IOGEAR wireless access point and computer-to-TV streamer refresh

IOGEAR really needs to start naming its products something other than stockroom codes and long-winded yet vague descriptions of what they do. After checking out the company’s new Wireless 5×2 HD Matrix, we cast our eye over the GWAVR — a little black box which plugs into your display via HDMI and functions as a wireless access point for streaming. It’s intended to receive 1080p video and 5.1-channel audio from mobile devices and computers, welcoming content broadcast via WiDi, Miracast or DLNA from up to 30 ft away. A button on the side of the “dongle” switches between those three standards, and it’s as simple as that.

In addition to the GWAVR, we briefly handled the GUWAVKIT4, the latest version of IOGEAR’s simple screen-sharing solution which now supports all PCs and Macs. Plug the USB dongle into your computer, and it’ll show your screen on whatever the accompanying box is plugged into (said box has HDMI and old-school VGA outputs). The GWAVR is due for release in March, and will cost $79.95. The GUWAVKIT4 goes on sale a little earlier — in February — for $149.95.

Gallery: IOGEAR GWAVR and GUWAVKIT4