Unveiling Windows SideShow (Cont.)

A Simple Example

SideShow devices support a number of scenarios out of the box. This may include e-mail, calendar (Figure 6), and map (Figure 7) scenarios, but details have yet to be announced. There are great opportunities for third-party developers to add similar functionality to their own applications. The example here is a simple session scheduler application for a conference such as PDC, that can send session schedules to SideShow displays. The client application (Figure 8) is a standard Windows application. The only thing noteworthy about it is that it communicates with SideShow devices through the SideShow API.

This sample application (which will be made available by Microsoft. Check CoDe Magazine online for information on availability) creates an in-memory SDF formatted string similar to the following:

Currently, this SFD string is sent to the device using the COM-based API. For managed (.NET) developers, this may sound a little scary, but in reality, it is pretty easy to wrap things in managed code. Microsoft is aware of the importance of managed code support and will provide managed samples or a managed API in the Windows Vista timeframe. The resulting display on the SideShow device can be seen in Figure 9.

Note that it is entirely conceivable and even likely, that a single PC will have access to more than one SideShow device.

Conclusion

Microsoft SideShow is a very exciting technology, enabling developers to implement scenarios and allowing users access to PCs in ways that were previously inconceivable or simply cost prohibitive. Actual aux displays are currently hard to come by (a fact that will change by or before Windows Vista ships), but developers can already start targeting this new platform using the Windows Vista SDK and the included emulators.

Markus Egger

Markus Egger

Microsoft Gadgets Blog

Microsoft has whole site dedicated to blogging Gadget-related topics. Check it out at www.MicrosoftGadgets.com.