SecondaryMonitor
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iDisplay now ready to turn your Android device into a secondary display
While iPhone and iPad users have been able to use iDisplay to turn their device into a secondary display for some time now (with at least some degree of success), Android users have unfortunately been left to their own devices -- until now, that is. The folks behind the app have finally made an Android version available as well, which is apparently compatible with all Android smartphones and tablets running Android 2.1 or later, and works in both portrait and landscape modes. As with the iOS version, it's also compatible with both Windows and OS X, and it'll set you back the same $4.99.
MMT's DisplayLink-equipped 15.4-inch Monitor2Go hands-on at CES 2011 (video)
We just happened upon MMT's Monitor2Go at CES's ShowStoppers event here in Vegas, and... well, it's a Mimo monitor, but huge. The new version -- which is expected to ship in a few months here in the US for $279 -- lacks the number pad that was on last year's model. That one was aimed primarily at accountants on the run, whereas this DisplayLink-equipped version is aimed at everyone else. You can catch up on all of the specifications and such here, but the actual display felt satisfactorily light, the swiveling hinge was rock solid and the screen itself was acceptable for a secondary solution. The low resolution won't dazzle anyone, and it's certainly no replacement for a legitimate monitor, but it's definitely easier to lug around than a new ST2220T. Head on past the break for a quick video demonstration. %Gallery-113149%
MMT's DisplayLink-equipped 15.4-inch USB Monitor2Go given a $279 price
Both DisplayLink and MMT seem pretty darn proud to be revealing the 15.4-inch Monitor2Go here at CES, but in reality, this unit has already been around the block. If you'll recall, the Field Monitor Pro was first spotted a few weeks back, and now MMT is introducing a rebadged version in Vegas. The good news, however, is that we finally have a price to pore over: $279, and it'll ship to consumers later this quarter. For those that missed last month's slip, this fold-up monitor can be used alongside any machine (PCs are green-lit, Mac support is in beta) with a USB port, offering a 1280 x 800 screen resolution and a number pad to boot. Of course, since DisplayLink is behind the pixels, up to six screens can be daisy-chained off of a host computer's single USB port to create a massive video wall -- something we strongly encourage, of course. %Gallery-112226%
Field Monitor Pro: 'portable' 15.4-inch USB monitor packs number pad, DisplayLink
This, friends, is the ThinkPad W700's worst nightmare. Rather than forcing consumers into buying a gargantuan lappie with an inbuilt secondary display (or settling for one of Mimo's diminutive alternatives), Mobile Monitor Technologies has an even better solution: this thing. The four-pound Field Monitor Pro is sure to be a hot seller over at Accountemps, with a fold-flat design and a spacious 15.4-inch LCD underneath. Essentially, this is a 15-inch laptop sans the guts, boasting just a 1280x800 LED-backlit display, a rear kickstand, two Kensington lock slots, a pair of USB 2.0 sockets, DisplayLink technology and a full-on number pad. It's designed to be used in both lay-flat or stood-up modes, and if you're looking for a more permanent solution, it can also be mounted on a nearby wall. Unfortunately, you'll still need a separate AC line running to a wall outlet, and the relatively low resolution isn't apt to drop any jaws. Head on past the break for a peek at what exactly this beast can offer, and then wait patiently for a price as "busy season 2011" swings in. Ah, the sweet smell of taxes coming due. [Thanks, Ian]
Mimo goes giant with 10-inch iMo Monster USB-driven monitor
Who says the USB monitor fun has to end at seven diagonal inches? Not Mimo, that's for sure. The famed secondary display company has issued its latest device, and this one's a looker. The 10-inch iMo Monster is aptly named, offering 10 full inches of touchscreen real estate with a native 1,024 x 600 resolution panel. The whole thing weighs just 1.77 pounds and it fully supports both Windows and OS X platforms; best of all, a single USB 2.0 cable provides all the power and connectivity you'll need. Mimo throws in a stylus, 4.5-inch USB cable and a boatload of bragging rights, but given the "limited availability," you may want to part ways with your $259.99 right away if you're looking to pick one up.
