ASUS shows off Wireless LCD prototype, "Green" monitors

ASUS news from CeBIT? Say it ain't so! Just hours after the company introduced two new "Green" LCDs, we stopped by to see what all the fuss was about. What we found were two rather vanilla looking LCDs (they're in the gallery below, we promise) sitting beside something entirely more interesting: a Wireless LCD prototype. An ASUS rep informed us that the model shown was utilizing the currently-in-limbo ultra-wideband (UWB) standard, and he affirmed that the monitor didn't have a model name nor an estimated ship date or price; it was simply on hand to prove that wireless LCDs were possible and that they're on the way. He noted that ASUS was looking into other wireless protocols -- namely wireless HD and WHDI -- and that it was "waiting things out" before making a final decision on what variation to use. Our take? We suspect it's both testing for best compatibility / range and waiting to see if UWB will remain viable in the coming months, which likely means no shipping product for quite some time. For what it's worth, the on-hand demo was stellar, with no visible lag, glitches or dropped frames to speak of.

Gallery: ASUS shows off Wireless LCD prototype, "Green" monitors: eyes-on

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[allston232 @ Mar 6th 2009 7:53PM]

It'd be nice if the monitor is standing wirelessly by itself. (power is wireless as well.) I don't see the point of this monitor being wireless. you still be tethered by a wire.

[Matt @ Mar 6th 2009 7:58PM]

That's still 2+ less wires...

One wire isn't bad, but a whole entire mess of wires behind the monitor looks fugly.

[cjwild @ Mar 6th 2009 8:12PM]

i was going to say the same thing... what about a power source?

one wire or 3 doesn't make a difference to me seeing as they all get zip-tied together anyways.

[nicolasswagar @ Mar 6th 2009 8:25PM]

Wireless display tech is very useful for notebooks. Many users could scrap the clunky docking station solution currently necessary if all you want is your laptop to use an external display. Just set your notebook down on the desk and use a wireless keyboard and mouse. Very low clutter. But of course, wireless power would be a major plus too.

[ethana2 @ Mar 6th 2009 9:02PM]

PowerMat

[tuaamin13 @ Mar 6th 2009 9:16PM]

This just means all you need is proximity to power, not proximity to power and data.

I could see where this would be useful (conference room projector, anyone?) where you would have a laptop and remotely control a presentation or whatever.

[John @ Mar 7th 2009 12:58AM]

the idea isn't that you pick up and carry around the monitor, it's that you can move around with the computer. For instance, you could put your computer in a closet and not worry about running a monitor cable to it (I would not recommend doing this unless you're using something like a mini ITX atom box that is built to run fanless)

[iGoon @ Mar 6th 2009 8:04PM]

AHAHAHAH!!!

This is useless...

NO Business would ever commission these things for use... Imaging someone snooping in on the transmissions and scooping all that Bank and personal data!

But at least you can watch what porn your next door female neighbor is getting off on!

WOO HOO!

yea, and then when hubby leaves you show up at the door dresud up as that Pizza man she was watching!
ahfkjbafgjasfjhskadfhkf.....

[sunsurfer045 @ Mar 6th 2009 8:12PM]

Wow...how 'bout no.

[Jackboot @ Mar 6th 2009 8:29PM]

I believe these wireless display techs are designed to have a very low range (i.e., a few feet) so there is no need to be concerned about perverted neighbours or data snooping.

[CaliforniaKid @ Mar 6th 2009 8:44PM]

You ARE diabolical. That's a nice trait.

[MKIV 20 Jetta @ Mar 6th 2009 9:36PM]

That's not true. Look at similar short-range wireless technologies. Bluetooth requires a Security Key/Code, which, if consumers actually took the time to change from the factory default, would be secure enough for a ~30ft protocol.

iGoon = fail

[good grief @ Mar 6th 2009 10:52PM]

Your current hardwired monitor already leaks enough EM radiation for the display to be reconstituted visually at significant distances.

Secure workstations use EM shielding to address this. In fact you can make your own Faraday cage relatively easily.

[John @ Mar 7th 2009 12:47AM]

your keypresses can also be picked up, which is slightly more important for most people, and that's impossible to "encrypt". but I guess you, security enthusiast that you are, type everything using a wired rotating cylinder with braille characters in an opaque faraday cage inside a bigger faraday cage.

