The title will be a bit misleading, but I will explain more on that later. One of the "new" technology crazes widely available is being able to share the screen of a device with another, wirelessly. I would say that usually means showing something from a desktop or laptop PC on a large TV. The problem is that not all devices have the features necessary to do this. What I want to describe is a method to still achieve this with those desktop or laptop PC's that are void of the necessary hardware...
WiHD/WiDi/Allshare/Miracast
Essentially, these are all technologies that do the same thing. They allow you to transmit audio and visual data from one device to another. There are numerous names from different manufacturers, but I believe these are the most common in circulation at the moment.
Since the technology is still very young, it is not quite commonplace, yet. It is common enough that I would say that almost all new televisions and mid-range/high-end smartphones/tablets incorporate the technology.
Backstory
For the time being, I have two laptops at my disposal. Both are Alienware, with my primary using a first generation Intel i7 (Clarksfield), and the second using a third generation Intel i7 (Ivy Bridge).
My primary is too old to support Intel's WiDi as only second generation Intel-core processors (Sandy Bridge) and newer have the ability to use WiDi. My secondary laptop does have the ability to use WiDi, however, the hardware (a card and antenna) is sold separately. Furthermore, the same slot for the WiDi hardware is the same slot for the M.SATA, of which I am already using.
I considered buying a USB adapter or some other device that would allow my screen to be shared. And while there are some cheap devices out there (under $25), I felt that as expensive as these laptops are--or were--I should be able to accomplish mirroring my screen to my TV without buying extra adapters or devices.
Thus began my (successful) journey on how to mirror my laptop to my TV without having official WiDi support...
iOS Devices
While other platforms support Miracast, Apple has their own proprietary software called AirPlay. I have no experience with this technology, and as such, this may not work with iOS smartphones or tablets without the use of a third-party app or additional hardware.
A Mac, per my instructions below, will work as far as using a PC goes...
Requirements
The requirements for this to be done are rather basic. And remember, I am using a laptop and a TV. You may be able to try this with other devices, but what I will be explaining is for my circumstances:
- Desktop/Laptop
- WiFi Card
- TV (with Miracast support)
- Smartphone/Tablet (with Miracast support)
- Mirroring Software, i.e. AirDisplay (explained below)
First off, I am including a Mac as a PC, as it is a Personal Computer. The desktop or laptop PC you use can be of any age as long as it has WiFi capabilities [WiFi card]. Mind you, if it is not somewhat powerful, the results may not prove as smooth as desired.
Second, you need a TV with Miracast support. If you have a TV from the last few years, it likely does. If you do not, you can buy an adapter that will insert itself into the HDMI or USB port of your TV, but this requires two things: The purchase of an adapter, which defeats the purpose of this tutorial. And a TV with a HDMI or USB port, which you would probably have if you have a plasma or LED TV.
Third, you must have a smartphone or tablet that has Miracast capabilities. If you have a smartphone or tablet from the last few years, you probably have Miracast. There are some devices that have been hacked to support Miracast, but I have found the results finicky at best.
Lastly, you will need software that allows screen mirroring from your desktop or laptop PC to you smartphone or tablet. I mentioned AirDisplay as this will work on Windows, Linux, or OS X. But there are a lot of other options available that will achieve the same goal. AirDisplay is a paid software, so keep that in mind.
Now it may become clear as to why the title is a bit misleading. While your PC does not need to have Miracast support, you will need something that does. I am betting that people who would be interested in performing this will have a device that does.
How To Display Your PC On Your Device
The setup is rather simple if you have all the requirements:
-
Ensure that your PC and smartphone or tablet is connected to the same WiFi network.*
- Download the AirDisplay software for your PC OS.
- Install the AirDisplay software on your PC.
- On your smartphone or tablet, purchase and install AirDisplay from your respective store.
- Open the app on your smartphone or tablet and proceed to the steps on how to connect. It will then wait for your computer to connect...
- Click the tray icon (possibly hidden through the arrow of the taskbar for Windows users).
- A menu of choices should appear with your device name.
- First click the "Options" to get a submenu.
- Select "Mirror Mode".
- Click your device name in the main area.
Note: If you skip step #8, your smartphone or tablet will act as an extended monitor to your PC.
The process is now complete and you should be able to see what is on your PC on your smartphone or tablet.
*No Internet?
If you do not have an Internet connection, you can still connect your PC and device by creating an ad-hoc network on your PC and connecting both devices to it. You can also connect via USB if desired.
Miracast is done without the need to use WiFi, however, it too requires WiFi Direct (WIDI) devices in order to work...
Fullscreen
Depending on your smartphone or tablet's display resolution, you may get black bars on the sides of your screen. This will happen on newer devices that are 2.5K, devices of an odd display resolution, or if your PC is on a display resolution that is not normal for smaller devices.
