The move to cloud computing isn’t just for businesses. At CES, home network giants D-Link and Netgear are showing a range of equipment that leverage cloud services to give consumers more access to and control over home networks–and network content–from mobile devices.
At the other end of the price/feature spectrum, the Netgear Media Storage Router (WNDR4700) bundles 2TB of storage with a fast, dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) router that supports Netgear ReadyShare and Apple Time Machine automated backups and streams media to DLNA-compatible devices as well as the Netgear Genie iOS app (which, like MyDLink, also has features enabling remote network management). Netgear’s ReadyShare technology also lets you turn any USB-connected printer into a Wi-Fi printer.
D-Link had some high-end innovations, too. The Amplifi HD Media Router 3000 (DIR-857) with SharePort Cloud boasts hardware-based quality of service technology (called HD Fuel) designed to improve streaming media performance over a Wi-Fi network.
D-Link also showed a new hybrid Wi-Fi/HomePlug AV router (DHP-1565) that can leverage both wireless and powerline technology simultaneously in order to optimize performance. D-Link’s first poweline/Wi-Fi hybrid, the DHP-1320, didn’t attempt to interface with the network using both technologies simultaneously.
An Enhanced Day & Night Network Camera, meanwhile, builds on D-Link’s existing $100 network camera by adding a microSD card slot and improved motion detection; it costs $150 and is already shipping.
D-Link also showed a nifty new accessory for tablet and smartphone users who need a way to access content stored on a thumb drive. The All-in-One Mobile Companion, about the size of a iPhone or iPad charging accessory, plugs into a standard wall outlet on one side and has USB and Ethernet ports on the other wide. It connects to your network via either Wi-Fi or Ethernet; you can then access content from a plugged-in USB drive using an Android or iOS mobile device equipped with D-Link’s free SharePort Cloud app. You can configure the app to automatically sync the content.
Netgear joined a growing parade of CES exhibitors who as inviting third-party developers to create mobile apps for their devices. The company expects to see apps that afford consumers even more fine-grained control over their network devices (assuming these are all Netgear products).
D-Link did not announce a third-party developer program, but said it planned to expand its cloud services over the coming year.
Netgear’s other product announcements address some commonplace home networking problems. The Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender (WN2500RP) extends coverage of 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi networks simultaneously (other range extenders traditionally haven’t supported both frequencies at one). Netgear also announced the Powerline 500 Nano (XAVB5101) HomePlug AV adapter, which the company bills as one of the smallest HomePlug AV adapters on the market.
