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By: Richard Del Cazzo
Web site: http://www.hdtv-hdtv.com
Wireless displays: ViewSonic® Corp., a worldwide Visual
Technologies™ leader, today announced immediate availability
of its airpanelTM V110 and V150 Smart wireless displays that
enable anywhere, anytime mobile connectivity to a PC in the
home.
The airpanel V110 and V150 Smart wireless displays, 10-inches
and 15-inches respectively, are wireless touch screen monitors
intended for remote mobile use throughout the home, while
the 15-inch V150 has the additional capability of serving
as the primary desktop monitor. Both airpanel Smart Displays
will be offered with everything the consumer needs to get
the devices up and running right out of the box, including
integrated wireless 802.11 Wi-FiTM, a USB wireless adapter
solution and an upgrade to the Microsoft® Windows XP Professional
operating system.
ViewSonic is also extending mobile connectivity to consumer
electronics in the home. Customers who purchase an airpanel
V110 wireless display or V150 prior to March 31, 2003, are
eligible to receive a free solution to integrate Universal
Electronics’ NevoTM home control software (a $299 value).
Nevo enables consumers to connect, control and interact with
their vast array of home electronics and systems through one
powerful yet easy-to-use, visual interface—in this case,
on their airpanel Smart Displays.
“Technology today is about freedom. With Smart wireless
displays, we’re giving our customers the freedom to
compute when, where and how they want at home,” said
Marc McConnaughey, senior vice president of the Advanced Technology
Group, ViewSonic. “The addition of the Nevo capability
to the airpanel V110 and V150 wireless displays finally bridge
the gap between home computing and consumer devices in the
home.”
“It was just a year ago that Microsoft and ViewSonic
introduced the first Smart wireless display prototype, a new
device that would allow consumers to access their familiar
Windows XP experience from anywhere in the home,” said
Todd Warren, general manager of the Embedded and Appliance
Platforms Group at Microsoft Corp. “ViewSonic has taken
that concept and in just 12 months brought the ViewSonic Smart
Display to market, which includes an innovative home control
solution that will further enhance the consumer experience.”
Both Smart wireless displays feature a high luminance, full-color,
touch screen display based on Windows CE for Smart Displays
technology and interoperability with Windows XP Professional
on a home PC. In addition, both include a 400MHz Intel®
XScale™ technology-based processor for added speed,
power savings and efficiency, 32MB of ROM Flash memory, 64MB
SDRAM and built in 802.11b wireless technology for easy wireless
access to a home PC. The long-life battery lasts up to 4 hours.
”The IntelPXA250 processor that powers the ViewSonic
devices is designed and tested specifically for high-performance
mobile devices such as Smart wireless displays, and provides
for long battery life,” said Peter Green, general manager
of Intel’s Extended Computing Division. "The exciting
design, coupled with the mobility of the airpanel V110 and
V150 wireless displays when powered by Intel XScale technology-based
processors, delivers a unique experience for anywhere, anytime
wireless access to the home PC.”
The airpanel V110 and V150 wireless displays are currently
available at leading online and storefront retailers, including
CompUSA, Amazon.com, Buy.com, Fry’s Electronics and
RCS, for estimated street prices of $999 and $1,299 respectively.
For consumers who are already using XP Professional and who
have their own wireless access point, ViewSonic will offer
a 10-inch airpanel Smart wireless displays without those items
included in the box later in the first quarter. The free solution
to integrate Nevo will begin shipping to eligible owners early
second quarter.
From January 9 – 12, 2003, these airpanel Smart wireless
displays can be seen at International CES 2003 at the Las
Vegas Convention Center in the ViewSonic, UEI, Intel and Microsoft
booths (35021, 19013, 14706 and 6820 respectively) and in
the Microsoft Smart Display Experience home located outside
the Las Vegas Convention Center. In addition, Bill Gates,
Microsoft chairman and chief software architect, will spotlight
the airpanel V110 and V150 Smart wireless displays in his
keynote speech at the show.
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