It’s
a pretty fantastic world we live in these days, especially when it
comes to mobile technology. Hours upon hours of entertainment lay at our
fingertips, available virtually any place, anytime, all from a sleek
little device that fits in your pocket. However, as convenient and
wondrous as smartphones are, there’s still something to be said for
watching your favorite content on a big, flat-screen TV. And for those
who access more content from their tablet or smartphone than anywhere
else, that big screen in the living room can create some serious size
envy.
So why can’t you have your cake and see
it too? You can, thanks to the magic of mirroring. A rapidly growing
arsenal of devices now exists to allow anything on your phone or tablet
to be mirrored on your TV. For those looking to marry the second screen
with the screen that started it all, we’ve put together this list of the
best, most convenient, and most affordable ways to do so. We’ve done
all the research for you, so dive right in and pick your poison.
A
selection of newer flat screen TVs have mobile mirroring built right
in. If you’ve got a newer TV and you’ve noticed an acronym on one of the
HDMI inputs labeled MHL, you already have a plug-and-play solution to
connecting your Android phone, albeit from a decidedly 20th century
hardwired connection. MHL stands for Mobile Home Link, and allows you to
mirror most content right on your display through an HDMI input. All
you’ll need is a cable that converts your smartphone’s connection to an
HDMI connection. Note: MHL will also power and charge your device while
connected.
Of
course wireless mirroring is much more useful for the couch potato in
all of us, and that capability also comes with some of the newer flat
screen models. Unfortunately, most of the built-in mirroring options
available are proprietary, like Samsung’s AllShare system, which works
only with select Samsung Galaxy phones. Still, if you happen to already
have the goods required, then all the better. Check your TV’s settings
manual to find out if MHL or wireless mirroring are part of the package.
Not to be confused with the mythical stories of the actual
television that Apple has been rumored to release, the Apple TV set-top
box is a streaming device that competes head-to-head with Roku devices Amazon’s Fire TV, and others for top honors. Boasting a
wide selection of apps, an intuitive new touch remote, and access to
Apple’s ‘walled-garden’, iTunes, the box is a great choice for those
entrenched in the Apple ecosystem.
But
what makes it great for our purposes is Airplay. The proprietary system
is a brilliantly simple way to send video, audio, and pretty much any
other content wirelessly from your iOS device to any display with an
HDMI input. And that’s really just the start. Savvy users can find all
kinds of interesting ways to use the box as a media or smart home hub.
Even if an iPhone is your only piece of Cupertino currency, the Apple TV
makes a lot of sense as the mirroring device of choice.
After
much fanfare, Amazon’s Fire TV made its debut in April 2014, with a
faster, more capable follow-up arriving in September 2015. The new Fire
TV is offered in three models, including the regular Fire TV with 4K
streaming, one with an added gaming pack, and a new Fire TV Stick with voice-operated command.
Naturally,
it didn’t take long before the Fire TV added native mirroring for
Android devices via Miracast, though at first users had to have their
device tethered to the same Amazon account as their box. But thanks to
an update any user with a compatible device can get in on the fun.
Enabled devices include Android devices running 4.2 Jelly Bean or
greater, Amazon’s Fire HDX tablet, and the Fire Phone.
And just like the Roku, iOS users will find AllCast
is the way to go when it comes to to transmitting videos, photos, and
other media to the Fire TV from outside the Android mafia. Another app
to try out is Reflector 2, which also works with iOS devices.
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