Hi all,
I had my S2 for a while now and I'm thinking of just connecting it to my TV to be use as a smart hub (media centre) as I don't have a smart TV. I'm sure I'm not alone with an aging S2 and moving onto a newer smart phone.
My Idea are:
- connect the S2 via HDMI to the TV
- use a small Bluetooth keyboard with track pad or maybe some other remote.
- try out probably XBMC
- Disable any phone feature from it (ie phone, sms, etc..)
My goal are:
- use it as a online player - Netflix, youtube, etc...
- Skype
- video player
- stream video from network
- audio player
This will be my first attempt and will be spending some money for the accessories.
Has anyone done a similar set up.
It will be great for some opinions or advice. Or issues it might not work.
Interesting idea.
You might want to think about how you're going to use it with the limited battery life first, because you won't be able to charge the phone when connected through HDMI.
I already do this occasionally albiet minus the keyboard atm,... I use it on short breaks away I took my Mhl cable and a short 1m hdmi cable to plug into the tv in the hotel room using Catchup TV app for more channels than they offered and TV Portal for streaming (free hotel Wi-Fi ftw! )... also use it for some other stuff such as watching avis I have already put on my 32gig card and finally playing my music collection through the tv speakers
re: power supply Mhl cable needs power/charger cable to work anyway also it charges at the same time
I always carry a spare charger
crobat said:
Interesting idea.
You might want to think about how you're going to use it with the limited battery life first, because you won't be able to charge the phone when connected through HDMI.
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Click to collapse
of course the phone charges when connected to hdmi. it does not even work if not plugged into the power outlet first.
Flog your S2 and buy a Pendroid.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B007FR9OIK
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Raspberry pi with xbmc
Sent from my GT-I9100P using Tapatalk 2
Thanks guys.
I got a mhl cable and it's awesome. just plug it in and it works straight away. Got the cheap version though but I guess it won't make that much difference. All I need to do is get a mod to permanently set it up as landscape mode and probably increase screen size. Will look for a new rom probably that can cater the mod.
Just need to figure this all out before spending more on a keyboard.
I had pretty much the same idea. Works well. Here is my thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2569613
I am going to try running xbmc and see how that goes.
Just to let you know, I installed xbmc...details on my thread (see the above post!)
Related
I switched to a Droid X for almost 6 months now, and my G1 just sits on my shelf. What's the best way to repurpose my old G1? I have considered donating it to a good dev so they can make good use of it, but what are other options?
Some of them just use it as the backup phone. Other pass it down to their familiy members (ie: kids, etc...) I got mine from my brother as a pass me down.
Some of the others users here using it to test the new ROM for G1. (bascially becoming the tester for the ROM).
Emulator machine. that's what I use my cliq for the d pad its great for nintendo rpgs
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
And of course a great backup I'd your phone takes a dump
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
I use one of mine as a WiFi streaming audio player for the home sound system.
The other is my backup, sitting ready to take over should my Vibrant kick the bucket.
Sent from my G1 using XDA App.
phone backup is out of the question , moving from t-mobile to verizon :/
i have used my g1 for controlling my pc from my bed, which was convenient, but eventually just stopped
thanks for the suggestions, if anyone else got something, i'd be glad to hear it
I use mine as a dedicated handset for voip and to stop the kids stealing my galaxy to play stupid disney puzzles
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
you could donate to someone ... for example me hahah.
I just use mine as an alarm, lol.
you can surf the web via wifi soo uhhh yeah like blacra said stream music or uhhh fill it with apps to play and try... paperwieght..??? lol i could always use a spare G1 for testing lol
Turn it into a car music player. You'd need
-USB host drivers for the G1 (works on Android 2.2)
-mini-USB splitter/headphone adapter (it'd need a USB and headphone jack)
-AUX jack on the car radio
-3.5mm cable (goes from headphone adapter to AUX)
-mini-USB to USB cable
-powered USB hub and car adapter
-portable hard drive
Kind of a lot but you could get one heck of a music collection on a portable hard drive.
Maave said:
Turn it into a car music player. You'd need
-USB host drivers for the G1 (works on Android 2.2)
-mini-USB splitter/headphone adapter (it'd need a USB and headphone jack)
-AUX jack on the car radio
-3.5mm cable (goes from headphone adapter to AUX)
-mini-USB to USB cable
-powered USB hub and car adapter
-portable hard drive
Kind of a lot but you could get one heck of a music collection on a portable hard drive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I second this
Its the best use for this thing if you dont use it, mines has been sitting on the shelf with my other old phones and hasnt been touched in months.
