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MEDL Technology's 'The Panel' hands-on
MEDL Technology's portable LCD display "The Panel" sounded like the perfect laptop sidekick, but would you really want to slip the 13.3-inch screen into your messenger bag? We invited company co-founder Eric Liao -- and his prototype Panel -- to a local Starbucks to find out. The verdict? Lightweight and incredibly easy to use, but at this point most features (including those all-important analog video inputs) aren't quite ready for primetime. Housed in a silvery frame that perfectly matched the brushed aluminum finish of our Mac and Dell laptops, the screen was equally easy to hook up to either one. Using a DisplayLink USB graphics chip, we only had to plug in an USB cable to instantly connect the external screen, once the driver was installed. The Panel was nice and bright, even eclipsing our LED-backlit XPS M1330 on maximum settings -- though the screen looked washed out, viewed from off-angles -- and featured smooth action and no perceptible audio sync issues when playing a DVD-quality movie. Basic functionality's all we got to test, sadly, but Liao made a number of intriguing promises for The Panel's future. At 80 percent brightness, Liao says the device's 4200mAh rechargeable battery gives it 4 to 5 hours of spreadsheet slinging bliss, and those buttons on the right side might be used to control more than brightness and contrast -- should the company adopt wireless USB as originally planned, Liao intends to have them double as arrow controls, allowing you to cut the cables and still have basic e-reader functionality. A headphone jack is still in the works, which should allow audio passthrough from HDMI and possibly USB. Last but not least, there's a reason The Panel looks so good lying prone next to that Macbook: should cost decrease, future revisions may include a tablet-style touchscreen. Shame most of these ideas are still on the drawing board, but even the primary product is shaping up nicely. Hit up our gallery for the visual scoop. P.S. Those blotches on the LCD screen? Liao says that's a manufacturing defect, and that MEDL is testing LCD panels from a variety of manufacturers to avoid such mishaps in the final product. %Gallery-89198%
Ask TUAW: File ownership and permissions, converting FLV and OGG, extra displays, and more
Welcome back to Ask TUAW, our weekly troubleshooting Q&A column. This week we have questions about changing file ownership and permissions, adding two external displays to a MacBook Pro, converting OGG and FLV files on an older Mac, transferring a Time Machine backup to a new disk, and more. As always, your suggestions and questions are welcome. Leave your questions for next week in the comments section at the end of this post. When asking a question, please include which machine you're using and what version of Mac OS X is installed on it (we'll assume you're running Snow Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify), or if it's an iPhone-related question, which iPhone version and OS version you have.
Sideline Cinq USB companion monitor hands-on
We don't normally get adrenalized with LCD monitors, but when they get a dash of that DisplayLink magic then it's another story. Enter the Sideline Cinq -- a 10.1-inch, 1024 x 600 vibrant LCD (with SD card reader) that needs just one USB cable for both data and power, plus it's kosher with both Windows and Mac. Sure, the Cinq looks bulky, but at 15.6 ounces you'd likely need some serious lottery luck for it to cause any damage. There's also a stand to avoid the attachment's sticky tape mess on your machine -- you can go landscape or portrait. The only grumble we have is that it needs a non-glossy option. $249 and the Cinq's yours in Q3, or $199 if you pre-order from Sideline's site. Now, how about three of these for some hardcore flight-sim sessions? %Gallery-82506%
USB 3.0-infused DisplayLink products coming in 2010
DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort may be enjoying the spoils right now, but the world's most popular port may just give 'em a run for their collective dollars by the end of next year. DisplayLink, which enables monitors to receive signals via USB instead of through one of the more conventional cables, has been mildly successful with USB 2.0 at the helm, but a whole new world is about to open up with the introduction of USB 3.0. As you've no doubt seen by now, the third iteration offers up over ten times the bandwidth of v2.0, which would obviously allow for great resolution support when channeling video. In reality, USB 3.0 is the first USB protocol that could support a legitimate high-def video stream, and it's expected that a prototype device will be shown at CES next month transmitting content at up to 4.8 gigabits per second. In theory, at least, USB 3.0-enabled DisplayLink would allow vast 30-inch panels to be connected to netbooks via USB without having to rely on a sub-native resolution, but then again, said netbooks will probably need a GPU with a bit more oomph than the current Ion can provide. Not like that'll be an issue for long, though.
