So you've just purchased a new desktop that checks in at 1.6- x 2.4 - x 2.1-inches (actual size may vary), and you're looking for the perfect LCD to accompany it. At long last, we finally have a solution for the aforementioned quandary. The Century LCD-4300U is a 4.3-inch LCD monitor that not only provides the convenience of a USB connection, but it also gets every ounce of energy it needs via that same USB cable. The mini monitor touts an 800 x 480 resolution, LED-backlighting and compatibility with Windows XP / Vista and OS X. Now, if only the darn thing didn't cost ¥19,800 ($197), we might have ourselves a runaway winner.

[Via OhGizmo]

We know this here device is real, but excuse us while we share our skepticism of ASUS' ability to deliver -- after all, we're still waiting patiently for that ROG XG Station to actually find a price and release date. That aside, this here motherboard companion was recently demonstrated by ASUS, and apparently, it gives users the ability to monitor their PC internals, overclock devices in real time and check out widgets on the side. The OC Palm is one of the very few devices we've seen of late to actually take advantage of SideShow-like functionality, though it's only compatible with the high(er)-end P6T DELUXE mobo right now. ASUS has yet to disclose a sticker / launch date, but it's not like you didn't see that coming, right? Check the read link for lots more hands-on shots.

Remember way back when everyone and their third cousin twice removed was hopping on the SideShow bandwagon? Yeah, those were the days. We'll admit, we still think SideShow has had a lot of promise, but you know what they say about a technology without support. At any rate, Mini-Box has decided to offer up a (comparatively) inexpensive way for folks to indulge in a minuscule auxiliary display, and while the $49.95 PicoLCD 4X20-Sideshow won't provide any looks at high-res widgets, the basic blue display is a real champ at showing off stock prices and birthday reminders. Worst case scenario? You can probably use it in a random DIY project that you've been meaning to get to.

[Via SideShowDevices]

We've heard rumors about it and even seen some third party apps that bring Vista's SideShow tech to Windows Mobile devices, but Microsoft has finally made the obvious crossover an official reality with the release of the Windows SideShow for Windows Mobile Development Beta. It's still in early, early stages (the version number is 0.01), but if you're feeling particularly courageous you can install the beta on WinMo 5 and 6 devices that use the Microsoft Bluetooth stack and have the .NET Compact Framework installed and have them function as SideShow devices when in range of your machine, and access previously-sent data when you're away. Let us know how things go in comments, won't you?

[Via the::unwired]

Finally, a little innovation in the midst of watered-down, me-too digital photo frames. Here we have the UFOTO UF735, which exhibits a 7-inch 800 x 480 resolution display, USB 2.0 connectivity, headphone jack, 128MB of built-in memory, integrated speakers, a multicard reader for handling JPEG / BMP / GIF / MP3 files and your choice of silver, pink or blue frame colors. Beyond those yawn-inducing stats, you'll find a swank sub-display function, which enables owners to use it as a secondary display (SideShow, anyone?) on their PC. As is customary for ASUS, it's not doling out pricing / release information just yet, but this one may actually be worth paying attention to when it finally lands.

Devices supporting Vista's SideShow functionality aren't exactly flowing like water yet (seriously, when's the last time you saw someone sporting a W5Fe?), though that's not necessarily for a lack of interest. The functionality's plenty cool, it's just not really an overnight job getting enough manufacturers on board to support the concept and transform the consumer electronics landscape into a Vista-interfacing armada of small screens. If you had to boil it all down to exactly two things Microsoft could do to take SideShow from an ultra-niche market to ubiquity, though, let's be honest: they'd have to be to add Windows Mobile and iPhone support. Indeed, official WinMo support is a standing rumor, but in the meantime you can grab Ikanos Consulting's Go Gadgets beta, which supports installation and control of SideShow gadgets over pretty much any form of mobile connectivity you can throw at it. Turns out these guys have been hard at work making a general HTML renderer for gadgets, too, and have specialized it to look snappy on mobile Safari -- hence the iPhone and iPod touch support. This one isn't quite ready for public consumption yet, but if WinMo's how you roll, you can sign up for the beta now.

Read - SideShow on the iPhone
Read - Go Gadgets for Windows Mobile

There's not a big pack of SideShow laptops out there, but BenQ's leapt to the front with the 14.1-inch Joybook Q41, which adds Skype support to Microsoft's under-utilized auxiliary display tech. In addition to the usual RSS, email, and media controls, you can make and receive Skype calls from the 2.5-inch SideShow screen without having to open and fully boot the machine, which runs an unspecified Core 2 Duo. No word on pricing or availability, but honestly -- isn't it time we saw way more SideShow-equipped machines?

