Top Toy: Wirelessly Stream Anything From Your PC to TV Set
Tech-savvy primetime television viewers are no strangers to high-definition media streamers and wireless PC-to-TV adapters (e.g., the Boxee Box and Push2TV, respectively) that let you beam songs and videos from computer to television. But Awind’s McTiVia goes a step further, acting as a standalone wireless router that connects to HDTV via HDMI cable and directly broadcasts music, movies, photos and slide shows right to your living room set.
Available in late May for $199 and compatible with Mac and Windows PCs, the versatile media streamer can also transmit websites and online adventures for living room screening, and doubles as a home WiFi access point. Obsessive tech and home entertainment enthusiasts may further appreciate its ability to control up to eight computers via mouse or keyboard, essentially letting you stream anything that graces your desktop.
Using it, you’ll theoretically be able to showcase everything that could be viewed on a computer monitor on a 3DTV or HDTV for friends’ and family’s viewing pleasure instead. Pro tip, though: To save yourself some unwanted embarrassment, consider closing incriminating browser windows first, lest unsuspecting viewers discover your secret fondness for The Real Housewives of Orange County.