The simplest thing to do is change your PC display resolution to something your device can support. I was able to change my laptop to 1080p or 720p, and my 2.5K smartphone then mirrored my laptop screen in fullscreen.
The harder way to go about this would be to change the resolution of your device to what your PC has. This may be impossible for certain resolutions, and beyond that, you will need to root or jailbreak your device in order to attempt doing so. I would only even suggest this after trying different laptop resolutions, or if your device has an odd display resolution that is not supported by (or not a multiple of the resolution of) your PC.
How To Display Your Device On Your TV
The hardest part is done, now comes the simple part:
Once your device is mirroring your PC, simply use Miracast on your device and your TV to connect the two. You will now have your laptop showing on your TV.
For my Android device, I just had to slide down the notification menu and toggle on Miracast. In the event that you are unable to perform Miracast while your have your PC being mirrored on your device, perform the Miracast step FIRST, and then use AirDisplay afterwards.
Downsides
The only major downside is audio. By using AirDisplay, it is not possible to transmit audio to your device, and thus not possible to transmit audio to your TV. To remedy this, you can use a pair headphones (wireless if you are not near the PC), or use a nice speaker setup with your PC. A different software may have a way to transmit audio as well as video...
The minor downside is power drain. The device you use will likely drain quite rapidly because it has the task of taking a live image from a PC and sending it to the TV. It should be plugged into a wall outlet or large power source for long-term usage.
AirDisplay is a paid product. While still cheaper that an adapter or other device, it still costs. Searching out a free alternative may be a good option, but the most reliable will probably cost you.
Uses
I would imagine this would be most useful for playing games or running videos. Maybe you want to see YouTube, Netflix, or Hulu on the big screen. AirDisplay provides a small mouse pointer on your device that you can control with your finger. This makes it easy to change videos on a whim.
Personally, I have my laptop setup with a wireless controller so that I can play games on my TV.
Fade to Black
As stated above, you can buy an adapter or device, and that will likely be a much easier task. On a different note, if you have a newer laptop, you may already be able to accomplish this with the correct drivers and software. Be sure to check Intel's compatibility page and your PC's manufacturer page to see if WiDi is already a part of your hardware.
I should mention, again, that Miracast is just one name for screen mirroring; and that my use of the term Miracast encompasses all those names.
I really only did this to see if I could as I imagine others have come across the same situation and decided to give up. I doubt I will use it all that often, but now I have the peace of mind to know that I can.
There are many reasons to buy a smartphone, but there are also many reasons not to. I normally don't like buying anything (save food) without doing a bit of research first. Some people buy for brand name, others because the color's "cute". And some buy because it's the newest, so it must be the best, right? Well, I am going to try to help you navigate through this; not just for megapixels and resolution but a few other things that will give you a level of confidence as to what you are truly buying.
Brand Name Shenanigans
Brand name means everything to some people, but to the savvy, it is just a name. What really counts is what comes with it. For smartphones there are at least two big names: Apple and Samsung. There are plenty of other Android phones (Samsung makes Android and Windows phones) like LG, HTC, Sony, or Motorola, but Samsung's fast adoption of Android has made it synonymous with the brand, and therefore good to pick on!
Apple does have a great smartphone, the iPhone, and it definitely deserve praise as they are the only ones to produce that phone. I have found the "geniuses" quite helpful, often doing things completely free of charge when possible. Great support is usually warrant of a great brand name. However, for example, they do lag on certain things hardware-wise. The only 1080p display on any iPhone is the iPhone 6 Plus just released, while Android phones are already passed that as of this year. WiFi has a new standard (passed N) named AC. The new perks of it are amazing, but iPhone only added this to their repertoire with the iPhone 6/Plus. Android phones like the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the LG G2 (last year's flagship models) already implemented the technology. The iPhone has also never budged from more than 1GB RAM, to keep this in perspective, many Android phones are coming with 2-3GB RAM. There are always the pluses such as being the first with 64-bit applications (which may or may not really help as I would consider the RAM an issue), retina display, and the iPhone 6/Plus has 128GB models.
Samsung on the other hand is known for a great deal of things: TV's, SSD's, and many household appliances. Their smartphones help put Android on the map, not to mention give the Samsung name further prestige. But if you dig a little deeper, the name may be the only thing to consider at times. I took a look at a first generation ASUS Nexus 7 tablet and a Samsung Galaxy Tab of the same year, and while the Samsung was around $50 more expensive, it's specs were sub-par in comparison to the Nexus. Do you really want to pay more for something slower? The only reason I could think of is for support, but I don't know anything about ASUS vs. Samsung support in the smartphone arena. When I had a choice between a Samsung Galaxy S4 and a LG G2 that was yet-to-be released, I didn't want to wait so I opted for a used Verizon Galaxy S4, which was still pricey. I got the phone and no more than a week later it was completely dead. No warnings or indications, as everything had been up-and-running, just dead. So I ended up buying the G2 a couple weeks later. This just goes to show while they do make quality products, brand name isn't everything.
