Noting that mobility and the cloud are the new driving forces in communications, NETGEAR unveiled a cornucopia of new and improved products addressing the connected home. CEO Patrick Lo says that while No.1 Wi-Fi home networking vendor NETGEAR in the last 10 to 15 years has focused heavily on connectivity in terms of speeds, feeds and expanding the range of connectivity, the company today also wants to enable Internet connectivity to everything in the house that is powered by electricity in an effort to help people have more fun and be more successful. And it wants to do that in a way that allows for simple installation and control by the average consumer.

A small, portable camera called vuezone is among the products NETGEAR unveiled today at CES (News - Alert) to forward that strategy. The wireless camera, which fits in the palm of a hand, can enable consumers to use their wireless devices or a Web browser to see that their kids made it home safely, their pets are ok while they’re away, or their baby is asleep (or awake) in the nursery.

VueZone costs $129.99 and is available now. Because it’s small and doesn’t require Ethernet cables or power plugs, vuezone can be easily installed and moved as needed, notes David Henry, vice president of product marketing at NETGEAR.


Image via http://www.vuezone.com/

“It’s completely wire-free, which means it’s hassle free,” he adds.

The cameras are powered by camera batteries, which last about six months. The cameras can take video or snapshots. What’s more, if the cameras sense motion, users can opt to receive automatic e-mail notifications as to what images they capture at those times. NETGEAR also announced Vuezone Night Vision, which won a CES INNOVATIONS 2012 award.

The vuezone solutions store all images securely in the cloud. And there are lots of mounting solutions available for vuezone, including an outdoor mounting solution with a weatherproof enclosure.

NEGEAR previously announced Push2TV technology, which pushes computer content so users can view it on their TVs, NETGEAR also revealed a newer version of Push2TV that is compatible with mobile devices that support Miracast, the peer-to-peer wireless screencast standard developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance. That means Push2TV works with Google (News - Alert) Nexus 4, LG Optimus G, Samsung Galaxy S3, Sony Zperia T & TL.

Also at CES today, NETGEAR came out with a Wi-Fi extension solution that operates simultaneously in the 2.4 and 5gHz frequencies. The product is called the Dual-band Range Extender. It’s available now and costs $99.99.

NETGEAR also revealed that it’s adding beam forming to its 802.11ac products, which as a result can discover and target connectivity to Wi-Fi-enabled devices, doubling their performance at long range.

Also new is NETGEAR’s D6200 ADSL modem router, which delivers connectivity speeds of up to 200mbps, includes a USB port, is AirPrint compatible, supports the genie mobile app, allows for printing and storage, and offers parental control features. Available starting in April, this product will be offered for $199.99.

NETGEAR’s new NeoTV MAX is another CES 2013 INNOVATIONS award winner.  This box, which sells today for $49.99 to $69.99, can be held in the palm of a hand, features a built-in Slingbox player to record TV content and play it on wireless devices.

NeoTV PRIME with Google TV, meanwhile, integrates live TV, apps and the web (and includes a full Chrome browser), and supports FLASH and HTML5. It sells for $129.99.

Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO Miami 2013, Jan 29- Feb. 1 in Miami, Florida.  Stay in touch with everything happening at ITEXPO (News - Alert). Follow us on Twitter.