Wireless Display technologies (known as Widi or Wi-Di in some cases) are nothing really new to computer technology. Various companies have been producing wireless video extenders for years that promise to allow your laptop or desktop computer to send their video signal wirelessly to an HDTV.
The thing is that until now all have run on a basically proprietary technology and few if any would work together with any other brand. In 2010 Intel released its own specifications for Widi that allow manufacturers to build Intel’s Widi technology directly into laptops, televisions, and computer monitors opening the door to making sending video to other Widi equipped wireless devices almost as effortless as using Wifi is for connecting to the Internet.
So what exactly is Widi and how could it change the way we work with our computers and media devices?
How Widi Works
Many new computer systems (especially laptops) are now coming out with the Intel Widi technology built into them. These computers have a special radio transmitter in them that allows the computer to connect wirelessly to a dongle made by manufacturers such as D-Link and Netgear. This dongle is plugged into an available HDMI port or in some cases RCA jack in the back of a television or a video projector. The user then selects that input on the television and presses a button on their computer to tell the system to sync itself to that Widi adaptor. The user must then type in a string of a few numbers into the computer (which show up on the television) to link the two components together.
From that point onward the user is able to mirror their computer desktop directly to the display without any need for a wire connecting the two devices. A video done by Designing Spaces shows just how easy it is to hook things up and begin using the Widi functionality. One thing not mentioned in the video is the workable distance between the computer and the display. The Intel spec sheet says that Widi has a range of up to twenty feet, which for most home applications may or may not be adequate.
One Major Drawback to Widi- No DVD or Bluray Playback
A user with a Widi display adaptor can send almost anything they want from their computer directly to their HDTV or other display with one big exception. Although the aforementioned video does not directly mention it, the Widi specification sheet provided by Intel points out that DVD and Bluray movies are not supported because they contain anti piracy and encryption methods that do not work with Widi. In other words, while a user can watch Netflix or movies that they have ripped and burned directly to their hard drive they will not be able to watch movies off of an actual DVD or Bluray disc.
There is a lot of promise in Intel’s Widi technology, especially for those that want a quick and easy way to get high def output from their computer to an HDTV. However, buyers should be aware of the big caveat that comes from the fact that DVD and Bluray playback will not work over a Widi connection.
Chad Criswell - Chad Criswell is a professional educator and freelance technology writer for numerous online and print publications throughout the United ...
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