Windows SideShow Team Blog : Hardware and Devices

New SideShow-compatible devices from Mini-Box!

auxall — Mon, 04 May 2009 20:53:00 GMT

The folks over at Mini-Box have just released a new SideShow-compatible picoLCD module, designed for use in one of your many spare drive bays. For those who are interested, the device has full support for SCF-based (Simple Content Format) gadgets (as compared to the 'glance only' text data on the Logitech G-15). Check out these pictures of it in action:

If you keep your PC hidden away under your desk, but still love the display and want to put it elsewhere (or build your own case for it), they've got the OEM version available as well.

- Dan

Windows SideShow Device SDK for .NET Micro Framework 3.0 Released!

auxall — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:16:00 GMT

This is a firmware release which is flexible enough to be used on many devices – devices integrated into the computer, remote controls, and wireless “fridge magnet” displays. It’s a turnkey solution that provides all the top-level code you need to create a full-featured SideShow device based on the .NET Micro Framework.

Download the Windows SideShow Device SDK for .NET Micro Framework 3.0

Download the Device Simulator 3.0 for Windows SideShow

Let’s skip to the good stuff and look at some screenshots:

On remote controls, you can control music playback from your computer. On embedded displays, you can control your music at the same time you do other things (for example, play a computer game).

See a variety of information relevant to you at a glance, in a format optimized for small screens.

The UI scales to different form factors, and can be fully “skinned”.

Integrated displays help you work more smoothly. Keep a record of what you have copied to the clipboard to spend less time window managing.

This release contains 17 samples showing how to customize your device and is localized into 16 different languages. Also included are the newest, redistributable version of the Universal Driver for Windows SideShow and the latest Device Simulator for Windows SideShow – also available independently here as a standalone Simulator: Download the Device Simulator 3.0 for Windows SideShow.

It’s great to have this out – enjoy and let us know what you think, or head to the SideShow Development forums to discuss it with the SideShow development community.

Thank you,

-Darryl

Come visit us at WinHEC 2008 in Los Angeles, CA

auxall — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:26:00 GMT

After our busy burst of software releases earlier this year, don't take the recent relative quiet as a sign that things are slowing down. In fact, we've been extremely busy getting a few surprises ready to unveil at WinHEC, which is coming up in just a few short weeks! If you're already planning to attend WinHEC 2008 in Los Angeles, make sure to add the Windows SideShow session to your calendar:

Windows SideShow: Building Better Devices and PCs - CON-T569

Learn how we're making it easier than ever to incorporate Windows SideShow technology into devices and PCs. In addition to learning about some of the new product solutions we've put together, you'll see exciting demonstrations from partners who have taken advantage of SideShow to increase the value of their devices. This session also covers new platform enhancements for the Windows 7 operating system, and we'll look at some of the many ways in which SideShow can improve devices in the digital home.

Thursday, November 06, 2008 4:30 PM

Without giving away all of our secrets, I will say that we've been working on something that will make those folks involved in recent discussions on our MSDN forum about supporting Windows SideShow on microcontrollers very happy...but you'll have to show up to find out exactly what it is :)

If you haven't made your arrangements to go to WinHEC yet, what are you waiting for? As if this session wasn't incentive enough, attendees will also be one of the first people to see what's new in Windows 7--and get to take home the pre-beta build!

We hope to see you in Los Angeles! (And if not in LA, then hopefully Beijing, Taipei, or Tokyo for the regional WinHEC events instead!)

- Dan

It's here: SideShow support on Windows CE 5.0!

auxall — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:24:00 GMT

Yesterday, the Windows Embedded team released support for Windows SideShow on Windows CE 5.0! Combined with our Universal Driver, this new platform can work over USB, Bluetooth or TCP/IP connections, and easily enable SideShow functionality on a wide variety of CE-based devices. If you've got an existing CE 5 based device with one of the supported transports, adding SideShow support in most cases won't require any additional hardware.

