WindowsHardwareEngineeringConference
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Microsoft shows off "unified communications" devices
It's been almost a year since Microsoft first unveiled in "unified communications" platform, but it looks like the company now finally has some actual devices to go along with it, and it's using its big Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) this week to show 'em off. Coming from nine different manufactures -- including ASUSTek, NEC, Plantronics, and Samsung, among others -- the products include a variety of VoIP phones, headsets, monitors, and at least one laptop, which all promise to "just work" (sound familiar?). The products being shown off this week are also all geared specifically towards the workplace, with the phones in particular designed to give you constant access to email, instant messaging, and other things not normally associated with phones. While there's unfortunately not a whole lot of details on the products themselves just yet, you can get a quick look at some of them by hitting up the eWeek link below.[Photo courtesy of eWeek]
Samsung, Seagate show off ReadyDrive HDD prototypes
No surprises here: we've known since last WinHEC that Samsung was working on a so-called ReadyDrive hard drive that sports a 128MB flash buffer for enabling lower laptop power consumption, and just as we suspected, they've unveiled a working prototype of the technology at this year's conference. Also on hand with their own ReadyDrive was Seagate, who, like Samsung, plan to release their model when Vista finally starts shipping, as only the next-gen operating system will have the proper ATA driver command sets to allow for such a large buffer. PCMag was on the scene for one of Samsung's demos, and claim that a laptop running an office apps script only needed to access the hard drive every three to four minutes, which could result in ReadyDrive-equipped laptops sipping up to 40% less juice than models with those outdated, perpetually-spinning HDDs.
Microsoft demos SideShow-enabled products at WinHEC
Microsoft seems to have big plans for their SideShow auxiliary display technology -- besides the laptop and remote control implementations we've been expecting, they're also using the software for products that we didn't even know we needed, such as digital photo frames that overlay the picture with IMs and Outlook data. The frame, which is being manufactured by a company called A Living Picture, was one of three devices that Microsoft's senior project manager for Windows Client Greg Graceffo showed off at today's Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC), along with a modified Logitech G15 gaming keyboard and a universal remote from Exceptional Innovations. EI's remote, which will launch at the same time as Vista (whenever that is), looks particularly promising, as it allows the user to view program guides, RSS feeds, and other infoswag on the same gadget that can control both home theater equipment and home automation devices. As for the keyboard, well, keep reading if you're interested in seeing what an Outlook appointment looks like on a three-line LCD...
