WHDI Competes With Intel WIDI

WHDI is the new wireless audio and video standard that allows high definition wireless streaming to any display throughout a home network.  WHDI stands for Wireless Home Digital Interface.  This technology is being driven by AMIMON, the semiconductor company producing the chipsets and modules for WHDI.

WHDI by Amimon is a competitor of Intel's Wireless Display technology (read here and here).  Both technologies provide almost the same technology of sharing or streaming videos from your computer, laptop, netbook to any other display devices in your home network; the former bumping up with fancier capabilities.

As of the latest, a WHDI capable device was demonstrated to stream HD (1080p) 3D uncompressed videos.  The set up was a laptop with a WHDI transmitter borad and on the receiving end, an LCD with a WHDI receiver board.  Aside from steaming 3D videos wirelessly, WHDI also transmits through walls and even a distance of up to 100 feet.  Intel WiDi can only reach up to 20 feet.

The future of wireless video looks bright. I look forward to mass roll-out of WHDI-capable devices.

Related Post:  WHDI Wireless Smart Display - Mobile Device to TV Wireless Connection

Setting Up WiDi (Wireless Display)

WiDi is the shortcut for Wireless Display unveiled by Intel this year in line with the release of their Intel Core processors.

You can back read here so you will have a idea of this new technology, and the laptops with WiDi capability.

This how-to guide is referenced from Netgear Push2TV (PTV1000) Adapter manual. Netgear Push2TV is one of the components that you will need to set up WiDi from your laptop to your HD TV. For a list of WiDi hardware requirements, read here.

Connecting the Devices

1. Open Intel Wireless Display on your laptop. Click Start, type Wireless Dislay, and click the program. Allow the program to run when the firewall alert pops up.
2. Wait the program as it scans for available adapters. If it does not begin scanning, click Scan for Available Adapters button. It will display the available adapters found, showing the Name, ID, and Signal Strength.
3. From the list of adapters, select the one that you will use and click Connect - in this case the Netgear Push2TV (PTV1000) Adapter. As the connection is established, both the screens of the TV and Laptop will display the word 'Connecting'.
4. From your TV, you should select the correct Input source. This varies from TV brands; generally it is HDMI 1, HDMI 2, or A/V.
5. Enter the Security Code that is displayed on the TV in the Security Code field in your laptop. As an option you can enter a descriptive name for your adapter. Click continue.
6. As the laptop connects to the Netgear Push2TV adapter, the TV will display the word 'Connected'.
7. Both the laptop screen and the TV screen will now display the same. Congratulations, you have successfully set up WiDi! The PC and TV is now in clone mode.
8. You can now enjoy Wireless Display by sharing photos, video, and even surf the web from your couch.
9. To stop Intel WiDi, click Disconnect on Inter Wireless Display, then click the close button.

Few things to remember:

• For best performance, keep the laptop and TV within the distance of 20feet or 3meters in the same room.
• Performance of the router during the Wireless Display may be reduced.

WiDi Compatible Laptops Out Early

As earlier published, WiDi (Intel Wireless Display) capable laptops will be out soon. In January 17, we will find in several Best Buy stores laptops that are equipped with Intel Wireless Display technology - the HD-over-Wifi streaming. A little too soon though, WiDi enabled Sony Vaio S (below picture) were sold are select Best Buy shops.



Specifications:

• Intel Core i5 430m (2.26 w/ turbo)
• Intel HD Graphics
• 13.3" 1366x768 720p LED LCD
• 4 GB DDR3
• 500GB HDD
• DVD+/-RW
• Weight: 4.4 lbs

(from forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=450794)

The Toshiba Satellite E205 was the first WiDi capable laptop showcased at the CES in Las Vegas last week. Sold for $999.99 this Core i5 based thin and light laptop is exclusive at Best Buy.

Specifications:

• Intel Core i5 430m (Turbo Boost Technology)
  
• Intel HD Graphics
• 14" LED LCD
• 4 GB DDR3
• 500GB HDD
• DVD+/-RW
• Weight: 5.1 lbs

Now that Toshiba and Sony WiDi laptops, let's see when Dell and HP roll out theirs.

Intel's Wireless Display (WiDi)

WiDi, Wireless Display. This is the hassle free sharing of laptop content to your TV, wirelessly! This technology is being served by Intel for their latest processors, the Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7.

New laptops for 2010 which feature these processors from Intel and the Intel Wireless Display, one can stream the contents of the laptop to the TV. You can stream video, music, and photos clearly. You can also stream contents from network drives, or direct from any browsers. The set up is an adapter to the TV with HDMI or A/V out and a compatible laptop with Wireless Display, viola, laptop now streams to the TV. This is way easier than setting up DLNA servers, see my previous post.

This icon indicates that a laptop is compatible with WiDi.

See below the complete requirements:

Processor

• Core™ i7, i5, i3
  

Chipset

• ONE of the following: Intel® HM57, Intel HM55, Intel QM57, Intel QS57

Graphics

• Intel® HD Graphics

Wireless

• Intel® Centrino® Advanced-N 6200
• Intel Centrino Advanced-N +WiMax 6250
• Intel Centrino Ultimate N 6300

Software

• Intel® My WiFi Technology and Intel Wireless Display
  

OS

• Windows* 7 64-bit, Home Premium, Ultimate or Professional