Intel WiDi debuts for HD-over-WiFi streaming; Netgear & Toshiba onboard

By Chris Davies/Updated: Dec. 15, 2011 4:53 am EST

Intel have announced Intel Wireless Display or WiDi, a system for streaming high definition video content from your PC to an HDTV via your WiFi network. Announced during Intel's CES 2010 keynote, WiDi requires a PC with a Core i3, i5 or i7 processor together with a standalone adapter box – priced at around $100, Intel reckon – which plugs into your HDTV via HDMI. Intel demonstrated streaming Netflix from a laptop through WiDi to a TV display.

Assuming your PC also has Intel GMA integrated graphics and is running Windows 7, it's then then basically set up as a My WiFi personal hotspot to which the WiDi adapter connects. Apparently some compatible systems will have a dedicated WiDi button which will streamline the process, with My WiFi automatically pulling up a list of nearby TV adapters.

One such adapter will be Netgear's Push2TV PTV1000, while the first laptop to be announced with native WiDi support is the Toshiba Satellite E205. The E205 has a 14-inch display and will be exclusive to Best Buy; it has an Intel Core i5-430M processor and 320GB hard drive. Both products – together with other laptops from Dell and Sony – will go on sale from January 17th.