Though it did take a bit longer than the six months Ofcom's chief technologist, Professor William Webb was hoping for, ultra-wideband has finally been given the green light in the UK. New legislation will mean that "UK users will not need a license to use UWB devices when they hit shelves in the future," and Ofcom's Chief Executive Ed Richards was quoted as saying that "where possible, we want to remove restrictions on the use of spectrum to allow the market to develop new and innovative services, such as UWB, for the benefit of consumers." So there you have it (UK-based) folks, just a few more days (August 13th, to be precise) before UWB usage is fair game on your side of the pond.

[Via The Register]

Surely bitter after being one-upped by D-Link by a matter of hours (strictly in terms of time to press, of course), Netgear is still tooting its own horn over being the second to receive the Wi-Fi Alliance's 802.11n draft 2.0 certification. The firm's first two devices to include the newfangled seal are the RangeMax NEXT Wireless-N Router Gigabit Edition (WNR854T) and the RangeMax NEXT Wireless-N Router (WNR834B; seen after the break), both of which are fully backwards compatible with the slower flavors of 802.11. Thankfully, citizens who currently own a RangeMax NEXT 802.11n Draft 1.0 product can upgrade their device free of charge via a firmware download, and Netgear even proclaims that the rest of its Wireless-N products are "being tested" and should be up to snuff soon.

Just recently, we finally heard a bit of good news from the IEEE camp in regard to 802.11n's progress, and now wireless freaks can celebrate a little more as UWB has been officially published as an ISO / IEC international standard. We've already seen a number of related certification programs, prototypes, and even products, but just a few months after edging legality in the UK, it seems the deal is done. WiMedia-based ultra-wideband technology, which is the "approved format for Wireless USB," unsurprisingly enables "short range multimedia file transfers" at data rates up to 480Mbps that operate in the UWB spectrum of 3.1 to 10.6 GHz. So while the brief rivalry was indeed entertaining, we're sorry about your luck, Freescale.

[Via ExtremeTech]

Looks like we've got two more "Vista Premium certified" monitors on our hands, and these two are from none other than ViewSonic. The 24-inch VX2435wm and 28-inch VX2835wm both sport 1,920 x 1,200 native resolutions, 500 cd/m2 brightness, 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 5-millisecond response time, 176-degree viewing angle, "smart color engine," and a bevy of inputs including VGA, DVI, composite, S-Video, and even component. Additionally, both units can be wall-mounted and even tout HDMI ports that are HDCP-compliant, so you shouldn't have too much trouble with those DRM-laden files you try to play on it. The VX2435wm will start shipping next month for $699, while the larger sibling won't land until April for $879, but they could be worth the wait if you're planning on passing copy-protected films over HDMI.

Runco -- those folks who make the mesmerizing projectors that only A-class celebrities, former Gizmondo execs, and foreign leaders can afford -- are offering yet another bevy of luscious PJs for us to drool over. Touted as the "world's first 1080p HD video display products to achieve THX certification," the Video Xtreme lineup of DLP projectors have survived the rigorous testing necessary for any product to get that oh-so-coveted THX logo slapped on it, and now they're all ready to jazz up your home theater (and drain your wallet). Each model boasts Runco's own CineWide (with or without AutoScope) technology, which reproduces 2.35:1 films with "unparalleled accuracy," eliminating those pesky black bars without taking a hit in the quality department. They also sport the firm's DHD controller, HDMI inputs, and a variety of CinOptx zoom lenses to fit nearly any application. You can grab this highly prized goodness for just $16,995 if you shoot for the low-end VX-2000d, while the more luxurious units will run you $34,995 (VX-6000d), $44,995 (VX-22d), $79,995 (VX-44d), or $99,995 (VX-55d).

You heard right, it's finally here. After questioning Bluetooth's ability to compete with it, and seeing numerous (unsurprising) delays, the USB Implementers Forum announced today the "availability of the Certified Wireless USB Compliance and Certification Program." If you're a bit stumped as to why we've already seen a few untethered USB devices floating about, the logic follows the same taken by 802.11n draft-spec adopters, and this QA procedure will "assure" consumers of its functionality, give suppliers a solid set of guidelines, and allow manufacturers to slap that coveted seal of approval on the box. More good news came when the previously claimed speeds -- 480Mbps at 3 meters and 110Mbps at 10 meters -- were confirmed as realizable. Initially, wireless USB compliance testing will be hosted at Intel's "Wireless USB Platform Integration Lab," with more branches to open in 2007. In times where delays and setbacks are far and away more common than getting things out the door, it's refreshing to see at least one wireless agenda reach completion.

[Via WiFi Planet]