ZeroWire 2.0: Wireless 1080p for less than $50 per device

by Richard Lawler, posted Dec 3rd 2008 at 10:27AM

Apparently through with its legal issues, Tzero's decided now is the time to show its second generation UWB-based wireless HDMI technology. ZeroWire 2.0 is sending out 1080p (24/56/30/60fps) video with 16ms or less "sub-frame latency" suitable for lag-free high definition gaming, 7.1 audio support, and 480Mbps transfer rate with ranges of greater than 20 meters. The most important number is a $50 per unit price, with all that wireless magic performed via UltraMIMO signal technology and h.264 compression (replacing the old JPEG2000 system seen in Hitachi's Wooo HDTVs and Gefen wireless extenders) in the TZC7200 chipset. Impress Watch caught one of the demos currently going on in Japan and were told this is well below the price of other technologies like Wireless HD and WHDI, while enjoying wirelessly connected gaming on conveniently located PlayStation 3 consoles. With the previous generation's external antennas also getting the ax, we'll see if a leaner, cheaper technology can stand up to the competition (and convince us there's a reason to play Rock Band from way across the room) next year.

[Via Tzero]

Filed under: Other hardware, Hitachi, Others

Tags: gefen, h.264, hitachi, jpeg2000, tzero, ultramimo, uwb, wireless hdmi, WirelessHdmi, zero wire, zero wire 2.0, ZeroWire, ZeroWire2.0

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Erwos @ Dec 3rd 2008 10:48AM

If this pans out, it could be huge. Imagine integrating these chips into CE devices...

Neutral

FreeRange @ Dec 3rd 2008 11:35AM

You have to imagine every vendor wants the cost of manufacturing their product as low as possible. If they can either install an HDMI port for oh-so-many dollars or build this into it for even 3x oh-so-many dollars, I would imagine they'll go with HDMI only and just leave it on the consumer to buy the "sub $50 cost per device" units if they want them. Speaking of which, "cost" isn't the word usually used for the price to consumers so depending on where that picture is from and who the audience was, this could be an expensive addition to a CE device.

It'd be great to see this sort of thing catch on just because but you'll see more competitors before you see many major CE manufacturers building them into things. And if only one or two build them in, their products are now more expensive. The silly part? I would think the part that plugs into the television takes up a video plug anyway so it's only valuable if you really want that device somewhere other than beside your television. It's great tech though but better as standalone. (Or be sure it's built into TVs first...?)

And for anyone who might want to hit me with "economies of scale" and how this won't be that pricey if enough CE manufacturers use them, just remember that no matter how low the price is, it's still cheaper not to use them and, so far, not having these has worked out just fine.

Neutral

GhostDoggy @ Dec 3rd 2008 1:49PM

It seems rather silly, no? I mean, MPEG-2 1080i/720P is about 19.2 Mbps compressed. If you go 1080P and use MPEG-4 (h.264) its about the same. an UWB providing 480Mbps wireless transmission can only transmit compressed streams as uncompressed is on the order of 1-2 Gbps.

I think I will stick with my $7-15 15-foot HDMI cables from Monoproce.

Neutral

bull3964 @ Dec 3rd 2008 11:24AM

Screw using it to connect components in the same room. That 20m range means I only have to get one HD cable box from verizon to get HD on TVs in any other room in the house. Considering that the HD box costs $10 /month, that pays for itself in less than half a year.

Neutral

Charles @ Dec 3rd 2008 11:55AM

You'd have to be tuned to the same channel though.

Highly Ranked

Maxx @ Dec 3rd 2008 11:45AM

I would have more confidence in the company if they didnt use the term Blu-ray DVD.

Neutral

Mottssauce @ Dec 3rd 2008 12:07PM

Blu-Ray DVD is technically correct. It is still a digital video disc.

Neutral

bull3964 @ Dec 3rd 2008 12:20PM

DVD doesn't actually stand for anything. People have attached "Digital Video Disc" or "Digital Versatile Disc" to the letters to form an acronym, but officially the DVD trademark is simply DVD with no additional meaning behind it. At one point, it was defined as 'Digital Versatile Disc" but that definition never made it to any of the final press releases.

Because of that, the term Blu-ray DVD is incorrect as you are appending two wholly different trademarks to each other

Neutral

jrmtz @ Dec 3rd 2008 12:38PM

Any word on when it will actually be for sale?

Neutral

Ken @ Dec 3rd 2008 12:42PM

I think they stole the picture of the TV from Best Buy's web site.

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