Up and Coming Gadgets

So it’s that time of the year again for writing up our Xmas lists for Santa! Us gadget junkies will undoubtedly have a few gadgets on the list. The standard music player (iPod, … umm, Zune), personal navigation device (HP Travel Companion is actually pretty cool and works like a charm), or gaming device (Sony PSP, HP/Voodoo Blackbird PC, Xbox360, etc.) seem a little passé , although I’m sure they’ll all do well this holiday season.

One particular theme that I’m seeing come up a lot as of lately are networked entertainment systems in the home and in the car. In the home, networked entertainment systems enabling the distribution and viewing of multiple media/content types over wired and wireless physical interfaces appear to be coming into their own, albeit still in an early adopter phase but we’re seeing the retailers carrying the various components readily and their sales teams more comfortable with pitching them. I personally have HP’s MediaSmart Home Server at home with all of my digital content (music, movies, and photos…as well as primary backup for all PCs and laptops) that can be viewed on my big screen TV over a DMA (digital media adapter) device which converts the digital content to the appropriate analog format to view on the TV. We’ll see more sophistication in the componentry and hopefully proportional simplification for setup, operation, and management of the in-home network. This will also lead to further adoption by not only consumers but cable operators and other network operators in cooperation with content publishers and developers.

However a new slant on networked entertainment systems is in-vehicle systems that include wired and wireless interfaces for connecting multiple components. The connections range from iPod system connectors integrating them into the in-car radio and nav systems (check out www.crutchfield.com for a few varieties tailored to the specific vehicle) to Bluetooth wireless interfaces for cellphones and music players for piping music over the in-car speaker system. We’ve seen the random SUV or minivan on the road with small screens behind seats, on the roof headliner, or on the dashboard for displaying DVD movies.

I’ve been on the beta program for Dash Networks who is nearing commercialization of a GPS nav device with a built-in GPRS radio as well as WiFi that enables updated traffic information and Yahoo! Local content while on the go. The Yahoo! Local is pretty good and provides the all-important personalized content related to my location, such as where is the nearest Starbucks or pizza joint. Apart from the obvious interest in the combo of tailored Internet content and location, the as-yet unrealized potential is with the WiFi interface. Currently it’s doing firmware updates when parked in your garage at home or brought in the house. But if these devices or a common protocol for peering among such devices (Standards Bodies, how ‘bout it?) grow in numbers on the streets and highways, whether they be mobile in-vehicle or fixed roadside can be the REAL killer apps for these networks of devices!

I’ve written about peer-to-peer adhoc or mesh networks in previous blog write-ups. Might this network architecture take off mainstream with consumer applications of in-vehicle networked entertainment systems supported additionally by incumbent or new network operators (maybe a mobile entertainment MVNO riding on WiMax or 700MHz networks in the not-too-distant future) looking to deliver premium content or extending our content experiences from home (think, the mobile and in-car equivalent of SlingPlayer)? If the price, content/media catalog, and vehicle manufacturers’ new car options align, then this could be pretty interesting over the next 3-5 years.

For now, a “some assembly required” solution that I need to install in my car for taking my media on-the-go will suffice and occupy item #1 on the list to Santa. However I’m very hopeful that this will get a lot easier over the coming years. Hopefully these next gen and high-tech toys will replace ties and underwear for Christmas ;-)

What’s on your Christmas list this year?