Windows SideShow

Windows SideShow is one technology to watch for. It has real potential. The concept is
that laptop manufacturers and others can create a secondary or alternative display to
allow users to view critical information without turning on the laptop. It’s literally a
sideshow, in that things like meeting schedules, contact information, map directions,
and email can all be accessed without all the turmoil of turning on the system. The aux-
iliary displays aren ’t all created just yet, but the ideas include keyboards, LCD display
casings (like mini-picture frame displays), remote controls, cell phones, and so forth that
will display information located on your Vista system. Some are even thinking of light
gaming capabilities.
When the host machine is on, it checks in with the SideShow devices and you have
real-time updates. If the host machine shuts down, the information is then cached in
the secondary or alternative system. You can do a quick search online for SideShow
products and you’ll see some of the innovative thoughts being put together.
Once you have a device that works with SideShow, you can go into this applet and con-
figure your gadgets (calendar, email, and so forth) to work with it.