Hm, I not sure if both the audio adapter and the USB host drivers can work at the same time. Lots of people have done HDD mounting but nobody has tried using output at the same time.
Crap, what a time not to have my USB adapter. Maybe I can pick one up at the flea market.
Well if it does work, why stop there? Plug it into a home audio system. Find an app that allows you to control the music on the G1 from your other phone. Tada! Remote controlled 1TB stereo system. If the G1 wasn't such a weak phone you could turn it into an HTPC.
I used one of my old G1 to use as a walkie talkie. I can use the push to talk app to talk to my kids while there home on Wi-Fi.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App
Not sure if anyone wants one of these but I got one for an upstairs TV and its SWEET! Turned the older TV into a smart TV. Android 4.1, Full wifi, Netflix (my main reason for getting it, wasn't pre-installed though, had to install it myself) and so on. Basically turns your TV into a huge tablet. Just need an HDMI port on your TV and a USB port for power (it does have a separate USB power supply if you don't have a USB on your TV)
I used a bluetooth dongle with it and connected a keyboard and mouse and it's awesome. Also has an OTG cable and port to plug in a portable HDD, thumb drive, etc. Turned our bedroom TV into a complete media center. Very cool.
Cost $68 on Amazon (plus $2 for a BT dongle through deal extreme and used an older bluetooth keyboard/mouse combo thing I l already had). I also stuck a 32BG micro SD card in it but don't really see using it much (maybe if I install a million apps), just thumb drives to watch downloaded movies. All in all, it turned out great. Turned an older TV into a smart TV with wifi, internet access, and a drive reader on it.
Looks good on paper. How good does it perform???
Does anyone else have this???
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium
and how do you control it? can you use a phone or tablet? do u need a remote?
I have an MK808. You can use a USB keyboard and mouse or pick up an wireless Air Mouse for like $20. The Air Mice are like Wii Motes that use gyros and have built-in keyboards. Amazon has tons of models. I like the Messy RC11 cause it feels goo in hand.
I bought mine to tinker and mostly play emulators on the TV. The 808 plays FPse games petty good. Some newer units have said to be faster.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app
Just wondering if it's possible to use nexus 10 as essentially a portable hdmi monitor. I would like to Sometimes play console in lounge without taking up the TV and just wondered if it's possible to connect console to nexus basically... I already have a HDMI to mini HDMI lead... Wireless would be even better although not essential... Briefly investigated screen cast but seems like this is only designed to wirelessly stream to a TV (which already has hdmi input)
Many Thanks,
Sam.
Ps my N10 is currently not rooted although I would consider rooting if it would enable such a possibility
samyoue said:
Just wondering if it's possible to use nexus 10 as essentially a portable hdmi monitor. I would like to Sometimes play console in lounge without taking up the TV and just wondered if it's possible to connect console to nexus basically... I already have a HDMI to mini HDMI lead... Wireless would be even better although not essential... Briefly investigated screen cast but seems like this is only designed to wirelessly stream to a TV (which already has hdmi input)
Many Thanks,
Sam.
Ps my N10 is currently not rooted although I would consider rooting if it would enable such a possibility
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
N10 is designed for OUTPUT only.
That said, it's resolution is high enough that it would be a cool feature, but it's OUTPUT only.
Thanks for the reply I figured that might be the case, any ideas if its possible in a virtual sense? Ie plug a transmitter into console or other hdmi output and have it transmit the signal which can be picked up in an app like YouTube (but source is generated from transmitter rather than the Web)
Thanks again
samyoue said:
Thanks for the reply I figured that might be the case, any ideas if its possible in a virtual sense? Ie plug a transmitter into console or other hdmi output and have it transmit the signal which can be picked up in an app like YouTube (but source is generated from transmitter rather than the Web)
Thanks again
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Click to collapse
Only solution I know of right now is Onlive, but then you have to pay for the game AND a subscription.
samyoue said:
Thanks for the reply I figured that might be the case, any ideas if its possible in a virtual sense? Ie plug a transmitter into console or other hdmi output and have it transmit the signal which can be picked up in an app like YouTube (but source is generated from transmitter rather than the Web)
Thanks again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This might be possible, depending on what you want to play.
If it's a DVD/blu ray, you can stream that on a local wifi network with VLC on a computer, and play it on MX player on your tab, just point MX to the address of the stream.
