Netgear has released a second generation Push2TV HD TV Adapter (PTV2000), which allows users to wirelessly project Full HD movies from compatible laptops to their television. The device enables users to wirelessly stream digital files and online content in full 1080p HD.
The Netgear Push2TV HD TV Adapter is compatible with laptops featuring both current and next generation Intel Wireless Display (WiDi) technology. It can be used to stream everything from YouTube videos and HD movies to photos and music. You can also play computer games stored on your laptop and browse the web on your HD TV.
Handily, the laptop display can work independently of the TV, which means you can watch a downloaded movie on your TV while surfing the Web on your laptop, for example.
The Netgear Push2TV HD TV Adapter (PTV2000) lets you beam video content from your laptop to your TV at the press of a button.
“The ability to watch HD movies and television shows on your TV enriches the viewing experience,” said Brad Little, director of consumer channels, NETGEAR ANZ. “The second generation Push2TV Adapter provides consumers with a quick and simple way to browse the Internet and stream their favourite online videos, music and photos to their TVs in full HD.”
Some of the standout features of the Netgear Push2TV HD TV Adapter (PTV2000) include:
- Full HD 1080p – Streams video content in the highest resolution to TV.
- 30fps Video – Produces superior image quality with full motion video.
- Dual-Band Wireless Connectivity – Ensures clear picture quality by minimising wireless interference.
- Extend Mode – Enables users to browse the Internet on their laptop and wirelessly stream a movie to the TV at the same time.
- Reduced Latency – Minimises lag time between the laptop display and TV.
- Expanded Graphics Card Support – Supports laptops with Intel processor graphics alone or in configuration together with discrete graphics processors.
The Netgear Push2TV Adapter (PTV2000), is available from today for an RRP of $149.00. For more information, visit the Netgear website.
What is WiDi?
Intel's Wireless Display HD technology (or WiDi for short), does exactly what its name implies: it beams your computer or laptop display to a TV without the need for any cables. Once your TV is connected to the Push2TV receiving box (via composite video or HDMI), you press a button on your laptop to have your screen sent over to your HD TV. While originally only able to support 720p HD, the latest Netgear adapter can beam video in Full HD (1080p).
Wirelessly streaming content to your television is not a new concept, of course. Alternatives to WiDi include Boxee (a Home Theater PC specialising in online movies), Apple TV (which is tailor-made to work in conjunction with your Mac, iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad) and the media streaming functionality of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. There is also a handful of wireless TV USB adapters available, such as the Imation Link Wireless A/V Extender. Many new TVs also come with assorted online streaming features of their own.
One of the advantages of WiDi is that it uses a second Wi-Fi connection that doesn’t interfere with your home network. You also don't need to muck around with USB antennas, as the technology is already built into the laptop.
We've yet to see a review unit of the Push2TV HD TV Adapter (PTV2000), but if you're looking for a fuss-free way to gain wireless TV access to your laptop, it looks promising on paper. Just make sure your laptop is compatible first.
