Review: Microsoft Screen Sharing for Lumia Phones HD-10

Back in September, Microsoft not only announced a couple new phones, merely some new stylish accessories. One of those was the awkwardly named Microsoft Screen Sharing for Lumia Phones HD-10, which is a fancy championship for a Miracast device. The timing of the announcement was also a little bit strange as Microsoft besides has their dongle now chosen the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter.

Plain, the two products overlap, and it is safe to surmise that the Hard disk drive-10 was made by Nokia and the dongle by Microsoft prior to the conquering.

Today, I am taking a look at the Hard disk-x and showing you how information technology brings something new to the table, including a video demonstration using the Lumia 830.

What's it for

For those who are unfamiliar, Miracast is a wireless streaming standard based on Wi-Fi direct. It enables users to stream content from i device to another, with most cases involving phones or tablets paired to a modernistic Television set.

Some TVs come with Miracast built in, but many exercise not, requiring the user to plug a Miracast dongle to a spare HDMI outlet to become streaming. One time fix, the user can just pair their Miracast-enabled device to the TV, and stream (or "mirror") the display.

Practically speaking, Miracast is bully for sharing videos, photos, other media, or for utilise in presentations. Instead of passing your phone around to testify those vacation pics, yous can only put it on your 55-inch TV for everyone to see. Exercise you have a funny video y'all want to prove everyone? Just stream it on a larger brandish. Here are some instance uses of the HD-ten from Microsoft:

Enjoy movies or TV series in full Hard disk (1080p) on the big screen, played directly from Lumia smartphone or streamed from on-demand services, without any content restrictions.
Net browsing: Browse and savor websites, or try convenient online shopping on the big screen.
Showcasing photos: Take stunning pictures with a Lumia phone, and then relive the memories on a big screen with friends and family.
Office utilise: Perfect for presentations or group working sessions, it lets people project documents from apps and services similar Microsoft Part (including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel), OneNote, OneDrive and Lync.
Games: Play with games on the big screen, and enjoy them in more detail.

Why the Hard disk drive-10 is different (and better)

Virtually Miracast systems plug into the back of the Tv, never to exist seen again. They are usually shaped liked USB flash drives and require external power to make them work. The Hard disk-10 is meant to be out and in front of your Idiot box to be seen. Because of this, information technology is much nicer looking, coming in glossy white, or black.

Nevertheless, the real bonus feature is NFC. Nigh-Field Communication is thought of as a helper applied science. In and of itself, it does nothing except to facilitate connecting ii devices. For instance, you tin can use NFC to connect to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, your auto, etc. Another standard will do the connection, simply the NFC does the grunt work for pairing. The Hd-10 has NFC built in and it is uncommon to be plant in Miracast dongles.

The benefit here is that the NFC part can exist removed from the device as a 'coaster'. You can so leave this on the coffee table or pass information technology around to friends who want to stream to your TV. So although you may know how to pair your telephone, mom or dad may accept no clue on what any of those words even mean.

What it works with

The HD-10 works with whatever smartphone that also has a 'Project my Brandish' function or Miracast support. This list of devices includes many – but not all – Windows Phone eight.one devices, namely the most recent ones with the new Snapdragon 400 or 800 serial chipsets.

The HD-10 can also work with many Windows 8.one tablets and computers, including the Surface Pro 3, which runs very well over Miracast (although things can go warm). Even my Dell laptops connected upwards with no problems, whereas other Miracast systems have caused issues in the past eastward.one thousand. Asus.

Audio quality was splendid with it never falling out of sync on the projected display.

Does it affair?

And then, does having NFC matter? Well, it depends on if you are a person who knows tech, as you can get abroad with a normal, off-the-shelf Miracast dongle. If, however, you accept a large family and like to oftentimes have people over, the Hd-10 is more appealing.

The reason I bring this up is the Hd-ten is significantly more than expensive than comparative Miracast dongles with fewer features. The HD-ten from Microsoft should run effectually $79 when it before long goes on sale, whereas the Microsoft Miracast dongle is simply $59. Fifty-fifty at $59, the Microsoft dongle is on the high-end as you lot can often observe decent Miracast devices for less than $thirty.

So, this is a case of paying more than for something because it has an extra feature, and it looks beautiful in front of your TV. Those are not useless things, although whether information technology matters to you, or not is something to consider.

Conclusion

The Microsoft Screen Sharing for Lumia Phones HD-x is a fantastic piece of hardware. It is as well significantly more expensive.

Having a high-toll is not necessary a bad thing if the device is of high quality and brings something new to the tabular array. In this example, I remember the HD-10 succeeds. It takes the 'technical' stuff out of pairing your phone to your Tv, and makes information technology easier to apply. The HD-10 also looks very attractive, cartel I say Apple tree-esque?

The bodily streaming of video and content quality will vary from device to device, but overall, I cannot see any pregnant flaws. The Hd-10 delivers on its promise on easy connectivity, and it looks great. Whether or non that matters is up to y'all, merely at least you know y'all are getting your money'south worth.