Targus debuts ACP51USZ laptop docking station with video
Well, it's not quite as seamless as something like Zemno's $500 DeskBook Pro docking station, but Targus' new ACP51USZ model is a good deal cheaper, and will likely get the job done just fine for most folks (with a few exceptions). That includes giving you a reasonable four USB 2.0 ports (two suitable for charging devices), a single DVI port for your monitor, an Ethernet port, and a pair of 3.5mm audio jacks for speakers, headphones, or a microphone -- all of which connect to your laptop with a single USB cable. Unfortunately, this one won't work (or at least be fully functional) with Mac or Linux, but it is compatible with Windows 7, XP and Vista, and it's available right now for $159.99.
Sewell's DisplayLink-enabled USB-to-DVI / VGA / HDMI adapter does 2,048 x 1,152
It's been a hot minute since we've seen a totally useful display adapter from Sewell, but the outfit's latest is certainly worth a gander if you've been yearning to push high-def signals through USB. The Minideck USB-to-DVI / VGA / HDMI (video only) adapter utilizes the DisplayLink DL-195 chip, which provides support for resolutions as high 2,048 x 1,152, so 1080p and 1,920 x 1,200 LCD monitors are well taken care of. Best of all, this thing doesn't require a Core i7 rig to operate, so your 5 year old corporate laptop should be plenty to handle the rigors of powering a 24-inch LCD via a dusty old USB socket. It's all yours right now for $99.95.
Kensington slaps DisplayLink into USB universal docking stations
We've gone over one whole month without speaking of DisplayLink, and honestly, it's killing us on the inside. Thus, we're thrilled to see yet another product looking to the always-popular USB port for guidance, with Kensington's two newest universal docking stations channeling your graphics, peripherals and even internet journeys (only on the $149.99 K33926US, not on the $129.99 K33930US) over one single cable. Put simply, these docks allow users to connect up a set of speakers, USB peripherals and even a DVI / VGA display, and when you stroll in with your laptop, you simply link the two via a single USB connection and enjoy a "docked" experience. What's most interesting here, however, is the maximum resolution support; while most universal docks top out well below the 1080p mark, these two support resolutions as high as 2,048 x 1,152. Oh, and if you're just looking to connect a few (up to six) monitors to your existing rig via USB, the $79.99 Universal Multi-Display Adapter should be able to help.[Via HotHardware]
Logitec DisplayLink-certified USB-to-DVI dongle handles QWXGA
DisplayLink may not have the rampant following you probably thought it would when it was originally introduced, but we'd credit much of the indifference to the inability of most adapters to hit the magical 1080p mark. Up until now, most USB-to-DVI dongles couldn't support resolutions higher than UXGA (1,600 x 1,200), but at long last Logitec has stepped in to provide an alternative that blows right on by 1,920 x 1,080 and stops at QWXGA (2,048 x 1,152). If this here product looks like just the thing you and your spare monitor have been waiting for, feel free to hit the read link and place your pre-order for ¥12,980 ($136). But hey, don't blame us if your graphics card gets envious.[Via Akihabara News]
Century's 8-inch Plus One LCD-8000UD adds DVI input, character
So you've seen the ThinkPad W700ds and thought you could do with one of those compact secondary displays, eh? If Century's earlier Plus One model didn't exactly float your boat, you may be excited to learn that the company is adding DVI connectivity to the 8-inch panel, while keeping the same 800 x 600 resolution, USB input and 250 nits of brightness. Being able to alternate between two video sources without fiddling with cables is definitely appealing, as is the reduced CPU overhead when selecting the DVI linkup. Sadly, the price still hasn't climbed down to sane levels, and at $174 before shipping, you're probably better off scooping up some previously loved 17-inch LCD for even less. Or just cramming all 23 of those IM windows into that fancy cascading toolbar, whichever works.[Via Akihabara News]Update: Turns out that DVI port is actually an output, and it seems the product listing has now been changed to reflect that. Thanks, gothamsound!