Mimo's 720-F USB-driven touchscreen monitor gets down with VESA mounts
Ah, Mimo. It has been far, far too long since you've tossed out another product to appease our need for more pixels in every situation, and frankly, we couldn't be happier to see that you're back. Today, the aforesaid company is tossing out a variant of the 710-S that emerged last August, but this one's tailor made to work on VESA mounts. The company claims that the 720-F was born from requests to have a 7-inch touchscreen that could be mounted on VESA brackets, enabling easy installs in cars, server rooms, dashboards, etc. You'll still get an 800 x 480 resolution, 400:1 contrast ratio and a USB-driven design, though you'll be asked to shed $199 from your savings account in order to bring one home. Betcha can't buy just one.
iPad apps: defining experiences from the first wave
There are now over 1,348 approved apps for the iPad. That's on top of the 150,000 iPad-compatible iPhone programs already available in the App Store. When Apple's tablet PC launches, just hours from now, it will have a software library greater than that of any handheld in history -- not counting the occasional UMPC. That said, the vast majority of even those 1,348 iPad apps are not original. They were designed for the iPhone, a device with a comparatively pokey processor and a tiny screen, and most have just been tweaked slightly, upped in price and given an "HD" suffix -- as if that somehow justified the increased cost. Besides, we've seen the amazing potential programs have on iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Windows Mobile and webOS when given access to a touchscreen, always-on data connection, GPS, cloud storage and WiFi -- but where are the apps that truly define iPad? What will take advantage of its extra headroom, new UI paradigms and multitouch real estate? Caught between netbook and smartphone, what does the iPad do that the iPhone cannot? After spending hours digging through the web and new iPad section of the App Store, we believe we have a number of reasonably compelling answers. Update: Now includes Wormhole Remote, TweetDeck, SkyGrid, Touchgrind HD, GoToMeeting, SplitBrowser, iDisplay, Geometry Wars and Drawing Pad.
Mimo's 710-S 'Mobile Slider' USB monitor gets low... real low
Well, wouldn't you know it? Those off the wall concepts of what appeared to be a next-generation USB-driven Mimo monitor seem to have found their way into the production line, as the outfit made suddenly famous for its secondary displays now has a new model on tap. The 710-S "Mobile Slider" edition is really just a tweaked version of the aforementioned 7-inch panel, but it has been completely redesigned into a "sleeker, foldable and more portable unit." We hadn't really given much thought to bringing one of these things along in a laptop case, but this critter just might change our opinion on the usefulness to road warriors. Hit the read link to get in line; you'll have the opportunity to part with $149.99 in exchange for one later this month. [Via EverythingUSB]
Samsung ships $129 SPF-87H 8-inch digiframe / secondary monitor
Samsung's been dousing just about anything it can get its paws on with that 'Touch of Color' design scheme, and even the outfit's latest digiframe wasn't able to dodge the madness. The 8-inch SPF-87H, which was originally introduced to the world back in April, is now shipping to those scouting a multifaceted digital photo frame. Unlike traditional alternatives, this 0.91-inch thick frame can double as a secondary display (via USB), and the respectable 800 x 480 resolution panel ensures that you can fit more than just a weather widget on there. Other specs include 1GB of built-in storage, an SD expansion slot, 500:1 contrast ratio and a $129 price tag. [Via HotHardware]
Sony PSP hacked for use as PC status monitor
No money for a secondary display? No use for that worn-down PSP? There's hope for the future, friend. Hacker avi has discovered that Sony's handheld makes for a wonderful status monitor, providing a clean look at your PC's CPU usage, memory allocation and system temperature levels. All you'll need is a bit of training in Python, Lua for the PSP and a sister willing to stop watching UMD movies long enough for you to give this a go.
