Shiny buttons...
(Credit: Eric Franklin/CNET)I've been talking about the Samsung LD190 since January (and by "talking about" I mean I've mentioned it once and really haven't since then).
Samsung is pushing the LD190N as a companion monitor for use with a laptop. Meaning, they expect you to use it in extend mode when in need of extra screen space.
The monitor includes a 18.5-inch, 1360x768 resolution screen, VGA, and upstream USB. The USB includes DisplayLink technology, which allows you to circumvent the VGA connection altogether.
Check out the pics below of the $150 companion piece and look for a full review of Samsung's LD190 soon.
DisplayLink--a technology that allows users to connect multiple monitors to a single system, via USB--though a useful tool, has unable to display certain high resolutions including some HD resolutions.
With more and more monitors moving to the 16:9 HD format, it comes as no surprise (or maybe a pleasant surprise) that DisplayLink announced today that it's giving its tech a shot in the arm.
Hot off the heels of its Linux news, the company announced three new DisplayLink processors that have already been deployed in Samsung's new SyncMaster LapFit LD190N and LG220G USB companion monitors. Both are currently available in Europe and Asia.
The new DL-1x5 series consist of three processors: the DL-195, the DL-165, and the DL-125. The DL-1x5 Series is compliant with DVI (TMDS), analog (DSUB15), as well as LVDS for direct connection to an LCD panel and 12/24-bit RGB (TTL) for connectivity to external DisplayPort or HDMI devices.
A close look at the 195 processor
(Credit: DisplayLink)The maximum supported resolutions for each processor are as follows.
- Up to 2,048x1,152 for the DL-195, designed for high-end monitors, docking stations, and adapters.
- Up to 1,920x1,080 for the DL-165, designed for cost-effective docks, mainstream monitors, and adapters.
- Up to 1,440x1,050 for the DL-125, designed for entry-level monitors, minimonitors, and projectors.
DisplayLink's new DL-125/165 and 195 processors are available to system manufacturers today. DisplayLink says to expect consumer monitors, using the technology in the U.S. within a month or so.
HP's recent DisplayLink adapter.
(Credit: HP)Windows and Mac users have been taking advantage of DisplayLink for the last couple of years. The technology allows users to connect multiple monitors--as well as docking stations and projectors--to a single system via USB only; no need for any fancy-pants graphics cards.
Today, DisplayLink announced it is planning to bring its technology to Linux. The company released a library that enables Linux developers to create X Servers, drivers, and other Linux applications, which will be compatible with products that utilize the DisplayLink technology.
According to Displaylink, the library is provided under the GNU Lesser General Public License v2 (LGPL), which enables software to be ported by the community to cover the widest possible range of processors, platforms, and applications.
This will purportedly enable companies to create products that will work on the full variety of Linux devices, such as Netbooks, notebooks, mobile Internet devices, mobile phones, embedded displays, embedded devices, and digital signage.
So, what does this mean for you? Well, if you use Linux, you'll soon have the capability to connect multiple monitors, docking stations, and projectors to your system. Not the most earth-shattering news, but it's nice to know DisplayLink deems Linux support-worthy.
(Credit:
Diamond)
If you've ever been interested in the DisplayLink technology--which allows you to daisy-chain up to six monitors to one system via USB--but you don't actually own a Displaylink monitor, you're in luck.
This week Diamond Multimedia introduced its first DisplayLink-enabled USB graphics adapter, the BVU160. The adapter supports VGA, DVI, and resolutions up to 1600x1200 and 1680x1050.
Once connected, your monitor will behave as if it is DisplayLink-enabled and you'll be able to add an additional monitor simply via USB. It's unclear as of now if you'll need additional adapters to add additional monitors.
The adapter will be available at the end of February on Diamond's Web site at a price TBD.
Samsung continues DisplayLink support
Samsung is no stranger to DisplayLink technology, which lets multiple monitors connect to a single system via USB, having supported it in the Samsung SyncMaster 940UX. Now, its DisplayLink support continues with the Samsung SyncMaster 2243QW.
Going forward, Samsung is designating displays that use DisplayLink technology as a part of its Ubisync line.
With the DisplayLink technology, up to six monitors can be daisy-chained to one system, as long as ...
Read the full post at CNET's CES 2009 blog.
