Intel WiDi 3.0 to Include Dual Monitor Support and Gaming Optimizations

Intel's WiDi wireless video streaming technology has seen limited use in the short time since its been out, but this won't stop the chip maker from further developing it in the future as the third version of Wireless Display is expected to come with dual-monitor support and a series of gaming optimizations.

This information was provided by an Intel official during a local even that we attended earlier today.

According to the company representative, Intel is currently working on a new version of the technology (most probably dubbed WiDi 3.0), which will feature support for connecting a maximum of two monitors simultaneously.

The displays connected through WiDi will be able to stream different images and can also work as an extended desktop.

In addition to providing multi-monitor support, Intel will also focus its attention on improving the response time of WiDi in the future iteration of the technology.

According to the company, the first generation of Wireless Display had a delay of about 600ms between the time the images were sent from the laptop and when they were displayed on the HDTV or monitor, while the second version of WiDi dropped this time to just 200ms.

However, this is expected to drop even further in WiDi 3.0, which should make this technology better suited for gamers. 

The second version of the Wireless Display technology was introduced at the same time with the company's Sandy Bridge processors and is available in laptops based on the Huron River platform that feature Intel network cards.

Compared to the first iteration of this technology, WiDi 2.0 is able to stream content at Full HD resolutions (1080p) with support for Dolby 5.1 surround sound.

To take advantage of WiDi 2.0, the notebooks have to be equipped with a wireless transmitter, a feature that has been neglected by most laptop makers. A similar device (for receiving the content) is also required for the HDTV or projector that is connected to the notebook.

Intel calls these devices media extenders and, until now, these are manufactured by Belkin, D-Link and Netgear, but others are expected to join the party later this year.

The 3.0 version of WiDi will most probably be introduced together with the company's mobile Ivy Bridge processors, which are expected to become available in March or April of 2012.

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