Megapixels Myth
I'll jump into megapixels now which takes some explanation. While most people think a higher megapixel means a better camera, not necessarily. The basic fact is that higher megapixels simply allow you to add more into a picture than lower megapixels. An example would be if you're trying to take a family photo. Let's say at 10MP (megapixels) you can fit four of five family members, but at 13MP (in the same spot) you can fit all five. That is to also say, that if you left the camera setting at 10MP, all you would have to do is take a few steps back in order to get all five. Conversely, a few step steps back with 13MP would allow you to get an extra person or two in the picture if needed. The only time a lower megapixel is a drawback is when you can't step back any further because of a wall or cliff edge!
With that being said, one 13MP is not the same as another 13MP (or any other size MP smartphone camera). There are plenty of cameras with the same amount of megapixels that are not considered equal. Case in point, the LG G2 has a 13MP, but so does the LG G3. I have owned both. While the G2 has a phenomenal camera, I feel the G3 does outdo it. The color feels a bit more natural, and upgrades to the hardware have helped do this somewhat. Another thing to note is that yesteryear cameras on smartphones usually have older camera sensors, meaning they should not be as good as the newer models. But what about different manufacturers with the same amount of megapixels? Well, there are plenty of articles comparing many different phone snapshots, and while many have the same megapixel count, there are obvious differences in quality. The difference doesn't lie so much in the camera sensors, as they are often the same. Where it does lie is in the post-processing by the actual software of the smartphone. The post-processing often tries to "beautify" photographs by attempting different tricks to make it look better than what it actually is. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't. This can make all the difference in low-light situations.
While most smartphones focus on jumping megapixels every year, iPhone's have not. They have been at 8MP for quite some time. I can only assume that they feel that people know about megapixel marketing myths and that 8MP is a solid amount to stay at. While I think it could use a bump, their camera sensors are great, and they definitely don't skimp on their accompanying hardware/software either. This just goes to show that even a lower MP smartphone does not mean it is worse.
One last thought on this is a smartphone's camera will NEVER be a replacement for a real camera, whether a handheld or professional-grade, it will beat out most any smartphone. Cameras are built to be cameras, which is why they have better hardware to support it and grant excellent quality.
Hack-tastic!
Now for those into "hacking" your phone, Android is by-and-far king. Windows does have some developers making modifications, but not enough to be a potential contender. iPhones can be "jail-broken", which allows it to add additional apps and capabilities for free. But their biggest drawback is that jail-breaking is dependent upon what iOS version you have, as it usually takes a long time before it can be accomplished on newer versions. This is not to be confused with "unlocking", which is the process of unlocking an iPhone from a carrier to use with any carrier (with the corresponding networks) worldwide.
Androids on the other hand have A LOT of leeway in this arena. To start off, let's go over a few terms. Rooting is the ability to gain access to certain parts of the Android OS that users should not otherwise have. Bootloader is the system that helps boot up the Android OS on a smartphone (think of it like a BIOS or EFI in a computer). ROMs are custom-made Android OS files that can give you special abilities, UI tweaks, etc. Recoveries are special systems that will allow you to make complete system backups [Nandroids] and wipe cache and data among other things. There are currently only two main recoveries, CWM and TWRP. To put this altogether first you root a phone. Certain apps require root before you can use them. ROMs require root, and sometimes a recovery, before you can add them to your phone. Once you have been rooted, you can then add a recovery and/or a ROM. This may not seem like much, but you can flash files in recovery that can add apps, tweak and optimize settings, increase CPU/GPU power, etc. Yet, if this type of thing scare you, don't worry, you don't need to do any of this to enjoy an Android!
Not to forget, the bootloader needs to be hacked, bypassed, or whatever in order to allow a recovery to be put through. And that root often can allow for unlocking your SIM carrier, which is often done through the bootloader.
Screen Resolution Mayhem
Screen resolution does matter on TV's and monitors, and the higher they are the better they can look. On a phone, it may matter, but I argue that it does not always. If you think so, just ask a person with a smartphone that has 1080p, and a person who has an iPhone 6 or lower.
As mentioned above, I have the LG G3, the first phone to have QHD. In case there is any confusion there are a couple terms you might see being used incorrectly and interchangeably, like qHD, QHD, UHD, or 4K. QHD means 4 times 720p (which is considered High-Def along with the likes of 900p or 1080p). qHD means only a quarter of full HD (1080p). UHD means Ultra High-Def, which includes 4K, 6K, and 8K. There are some arguments in the definitions of using 4K and UHD, but I won't get into that here. Anyways, the LG G3 had the first QHD screen, and still has the highest PPI (Pixels-Per-Inch), but that shouldn't last too long...