Not-so-new Acer display gets an upgrade
(Credit:
Acer)
The Acer P224 has been around for a few months, but now the 22-inch display is getting an upgrade.
DisplayLink and Acer announced at CES that the monitor will now be available with a USB hub that not only includes a Dolby speaker system for built-in sound, but DisplayLink technology as well.
DisplayLink technology allows users to connect multiple monitors to a single system solely with USB. DisplayLink ...
Read the full post at CNET's CES 2009 blog.
DisplayLink's message: get more done and save on energy, all through the magic of USB.
(Credit: DisplayLink)According to DisplayLink, a Microsoft Research study says that using two or more displays can increase productivity by as much as 50 percent. The company also notes that University of Utah researchers have shown that users of multiple displays make up to 33 percent fewer mistakes than those working on a single monitor.
Now, in its own study released Wednesday, DisplayLink says that using multiple monitors simultaneously via USB consumes less power than using them via DVI. To plug multiple monitors into one system traditionally requires that you use a discrete graphics card solution with dual DVI ports. Right away that's theoretically more power, since discrete solutions take more energy to run than integrated solutions. With DisplayLink, you'd simply be using the USB port to connect, so there would be no need for a dual DVI card and the integrated graphics would suffice.
At Interop, an IT conference and Exposition in New York this week, DisplayLink is leaning on its study results to push the energy efficiency of using DisplayLink to connect multiple monitors via USB.
In its study, DisplayLink measured the power needed for a desktop PC to run one to four LCD monitors. Two identically configured systems were used--one equipped with DisplayLink-enabled USB-to-DVI adapters and software, and another with dual-DVI discrete graphics cards (the most common type of dedicated multidisplay board). Power consumption was measured at the entry of the computer power supply to gauge total system power usage under different system loads.
... Read more
Sony's dock gives notebook owners display options.
(Credit: DisplayLink)On Monday, DisplayLink announced that its network display technology is now available in the new Sony Vaio USB Docking Station VGP-UPR1.
The DisplayLink technology that allows users to connect multiple monitors to their systems via USB 2.0 is embedded in the docking station. The dock is compatible with Sony Vaio notebooks as well as other notebooks that have USB 2.0 connections. This could be useful for mobile users and travelers that have the rather rare and unique need of using more than one monitor to do their work.
The dock can be used with any display with an analog or DVI connection and which has a resolution of up to 1600x1200-pixels.
The dock includes the following connection options:
- Ethernet port
- VGA
- DVI
- Audio connections
- Four USB ports
- Headphone port
- Microphone port
- DC in
The dock supports Windows 2000, XP and, Vista 32-bit and 64-bit versions, which includes support for the Aero interface and costs $199.99.
DisplayLink--which makes technology that allows multiple monitors to be connected to one computer through USB--announced this week that it's now optimized its technology for the Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family for desktops and notebooks.
Previous systems with integrated graphics were only able to connect one additional display. Now via DisplayLink and with these new Intel-specific optimizations, users with PCs based on the Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family can easily connect to up to four monitors at once without the need to buy additional graphics cards. In addition, users who run four monitors on the Intel chipset will enjoy a 20 percent performance improvement, which includes smoother video playback, according to DisplayLink.
Users who have an Intel Series 4 chipset-based system should be on the lookout for the drivers to be implemented via Windows Update.
Asus announced last week the release of two new monitors featuring DisplayLink technology. DisplayLink allows devices such as monitors and projectors to be connected to PC's solely through USB.
Asus VW223B
(Credit: Asus)Asus is the latest manufacturer to take advantage of the technology with the announcement of these two new monitors, the VW223B and the VW202B. The VW223B is a 22-inch monitor available now with a native resolution of 1680x1050 and a contrast ratio of 3000:1 (it'll be interesting to see the methodology they used to get that number) and a 5ms response time.
The VW202B is a 20 inch LCD that will ship in July.
The DisplayLink technology also lets you daisy-chain up to seven monitors at once just by plugging them in. Once the monitors are plugged in, the DisplayLink DL-160 chip takes care of the rest the setup--in theory at least. In our experience, we've found that the technology does not always work as smoothly as it should. When we tested the LG Flatron L208 last year, we had a few problems. Check out the Design section of the review for details. Also, look for an upcoming post that goes into more detail on DisplayLink's usability.
