Watch anything displayed on your PC on your TV

May 29, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

There is so much on the Internet these days that I’m hard-pressed to sit and watch television.

Well, that’s not exactly the case.

There are some great network shows on TV, and I would be missing out if I didn’t watch them.

Fortunately for me, I have a really nice DVR built into my DirecTV setup that lets me record all the shows I want to watch but can’t watch when they actually air.

In fact, a DVR really lets you watch TV on your own schedule and not the network timetable. Some refer to this ability as time-shifting.

However, the Internet can be a real life saver if for some reason I happen to miss recording a show. Lots of things can throw a DVR off from doing its recording job. A power failure during a show, for example, can interrupt a recording when you least expect it.

It’s not always technology that’s to blame. There may be a new show that I see advertised. Of course, it’s usually way too late to record it by the time I find out about it.

Most networks offer a way to watch full episodes of their shows after they have aired. Most of them let you watch them within the browser you use. Some are offered commercial-free but most of them have an ad or two you must watch.

Still, it’s better than missing the whole show. Then there are alternative sites such as Hulu that let you watch TV shows from different sources. They have contracted with the networks to make programming available, and usually they can be viewed in High Definition and Surround-Sound when available.

But have you ever watched a TV show on your computer? Wouldn’t it be great if you could somehow transfer the images from your computer’s screen to your big flat-screen television set in your living room, den or man cave?

Well, now you can with products available from Warpia.

The StreamHD Wireless PC to TV 1080p Display Adapter (SWP120A) lets you watch any notebook or PC content on any flat-screen TV, and as the name says, it does it without wires.

Simply attach the PC Adapter to any USB port on your computer. Attach the A/V adapter to any HDMI port on your TV, and you’re set to go. If your TV doesn’t have HDMI, no worries as you can also connect it via a separate 3.5mm audio jack. You can also use the S/PDIF output for 5.1 surround sound for the ultimate audio experience.

Once connected, you will see anything displayed on your PC on your TV set. It’s that simple.

You can browse the Internet, stream video, pictures — you name it. If you can see it on your PC, you can watch it on your TV. This particular unit is compatible only with Windows-based computers.

But Warpia also offers two other setups. The SWP220 does everything the aforementioned unit does, plus it also works with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard or higher. There’s also an SWP100A for a more simple hookup.

See Warpia’s website for more information on these devices.

The Warpia products finally free you from the confines of your computer and Internet connection.

Now all you’ll need is some popcorn and your recliner to enjoy the Internet.

The SWP120A sells for $139.

For more details, go to www.warpia.com.

Craig Crossman is a national newspaper columnist writing about computers and technology. He also hosts the No. 1 daily national computer radio talk show, “Computer America,” heard on Business TalkRadio, Monday through Friday, 10 p.m.-midnight. For more information, visit his website at www.computeramerica.com.

2011, McClatchy-Tribune Information Services