SideShow in Windows 7

I stumbled accross this audio interview with Dan Polivy from Microsoft who talks about some of the new features with SideShow in Windows 7, most notable are TCP/IP support yeah! and Touch support.

"Microsoft has shown off some crazy features in Windows 7 over the past two weeks. Most of these additions are on the user interface level, such as the replacement of the sidebar with simply “desktop gadgets” which can pin to specific locations on the desktop. The evolved taskbar (first time a major usability change was brought to the taskbar since Windows 95 with IE4), the updated Aero features (Aero Peek, Color HotTrack, etc.), as well as Jumplists are also usability and “likeability” features which were added to Windows 7.

Beyond simply the looks, however, there’s also gesture and touch support. These two will have a significant role in Windows 7, as can be seen already via features such as Aero Shake and gesture functionality in common controls (such as scrolling) via the the tablet framework.

Finally, Windows 7 will be much more context-aware than any other operating system thanks to a new sensor framework debuting in Windows 7.

Despite all of thiis, there are still some Windows Vista features which have not been expanded upon during PDC; SideShow, for example, was curiously absent. Will SideShow see more enhancements which will increase adoption? Here’s the quick list:

• Touch support with SideShow displays
• TCP/IP support via the updated .net micro framework
• 100% Backwards Compatibility with all Windows Vista SideShow gadgets

You can hear the full answer in an audio interview I magically recorded with the SideShow lead while at WinHEC"

The newly released MCE Sideshow gadgets and the TV Pack

I did wonder about this and Ian has just reported on his blog here that the newly released version 1.0 of the MCE Sideshow gadgets still does not work on the TV Pack version of Media Center, which is a real shame.



Update:

To get the Media Center Sideshow gadget working on TV Pack you can change a setting in the registry, edit the registry at your own risk!

1. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center
2. Change the Ident version to 5.0 from 5.1
3. Run the Sideshow install
4. Change the Ident value back to 5.1

There is also another way to get the MCE SideShow gadgets installed on a TV Pack version of MCE, you need to modify the MSI files in a certain way and then they can be installed as normal. This has been tested and works, however you might as well just use the reg edit work around shown above instead.

MCE SideShow gadgets released on Live Gallery

The Microsoft MCE Sideshow gadgets have now been released on to the Live Gallery website,

There are 4 gadgets in the download available in 64bit and 32bit versions from Windows Live Gallery which include:

• TV: Browse the program guide, schedule recordings, and browse and play back recorded TV shows
• Music: Browse and play music
• Pictures + Videos: Browse pictures on your device and play slideshows and video
• Now Playing: Provides information on what is playing in Media Center and provides playback controls like those on your Media Center remote

Release Candidate build of the Windows Media Center Gadgets for Windows SideShow

The Release Candidate build of the Windows Media Center Gadgets for Windows SideShow has been released today. See the email below for further details:

Download the Release Candidate build of the Windows Media Center Gadgets for Windows SideShow here:Download

Please install this build and provide feedback. The final release will be posted to the Windows Live Gallery in the near future. While you are there, check out some of the great new gadgets that have been uploaded including Remotebook (for Facebook), AccuWeather, Twitter, System Health and Windows Live Messenger (all available in 9 languages)!

Support for Media Center Extenders:

Extenders are now supported if you are using a SideShow device that can pre-enable the gadgets. The Ricavision Vave100 remote control is an example of a device that pre-enables the Media Center gadgets.Try this with your Xbox 360 or other extender device and provide us with any feedback.

Additional instructions have been added to the Installation Instructions page about using the gadgets with an extender.

Connect Site Links:
Download
Installation Instructions
Gadget general information and known issues
Send Feedback

Want to write your own Gadget in Managed Code? It's easy!You can download and install our easy to use SDK, which includes templates for a gadget that integrate with Visual Studio (2005/2008 including express editions). You can build and run the template Gadget right out of the box giving you an easy place to start to tailor your own gadget. Download this today from Microsoft Download Center:Windows SideShow Managed API 1.0 SDK

Have a Windows Mobile 5 or 6 phone?Download and install Windows SideShow for Windows Mobile Developer Preview

Your feedback has greatly increased the quality of this release!
Thank you so very much from our entire team for taking part in the Windows Media Center Gadgets for Windows SideShow Beta.

Thank you!
The Windows SideShow team

Update1:

The gadgets don't appear to install on the TV Pack version of VMC, which is a real shame, not sure if the final release will be compatible?



















Update2:

I've been playing around with the RC1 release and I'm having a few issues with it and also find its lacking in functionality in places, see this thread here for my take on it.

Update3:

Microsoft say that you will not be able to use this MCE SideShow gadget to control your Media Center Extenders using a Windows Mobile device. Something to do with SideShow running on Windows Mobile not being able to pre-enable the gadgets. See the above link to The Green Button thread for more information on this.