Swiped from my Nexus 10 using xda-developers app
I'm after doing it without a intermediary computer, that said I'm currently looking into hdmi to composite adapter into a raspberry pi and using that to stream to network and picking it up via this mx player you mentioned...
samyoue said:
I'm after doing it without a intermediary computer, that said I'm currently looking into hdmi to composite adapter into a raspberry pi and using that to stream to network and picking it up via this mx player you mentioned...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That could be possible, but yikes! HDMI to composite is like going back light years of technology!
But yeah I've wanted to do the same in the past, to run my GameCube without a TV.
I ended up with a LCD hdtv with hdmi, component, composite and vga, so I just use that (mostly for my PS3 now).
I actually just ordered a pi last week!
I'm going to use it as a file server with a 1.5TB usb drive, and also a Wi-Fi repeater, on top of that, a torrent box (qBittorrent with http remote interface).
Gl though with the video thing!
Sent from my Infected Rezound using xda app-developers app
I can't root, since I bought a 1yr warranty, but what cool stuff can I do with this beast? I'm loving every bit of it, but what apps, games, themes, etc should I give a try? How far can it be pushed?
Sent from my TegraNote-P1640 using xda app-developers app
Not Much From Me, But . . .
It is an Android tablet, and it can do what most any Android tablet can do, and faster. I mostly use mine for taking notes and reading/studying. Don't play many games. Video playback is great. Surfing the Internet likewise. Speakers are loud. This thing is fast. Download the AnTuTu benchmark app from the play store and impress your friends. I've been using mine everyday for over a month. No complaints. Enjoy.
It can basically chew through any game you throw at it, and I personally use it for a lot of note taking as well for work. I also use it to watch movies at my desk at work as well.
Connect to your TV wirelessly using an EZCast dongle so you can stream movies etc.
Connect to your TV using a micro HDMI cable, then connect a keyboard and mouse via Bluetooth and you can use it like a little PC. Or you can connect a USB OTG cable to the micro USB port and plug in a keyboard, a mouse, a game controller, or the dongle for a wireless keyboard/mouse combo set and do the same thing. You can also plug in a USB hub to the tablet via a USB OTG cable, then plug things like a mouse or a hard drive into the USB hub....all while the tablet is connected to a TV.
You can also use the magnets in the back to stick it to a fridge. Your life is now complete.
Play some GTA like games with MAX graphics setting!!! Watch movies over wifi, no need to copy onto sd card, this tab has very very goooood battery performance when wifi is on!!!!
I've been unable to get DirecTV Now app to continue to run after connecting my PH-1 to a tv with any of several USB-C to HDMI adapters. After maybe 10 seconds the phone shuts the cell connection off and the app reports no network connection. Works fine with YouTube, though. Anybody had success connecting their phone & TV long enough to watch a show on DirecTV? If so, which adapter did you use?
It could be the app detecting a video output and cutting you off as a means of stopping piracy or some type of DRM.
Yeah, HDMI's locked down. Mirrorcast, too (video blacked ou). Still, people with Samsung Galaxy 8s report screen mirroring DirecTV Now. But Samsung hates us developers & I hate their bloatware. Love the fit & finish of this PH-1, and the specs, & the backstory. Got a couple of days before I have to decide whether to keep it or take it back. Ordered Samsung's USB-C to HDMI adapter, maybe it will work better than the others. Watching TV in a hotel or in your RV isn't piracy, 2nd screen should be fair use, right?
I agree 100%. Another one might work as you suggested. HDMI passes DRM information and that costs the manufacturer to license. It's entirely possible some cheaper adapters never licensed the DRM, which would block DRM content from being passed through.
roebling said:
I've been unable to get DirecTV Now app to continue to run after connecting my PH-1 to a tv with any of several USB-C to HDMI adapters. After maybe 10 seconds the phone shuts the cell connection off and the app reports no network connection. Works fine with YouTube, though. Anybody had success connecting their phone & TV long enough to watch a show on DirecTV? If so, which adapter did you use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, so which HDMI dongles have you used with your phone? I'm still trying to figure out which one to buy.
logic.dsign said:
Hey, so which HDMI dongles have you used with your phone? I'm still trying to figure out which one to buy.
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Click to collapse
Hi. With an LG V20 & an Essential PH-1, I couldn't get the "SlimPort USB-C to HDMI Adapter" to work. Nor did the "Cable Matters USB-C to HDMI 4K 60Hz Adapter" work.
I returned them and the LG V20. Not ready to give up on the Essential PH-1, I got a "Samsung USB-C to HDMI Adapter" and it works perfectly!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XRJDHSR