contents

hardware
 
RICAVISION's Windows Vista SideShow Media Center Remote Control

RICAVISION has announced the launch of the RICAVISION Microsoft Windows Vista SideShow Media Center Remote Control, which makes use of the Vista SideShow auxiliary display platform to allow convenient access to information received from a Windows Vista-based PC. The Vista SideShow Remote Control has a built-in 2.5 inch color QVGA LCD display that features Class 1 (100-meter) Bluetooth capability. Using Windows SideShow, applications can send data to an ecosystem of devices that can then send control commands back to the application on the PC. For example, an e-mail application can send the last 10 received e-mail messages to one of the devices, or the user can schedule a TV program to record on a Media Center PC.

RICAVISION Vista SideShow Remote Control package is also the only one that comes with an external USB RC6 receiver and with a Class 1 Bluetooth receiver. It turns the Vista PC into a Bluetooth computer capable of receiving data from any other Bluetooth device within a 100-meter range.

The RICAVISION Vista SideShow Remote Control provides a set of four Gadgets that will be an extension of the Media Center for Windows Vista:
- TV;
- Music;
- Pictures and Videos;
- Now Playing.

RICAVISION SideShow Remote offers more extensive Gadgets than ever, to enable the user to extract data from the Media Center in Windows SideShow XML format and send it through Windows SideShow to compatible devices, such as a remote control device, an LCD display panel, etc. It will also accept incoming navigation commands from the various devices and send them back to the Media Center.

Due to the development timeframe, these Media Center Gadgets will not be available as part of Windows Vista, but the Gadgets will be available separately for release during the Windows Vista RTM timeframe.

The RICAVISION Vista SideShow Remote Control provides a range of different kinds of information that can be accessed by users on a remote control device:
* TV:
- Browse TV and schedule recordings - Browse the TV program guide, view metadata on upcoming or current shows, and pick shows to watch and record (single showing or series) without interrupting your TV viewing experience.
- Recorded TV - Select a previously recorded program to play back, without interrupting your TV viewing experience.
* Music:
- Play music - Browse the media library and control music playback on the PC by using the remote control device instead of the primary display, such as a TV.
- Play radio presets - Browse your radio presets and play back that station through your Media Center.
* Pictures and Videos:
- Browse the picture and video libraries - Make a selection on the remote and that picture or video will be displayed on the TV.
* Now Playing:
- Provide "now playing" information - The remote control device shows information about the current playing medium, such as the track title or the time elapsed.

The remote control device will also have access to any other Gadgets that have been enabled for this device through the SideShow Control Panel.

- Access other information - Select other Gadgets on the remote control device, and view information such as e-mail, calendar, and RSS feeds.
- Receive notifications - The remote control device shows notifications from Gadgets on the PC such as calendar reminders or instant messaging sign-ins.

On the top-level menu, the options are laid out in a way similar to the options in the Media Center UI. The user navigates up and down among category headings (Gadgets). The menu will be "center locked", so that the selected category is always in the center of the screen, with the menu scrolling up or down as the user changes selection.

The RICAVISION Vista SideShow Remote Control package also comes with an external USB RC6 receiver and with a Class 1 Bluetooth receiver as well. It turns the Vista PC into a Bluetooth computer capable of receiving data from any other Bluetooth devices within a range of 100 meters.



write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Computing News :: home page