericsson P990 smartphone is a Wi-Fi enabled UMTS device that boasts a 2.0 megapixel camera with autofocus and a full QWERTY keyboard beneath the flip-down alpha-numeric keypad for fast text input. The M600 is also a 3G phone, based again on the Symbian operating system, and optimized for wireless email with a dual function keyboard & large 2.6″ colour touchscreen.

The most significant product launch in Microsoft’s history culminated with the release of Windows Vista and the 2007 Office System to consumers.

The two flagship products — which were released to business customers on November 30th 2006 —will be available for consumers starting today in retail stores across thirty countries. In India specifically, Original Equipment manufacturers (OEMs) including HCL, HP, Lenovo Sahara, Wipro and Zenith are launching a range of Vista compatible PCs to provide people with the widest range of hardware options.

Windows Vista is available in four consumers editions, starting with the most expensive and feature rich to lesser expensive versions — Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows Home Premium, Windows Vista Home Basic and Windows Vista Starter. At launch Vista is being shipped in 18 languages including Hindi. Among the Indian languages, support for 13 more Indian languages including Telugu and Marathi, is expected by early 2008. Microsoft 2007 Office System with an all new intuitive user interface includes two consumer editions — Office Home & Student 2007 and Office Basic 2007.

According to Microsoft, Vista is priced comparably to Windows XP. For example, Windows Vista Home Basic is priced the same as Windows XP Home. Genuine Windows Vista loaded PCs in India will retail at a starting price of Rs. 22,000 while the pricing for the Microsoft 2007 Office consumer editions starts at Rs. 6000.

There has been a significant involvement in developing the product from Microsoft India Development Centre (MSIDC) and involvement from engineers at the Indian Global Technical Support Centre (GTSC) in the Beta phase of the product.

Users of Video sharing site, YouTube.com will soon be able to access Christian sermons on worship services, due to the efforts by Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.
According to the Telegraph (UK), the Church of England aims to counter the dwindling presence of youth and churchgoers with its ‘Fresh Expression initiative’ to reach the Internet generation via YouTube. The church also plans to upload another video on YouTube later this month, urging other churches to adopt the contemporary style of their services.

Church of England has lost nearly eight per cent of its worshipers between 2000 and 2002. Since YouTube sees upto100 million clips daily and over 20 million visitors each month, Rev Steve Croft, team leader of Fresh Expressions, says the popular video sharing site could provide the perfect way to reach teenagers.

Also, the Bishop of Lichfield has posted a message YouTube to encourage more people to attend Sunday services. He also called for support for a national Back to Church Sunday campaign in September which will invite local people to give their churches another try.

The founders of revolutionary Internet telephony firm Skype unveiled a test version of an online television service on Wednesday that will be free to users.
Niklas Zennstrvm and Janus Friis said they “combined the best of TV and the best of the Internet” in a venture called Joost to enable people to watch television online with “choice, control and flexibility.”
Joost was a “piracy-proof” Internet platform based on the open-source Mozilla web browser and was crafted to guarantee copyright protection for creators and owners of content, according to its founders.
“People are looking for increased choice and flexibility in their TV experience, while the entertainment industry needs to retain control over their content,” said Joost chief executive Fredrik de Wahl.
“With Joost, we’ve married that consumer desire with the industry’s interests.”
Luxembourg-based Joost claimed to be the first global television distribution platform that brought content owners, advertisers, and audiences together in an interactive, community-driven environment.