Todays & Tomorrows Technology

Belkin have launched what they’re calling the first-to-market gigabit-capable Powerline adapters, promising theoretical transfer speeds of up to 1,000Mbps. Offered initially as the Belkin Gigabit Powerline HD Starter Kit, the bundle includes two single-port adapters, one for connection to your router and the other for a console, mediaplayer or HDTV.

Of course, there’s nothing stopping you from plugging an ethernet switch or hub into the remote Gigabit Powerline unit, sharing the connectivity between multiple devices. You can also buy an individual adapter, at which point Belkin say Gigle’s xtendnet system kicks in; this, it promises, boosts network stability and performance “by creating a transparent mesh network”.

The Belkin Gigabit Powerline HD adapters are compatible with existing HomePlug AV devices. The kit, F5D4076, is available now, priced at $149.99; no word on what the price will be for the individual adapters.

D-Link have announced two new network webcams which promise plug-and-play remote viewing using the company’s online streaming portal. The D-Link Network Camera DCS-1100 launches today, while the DCS-1130 – with WiFi draft-n – arrives later in the month.

Both cameras can be accessed from any browser by going to D-Link’s mydlink.com portal. However they can also be used to stream live video to cellphones, with sound from the integrated microphone and remote control of 16x digital zoom and motion detection.

Setting up the cameras is reportedly as straightforward as entering its unique ID code into the web account. Streams can be shared, though at present only Internet Explorer is supported; D-Link claim other browsers will be added shortly.

The D-Link DCS-1100 is available now, with an MRSP of $179.99. Meanwhile the DCS-1130 is expected to ship at the end of June 2009 with an MRSP of $219.99.