Atlona HD-AiR wireless HDMI system hands-on and impressions
One of our ultimate dream gadgets has long been a dead-simple wireless HDMI dongle for our laptops -- something that would let us just throw a window (say, Hulu) up on our HDTV without a lot of fuss, cables, or configuration. So obviously we were pretty excited to try out the $199 Atlona Technologies HD-AiR, which marries Wireless USB with DisplayLink and promises to send 720p video directly from your laptop to a base station with VGA and HDMI outputs up to 30 feet away -- until we received the box and noted the small print saying that it doesn't support audio. Hopes: dashed.On top of that, we're not sure if it's DisplayLink, Wireless USB, or some combination of the two, but the video link seemed pretty bandwidth-starved -- full-screen video was close to unwatchable, PowerPoint transitions were kinda jerky, and even just moving windows around was pretty choppy. For such a promising -- and much-needed -- device, the HD-AiR just doesn't get it done. Atlona says the next version will have audio support and 1080p video support using the next generation of DisplayLink chips and drivers, but we'd hope the company's engineers spend a little more time in the lab polishing up their 720p framerates before they push this thing any farther. Video after the break.
Simple fix for the USB monitor black screen of doom
If you use a USB display adapter to add a 2nd screen to your Mac, you may have noticed that ever since Mac OS X 10.5.7 came out, they have been mysteriously failing. This morning, after logging out and logging back in, the black-screen-of-doom scenario happened on my Mac mini's second monitor. By searching around, I came across a DisplayLink FAQ that seemed to provide answers. Mind you, I don't own a "DisplayLink". I use an eVGA UV Plus on my mini. Like many other external monitor devices, however, my eVGA uses the DisplayLink chipset and drivers. So even if you think this solution doesn't apply to your USB monitor solution, it very well may. I didn't just upgrade to 10.5.7 yesterday. It's been running on my system for ages. So why did everything fail after my log-out/log-in? I seriously have no idea. Following the suggestions on the DisplayLink site and on several Mac support boards, I re-installed the 1.1 drivers and rebooted. My monitor is now back to life. So, bottom line, if you are using an external USB-powered display on your Mac and it stops working, try re-installing drivers. You'll find the latest Mac drivers here, plus the newest beta releases. You'll need to agree to the DisplayLink EULA before you're permitted to download the software. And you will need to reboot. However, on an annoyance scale between 0 (everything working) and 10 (losing access to your second monitor), a simple reinstall & reboot clocks in at about a 3.
DisplayLink boldly enters HD realm on new Samsung LapFit displays
Compared to technologies such as Wireless USB, DisplayLink has actually done fairly well for itself. Nah, it's no worldwide phenomenon, but it definitely has enough traction to really shine once USB 3.0's bandwidth arrives. That said, the tech is making the most of its current situation with the introduction of the DL-1x5 Series processors, two of which actually support Full HD. The DL-125, DL-165 and DL-195 will all slide into USB-enabled LCD monitors here shortly, with the middle guy supporting resolutions as high as 1,920 x 1,080 and the DL-195 cranking things to 2,048 x 1,152 before crying "Uncle!" In theory, at least, this enables laptop users to connect high-res screens when their desktop replacement needs a helping hand, and it can be enjoyed now by consumers in Asia, the Middle East, Russia and Europe who can snag themselves a new SyncMaster LapFit LD190G or LD220G monitor. [Via EverythingUSB, thanks Ian]
DisplayLink for Linux turns a humble wireless router into a beautiful PC
Our inner nerd was already completely thrilled at the release of DisplayLink driver source code for Linux, but he's positively frothing at this elegant implementation. It's simply a Linux-based, OpenWRT router (the ASUS WL-500g Premium, to be specific) with a Samsung U70 USB display and a keyboard plugged in, but the DisplayLink driver turns what would be otherwise a headless, networking-only server into a totally elegant PC. Sure, that 300MHz embedded processor won't be powering past your Atom-powered machines or pretty much any other "modern" hardware, but it's basically a tinker's dream -- suddenly almost anything with a USB port and a processor somewhere within it could become a computer with the right amount of know-how.
