Screen mirroring is a wireless technology that allows switching media and cast playing on the smaller devices like Android, Apple, Windows to a large screen for a better experience in viewing.
Here the larger device is a media projector or television, or anything that has set up in the living room, a big hall, or a stadium.
Media that is not included to project on the larger screen are personal photos, games, movies, and those originated from YouTube or Netflix.
This concept is best suitable for classrooms and meeting rooms which showcase their view and establish a connection with students or co-workers. There evolve several technologies for screen mirroring each with different advantages and disadvantages. They are
- MHL
Mobile High-Definition Link is a wired specification technology brought by a group of companies like Nokia, Samsung, Sony, and Toshiba. This technology provides responsiveness and quality content. It uses HDMI converter and small USB port that transfer contents from a mobile to a TV or media projector. Every mobile phone doesn’t support MHL, like lower-end mobile phones due to their low configuration, cost, and hardware limitations.
Mobile gaming is an instinctive application of MHL because of lag-free experience they create. MHL charges the mobile phone once it is connected to PC.
- Miracast
Miracast, a widely used technology for wireless screen mirroring. Miracast evolved from WiFi Alliance that came out in 2012. Those devices that don’t support Miracast can use dongles that have built-in technology. It makes easy in converting older devices with no hardware capabilities for performing screen mirroring.
It implements WiFi Direct standard and allows streaming of 5.1 channel surround sound and 1080p HD videos. There are more than 6700 devices that are certified by WiFi Alliance to promote Miracast.
Miracast doesn’t work on Apple devices because Apple doesn’t provide kind of support for Miracast. It may be a downside of Miracast since most of the users are from educational institutions and workplaces. If anyone wants to work on Apple devices to perform screen mirroring, Airtame is one such beautiful device.
- DLNA
Digital Living Network Alliance is a powerful technology for screen mirroring. It came out of SONY company, tends to work best with Sony devices like Sony PlayStation, Sony VAIO, Sony Xperia, and Sony Bravia.
DLNA is a client-server model. It indicates that when a client and server are connected, only client can access files on the server. If both PC and TV supports DLNA, then it is allowed to mirror any file from PC to the TV.
However this sounds powerful and convenient, there arise few complications in practice. It is compatible with only files and cannot work over YouTube or browser. There are few DRM restrictions for streaming particular content according to DLNA.
Above discussed are the technologies which support screen mirroring. But screen mirroring requires connecting a device to a public network or a streamlined network for displaying the complete and exact content on to the projector screen. It can be adapted with a wire or with wireless devices like Airtame.
Wired Screen Mirroring
HDMI cable is the best example of wired screen mirroring. High Definition Multimedia Interface helps to transfers data from a connected device to a digital display(1s and 0s). It can be put forward in 3 steps
- Identifying a connection
HDMI port is on the edges and backside of the PC. Identify it and find a particular position of the graphics card and connect HDMI cable to the port. Now, Connect another end of the wire to the TV or media projector. The graphics card detects the new connection, and it is easy to use Windows Plus P button to drag the PC screen on to the TV.
- Information sharing
It is necessary to know about the screen sizes and resolutions of the second screen that is allowed to project the screen from the PC. It determines about a computer that configures audio and video settings of the TV and displays the information carefully. The data retrieved is also known as Extended Display Identification Data(EDID).
- Mirroring
The last step does actual screen mirroring. Check whether all the connections and settings are precise and accurate, then the content is allowed to send from PC to the TV screen. TV screen simulates entire screen from the computer and enlarges if required. The complete screen is allowed to display over the TV.
Wireless screen mirroring
In comparison with other technologies, screen mirroring is done without a wire(wireless). It is built using different technologies like DLNA, MHL, and Miracast. All these technologies are known before in the above discussion. So now take a look at wireless streaming with HDMI. Below is an example of screen mirroring with an HDMI device called Airtame.
Wireless streaming with HDMI refers to complete mirroring of PC screen to TV using Wifi. It is done even on smartphones and tablets. Airtame uses a Wifi connection to project content from a PC or smartphone. It has an intelligent feature of capturing 24 screenshots per second. Here, 24 is the resemblance of 24fps standard for videos and has a process to capture realistic motion by a human eye.
On capturing a screenshot, PC packages it and send it to Airtame device which is connected to TV or monitor using a Wifi connection. Airtame helps as a mediator to display information on TV. Because everything happens so fast and realistic, there is no lag in a display. It all happens like a magic-capturing a screenshot, packing, transmission over Wifi and mirroring content on the TV effortlessly.
Finally, the above discussion is regarding the process and usage of Screen mirroring through a wireless device. All the applications of Airtame are 100% genuine so go through it and find a hassle-free solution to avoid wired connections.
