Panasonic raises the HD wireless connectivity issue

Scott Fulton, BetaNews: The big theme that's developing this year is high-definition connectivity. Essentially, the idea is that there will be many components to each video connoisseur's collection. How will they fit together in such a way that they can be convenient to the consumer and perpetually profitable for the various companies involved?

We asked our Senior CES Analyst, Sharon Fisher, to take a look at Panasonic's first big entry in this field, WirelessHD. Sharon?

Sharon Fisher, BetaNews Senior CES Analyst: Scott, think of it as "Blu-rayTooth."

Panasonic has announced a wireless system consisting of a plasma television with a receiver, and a transmitter such as a Blu-ray player or digital camcorder. It uses the WirelessHD standard to transmit uncompressed data (since compressing high-definition television kind of misses the point) using 60 GHz-band millimeter wave radio.

What this means is that you don't have to worry about connecting the player and the TV with a cable. There won't be a cable against the wall or snaking across the carpet, and you can have the player and TV separated by up to 10 meters. It can also route around obstacles, meaning you don't have to worry about losing the picture when someone goes to get a beer. However, these obstacles don't include walls; all the pieces need to be in the same room.

Panasonic claims it is the first such product, and implies that it is available now, but doesn't list a price.

Scott Fulton: Sharon, if it is the first, it's only by about 48 hours. A company called XStreamHD is due to demonstrate a very similar concept at CES on Tuesday, and we're scheduled to see it.

Now, what I'm wondering is this: Panasonic used an analogy involving a camcorder, which is something you do move around. But then it added a Blu-ray console and a display, which are things that you don't. Is there an obvious reason for this value-add with respect to components whose cables already are well hidden, or do you think this is a play to add more value to Blu-ray somehow, somewhere?

Sharon Fisher: I can have the receiver on this side of the room and the TV on the other without a cable between them. I can move the TV around without having to restring it.

Scott Fulton: So you see it as a genuine all-around bonus, then?

Sharon Fisher: Well, as someone with a new VCR sittng in the middle of the floor because I'm dreading taking apart the entertainment center and trying to restring everything with cables that are too short...Let's just say I wish all my equipment had the functionality now. Another advantage is that if you've got a whole bunch of devices, you don't have to worry about running out of plugs on the back of the receiver.

The other press reports are saying Panasonic hasn't announced pricing or availability.

Scott Fulton: We may have to see the demos this week to get a better picture of when all this may come to fruition.

Sharon Fisher: The component vendor says they're shipping the pieces in Q1.

Sharon Fisher: Now for the big question: Sharon Fisher, how much would you pay?

Sharon Fisher: You're talking to someone who still has a 1991 TV. But I might pay up to $100 extra -- which is how much a decent Monster cable would cost anyway.

Scott Fulton: Thanks, Sharon.