Today, the devices we work on need to be adaptable. The market is now flooded with Windows 8 devices that Microsoft and other companies have decided to call 2-in-1s, which, with additional accessories, can become tablets, laptops, and even desktops or change the orientation of their screens. There are also several new wireless technologies dedicated to enabling this future, one of which is Miracast.
The biggest problem with 2-in-1s is that in the future, the computer as we know it will take on the features of smartphones and tablets, rather than smartphones and tablets that will take all the features of laptops and desktops. in their hands today. It departs radically from the way we previously thought about tablets and portable devices.
For this computer vision to become a reality, there must be some sort of consensus on how accessories and connecting to other devices will work. Requiring physical connectors like a USB port or a VGA monitor port has been fine until now. This standard has allowed millions of users to effortlessly connect accessories without worrying too much about whether their Windows devices or monitors are compatible with each other. This turned out to be a very bad approach for this new 2-in-1 world. This is because the 2-in-1 needs to be lightweight and portable. This means that there is no room for extra ports and switches that are not necessarily necessary for the task of the device. This leads to several miniature Windows 8 2-in-1s dropping any physical display ports.
Miracast allows these devices to connect wirelessly to monitors and televisions. Not as simple as connecting with an HDMI or VGA Cable, Miracast requires users to purchase a compatible Miracast adapter or smart television already equipped with Miracast technology. Users also need a Windows 8 device with a processor powerful enough to handle streaming and wireless networking.
Here’s how to set up Miracast streaming from your Windows 8 device.
In our example, we’re using a Dell XPS 13 preinstalled with Windows 8.1, the latest version of Microsoft’s flagship operating system. You will need this update before your device can support Miracast streaming. Go to the Windows Store and search for “Install Windows 8.1” to see if the update is already installed on your device. If you don’t see the title, you’re ready. If you see the title, you should install the update right now. Typically, the process takes about an hour.
You will also need a Miracast compatible device. For this tutorial we use Netgear NeoTV Max adapter to make the flow work. The process for fitting a Miracast device depends on the device you are using. This tutorial only covers the installation process on your Windows 8 device of choice. You should read the manual that came with your Miracast device for its setup. Then come back to this tutorial when you’re ready to start and run the stream.
First, turn on your television and Miracast streaming device and prepare it to receive a stream. On NeoTV Max, this is done by powering the device with its remote control and opening the Intel WiDi app.
Get your Windows 8.1 equipped 2-in-1 laptop or notebook. go to: start screen by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard, the Windows button at the bottom or side of your device’s screen. Touch users should place their fingers on the right edge of the screen and slowly slide their fingers to the left. Then tap Start.
Mouse and keyboard users must place their cursor in the upper-right corner of their screen to open the Charms Bar. Touch users should place their fingers on the right edge of the screen and swipe slightly to the left. tap or click Devices.
tap or click Project.
tap or click Add wireless display.
Now Windows 8.1 will take you to the Settings app so it can scan for any wireless Miracast receivers on your home network. If you haven’t set up your streaming device, now is the time to do it. We have already configured ours and named it Room Display. Tap or click the name of the receiver you want to pair with your device for Miracast streaming.
Now enter what should appear on your device.
You should now be connected.
By default, enabling Miracast replicates what’s on your screen. This mode is great for anyone who just wants to showcase a presentation or watch a video on a bigger screen. Returning to the Project menu after connecting to your device also allows you to switch to other modes such as Expand. Extend allows users to have separate workspaces on each monitor and more. Keyboard and mouse users can quickly access this menu by holding down the Windows Key and the letter P at the same time.
