Small tech company Infinitec's CES product announcement of a wireless data streaming technology for game consoles is now one step closer to release, as the company has officially opened up pre-order sales.
Infinitec's Infinite USB Memory Drive (IUM) received a good amount of hype during CES 2010, but quickly was forgotten by many gamers. It carries support for Microsoft Windows, Mac, and multiple versions of Linux -- and is supported by the Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii game consoles.
The plug-and-play device doesn't actually save any information on itself. It simply serves as a wireless middle-man to transfer information to other drives. A file sent to the IUM is actually transferred elsewhere. Once connected to a game console, IUM gives owners the ability to access and save information onto a PC hard drive or an external HDD.
The USB drive is available for pre-order now at a cost of $129. The company expects to begin shipping orders starting on August 31st.
I'm not sure how many people will purchase the $129 IUM, but I understand why it's such an appealing product for some gamers. The IUM can also be used to stream high-definition 1080p media from a PC direct to the living room, and content can be played on HDTVs, Blu-ray players, set-top boxes, and other connected devices.
As more customers begin to use connected TVs, game consoles, Blu-ray players, and other devices in the living room, the use of IUMs and similar products will likely continue to expand.
