Miracast
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Amazon's Fire Stick TV 4K supports Miracast screen mirroring
With its latest update, Amazon has brought a blast from the past to its modestly-priced Fire TV Stick 4K. The $50 streaming stick now supports Miracast, letting you mirror programs to supported smartphones, tablets and PCs as if they were attached displays, according to AFTVnews. Amazon had dropped Miracast support with Fire OS 6 on the Fire TV 3, but has now re-introduced it with the Fire TV Stick 4K.
Microsoft's new Wireless Display Adapter is more responsive
Like other Miracast HDMI dongles, Microsoft's Wireless Display Adapter lets you easily mirror the screen of your Windows (or Android) devices on monitors, TVs and projectors -- anything with an HDMI input, really. Redmond's reasonably priced dongle has been kicking around for roughly 18 months now though, meaning its high time for an updated model. Microsoft's next-gen Wireless Display Adapter improves on its predecessor in two ways. For starters, the HDMI dongle itself has been almost halved in length, though it still draws power from a tethered USB cable. More importantly, the new version improves responsiveness (aka latency), so your poorly framed smartphone video should pop up on your living room TV that bit quicker.
Windows 10's latest preview sends web videos to your TV
If you've wanted nothing more than to sling web videos from your Windows 10 PC to your TV, today's a very big day. Microsoft has released a Windows 10 Insider Preview build that gives early adopters (specifically, those on the Fast ring) the ability to cast media in Edge. The web browser now sends audio, photos and videos to any DLNA- or Miracast-capable device (an Xbox One should do it) on your network, whether it's a YouTube clip or a Pandora radio stream. There is a big gotcha, unfortunately: copy-protected content won't work, so don't expect to put Netflix on the big screen. Even so, it's good to have an alternative to Google's Chrome browser, Cast API and Chromecast hardware for easily sharing web content with the rest of your home.
TV-ready game turns your Android phone into a tennis racquet
Android fans: you no longer have to watch on the sidelines as your friends play TV tennis with their iPhones. Rolocule has released Motion Tennis Cast, an Android version of its free sports game that uses screen mirroring tech (such as Chromecast, Miracast or Samsung's AllShare Cast) to turn your phone into a Wii Sports-like motion controller, with your TV or a Chrome browser tab serving as the screen. You'll largely be lobbing and volleying like you did in the iOS version, although there's a new multiplayer mode that lets you challenge your Facebook and Google+ friends. The real party trick may be coming down the pipeline, however. Rolocule is teasing plans for an Android Wear version, so you'll one day have the option of swinging with your smartwatch.
Beam's Android-powered projector fits in your light sockets
Let's face it: most projectors aren't very useful outside of home theaters or boardrooms, even if they're packing some smarts. Beam may get you to change your mind, though. Its namesake Android-powered projector runs apps, streams media from your mobile gear (through AirPlay or Miracast) and starts tasks based on the time or what you're doing. You can play a video message when someone gets home, for instance, or load Netflix as soon as you turn on Bluetooth speakers. However, the design is the real party trick. While the 854 x 480 resolution and 100 lumen brightness are no great shakes, you can screw Beam into any standard light socket -- you don't have to hunt for a free wall outlet (or even a wall) if you're just looking to show off some vacation photos.
Roku tries out screen mirroring from phones and PCs
Roku has unveiled its latest shot in the increasingly-crowded set-top box wars: screen mirroring. Even Microsoft and Firefox OS are lining up to challenge Google's Chromecast and Apple's AirPlay, so Roku had to compete somehow. Launching in beta, Roku's version of the tech works from (some) Android, Windows Phone and Windows 8.1 devices, and broadcasts to Roku 3 or the Roku Streaming Stick. There's no mention of the word 'Miracast' but that appears to be the tech in use. If your Roku has the latest update (rolling out over the next few weeks) it should show up as an option to pair, and have a connection good enough to display presentations, emails or even video.
Microsoft's new adapter beams video from your PC (or Android) to a TV
Want to wirelessly share video from your Surface without worrying about whether or not your TV can handle it? Microsoft now has you covered. Its simply titled (and previously hinted at) Wireless Display Adapter can beam content from Miracast-capable Windows 8.1 PCs and Android devices to any HDMI-equipped screen. Since you're just mirroring your output, you can easily watch movies and presentations on a grander scale without requiring explicit app support, like you do with Chromecast. The add-on should reach North America in October for $60 -- a fairly reasonable outlay if you want to avoid tethering yourself to the living room set.
Microsoft's FCC filing hints at a Chromecast rival called Miracast dongle
Microsoft might very well be gearing up to launch a Google Chromecast rival. While the tech giant hasn't announced anything official yet, one of its latest FCC filings details a device codenamed HD-10, which features WiFi, HDMI support and a USB connection. Those three will sound familiar if you know what the Chromecast is, but what really demystifies the device's nature is a separate document on the WiFi Alliance website. That filing, unearthed by Nokia Power User, called the HD-10 a "Miracast Dongle." Miracast, as you might know, is Microsoft's screen-sharing technology available on Windows 8.1, Windows RT and, most recently, Windows Phone 8.1, though it's also built into Android 4.2 (and later) and BlackBerry 10.2.1.
