Messed Opportunities

What about the rest of that mess behind my cabinet? I see a few glimmers of hope. Sometime in early 2007, Gefen plans to ship (for $499) its Wireless for HDMI Extender, which will beam high-definition 1080i TV signals from your cable or satellite box to a screen up to 30 feet away. Gefen also has a USB hub and a wireless VGA extender in the works, due out at the same time.

Meanwhile, the HomePlug Powerline Alliance wants you to stream video and audio via the wires inside your walls, which will support transfer levels of over 100 mbps, the group says. But consumer electronics with HomePlug tech won't be out for at least a year, say spokespeople for Intellon, maker of HomePlug devices. Some Wi-Fi experts say that 200-mbps 802.11n networks are the answer, but the n standard won't be final for a while. Don't expect any n-enabled electronics gear to appear before the dust settles.

Once again, I'm forced to play the waiting game. I know the glorious wireless future will one day dawn; I just hope I'm still alive--and sane enough to enjoy it.

Contributing Editor Dan Tynan is the author of Computer Privacy Annoyances (O'Reilly Media, 2005). You can send him e-mail at gadgetfreak@pcworld.com.