Intellon, the outfit responsible for providing HomePlug-compatible integrated circuits for all manners of applications, is pretty jovial today. Just this month, it surpassed the 26 million mark in terms of IC shipments, which have apparently gone to manufacturers of home networking, networked entertainment, Ethernet-over-Coax (EoC) and smart grid equipment. While all that may be fine and dandy, we're wondering just how many people outside of Intellon (and its tightest group of friends) actually care. To date, HomePlug is still struggling for recognition outside of the hardcore custom install market, and with wireless technologies gaining traction each day, we're left to wonder if HomePlug even has a shot at a second (or are we at third now?) life. Anywho, don't let us halt the party, but Intellon might want to divert some of that celebration cash to marketing.

[Image courtesy of PCW]

While powerline as a whole still has quite a ways to go before it's considered mainstream, DS2 is apparently hoping to bring it a touch closed by embedding it in places we'd least expect. At CES last week, the company was spotted showing off an embedded PLC module which gave powerline capabilities to whatever item it was integrated into. Now, let's see DS2 convince router companies and the like to follow suit.

Netgear isn't kidding around here at CES, and if you thought three new routers was the extent of it, you're sorely mistaken. The company is also debuting its new Internet TV Player (ITV2000; pictured), which is essentially an internet set-top-box that brings online media to the TV with all sorts of elegance. It'll be able to stream content from CNN, ESPN, NBA, TMZ, YouTube, Google, Yahoo and MetaCafe, though we're going to need a little Hulu mixed in before we take it seriously. We're also being reintroduced to the Digital Entertainer Elite (EVA9150) box, and in slightly less interesting news, we've got the XAV1004 Powerline AV adapter with 4-port Ethernet Switch holding it down within you walls. Lastly, we've got the MCAB1001 MoCA coax-Ethernet adapter kit and the WNMR834 Wireless-N MoCA router, both of which enable users to rely on their existing in-home cabling to distribute signals over Ethernet. All the gory details (minus price and availability, naturally) are just past the break.

Powerline technology has been hanging around for years, but due to a combination of subpar real-world performance and a general lack of structure around the tech, it never really managed to take off. Now, it appears that we've stumbled upon yet another format war, this one over the power cabling within your walls. Within the very same month, we've seen the ITU ratify G.hn as the global standard for HDTV home networking and the IEEE bake HomePlug technology into its P1901 draft standard. Rob Ranck, president of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, said about the development: "The formation of a ubiquitous IEEE standard will help to unite the industry, create even faster market growth and provide strong benefits to the consumer." Right, except now we're in the midst of yet another war of the protocols (or so it seems).

It took 'em long enough, but Netgear has at long last decided to ship the two powerline adapters it announced way back at CES in January. The Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter Kit (XAVB101; pictured above), which is based on the HomePlug AV standard, and the UPA-based HDXB111 Powerline HD Plus Ethernet Adapter Kit (which is obviously capable of transmitting HD footage) can both be snapped up in time for the holidays. Each set is designed for plug 'n play action and for those who'd rather network their wares via installed cabling instead of running something new. Of course, performance is always the questionable aspect of these type devices, but those with faith (and a North American address) can finally lay down their $149.99 / $169.99 and get busy. The full release and a shot of the HDXB111 can be found after the break.

HomePlug AV has been around for what seems like eons, but regardless of how hard it tries, it never seems to really take hold in the market place. That being said, two big names in the industry are teaming up to give it yet another push, as STMicroelectronics and Arkados join hands to "develop and manufacture a 200Mbit-per-second HomePlug AV wideband powerline modem System-on-Chip (SoC)." If all goes to plan, it'll become the world's first HomePlug AV SoC, and it's being designed to "power applications ranging from simple Ethernet-to-powerline bridges to full-featured products as wide ranging as HDTV distribution, digital set-top boxes, IPTV, whole-house audio, networked digital picture frames, surveillance systems, etc." We'll see if anyone notices when it ships in mid-2009.

We really can't comment on the curious timing here, but just after CopperGate picked up the HomePlug AV Powerline business from Conexant Systems, along comes word that the HomePlug AV II specification is just over the horizon. Reportedly, the HomePlug Powerline Alliance is planning to release its next-gen home networking specification "later this year, with first silicon sampling in 2009." We're told that the new spec would simply "build on the existing HomePlug AV specification, developed in 2005, which offers a theoretical bandwidth up to just under 200 Mbits/s." Regrettably, no one could pry a new target speed from the mouths of execs just yet, but you can rest assured it will be at least somewhat speedier (duh).

Let's face it -- HomePlug AV has had a pretty rough go of it, and while we wouldn't consider the technology dead just yet, we can't imagine it ever rising to prominence at this point. Our negativity isn't stopping one CopperGate Communications from following its heart, however, as it just announced this week that it would be taking the business off of Conexant Systems' hands. The pickup makes CopperGate the "the first semiconductor company with home networking technologies supporting all three wire types (coax, phone and power lines)." The deal gives the new owner "all relevant power line technology and silicon products, related patents, appropriate licenses, and requisite personnel," which sounds to us like everything including the kitchen sink. Of course, there's no way of knowing what kind of impact the acquisition will have, but CopperGate's hoping that it will "better prepare the company for the new ITU home networking standard, G.hn." Check out the read link for more details.