USB Gadget Display is Like Vista Sideshow, but Supports Windows XP

When is Vista Sideshow not Vista Sideshow? When it does the same thing as Sideshow—display little widgets on an external device—but doesn't use Vista's Gadgets. The USB Gadget Display does look like a little 2-inch LCD display, which shows clocks and various other things like CPU and RAM usage (but mostly clocks) outside of your machine, but it works with Windows XP, something Sideshow can't claim. Though, looking at the quality of these widgets, it might be worth it for you to upgrade to Vista. [Everything USB]

Hands-On With Ricavision's VAVE Universal Vista Sideshow Remote

We've seen Ricavision's Sideshow Remotes before (and even got hands-on with their previous concept SideShow remote), but this is the first time we've fondled the commercial version that's coming next year. More »

Windows Sideshow for Vista Comes to iPhone

If we had to find one way for the iPhone and Windows Vista to interact, it probably would have been via SideShow, Vista's secondary-display technology that gives you a small portable control board that you can tote around. The people at Ikanos Consulting have been fooling around with a SideShow webserver and are creating an iPhone-compatible version (along with DS, Wii, PSP, PS3) to control your PC wherever you have access. It's not available for download yet, but a beta should be coming soon. [Vistasquad - Thanks Matt!]

Ricavision VAVE100, Universal SideShow Remote

As a Mac user, the one Windows feature I'm constantly a little jealous of is SideShow. Particularly, I dig devices like this Ricavision VAVE100. At its heart a powerful 20-device, backlit IR universal remote, the VAVE100 also sports a 2.4" screen SideShow compatible screen with Bluetooth connectivity. So you can have all those SideShow gadgets in what may already be your most used handheld device. More »

i-mate Shows New SideShow-enabled Portable Display

Just when we thought we had seen all the SideShow news from WinHEC, out comes i-mate with the View 2010. The 14-inch portable display has an XGA touchscreen, and in addition to retrieving info from your Vista PC it can also hook up to a keyboard and mouse letting you check email messages, watch videos and do simple Internet browsing. No word on pricing or availability, though it sounds like a larger version of Ricavision's eChatter. – Louis Ramirez More »

Optimus Mini 3 SideShow Driver Alpha Version

Those of you with the Optimus Mini 3—a.k.a. pretty much the only thing they've ever produced—will be interested in this. Optimus has just released an early alpha version of the Windows SideShow driver. For those unfamiliar with Vista's SideShow feature, hit that link, but basically it's an interface to display Windows Vista Gadgets on an external device. More »

Ricavision Vista Remote with Sideshow

If you're not familiar with Sideshow, it's one of Windows Vista's features that lets you display gadgets and view photos and music on devices connected to the PC. In this case, the RICAVISION remote, which we looked at before uses Bluetooth to pipe Sideshow information from your Vista Media Center onto the display itself. It also works with IR, in case you were wondering. More »

Asus W5fe: Not Quite Ready for Prime Time

Asus' W5fe made a big splash at CES, mainly cause it was the first lappie to sport an external LCD for Vista's SideShow. Unfortunately, the laptop is going out with a whimper. The problem? SideShow itself. Although the controls are straightforward, the folks at Laptop think navigating through the interface is "clumsy." And when you finally get to play your tunes via SideShow with the laptop lid closed, sound is awful. The selection of downloadable gadgets is also limited, which is a shame considering this 4-pound ultraportable (and SideShow) had a lot of potential. – Louis Ramirez More »

A Closer Look at Asus's Sideshow-Capable Motherboards

We knew that Asus was releasing Vista-optimized motherboards, but we didn't know they were going to bundle an actual SideShow device with it. More »

Nvidia's Preface Adds Video and Music Support to SideShow

Looks like we can add another player to the list of SideShow supporters. Nvidia's new Preface technology is meant to go hand-in-hand with MS' SideShow by adding audio, video, and imaging capabilities to SideShow devices. So for example a Media Center remote with Preface/SideShow might look something like this with thumbnails of our photos, videos, and albums. Almost makes you wanna upgrade to Vista, huh. – Louis Ramirez More »

Philips Muscles in on Vista Party with SideShow Remote

Just when we thought we had seen every SideShow-based gadget at CES, in comes Philips with its SRM7500. Like the other SideShow remotes we've uncovered, the SRM7500 squeezes in Media Center controls alongside an LCD that gives you access to photos, music, or videos while your PC is off. Philips is also claiming the SRM7500 has the largest database of any universal remote, so this could be the remote to end all remotes. We're just disappointed with the SRM7500's display. Not only does it look small, but it's also monochrome, which pretty much defeats the purpose. The remote is due out this quarter, though pricing hasn't been set. – Louis Ramirez More »

Four Laptop Add-Ons That'll Keep Your System Humming

We've seen some really cool notebooks here at CES, but if you don't have the cash to spend on a new system, one of these accessories should keep your system running with the big dogs. More »

Eleksen SideShow Bag: Kind of Ugly, Kind of Cool

The Skinny A bag we saw last night at CES Unveiled from "interactive apparel" maker Eleksen that sports a Vista SideShow module designed for "soft-goods peripherals," so we'll probably see it in a number of other Eleksen wares. The module has a 2.5-inch LCD screen and pulls data from a notebook using either Bluetooth or USB. More »

Microsoft Sideshow + Interlink = SideLink Media Center Remote Control

Microsoft and Interlink have introduced a Sideshow-equipped Bluetooth remote they have ingeniously dubbed the SideLink. Vista Media Center controls are all squashed onto the handheld, giving you control over music, videos and even television scheduling/recording via the 2.5" color LCD screen. Now if only they could invent a device that would prevent you from losing it in the couch. – Karson Thompson

Asus W5Fe Sports SideShow, Huge Ass

The cover-mounted external display, SideShow, makes its debut in Asus's 12" W5Fe notebook, which sports Vista from the get-go to support SideShow. It actually runs off of an independent operating system which can be fired up without turning on the rest of the notebook, and while it's ostensibly for displaying info on the go, it also provides opportunities to screw around without committing to a full-blown notebook setup, given that it can be used to play Solitaire and other simple distractions. Of course, you still have to pull the notebook out of your bag, so we're not sure exactly how useful it is. – Matt Buchanan More »

CES Sneak Peak: Asus XG Station Pumps Up Your Notebook's Media

Though it looks more like a high tech speedometer, Asus' XG Station is an A/V workstation designed to give your notebook some extra media muscle. The unit hooks up to your laptop and packs discrete graphics chips as well as support for Dolby output. It's expected to make its debut next week at CES along with... More »

Soundgraph's Front View Challenges Vista's Sideshow

We've already gotten a taste of what Vista's Sideshow feature can potentially do (both on remotes and on laptops), but now Korean manufacturer Soundgraph is hoping to beat MS to the punch with its own Sideshow-like feature called Front View. Front View consists of a front-mounted display on your Media Center PC that shows local weather, media info, and news headlines. The concept sounds very similar to Vista's Sideshow, but with one complication. More »

RicaVision's Sideshow Bob Vista Remote Is the Best

Here it comes, an avalanche of Microsoft Vista remotes. And this is the nicest so far. Check out the little VGA screen that'll load up with Gadgets (Vista's version of Mac OS X's widgets) or give you a better view of any photos, videos, or music you're trying to control in the new Media Center interface. It'll work by IR, or more interestingly, Bluetooth. BT is useful for room-to-room command, which is probably a wise implementation since you'll be able to see what's going on, wherever you are in the house, with the 2.5-inch screen. After the jump, there's a nice rendering of the slide down numeric pad. More »