[Via Laptops Blog]

Following up on the RICA 100 that Ricavision unveiled in May is the VAVE100, which doesn't deviate too far from its past siblings in the design department, but does offer up a 2.4-inch QVGA LCD, a shiny green MCE button and SideShow functionality. As we'd expect, this thing is a Class 1 (~50 meters promised) Bluetooth device with A2DP support, and it comes with its own docking station, a BT transceiver and a power charger. The remote enables users to control over 20 different components from up to 50-feet away via IR, and the buttons are backlit to keep you from fumbling around in the dark while trying to switch tracks. Unfortunately, you won't be using one of these to control your new gear (you are asking for new gear this year, right?) until next February, but you will save $25 by pre-ordering now for $274.

[Thanks, Ronald]

Word on the street (er, internet) is that Microsoft's oft-ignored Vista component, SideShow, could be making its official way to your favorite Windows Mobile-flavored device before long. If you'll recall, SideShow acts as a kind of mini-OS which is distributed to devices separate from a PC, such as remotes or external displays on laptops, and can be used to access information like contacts, maps, calendar appointments, and e-mail messages in a low-power, always-on state. Apparently, in a new SDK beta which the SideShow team "showed" off recently, features like a UI designed for portrait QVGA displays, a universal driver that supports USB and Bluetooth communication, and new Bluetooth menu commands have led some folks to speculate that the system could be coming to mobile devices sometime soon. Of course, this all unconfirmed rumor at this point, so don't feel compelled to believe it.

[Via the::unwired]

Sure, it's a bit short on surprises, thanks to a couple of detailed leaks in recent months, but the Dell XPS 420 is now prepped for your ordering pleasure on Dell's online store. Prices start at $1,499, which will get you a fairly specced system and a 20-inch LCD. Other perks in the base system include a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, a 13-in-1 card reader, SideShow and an option for an "Xcelerator" to speed up video encoding, but on the traditional specs it's pretty firmly middle of the road: Vista Home Premium, 2GB of RAM, Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 processor and 256MB Radeon ATI HD 2600 XT for graphics. But hey, who needs muscle when you've got SideShow?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

LG just kicked out the Z1 prototype as the production-quality, dual-LCD XNOTE R200. That 2.5-inch touch-sensitive, Windows SideShow LCD makes for quick access to email, photos, music, "mini-games" and plenty of Vista gadgets without having to boot the OS or even flip open the lappie. The laptop itself starts with a basic (R200-EP76K) configuration of a 12.1-inch LCD, 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB of memory, 128MB of ATI HD 2400 graphics, 802.11a/g/draft-n, and 160GB of disk for as estimated ₩2,240,000. That's about $2,440 should it ever arrive Stateside. Anyone else feeling a bit let down by the dearth of SideShow devices after all the fuss made by the industry at CES in January?

Texyt got their hands on two of the Ricavision-designed prototype Sideshow PDAs that we first heard about a few weeks ago: specifically, the MK140 eChatter (pictured) and Fridge Magnet models. Winbond representatives said that the Sideshow devices could cost as little as "about $80" for the smaller Fridge Magnet device, and "about $150" for the larger eChatter with a QWERTY keyboard, but as Winbond's background is chip manufacturing, they could have meant that this is how much the devices will cost to manufacture and not how much they'll go on sale for (so don't get your hopes up just yet). We'd love a Bluetooth enabled, 5-inch touchscreen PDA for 150 bucks as much as the next gadget maniac, but we'll try and keep it down until we see it confirmed.

[Thanks, ZSX]

Ricavision continues to rock the SideShow action today -- in addition to the devices unveiled yesterday, it looks like they're finally ready to ship that nifty SideShow-enabled Vista Media Center Edition we saw back at CES as the RICA100. There's been a few changes since -- Bluetooth range has been increased to 300 meters, the button layout has been substantially beefed-up and revised to meet Microsoft's MCE guidelines, and the docking / charging cradle has been totally redesigned into a smaller, sleeker unit. All those changes don't come cheap, though -- the RICA100's MSRP is now $299, up from $199. We can't help but notice that this design is just a render too, though -- let's hope Ricavision shows off an actual physical product sometime soon.

[Via eHomeUpgrade]

[Thanks, Cameron B]

Man, that didn't take long. ASUS' W5Fe SideShow-enabled laptop and 2.2-pound U1F with LED backlit display -- both unveiled as prototypes during January's CES -- are hitting Japan (at least) mid-March. An estimated ¥224,800 (or about $1,915) should take home the 12-inch W5Fe preloaded with Vista, a 1.86GHz Core Duo T2350 proc, 1GB memory, 80GB of disk, and standard 1.5-hour battery. If ultra-portability is more your game then you'll need roughly ¥269,800 (about $2,298) to bring the 11.1-inch U1F home equipped with a 1.06GHz Core Duo U2400 CPU, 1GB memory, 80GB disk, and standard 3-hour battery. But you'll want to dig a little deeper for the optional 6-hour extended battery eh road warrior? We expect to hear of a broader release sometime before CeBIT next week.

Read -- W5Fe
Read -- U1F