SideShow Devices Nearer, Yet Still Waiting in the Wings

[Tim Williamson]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.gearlog.com/2008/05/sideshow_devices_still_waiting.php' target='_blank'>http://www.gearlog.com/2008/05/side...ill_waiting.php</a><br /><br /></div><em>&quot;Am I the only one getting hot and bothered by the prospect of SideShow devices? No matter, I'll blog anyway! The gizmos were conceived of as a second, external laptop screen on which you could check your e-mail, or the weather, or show pictures of your family, all without opening the laptop's cover. But there was exciting talk of other gadgets: independent gizmos that can talk to and access data on your main PC from anywhere in your house. They were one of several hardware innovations that I thought really made Vista stand out.&quot;</em><br /><br /><img border="1" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1210837210.usr209.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />We've heard about Windows SideShow technology for a while now (about the time Vista was announced I think?), but have there been any devices released that use this technology?&nbsp; Well it looks like there's at least one company out there close to releasing a SideShow device (a universal remote to be exact). In addition to standard universal remote functions (multi-device compatibility, macros, etc.), it also has SideShow built-in, which I guess means it has a data connection to a PC which allows you to pull down email, view pictures, listen to music, and do other cool stuff (using &quot;gadgets&quot;) without being at your PC.&nbsp; This sounds like a neat feature, but if you're buying this Media Center remote, wouldn't you already have a Media Center PC setup in your living room?&nbsp; Why wouldn't you just access your pictures/videos/emails right on your TV? So I'm not sure how practical this is. Is this a case of looking for a solution to a problem that doesn't exist? Or maybe it's simply a case of <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/news/show/39251/w-bic.html" target="_blank">W?BIC!</a>&nbsp; ;-)

[jaxim]

I think a sideshow remote would be great if it is done right. Imagine a family is watching TV through their media center. The person with the remote checks to see what shows/movies have been recorded. Instead of the person seeing what shows are recorded by using the TV to see, the remote can access the user's library and display all their recorded shows on the remote control's screen. This way the family doesn't have to be interrupted in watching their TV programming.

For example:
1) family is watching "Are you smarter than a 5th grader"
2) father looks at the remote screen to see what other shows are available to watch
3) father finds a recorded show from the family's media collection that he'd like to watch and asks the family if they'd like to watch an episode of "60 minutes" that has been recorded
4) Family responds that they don't want to see a boring news show
5) father again looks at the remote's screen but this time checks out the TV guide for live TV
6) Father finds a movie about to start and asks if the family wants to watch "Pirate of the Caribbean"
7) The family likes the idea and agrees that they'd rather watch that then the game show that they've been watching all this time while the father was surfing thru the media collection and TV Guide.

A sideshow remote would make channel surfing less annoying. Plus, if the remote was able to view streaming video, the father could see little clips of recorded shows or live TV before he makes his recommendation to the family.

[jaxim]

Another example:
1) family is watching a show
2) father uses remote to set up a photo slide show. He chooses what photos he'd like to show and what music should play as the show is played.
3) when the father is ready, the remote tells the Media center to show that photo show.
4) Doing it this way, the family and any guests don't have to sit around watching the father setting up the photo show.



Basically, I think there is a problem that this kind of device would solve.

[sundown]

I already have what I consider a Sideshow capable device plugged into my computer. It's my pocket PC. If it's sitting there all day just listening for updates to my calendar, why not perform something useful like show the weather, etc. I know I can get programs for my PPC to do this but it would be cool if Windows could arrange it all once the two sync.

[Chris Gohlke]

Having sideshow work on the Zune would be cool too.

[Tim Williamson]

jaxim: Yeah, I guess those are some scenarios that I hadn't imagined, I can see where SideShow would be useful here.

I think it would be a great move if Microsoft brought SideShow to the Pocket PC/Smartphone/Zune platforms.