Few Sideshow devices are currently available and generally manufacturers tend to slam users with a $200 price tag for a 2.5" TFT display with Sideshow capabilities... Once again, out of the left field, comes a Sideshow device that promises basic functionality for a resonable price tag of $49.95. The picoLCD-4x20 is full-speed USB device and displays Sideshow Glance Content via a blue alphanumeric LCD.  We find the device useful for Stocks, Windows Media Player companion and others.  The device, manufactured by mini-box.com,  also has Linux drives that work with LCDproc, a software package that pioneered Sideshow-like concepts by using small LCDs to display bits of information through a variety of plugins. So if you have a windows Vista PC (sorry, no Windows XP) or Linux and if you want to monitor snippets of information even when your main monitor is off, this device might be the perfect candidate for the job. Here is a step by step review containing snapshots and pictures of the picoLCD 4x20 device. 

Save the planet with diskless installation. The device doesn't come with a driver CD, instead when the picoLCD is first connected (self powered USB device) it convinently displays an URL where you can download the latest picoLCD driver! After the device driver installation (no reboot necessary), under the Control Panel -> Sideshow we were able to see the picoLCD!  Voilla, our first Vista Sideshow device!

We already had some Sideshow gadgets installed in the computer so the first one to display was the stocks application, a gadget written by Microsoft itself.

In the stocks application, stocks scroll from left to right, but you can change that by going into Control Panel -> Sideshow and then click on the picoLCD 4x20 device. You will get a small window where you can select "Additional options" -> Advanced. Under the additional options you will see the following controls that will allow you to change Contrast, brightness, Scoll direction, Speed and re-assign keypad funtions...

Here is a snapshot of the stocks application, taken from the LCD itself.

Basic navigation can be done via the UP / DOWN / OK / ESC and HOME buttons. Additional functions can be assigned to F1 / F2 / F3 keys from in the preferences section.

The entire LCD unit while displaying stocks is picture here, next to a keyboard. The display scrolls data line by line, every 2 seconds, update speed can also be changed.

Other Sideshow applications we tried on the picoLCD are Weather and Windows Media Player Gadgets. The Windows Media Player displays current song information (see pictures below) but it also allows you to browse through the music library using the build in picoLCD buttons.  Having the song/title/artist information on a dedicated screen is neat, especially when the main monitor is off or the Windows Media Player itself is not in full view (hidden by other applications). In the Windows Media Player mode this device can be a nice HTC companiaon. Here are couple snapshots of the LCD in no particular order.

WeatherBug SideShow Gadget

  

Stocks Plus Sideshow Gadget
  

Winddows Media Player Sideshow Gadget

Device shown from front view. You can see that the device is equipped with an Infrared sensor (not advertised by mini-box.com).  

Device is now avaialbe for on-line purchases at the following URL: http://www.mini-box.com/PicoLCD-4X20-Sideshow

Also, from mini-box.com there is a 2x20 LCD, but for OEM packages. Here is the URL. Device is usedful for rackmnouont serrvers or little puppies like this one.

Enjoy, A

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