On CE - For Dealers, Distributors and OEMs of Consumer Electronics throughout EMEA

A new consortium proposes manufacturers start using its specification for the connection of mobile devices to HDTVs-- MHL (mobile high-definition link).

Optimised for mobile devices, the proposed connection uses an inexpensive thin cable with a 5-pin interface, using established connectors. It should support up to 1080p HD video and digital audio while also powering up the connected mobile device. Users will also be able to control MHL-enabled mobile devices through a MHL-enabled HDTV's remote.

Demnostrated at February's Mobile World Congress 2011, the standard's promoters includes Nokia, Samsung, Silicon Image, Sony and Toshiba. The MHL consortium is also looking for companies wanting to become adopters.

Go MHL

CE devices with embedded mobile broadband connections W.W. are up from 11m in 2009 to 22m in 2010, according to Berg Insight.

The most common device category carrying mobile connectivity remains notebooks, but tablets, e-readers and PNDs are also growing fast. Berg forecasts a CAGR of 65.2% for the next 5 years for connected CE shipments-- reaching 271m devices by 2015.

The analyst mentions such devices' becoming more available, alongside their price reductions, as key factors for connected CE's growth. The iPad also helped bring the internet tablet market into the mainstream.

In fact, 3.9m out of 17.1m tablets sold W.W. carry a mobile broadband connection.

However while consumer awareness is on the rise, chipset and module prices are decreasing, and high speed cellular networks (like LTE) are rapidly growing Berg says there's still work to do in the fields of wireless data subscriptions-- requiring a great deal of business innovation.

Go Shipments of CE Devices with Embedded Mobile Broadband Doubled in 2010

In an interview with MCV SCEE president Andrew House says the company wants its future handheld, the NGP, to have simultaneous games delivery in digital and physical formats.

House explains the reasons for this as wanting both retailers to continue being active in the business (by selling games) while customers also get to enjoy the "flexibility" of digital content access

This could also result in a hybrid approach, with big blockbuster games on physical media while small titles appearing as digital only.

The NGP uses Flash cards for content finally dropping the PSP's UMD format.

House also speaks of connectivity rates through Europe for the PS3-- Scandinavia has around 92% while some emerging territories are at around 38% range.

Go Andrew House Interview (MCV)

QEES' Smartgate Gb wifi router not only acts as a NAT and firewall, but carries most-- if not all-- connection types under the sun.

These include WAN, LAN, wifi 802.11n, Bluetooth and a plug-in interface for Z-Wave and ZigBee connections.

It also carries  2x POTS for analogue telephony, 2x external USB ports and a VoIP client, while its embedded software turns it into a smart home controller-- complete with a smart metering and home networking solution.

Go QEES Smartgate