Twitter Vista Side Show Gadget released

Ikanos Consulting have released a Twitter Side Show Gadget:

The Twitter Gadget from Ikanos Consulting allows you to set your Twitter status, check up on your friends, and dig into friends’ timelines, all from your Windows SideShow(tm) device. Features include status settings, friend pictures, friend timelines and status pre-sets. This is not a Sidebar gadget. It is for Windows SideShow devices only.

Download here

Three Cool SideShow Gadgets from Ikanos

Ikanos Consulting have released 3 rather cool Windows Vista SideShow Gadgets. AccuWeather, Live Messenger and System Health. Ikanos Consulting were the first company to enable Windows Mobile devices to use the Windows Vista SideShow Gadgets with their Windows Mobile Connectivity Framework beta.

James Woodhall AKA SideShow Jim is one of the lead developers at Ikanos click here for his blog.

You can download these Gadgets free from the Windows Live Gallery here.

You can click the images below to make them appear larger.

AccuWeather: Displays 5-day weather for multiple cities on your Windows SideShow device

Live Messenger: Provides basic remote control functionality for Windows Live Messenger

System Health: System Health allows you to monitor your PCs performance and check up on basic system stats.

Windows Media Center SideShow Gadget beta1

I've been talking about this for months now over on TGB and the potential Windows SideShow holds and that this was indeed coming. Released today at long last, is Beta 1 of the Windows Media Center SideShow Gadget.

I've had a very quick look at it and done some screen shots. I need to play around with it in much more detail and do a full write up about it soon.

Also released recently was the Windows SideShow for Windows Mobile Developer Preview v0.01 enabling Windows SideShow Gadgets to run on the windows mobile platform, so the two together are definately worth looking at. Using your Windows mobile phone or PDA to control your Media Center system sounds pretty cool to me and it's what we have been waiting for!

Now Playing Controls

I've opened a new thread on TGB here to discuss this new SideShow Gadget.

Download issues?

If your having problems downloading this from Microsoft connect:

"Clicking on "click here to download" = Page Not Found The content that you requested cannot be found or you do not have permission to view it."

You need to look for the Windows Sideshow Connection at Microsoft Connect.

Media Center Gadgets - General Information and Known Issues There are 4 Media Center gadgets: Download and install the Beta Media Center Gadgets: Click here to download

TV:

Browse TV and schedule recordings. Browse the TV program guide, view metadata on upcoming or current shows, and pick shows to watch and record (single showing or series), without interrupting the TV viewing experience. Recorded TV. Select a previously recorded program to play back, without interrupting the viewing experience on the TV.

Music:

Play Music. Browse the media library, control music playback on the PC by using the remote control device instead of the primary display, such as a TV. Play radio presets. Browse your radio presets and playback that station through your Media Center.

Pictures + Videos:

Browse the picture and video libraries. Make a selection on the remote and that picture or video will be displayed on the TV.

Now Playing:

Provide "now playing" information. The remote control device shows information about the currently playing medium, such as the track title or the time elapsed. Known Issues: Enabling the Gadgets on more than one SideShow device to control the Media Center PC is not supported for Beta Enabling the Gadgets for more than one user session on your PC is not supported for Beta

Microsoft announces Windows SideShow for Windows Mobile Development Beta

"Finally, after some 3rd party developers released some Windows Mobile compatible SideShow drivers, also Microsoft gives SideShow some love by releasing Windows SideShow for Windows Mobile. Not yet mass-market ready, Microsoft's Windows SideShow for Windows Mobile Developer Preview v0.01 is an application for Windows Mobile 5 and Windows Mobile 6 Pocket PCs and Smartphones that allows you to use your Windows Mobile device as a Bluetooth SideShow-compatible device. This enables you to use your phone as an extra window into your PC. You can both access your computer's information from your Pocket PC or Smartphone, and control the computer through a gadget interface.

While the phone is out of range, or when your computer is off, you can continue to view content sent to the phone previously. This makes it easy to send information to the phone that you'll need later on.
The developer preview is available in English only and supports Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise, Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate Bluetooth-enabled PCs using Microsoft's Bluetooth stack. Toshiba Bluetooth stack isn't supported at the moment. Furthermore, Windonws SideShow for Windows Mobile requires a Bluetooth-capable Windows Mobile 5, Windows Mobile 6 Standard or Windows Mobile 6 Professional device with the .NET Compact Framework 2.0 installed."

This is very good news and I hope the Windows Media Center SideShow gadget that has been in internal beta at Microsoft is released soon to the public. Hopefully this will be a cool way to control your media center from your hand held Windows Mobile device!

Source
Windows Side Show team blog
Download