At CES 2011 in Las Vegas today Intel kicked off the week by announcing their Second Generation Intel Core i processor family which bring an increased focus on graphics and video to the popular line. These processors will soon be in consumer laptops alongside Intel Wireless Display 2.0 or WiDi 2.0, which allows users to stream HD content from their laptop to their HDTV with a WiDi adapter. WiDi 2.0 builds on the successes and features of WiDi to offer 1080P streaming and many other improvements that we think users will enjoy.
The new improvements for WiDi 2.0 includes the increase in streaming resolution from 720P to 1080P which will allow you to stream in full HD to your HDTV without the need to sacrifice resolution when you give up the wires.
In addition to the resolution increase WiDi 2.0 improves the latency from WiDi 1.0 which means you’ll see your mousing and movements take place quicker on the screen. WiDi 2.0 is also more power efficient which means your battery will last longer while streaming. This is a useful improvement considering the hit to battery life was a concern with the original WiDi.
Intel also announced that starting in April users with a WiDi 2.0 enabled laptop will be able to stream protected content like DVDs, Blu-Ray and streaming movies to the big screen — with 5.1 surround sound.
Also coming in April is Intel Insider, a new feature which allows consumers to get same-day-as-dvd access to big hits from Hollywood ad BollyWood in full 1080P HD to watch on their laptops or streamed over WiDi 2.0 to their HDTV. This is made possible thanks to the protected environment that Intel delivers with the second generation Core i family of processors and WiDi 2.0. Content will be available from CinemaNow, Dixons Retail plc, Hungama Digital Media Entertainment, Image Entertainment, Sonic Solutions, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution and others.
This video will show you what WiDi looks like in action, we’ll be bringing you more on WiDi 2.0 at CES 2011 soon.