It's also a standard part of Windows Embedded NavReady 2009, a SKU designed specifically for navigation devices. With SideShow, now your PND could be as useful outside the car as it is inside--imagine using it as a remote control for your music library at home, or even a PowerPoint remote (with full slide previews and speaker notes) once you've gotten to your destination? The possibilities are endless, and now they're easy to implement as well!

All you need to get started is Platform Builder 5.0--so what are you waiting for?

- Dan

Announcing the Universal Driver for Windows SideShow 1.5!

auxall — Tue, 20 May 2008 18:24:00 GMT

Last week, we quietly released to Windows Update a new version of the Universal Driver for Windows SideShow! This new release includes support for additional transports, bringing the complete list to:

USB
Bluetooth
TCP/IP
TCP/IP with SSL

In addition to powering devices built using the Windows SideShow Device SDK for .NET Micro Framework v1.4 (and later), and perhaps the most exciting part of this release, is the protocol documentation which explains how you (yes, you) can implement your very own Windows SideShow-compatible device without having to write any PC code at all. That's right, no more writing a PC driver when you build a SideShow-compatible device; we've done that work for you. And did I mention it's free? Yes, that's right: there's no royalty, license, or any other legal documents you need to sign in order to get access to, and use, the documentation and driver for your device.

This driver even has a few more tricks up its sleeve, including the ability to support custom icons for devices. When your device shows up in Windows, it actually looks like your device (instead of the generic Windows SideShow-compatible device icon, and assuming you provide your own). Hey, it's all the little things that count :)

We're extremely excited that the universal driver and documentation are now available, and hope that this helps make it easier for you to add SideShow support to your devices. As always, if you need any assistance getting things going, head on over to our Windows SideShow Development forum on MSDN and post away!

- Dan

Pre-order Ricavision's VAVE100 at Amazon.com

auxall — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:26:00 GMT

Want to get your hands on the VAVE100 Windows SideShow-enabled remote control? It's now available for pre-order through Amazon.com, so you can be one of the first to get it once it's out.

Beta test the Ricavision VAVE100

auxall — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:32:00 GMT

Ricavision is looking for beta testers worldwide for the much-anticipated VAVE100 Windows SideShow-enabled universal remote control. Be one of the first in the world to see what all the buzz is about! Spaces are limited.

If you're interested in participating, click here to nominate yourself: I want to beta test the VAVE100!

- Dan

It's here! Announcing the Windows SideShow Device SDK for .NET Micro Framework v1.4!

auxall — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:32:00 GMT

We've been saying "It's coming" for a very long while--and now we can officially say, "IT'S HERE!" On behalf of the entire Windows SideShow team, I would like to announce public availability of the Windows SideShow Device SDK for .NET Micro Framework v1.4. To those who participated in the beta program, we want to thank you for your feedback and support. All of us here can't wait to see the innovative and exciting devices that will come to market as a result of this effort. This is just the first of many Windows SideShow-related releases in our pipeline for delivery in 2008. While I can't divulge too much information, we think you'll like what you see :)

This SDK release is big for us in many ways; to name a few:

We've moved up to the .NET Micro Framework 2.0 SP1 release (so make sure you have that installed first!)
We've added a whole new portrait-oriented QVGA UI (which looks really sleek, if you haven't seen it)
We've moved over to a completely new PC-side driver, which now adds support for Bluetooth connectivity (which will also be available through Windows Update shortly)
The Simulator for Windows SideShow is now based upon the .NET Micro Framework's extensible emulator (and, by the way, you can debug your code in Visual Studio while having it communicate with Windows Vista--another new feature for us!)
3 new Northern European languages are part of our standard set, bringing the total to 17
You can now build a device using the "Assigned User Model" (e.g. the device is always paired to a single user, instead of whoever is on the console)

Now, to quell the rumors before they get started: this is not a release targeting Windows Mobile devices. I know there is a lot of interest out there in seeing Windows SideShow on Windows Mobile...we are working on it. That's all I'm going to say for now :)

Enjoy!