DisplayLink makes Linux source code available... finally!
The long-burning question on the DisplayLink scene (you know, with its DisplayLink bars and coffee shops, and the annual DisplayLink parade) has been: "When will Linux users be able to get in on some of that video-via-USB action?" Well, it looks like we have an answer for you, penguin-heads. As of today, the company is announcing the release of the open-source implementation of its graphics software, offering support for the Alex family (DL-120 and DL-160) chips. So prepare to go wild writing drivers for all of your favorite Linux-based devices, and be sure to drop us a line when you do. Seriously -- it's been a while since you called. Hit the read link to get started, or check out the full PR bit after the break.
DisplayLink sells a million USB graphics chips
It wasn't all that long ago that DisplayLink was still courting manufacturers and showing off its then newfangled USB graphics adapter technology, but the company is now celebrating a fairly significant milestone, with it announcing that it has sold more than a million of its USB graphics chips. Those have found their way into more than thirty different products from a number of manufacturers, including both wired and wireless USB adapters, projectors, USB docking stations, and a whole range of USB-connected monitors. Of course, DisplayLink isn't about to rest on its laurels now, and it says it expects to see an even greater range of products using its chips as wireless USB and USB 3.0 become the norm.[Via I4U News]
Century's Plus One 8-inch USB monitor seems pretty OK for displayin' stuff
You know how it is, with so many apps fighting over that valuable desktop real estate. Luckily, there is no shortage of companies looking to fill the void in your life (or your workflow) with an additional 8 inches of USB-enabled monitorin'. The newest entry into the market is the Plus One LCD-8000U by Century, a digiframe-looking thing that sports an 800 x 600 resolution, 250 cd/m2 brightness, and supports either portrait or landscape mode. What's not to love, right? Well, the fact that it's going for $190 is not very lovable. Still, it's good to have options. Or something. Award winning video after the break.
HP's USB 2.0 Docking Station adds in DisplayLink technology
DisplayLink is most certainly swinging the big wood here at CES, with announcements spanning from Samsung monitors to Acer multimedia docks. Now, it's hooking up with HP for the first time ever in order to introduce the USB 2.0 Docking Station with DisplayLink technology. The universal dock enables laptops to pass through audio, LAN and peripheral connectivity, and of course, it enables the laptop to expand its display onto a USB-enabled monitor without the need for graphics cards and the like. We can't tell you when or where it'll land, but you can have a gander at the read link for other hardware details.
Accell introduces their USB 2.0 to VGA Adapter at CES
If you spend any amount of time in front of a computer, you're already sold on the idea of a second monitor -- luckily, there are an ever-increasing number of options out there for you. Looking to give DisplayLink a run for its money, Accell Cables is throwin' down with their UltraVideo USB 2.0 to VGA Adapter. This guy is bus powered, rocks up to UXGA (1600 x 1200) resolution, and the display drivers (available for PC and Mac) support up to four adapters. Listed for $89.99, it will be making the rounds at CES this week.[Via About Projectors]
Samsung ships DisplayLink-equipped SyncMaster 2243QW
Samsung's been shipping DisplayLink-equipped displays in its UbiSync line for months now, and now it's got one more headed to consumers. The 22-inch 2243QW comes with a 1,680 x 1,050 native resolution, 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 5-millisecond response time, a built-in USB hub and VGA / DVI inputs. 'Course, the signal gets sent over USB, but it's your best guess as to what it'll run. Er, is running, considering that it's shipping now to the US and Europe.
Acer adds DisplayLink multimedia dock to 22-inch P224W monitor
Acer's P224W is nothing new, but it's getting some seriously new functionality here at CES. Said display has become the first Acer monitor with a matching multimedia dock, which includes a USB hub that allows PCs to connect to it via DisplayLink (or in other words, via USB). In case you're in need of a refresher, other specs include a 10,000:1 contrast ratio, 1,680 x 1,050 native resolution, VGA input and a 5-millisecond response time. It's shipping now for an undisclosed amount in the US and Europe.
