Cheap Wireless for Accessories 120
morcheeba writes "Yet another wireless protocol for personal computers! In addition to existing 802.11 variants, bluetooth, and ultra-low-power newcomer zigbee, Cypress semiconductor is releasing a simple low latency, low cost (<$2), medium speed (200kbit/sec) protocol with USB human interface devices (HID) compatibility. Partners include Saitek (game controllers) and NMB (keyboards & mice). EETimes has an informative article."
Let's continue.. (Score:4, Informative)
Re:wifi home (Score:2, Informative)
p.s. jk
Re:Low cost? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Low cost? (Score:3, Informative)
Only the 12" and 17" PowerBook.
The optional BlueTooth adapter Apple offers (for $50) with the 15" PowerBook is a D-Link USB adapter. Funny that they don't offer it as an option for the iBooks.
An updated 15" PowerBook with built-in BlueTooth should be announced Real Soon Now(TM).
Re:802.11 vs. Bluetooth vs. newcomers (Score:3, Informative)
It is fact that 802.11 chipsets are now cheaper than Bluetooth chipsets (and this event is recent).
802.11 is targeted towards exactly the area which Bluetoth now occupies. All that was holding it back was the price of the chipset. Now that barrier is gone you will see 802.11 replacing Bluetooth in the next generation of products. I'm talking chipsets here, so it will take a short time to flow onto the consumer market.
I've had pretty extensive discussions with one of the guys that invented [uspto.gov]802 style WLANs. His vision as always been world domination for 802.11: LANs, headsets, remote controls, TVs, light switches, toasters, ... Everything Bluetooth does (and more) is in the sights of 802.11
WirelessUSB's niche (Score:5, Informative)
It's main competition is 27 MHz proprietary technologies. It only overlaps Bluetooth in areas that Bluetooth is weak in the first place such as HID devices where Bluetooth has power management and latency issues.
Currently WirelessUSB LS will be used in point-to-point connections that do not require standards-based protocols such as wireless mice, keyboards, gamepads, remote controls, garage door openers, etc. Does anyone care if their garage door opener uses an IEEE standard?
If your devices need to interoperate with one another or you need high data rates go with another technology, but if you just need a cheap, easy-to-use low speed, short range (sub 100m), point-to-point reliable wireless connection that will not interfere with Wi-Fi traffic and can handle co-location of hundreds of devices than WirelessUSB LS is the clear winner.
Re:Yet Another (Score:3, Informative)
Re:WirelessUSB's niche (Score:3, Informative)
s/IEEE/open/ and the answer becomes "yes". An open standard would be great for the consumer. It would mean, that any car manufacturer could build a wireless opener into the dash, which would work on any brand of door. Or maybe my mobile phone could have built-in WirelessUSB and, thanks to a standard, be able to open my garage door and change channels on my TV.
Don't really understand why you say wireless mice wouldn't need a standards based protocol. I remember the headaches setting up X when several mouse protocols were prevalent.
Re:WirelessUSB's niche (Score:3, Informative)
Found the answer in the product brief. The chip set supports 128 bit encryption.
Now I really want this... :-)
Yep. Another new 'standard' (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Range??? (Score:2, Informative)
That is much better than what I get with my Logitech wireless mouse/keyboard, with comparable battery life.