ViewSonic Corp., at the 2006 Apple Expo in Paris, showcased the world’s first “Made for iPod” desktop display technology with an integrated iPod dock. The ViewDock displays will literally modernize the desktop by enabling users to enhance their digital lifestyles through iPod viewing experiences that are more than 65 times larger than their iPod screens.
ViewSonic’s evolution of the desktop monitor category supports growing trends in digital entertainment and the booming iPod accessory market. The ViewDock Series expands media player possibilities by integrating an iPod docking station into a widescreen display. Additional features such as multiple connectivity options—including several USB 2.0 ports and an 8-in-1 card reader—along with a microphone, integrated stereo speakers and a subwoofer, complete the unit.
According to ViewSonic, the ViewDock “not only offers millions of users a new dimension in expanded audio and video entertainment, but the opportunity to clean up and simplify their digital desktop as well. The displays feature excellent front-of-screen performance, including ultra-fast response times, high brightness and contrast ratios, as well as wide viewing angles for getting the most out of fast action games, and downloaded video content and full-length movies.”
“The ViewSonic ViewDock concept offers a unique opportunity for everyone, from teens and young adults to business professionals, to get the most from their digital devices,” said Jeff Volpe , vice president of marketing, ViewSonic Americas, in the press release. “Merging ViewSonic’s established front-of-screen performance with the iPod culture will drive new standards in desktop entertainment and ignite the next evolution in digital viewing capabilities.”
Availability of the ViewSonic ViewDock displays is expected later in the year at select resellers, retailers and etailers. Pricing is not yet available.
Lucas, assuming an iPod screen is 1.5″x2″ (which I am estimating, but would give it a 2.5″ diagonal, the screen space would be 3 square inches. 65×3=195 squre inches. this could be broken down a number of ways, but I would assume their screen size is somewhere around the size of say a 23″ cinema dispay, but 10″x19.5″ which would be a 21″ monitor. in other words… the numbers make perfect sense.
Where to start…?
Yeah, the concept of an integrated iPod dock into just about anything you are using would be cool. So you could use it while charging it and not drag around extra cables or anything for audio or video. Or running out of battery.
But do you want your iPod square in the middle of your display? Maybe. But I’ll bet Apple considered it (and more iPod docking positions according to the patent applications) and rejected it.
That said, I’ve been kinda thinking that maybe at least one version of the iTV might build in a dock.
Some of the discussion has been about the fact that you can’t burn DVDs with the new iTunes movies, and the smartest part of that discussion realises you don’t need to, if you can carry the movies around on an iPod. Or games for that matter.
So one would almost think that to really get a foothold in the living room, the iTV unit ought to also be an iPod dock.
It could show up wirelessly (or wired) on iTunes clients in the network when docked. Dock your iPod in the living room with your TV and sound system, but update it via your computer in the den.
“Hey, let’s watch ***********! I’ve got it on my iPod!”
“We can’t, we don’t have iTV.”
Lucas — why are you here? Go take your meds.