[epsilon343 @ Mar 6th 2009 8:12PM]

This would be pretty cool. With a wireless keyboard and mouse you could stuff the tower away in a corner and just leave the desk clear. If I had the spare cash I'd sure pick one up.

[Michael @ Mar 6th 2009 8:30PM]

This is awsome!

epsilon343 is dead on! Yeah there's still wires every where, but you can just stick the whole mess in a closet, people with giant home entertainment theaters do it all the time lol.



Now we just need some wirelss USB and CD drives . . .

[Ry @ Mar 6th 2009 10:09PM]

everything wireless is not as good as you think..wireless desktop screen is kinda pointless..

[n10sheat @ Mar 6th 2009 8:50PM]

Darren, what's with the "eyes-on" headings? The last 7 of 8 of your posts have it. Mix it up a bit!

[Charles Opperman @ Mar 6th 2009 10:30PM]

This would be nice.

[va jj @ Mar 6th 2009 9:23PM]

what about CANCER?

[Ignatius @ Mar 6th 2009 11:51PM]

What about it?

[Alphathon @ May 14th 2009 6:14AM]

Eexactly. If you are woried about one wireless protocol causing cancer, then you must be scared out of your skin about all of the mobile phone signals, TV signals, Radio signals, GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi etc etc. Seriously, this is no more going to cause cancer than using a microwave oven.

[subscribemp @ Mar 10th 2009 2:13AM]

the other day I reach over my desk and accidentally knock my LCD monitor off the desk, thinking it was a goner, I went around to the other side of the desk and found it suspended by cables - saving it from a harsh and potentially fatal meeting with the concrete floor...

[Motorola @ Mar 6th 2009 10:47PM]

Wow, great product and the interface is quietly nice.

unlock cell phone

[Brachamus @ Mar 6th 2009 11:07PM]

I dont know where to write this..
Can you please lessen the use of the word/phrase "eyes-on"?
This is slowly becoming eyes-on.com. I dont know why Im so
Annoyed with that term. Good "eyes-on" and reviews nonetheless.
I apologize for punctuation and speling misses, Im having a hard tkme
Typing with this ipod touch keyboard. ;p

Thanks!

[St29 @ Mar 6th 2009 11:04PM]

ANYTHING that eliminates any more cords under my desk is fine with me. The screen is sleek, very nice. Seriously, cordless screens need to start catching on. My question is how anyone could regard this as stupid if it's eliminating cords.. you know, those pesky things under your desk.

[Bradh2o @ Mar 6th 2009 11:15PM]

Q: How much RF are we willing to subject ourselves to...?

[FILA @ Mar 6th 2009 11:51PM]

i like wires so i dont mind, people see wires and they think

'boy look at all them wires, he must be a wiz to connect them all'

then you feel good

[John @ Mar 7th 2009 12:55AM]

I think the most important part is the interference from multiple displays near eachother. For instance, in a computer lab, "ultra wide band" does not sound good for sharing space for something like a digital video signal where (non-uniform) latency is practically unacceptable.

[erufiku @ Mar 7th 2009 4:45AM]

I'd buy one to use with my laptop. It's pretty much locked to the docking station at the moment which renders the whole concept of portability pretty much wasted.

[HUPextreme @ Mar 7th 2009 6:51AM]

wow they are using my favourite media player, kmplayer!

[arash @ Mar 7th 2009 7:11AM]

yeah kmplayer in wonderful.

[kiskadee @ Mar 7th 2009 9:14AM]

Comments appear divided - love it or hate it.

At what price does this technology drive meaningful adoption in a 22" LCD?

[Neoleeyennek @ Mar 7th 2009 10:07AM]

There is a way of making it with no wires by using the same technology that is in the mats which allow the charging phones without any cables. All what would be needed is a power boost on them and to place them under the screens stands so the flow of power goes to the screen. Come on the technology is here, its time to loss the cables.

[thegeniusfiles @ Mar 10th 2009 10:21PM]

The best use of a wireless monitor would be to boost the display for an iPhone-type device.

[evilslime @ May 29th 2009 6:13PM]

What would be point of that? iPhone cannot handle what for that was that monitor designed for. I mean you really want to watch your iPhone screen on that, it would be like 64 font letters and all the pictures will be blurry.

What I really hope for is that they will slap a battery on the back of it, so you could just charge it overnight and play my games all day sitting on a couch. While having my HUGE performance right in my lap.

As well I hope they put a touchscreen on that thing. that would mean basically no need for a mouse, or keyboard! Now that is something