CarKarPlay display mirrors your smartphone on your dashboard
Remember the good old days when mini Bluetooth keyboards just became a thing? Then you may recall a brand called iPazzPort, who is now launching what appears to be the world's first wireless display dedicated to mobile devices. Much like the brand, the device itself is just as awkwardly named: CarKarPlay. It's pretty much just a 7-inch, 800 x 480 screen with WiFi radio for AirPlay, Miracast and DLNA connections, meaning it'll support wireless screen mirroring from iOS plus Android, as well as media streaming from DLNA-enabled apps or devices -- including some Windows Phones. As the name suggests, it's all about having a bigger screen in your car.
Windows Phone 8.1 does Miracast media sharing, but most devices won't cut it (updated)
Windows Phone 8.1 includes many, many upgrades, not the least of which is Miracast media sharing; it should be easier than ever to send content to your TV and other gadgets. However, it's now very likely that you'll have to upgrade to a newer phone to get that convenience -- Microsoft's Joe Belfiore says that most existing Windows Phone 8 devices can't handle Miracast. A recent flagship like the Lumia 1520 might cut the mustard, but the executive isn't certain that it will work. The limitations are no doubt unfortunate if you were hoping to unlock Miracast through a software update, but they'll at least give you a good excuse to upgrade an older handset. Update: While Belfiore's statements are still noteworthy for how they apply to the larger ecosystem, Nokia has mentioned that the Lumia 1520, 930 and Icon will support Miracast.
Microsoft's got a wireless display fix in the works for Surface users
Sure, the Surface 2 supports Miracast, giving you the power to beam the contents of your screen wirelessly to some other, larger display. But not everyone has a compatible HDTV, which leaves us with that messy wired situation and that's no good for 2014. Ah, but there is a solution on the way and it's one Microsoft is hiding (in plain FCC sight) for the time being. That accessory, non-creatively dubbed the Surface Wireless Display Adapter, is none other than an HDMI dongle Microsoft's crafted to enable wireless mirroring for those of you with Surface 2's, or Pro 2's, and out of date HDTV sets. The filing doesn't reveal much about the adapter's design, but we do know that it supports dual-band WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n and could possibly see the light of day sometime this August. Or at least, that's when the filing's short-term confidentiality agreement is up. Regardless, at some point this year, you'll have another surface on which to surface the contents of your Surface. You get the point.
MediaTek's wireless display solution beams video to TV, sets your mobile screen free (video)
While Miracast wireless display mode is now available on many Android devices, it is both loved and loathed -- loved by those who want just wireless screen mirroring, and loathed by those who want to keep doing other things on the smaller screen. If you belong to the latter group, then MediaTek's got your back. At CES, the Taiwanese chip designer showed off its solution that lets you beam video content to a Miracast-enabled display, without having to give up your mobile display for your other tasks -- be it internet browsing, emailing or even gaming. See for yourself in our video after the break. A company rep told us that in order to take advantage of this solution, app developers would need to use MediaTek's upcoming API to enable this feature. There's no word on when consumers will get to use this at home, but given that MediaTek's shipped more than 200 million smartphone processors last year, we're pretty sure that developers will want a share of this piping-hot pie.
Netgear's NeoMediacast is an Android-powered TV set-top on a stick
Most of the equipment we get from our telecom providers is nothing to get excited about, but we might make an exception for Netgear's NeoMediacast. The Android-based HDMI dongle lets providers both offer their own services and support third-party apps without having to build their own set-top boxes or go the traditional TV route. Your cable company could let you stream your favorite shows on a bedroom TV, for instance, while making it easy to check social networks or play your local media library. The NeoMediacast is also relatively futureproof with 802.11ac WiFi, Miracast media sharing and support for both microSD and USB storage. Carriers and service operators can start using Netgear's device in the first half of this year, although they'll likely need to customize its software before it reaches your home.
Mobile Miscellany: week of August 12th, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought leaks of a smartphone that tips the scales with a 6-inch screen, an alternate ego to the oft-leaked Sony 'Honami' and the return of unlimited data to a certain AT&T MVNO. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of August 12th, 2013.
MediaTek's MT8135 SoC does dual-core big.LITTLE MP, packs PowerVR Series6 GPU
It'll be a while before MediaTek's true octa-core SoC makes its glorious arrival, but for the time being, the company's unveiling something just as interesting -- and perhaps more practical. The new MT8135 announced today is a "quad-core" SoC aimed at "the middle- to high-end tier of the tablet OEM market." We quote "quad-core," because it actually consists of two clusters: dual Cortex-A15 cores and dual Cortex-A7 cores. But the good news is that unlike the original big.LITTLE configuration where only one cluster can operate at any given time (depending on how heavy the workload is), MediaTek's confirmed that it has implemented big.LITTLE MP ("MP" as in heterogeneous multi-processing) in the MT8135, meaning both the A15 and the A7 clusters can operate simultaneously. Another highlight of this MT8135 is that it'll be one of the first SoCs -- alongside LG's H13 (which we've seen first-hand), Renesas' APE6 and Renesas' R-Car H2 -- to come with Imagination Technologies' almighty PowerVR Series6 GPU. Specifically, this is the PowerVR G6200 which, as part of the MT8135, can apparently deliver "up to four times more ALU (arithmetic logic unit) horsepower" than the Series5XT GPU on the cheaper, quad-A7 MT8125. And unsurprisingly, the MT8135 gets the same Miracast wireless video goodie given to the MT8125; though it's also worth noting that the latter only supports LPDDR2 RAM instead of the more powerful LPDDR3. Sadly, there's no further information regarding availability, but you can kill some time by checking out more technical details in the video (with benchmarks; even though Qualcomm's been mysteriously left out) and press releases after the break.