The G3 does look phenomenal, but I can't say I'm overly impressed. My G2 looked great too, and honestly, if they hadn't improved the screen resolution and pixel count, there would be no love-loss. Beyond this, I also own a ZTE U950, which was purchased in China during the Galaxy S3 days. It actually contains the same CPU and GPU (made by NVIDIA) as the international Galaxy S3. What it lacks is a good camera, and a high screen resolution. I owned a Galaxy S3 and while the S3 screen was superior, the ZTE U950 is not unbearable by any means. While I would prefer a higher screen resolution, it in no way takes away from the smartphone experience.
Going back to PPI, you'll notice all screens seem to vary. There is no common standard. This changes from big-to-small depending on the screen resolution and physical dimensions of the screen. The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has a QHD screen, but it has less PPI than the LG G3.
While some prefer the G3 because of its "truer" colors, others state the Note 4 looks better. This likely has to do with what materials make the screen for the most part. LG uses AH-IPS LCD technology, while Samsung uses Super AMOLED.
Speed and Power!
People easily get fooled by speed and power. This includes CPU's, GPU's, RAM, and Batteries. LG now has a special "step" battery design that allows it to fit more into its batteries, which logically allows for a little more power. But Samsung now has a special ultra power saving mode that can set your smartphone's color to grayscale when there is only 10% left, which will supposedly let it last for another 24 hours! I have read that the Note 4 does better than the older LG G3, but that the Galaxy S5 does better than the newer Note 4. I have also read that the Note 3 still has better battery life than the Note 4, but that the Note 4 can charge in half the time of a Note 3. So, what this all means is that you have to take it with a grain of salt. Tests can be done in a variety of ways, your usage is what matters. And, if you really just want a phone but the battery is holding you back, don't forget there are always accessories to add bigger or more battery power.
On top of this, most newer Android devices support fast-charging, which allows you to charge your Android phone in half of the time it used to. So, this could be a benefit to a newer smartphone, but there seems to be some that have successfully got older Android devices to enable this feature (at their own risk).
RAM is essential to any smartphone. I have noticed that lower amounts (obviously) just can't function as well ones with higher amounts. Bigger is normally better, but take the iPhone as the devil's advocate. They use 1GB RAM and they are efficient. In Android, it seems that bigger is always better. When I had the G2, 2GB of RAM was plenty. Now I have the G3 with the same amount of RAM (3GB is also available), and sometimes I wonder if I should have opted for more - although it could be that I use up too much storage space, which ideally should not be the issue since it comes with that storage space to be used...
Do faster GPU's make for a better phone? I don't know. I don't do any hardcore gaming on my phone, I have an Xbox 360 for that. If you get into the latest and greatest 3D-rendered games, it might be a plus. And sure it could help watching movies. But a lot of older smartphones have little to no problems playing most games and movies. While it may be a good thing to get that upgrade, I wouldn't worry about it too much. A smartphone GPU that isn't more than five years old, should be fine for most of your needs. However, this may become more important when UHD starts being pushed more. And if you are worried about the GPU speed, many Android phones have tweaks to increase that, but you'll need to get into "hacking".
What about the CPU? A fast CPU is great, and I really can't see a point to getting anything lower than a dual-core, if possible. Many apps are still created with a dual-core in mind, however, quad-cores have gained acceptance since their introduction. And the numbers? Well, faster speed is always nice, but for what? Maybe for intense games, but for the most part, there aren't going to be too many advantages with a faster CPU other than possible loading times. As with Android GPU's, you can usually increase the speed of a CPU to help combat those times when you just need to go faster!
Note: Increasing (and decreasing) the speed of a CPU and/or GPU can be dangerous and "brick" your phone if done improperly. This also goes for messing around with the voltage your phone uses for what speeds are being utilized. Even if done properly, there can always be side effects like overheating to be careful of.
Storage Space Situations
Many of us are used to having a lot of space, and this can be a big issue. iPhones, as noted above, now have an option to get up to 128GB. This makes a lot of sense because they have no MicroSD card slot. It could be a real pain if you were to use up all the space, or if you could only afford a model with less space.
Androids are better about this as just about all of them now come with a MicroSD card slot, but not always. The LG G2 did not come with one (unless you were in Korea), so you were stuck with what you got. The LG G3 did like the Optimus G Pro (the flagship model prior to the G2) and put in a micro SD card slot. There are not an abundance of Android phones that offer 128GB models, but they do normally offer up to 64GB. There are a lot of models, like the G3, that also allow for up to a 128GB via micro SD.
Final Thoughts
As I said in the beginning of this post, this information should allow you to be confident in making a "smart" smartphone purchase. There are many things to consider, some based on preference, some based on hardware/software specifications. The most important message I have to reiterate is don't let numbers fool you into thinking that a product is better solely because of them.