- The Windows SideShow Team

[ The full download link for the SDK is http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b877c01d-e80e-4f30-9df9-3a46ec519704&DisplayLang=en ]

BenQ Joybook Q41: The third Windows SideShow-enabled notebook

auxall — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 23:59:00 GMT

BenQ recently announced their Joybook Q41 laptop, which is the third Windows SideShow-enabled notebook to come to market so far. There are larger pictures of the unit and its secondary display located over at Laptops Blog. The Windows SideShow-enabled display is similar to that found on the ASUS W5Fe and LG R200, with the primary addition of a VoIP control gadget, allowing you to control your calls without having the lid open (although the laptop must still be turned on). We haven't had a chance to play with the final product yet, but we're looking forward to it!

- Dan

Ikanos Consulting's Go Gadgets beta

auxall — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 23:43:00 GMT

If you're interested in Windows SideShow technology, and you haven't yet seen what Matt and James at Ikanos Consulting have been up to recently, well, you're missing out. They've just released Beta 3 of their Go Gadgets software for Windows Mobile, and posted some teasers of SideShow running on an iPhone or iPod Touch. The latter is a great example of the value Windows SideShow can add to your existing device, regardless of what technology powers it. All you need is some way to connect back to your Windows Vista-based PC. You can give the Windows Mobile application a test drive yourself by e-mailing them directly at: beta _at_ ikanosconsulting.com.

- Dan

Logitech G-15 and Z-10 drivers with Windows SideShow support

auxall — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Logitech has recently released an update to their GamePanel software that adds support for Windows SideShow! If you have one of the new G-15 keyboards, you can download that software here. If you have the older G-15 gaming keyboard or Z-10 speakers, there is a public beta release of the software here. The devices will only allow you to browse through glance data from the gadgets, but it's a really handy addition to these devices.

- Dan

Beta available: Windows SideShow Device SDK for .NET Micro Framework v1.4

auxall — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 01:36:00 GMT

Today we've released a beta of the next version of the Windows SideShow Device SDK for .NET Micro Framework (v1.4), and we need your help to test it out! Among other improvements and fixes, the beta includes:

New Portrait QVGA UI designed for remote controls
New Universal driver for Windows SideShow that supports USB and Bluetooth communication
New Simulator that uses the Universal driver
New user switching UI for devices operating in the assigned user mode
New Bluetooth menu commands
Support for Danish, Finnish, and Norwegian languages

If you'd like to be included in the beta program, just send an email to showsdk@microsoft.com. While this release is geared towards hardware and device manufacturers, anyone is welcome to participate and provide feedback; no NDA is required.

- Dan

Dell XPS 420 launches with Windows SideShow-enabled secondary display!

auxall — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 00:47:00 GMT

The third Windows SideShow-enabled PC in the market isn't a mobile PC--it's Dell's new XPS 420 desktop! This powerful machine is sporting a 2.5" QVGA Windows SideShow-enabled secondary display on the top of the case, giving you instant access to control media playback, browse photos, and view RSS feeds, e-mail and much more. Don't worry about the location of the display; it's on a slight angle and is very accessible from a number of different locations. Besides, you just bought yourself an XPS, no sense hiding it away! Now, go get started on coding gadgets for your favorite PC games... :)

This is just the first of many new SideShow-enabled products coming out over the next few months, so stay tuned!

- Dan

Missed CES? See the devices on on10!

auxall — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 21:13:00 GMT

I was so swamped at CES last week I didn't have a chance to post this until now. Right before heading off to CES, I filmed a video with Larry Larsen at on10.net. It's a great roundup of many of the devices we were showing on the floor. If you wern't able to attend CES (or if you were but don't remember what you saw), go watch the video to see what our partners have been up to lately!

Windows SideShow at CES (Part 2)

auxall — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 02:26:00 GMT

The second prototype that stood out is a concept Windows Media Center remote control. This remote control is based on the Windows SideShow platform. It communicates with the PC to get TV guide updates as well as other data such as e-mails or calendar updates. The remote control itself allows you to play back music without using the primary dispaly and also allows you to start recording shows in the background.