Roku has a USB looking set-top-box which runs streaming video off the Mobile High Definition Link [MHL] interface standard.

It’s a sweet package all bundled up for portability.  As you can see the HDMI connector of the USB device, you click it once to a MHL supported TV and using the TV’s own remote you can steam video without the need of a bulky set-top-box.

Televisions that support MHL will be able to integrate Roku’s streaming TV platform simply by plugging in the stick. With the stick docked, it will be just like having the Roku set-top box: it adds the Roku interface (and the 400+ channels it offers), Wi-Fi connectivity, and local storage to the TV it is used on.

MHL standard is quickly becoming adopted by the major players like

Samsung has a new Central Station WLED monitor system in 23 inch or 27 inch format.  The wireless solution is very unique in that it automatically detects your devices with in the 1 meter range.  So as you approach with your laptop, the monitor will automatically sync up with your PC.

In additional the Samsung WLED includes USB ports on the monitor so as your PC approaches, those peripherals hanging off the side will also become usable with your laptop.  I should actually re-edit this post and mention netbook as those screens are way too small and something like this would be ideal.

Samsung didn’t get a change to post lag-time between user input on the PC and the reaction of the monitor for said input, but I’d venture to say it’s minimal – Samsung doesn’t cheat corners.

There was a tweet about Windows Phone 7 offering USB tethering.  It first started with a claim the feature will be available, and it would be available withour the courier adding additional charges.  Unfortunately, that claim has been retracted.  However, there is still hope for USB tethering.

I think in all likelyhood, Windows Phone 7 will offer USB tethering so you can get to the internet through your phone, but it’ll be with a data plan surcharge.That’s OK by me for the moment because sometimes it’s critical to get your data while on-site or at a remote location where there just isn’t an option.  In addition, this would give WP7 a nice edge on Apple products who don’t let you tether.

What do you think?

Warpia is a wireless docking station for your laptop to easily connect your keyboard, mouse, monitor and just about anything else without using cables.  Using just a wireless USB dongle to your laptop it will then connect with the base dock station where you’ve connected the keyboard & mouse dongle, the monitor, hard drive and other peripherals.

The wireless connection of the Warpia supports resolution up to 1400 x 1050, 32-bit True Color Depth.  The dock station includes the following ports to support your peripherals – DVI connection, two USB ports and a 3.5mm audio jack.

The wireless USB dock station does support Mac and Windows operating systems and after a quick scan of some blogs/forums we cannot conclude if the Warpia supports Linux.

We found the Warpia as low as $140 here.

Several years ago, I reported on a USB wifi extender in parabolic form.  Now, we’ve got a slimmed down version using an empty food can and your USB wifi dongle.

It’s not the prettiest thing, but it works and will boost your signal strength enough to grab the channel from your neighbor who’s barely showing up in your wireless network.

Plus this hack gives you adjustable control both up and down, and left and right.

The concept here is getting the can to increase your signal.  In addition, mounting the can and USB wifi dongle to a portable camera stand.  This will give you the stability you need to keep the signal strength strong while in use.  It will also allow you to keep the position for use from day to day.

It’s very common these days to see a media player with a USB port.  Whether it be a Blu-ray player or a set-top box, chances are, a USB port is somewhere in the front or back.

At first glance you say to yourself, “sweet, a USB port so I can play content off my flash drive” but then you think a bit more and wonder if you can hang a wireless dongle off the media player and stream content to your media box from a source computer?

Well, Home Server Technologies Inc is one step ahead of you.  Their new Wireless Media Stick will do exactly that; stream digital content to your media player.

Whether it’s a laptop, TV, DVD player, Stereo or game console the Wireless Media Stick can stream the content and your media player will play it.  There is no limit to the type of format, music, audio or video.

Currently the USB Wireless Media Stick will only stream saved content from the source computer, but future updates will include the ability to stream internet content to your wireless setup, so now you’ll have the best of both worlds.

The Wireless USB Media Stick is $99 USD.

Cisco is basing their new Wireless Valet product off a study that finds only about one third of US households are set up for wireless Internet—and that low rate of adoption is due in part to the complexities of setting up wireless networks.

Cicsco is the leader in backbone routers, switches and networking gear, but have always been business enterprise focused.  Today that all changes with the Valet.

The Valet is Cisco’s answer to getting a simple wireless network connected for the non-tech people…and honestly, I think they are on to something.  Here is how it works.

Simply power up the Valet and connect it to your cable connection in your house.  Then take the Cisco Valet USB key and plug that into each computer you want on the network.  Answer three simple questions, Cisco does the rest.

That’s it.

Cisco says the Valets are so easy to set up that all users have to do is pop the included USB Setup Key in their PC or Mac, and the Valet software does the rest. Cisco says its Valet system takes the 20 or 30 steps normally involved in setting up a wireless network down to just three steps, and users can then move the USB Setup Key to additional home computers to painlessly get them up and running on wireless. Included Cisco Connect software then makes it straightforward to add more devices to the network (think iPhones, game consoles, etc.), set up a separate network for guests, establish parental controls, and customize security settings.

Cisco is offering two models of Valet routers. The Valet and Valet Plus. The Valet offers 802.11n Wi-Fi networking and four 100 Mbps Ethernet ports for connecting to a wired network.  The Valet Plus steps up to four gigabit Ethernet ports. The Valet is priced at