DisplayLink tools up iPad as wireless Windows screen

Turn tablet into monitor

CES 2011 DisplayLink, the company best known for gadgets that connect monitors through USB ports, has released software that will allow a Windows 7 machine to use an iPad as a secondary display.

And it does it with Windows' Aero UI, wirelessly over Wi-Fi.

You'll need to install code on both devices: the iPad app is available now for "an introductory price" of $1.99 / £1.19 and after you've downloaded it, it will tell you how to get the Windows code.

All done, and you can, for example, show a painting app's main window on your primary display and have all the palettes appear on the iPad's screen.

It's not for everyone, mind. DisplayLink admitted that the app isn't really suitable for video playback support, and certainly shouldn't be used for gaming. It'll only work with Windows machines, not Macs. ®