sideshow

We checked in with Ricavision earlier today and got to see its new Vave 100 Windows SideShow Universal Remote Control in person. As the name suggests, this slick-looking device combines Windows SideShow capability with a universal remote control. Via both Bluetooth and infrared, the Vave 100 is suited to driving both home-theater PCs as well as standard home entertainment hardware. Ricavision speculates the price will come in around $350 (expensive, but cheaper than the Logitech Harmony 1000), and it targets early Q2 of this year for availability.

The remote comes with a basic charging station/receiver, but Zune owners (all … Read more

BenQ is the latest to offer laptops with an external LCD screen featuring Microsoft's "SideShow" technology, following Asus and LG.

SideShow is the feature of Windows Vista that allows playback of multimedia files, as well as email and calendars, on a separate screen without having to boot up the machine. Unfortunately, one pays a premium for this feature. For example, the SideShow LG R200-Q compared to the cheaper LG R200-G variant costs an extra $500 or so. For that price one can get a basic PDA that serves a similar function.

The BenQ Q41, however, ups the … Read more

If you own an estate with huge grounds, perhaps the Ricavision Wave100 remote control may interest you. This $299 magic wand has an extended 17-meter range and is capable of controlling up to 20 audio-video boxes and Windows Vista PCs. Unlike the Logitech Harmony, setup can be performed offline through a built-in infrared code library compiled from more than 1,500 brands. Other standard remote capabilities include learning function and macro programming.

The Wave100 can also stream Bluetooth audio (A2DP) right out of the box with the companion wireless transceiver integrated into the docking station. Engadget notes that another cool … Read more

We apparently weren't the only ones who mistook this e-dictionary for one of the "SideShow" laptops that have been shown off recently. Although both have external screens that appear similar at first glance, as Engadget points out, Sharp's digital dictionary is strictly for serious wordsmiths "with something like 67 volumes of assorted dictionaries and their associated language learning tools, an e-Book reader, audio-book capabilities, an FM radio, and of course a voice recorder." That little display on the lid lets you control the audio and conserve power without using the main 5-inch screen inside. … Read more

Last week brought a slew of CES products demonstrating how the new Windows Vista SideShow would work, from media players to laptops. But the most practical application may not involve a traditional piece of hardware at all.

Eleksen, maker of the fabric keyboard, continues to weave their technologies into textiles with its "Wearable Display Module," according to Laptoping. This little gadget has a 2.46-inch color LCD and can store 1GB of data, controlled by a fabric interactive touchpad with seven buttons, that can be sewn into bags, backpacks or even your clothes.

Teachers, beware: This could bring … Read more

OK, so it's not made by Dell, but the tip about the portable SideShow companion device turned out to be true. And it even looks kind of similar to the iRiver Clix, which is how I pictured it originally. In fact, though, the companion device is really thin, and it actually looks almost exactly like the Meizu Mini Player. (Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get my hands on an image of the companion device, so that's the Mini Player you see at right.) The gadget I saw on the show floor at CES 2007 is made … Read more

Asus wins the prize for being the first manufacturer to cook up a laptop design that puts Vista's SideShow feature to use. The W5Fe SideShow notebook looks like your typical 12.1-inch laptop with one small addition: Embedded in the lid is a 2.8-inch LCD. It's a full-color screen with a 320x240 resolution that lets you access your data even when the laptop itself is powered down. Using the four-way navigation button to the right of the LCD, you can jump through the SideShow menu to check e-mail and calendar appointments, view pictures, choose a song from … Read more

With all the talk about Windows Vista and the new security features, Sidebar widgets and Aero interface, it's worth taking a moment to look at what new features Microsoft has cooked up for tablet users.

Tablet PCs are gaining in popularity, and the first two retail-ready Vista laptops we've looked at (the HP tx1000 and Toshiba Portege R400) are both convertible tablet models that take advantage of some of Vista's new tablet-friendly features.

Tablet users who spend a lot of time using a stylus as their input device will appreciate Pen Flicks, a Microsoft-designed system of shortcuts … Read more