The DreamScreen is a web device by HP that can be used to play music files, display images and surf the Internet without connecting to a PC…
HP has launched a web device named DreamScreen that can play music and display images. It can also be used to surf the Internet using a home computer network. The DreamScreen is designed to be used as a complimentary device to the PC. It can be fitted to a dresser or kitchen counter. It will be available in two sizes–10.2-inch and 13.3-inch. It comes in a piano-black finish with a glass widescreen display. It can be used to connect to the Internet using a wired or wireless network.
The DreamScreen doesn’t come with a Web browser. However, sites such as Snapfish, the Pandora Internet radio station and Facebook can be accessed by using a custom interface. DreamScreen can access photos and music from homes PCs and play video from a USB drive or flash memory card. The devices comes with 2 GB of inbuilt memory for storing images, videos and other content. It also comes with a software called SmartRadio which aggregates streams of broadcasts from 10,000 radio Internet radio stations across the globe. Additionally, the web device also comes with alarm clock, calendar, and weather forecast.
DreamScreen comes with a remote control. Additionally, the device can also be operated using the touchscreen interface. The 10.2 -inch will cost $249. The larger 13.3-inch model will cost $299.
HP is definitely not the first company to venture into the web device market. In early 2002 Microsoft launched Smart Display, a portable touchscreen LCD monitor running Windows CE that connected to home PCs via Wifi. Viewsonic also launched similar devices. However, Microsoft dropped the device due to lack of proper sales.