Jim Harrer's CEO Blogstream

It’s 2010, I going to officially announce the time for wireless home networking is now. 

So, to cable companies, stop selling cable modems that don’t combine 802.11n.  Sure, the wireless spec will continue to improve as all technology products do, so quit being scared to help your customers go wireless.  With great devices like the Apple iPAD and the new XBOX 360 slim, the home has gone wireless.  Add the Apple AirPort Express next to your home theater receiver and you can seamlessly play your iTunes music through your home entertainment equipment.  In order for your customers to improve their lives with these products, they need WiFi in their home.  They shouldn’t have to go out and purchase a wireless router to get it – that is so yesterday!

Microsoft’s move to add 802.11n to the new XBOX is exactly the right move. Critics will say it should have been there from the beginning, I say, “better late than never”. As an example, look at DirecTV, they have been working on video on demand (over the internet) and whole house media strategies for the past two years, yet their latest DVR, the HR24-500 lacks 802.11n.  Whoever is running their Product Management should be fired.  All of the DirecTV DVR’s and Receivers should be networked in the home.  You should be able to watch any program, on any TV with a DirecTV receiver. You should be able to watch your programs on your iPad, iTouch or PC.  Frankly, you should be able to also watch it in your hotel room while you travel.  You should be able to do ALL of this without a single wire connecting the DirecTV receivers and you shouldn’t need a SlingBox. Slingbox allows you to watch your TV on PC/Laptop, mobile phone, iTouch and iPad – from anywhere via the web.

DirecTV product development is a mess and from reading the comments on the DirecTV Message Forums it’s clear the HR24-500 is a buggy device that lacks any imagination. Come on DirectTV, join the wireless world, add 802.11n to your DVR and Receiver lineup.

Moving on the Hewlett Packard, I have to hand it to them. Most of their printers now have 802.11n built right in. I recently purchased an HP Photosmart Plus All-in-One Printer with WiFi built right in. It joined my wireless home network in less than 5 minutes out of the box. We can print documents and photos from any computer in the home. With their iPhone/iTouch app I can send photos directly to my printer. What is very, very cool is the fact their software supports wireless scanning, meaning I can scan photos or documents from any wireless PC in the house.  This means I don’t have to do all the scanning in the house anymore, the printer is TRULY a device for all members in the home.  What’s next for HP? Soon these wireless printers will be accessible via the internet.  This means, you’ll be able to send your favorite photo directly to Grandma’s printer, if that printer is connected to her home network and configured for remote printing.  You can read the release here, as there is a lot more to the release, especially as more and more applications move to the cloud.

So, I want Samsung and LG to add 802.11n to their TV’s. I also think Sony and Marantz should be adding 802.11n to their audio receivers – then I should be able to send any auto file directly to these devices using DNLA – The spec for the Digital Living Network Alliance.

What other devices in the home should also have built in WiFi? The list could be endless, how about:

• Washers and Dryers so you could get updates when the cycles are done.
• Honeywell Thermostats so you can control the upstairs from your iTouch.
• Comcast, Charter, Cox Cable – all of your receivers should have WiFi built in.

Those are some of my thoughts, do you agree?  What device do you want WiFi enabled?  Add your feedback below.

…Jim