Already from CES we have seen a couple of devices with secondary displays supporting Windows Vista SideShow. But not as many as I had hoped.
SideShow first appeared as secondary display on concept laptops and this is still how many people think of it. This week Toshiba announced the first Tablet to be released with an integrated SideShow display, the R400.
But while that may have been the first we saw of SideShow it is only the tip of the iceberg. Another concept that appeared this week was the very cool messenger bag from Eleksen.
Other devices are coming. This article in CoDe magazine from 2005 introduces Windows SideShow and has pictures of concept devices for laptops, keyboards, remotes and more. I really like the idea of a digital photo frame that connects to your PC via BlueTooth.
I know there are more cool devices out there that have not yet been announced. I guess some are being held back for the official Vista launch. I say bring it on and I can't wait to see what manufactures make of it.
SideShow, in my opinion, may well turn out to be an enabling technology that becomes ubiquitous - much like the mouse wheel. Before the mouse wheel came along everyone thought the mouse fine as it was. Now if you you find yourself using a mouse without the wheel you may well find yourself stroking the seam between the buttons when you want to scroll.
Lots of potential...
If you want to get started developing for SideShow then I previously blogged about an article by Daniel Moth that may be of interest.