Hi everybody,

This is Toby from the Windows SideShow team - just wanted to give a heads up about some new developments and a gadget contest that were recently announced.

First, if you're not familiar, SideShow is platform that allows you to extend information from and control of your computer to peripheral devices via a gadget (widget) interface. This allows you to get frequently accessed information from your PC and control media playback, PowerPoint presentations, etc. from displays other than your main PC screen – helpful when you want to get information away from your PC, when your PC is asleep, or when you are using your PC to play a game or watch a movie. Gadgets may be written specifically for Windows SideShow, and Windows Sidebar gadgets can be extended to work with Windows SideShow.

Recently, we've released two new developer tools--a developer preview of Windows SideShow for Windows Mobile, which allows you to use any Windows Mobile 5 or 6 phone as a wireless SideShow device, and a Managed SDK which allows easy development of SideShow gadgets in VB or C#. Additionally, we are teaming up with nVidia to sponsor a contest for the best gadgets produced. Finalists will receive roundtrip airfare to attend nVidia’s nVision event in San Jose, CA (August 25–27) where the winning gadget will be selected by a panel of judges. The winner will receive a SideShow-enabled Dell XPS 420 system and have their gadget featured on the front page of NZONE.com, included in the NVIDIA newsletter, and the Windows SideShow section of Microsoft’s Windows Live Gallery. The contest ends July 18th.

Hope you find this interesting - thanks and have a great day!

Toby
Program Manager, Windows SideShow

Links:

Windows SideShow for Windows Mobile Developer Preview
Windows SideShow Managed API 1.0 SDK
Gadget Contest
SideShow Device Simulator
SideShow Developer Forum