AMD outlines Elite Performance laptop APUs with game-ready Wireless Display
AMD isn't focusing all its attention on its entry-level mobile APUs today: it's also providing details for the faster Richland-based models. The new A6, A8, and A10 mobile variants fall under the Elite Performance badge, and theoretically beat Intel to the punch with up to 71 percent faster 3D graphics than the current Core i5 family. They also muster about 7.5 hours of battery life with web use, or about an hour longer than we saw in the previous generation. The roster includes both regular power (35W) and low-voltage (17W to 25W) APUs, in dual- and quad-core editions. We're more interested in how well the chips play with other devices and software, however. Besides the face and motion gesture recognition that we've seen before, AMD touts a new take on Wireless Display with low enough latency for game sessions, support for 1080p60 video and native Miracast sharing. The Richland upgrade also introduces a new DockPort standard that can feed both USB 3.0 and up to three external DisplayPort screens through one cable. If you like what AMD is pitching, you won't have to wait to try it -- Elite Performance APUs have already been shipping with MSI's GX60 and GX70, and other vendors shouldn't be far behind. %Gallery-189172%
Panasonic brings out a Miracast adapter for Japanese TV viewers (video)
It's easy to snag a Miracast-capable device if you're willing to shop for a brand new TV or a set-top box. but it's much tougher if Miracast is the only thing you're looking for. Minimalists will be happy, then, that Panasonic just released a dedicated adapter for the job. Plug the very utilitarian-looking brick into an HDMI jack and you can wirelessly stream HD-grade video from any supporting device on the same WiFi network; Panasonic would naturally prefer that it's the company's new Eluga X smartphone. The adapter is so far only available in Japan for an estimated and rather steep ¥8,980 ($95), although we're hoping that it eventually crosses the Pacific at a price that befits the narrow focus.
LG ships its MT93 Personal Smart TV to your dorm this March
College students and studio apartment tenants still don't have many options for advanced TVs; they often have to make do with a PC monitor or find a way to cram a bigger TV set into a tiny space. It's a good thing that LG's MT93 Personal Smart TV is shipping to Europe this month, then. The 27-inch, IPS-based upgrade to last year's model carries the same smart app platform, 3D imagery and Magic Remote as LG's larger sets while doubling as a monitor for HDMI-equipped PCs. It even stuffs in wireless sharing support that rarely makes it to small TVs, such as Miracast and WiDi. LG hasn't said which other countries will get the MT93, but international expansion plans later this year could please at least a few more campus dwellers.
Zotac's StreamBox and RAIDbox build upon the ZBOX's HTPC pedigree
Zotac has this media-friendly SFF computer thing pretty much nailed. For years the company has been churning out ever smaller machines purpose built for living rooms and media servers. The StreamBox and RAIDbox aren't standalone computers, but accessories that build on the home theater capabilities of their ZBOX PCs. The StreamBox pushes content to your TV from a laptop, Android smartphone or tablet using DLNA or Miracast for mirroring your portable's display. In addition to the 10/100 Ethernet jack and dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n radios, there's also a USB port on board for connecting external storage devices. What kind of storage devices, you ask? Well, how about the USB 3.0 RAIDbox that was unveiled alongside the StreamBox. The box itself doesn't ship with any drives inside, but you can slip in a pair of mSATA SSDs and it wont even require an external power supply. Sadly, the really important details like price and availability haven't been announced, but you can still read the PR after the break.
Netgear PTV3000 updated, supports Miracast-ready Android devices
Interested in Miracast-ing from an Andoid phone via your Netgear Push2TV PTV3000 adapter? Want to know what all that meant? It's understandable -- Miracast is a very recent open standard that lets you echo the display from an enabled device like a smartphone or tablet onto your TV (think Apple's AirPlay Mirroring). You'll now be able to officially do that with the PTV3000 from the few Android devices that support Miracast: Samsung's Galaxy S III, Note II and Note 10.1, LG's Optimus G, the Google / LG Nexus 4, and various Sony Xperia models -- all with Android 4.04 or higher. The PTV3000 also supports Intel's WiDi standard, and actually brought Miracast support in an earlier beta firmware upgrade, though testers saw significant bugginess at the time. Many of those nags have been squelched with the new update, though, and you'll also see a single interface for Intel WiDi and Miracast, both PIN and PBC support, 5GHz Miracast operation and faster bootup times, too. So, if you've been looking to get all those pixels crammed into your smartphone over to a bigger medium, hit the source or check the details after the break.
