Tag Archives: mhl

MHL Changes the Media Streaming Game

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In an age of cord cutting, some cords are getting even more relevant.  MHL has already been helping us stream video from our gadgets, but now it does even more.

The Sony Experia Z2 phone and tablet (sharing the same name) are the first devices to launch with MHL 3.0 support.  MHL stands for Mobile High-Definition Link and is typically uses micro USB and HDMI connectors, although it is not limited to one connector, those are just the most common connectors used.

MHL 3.0 provides several upgrades over its previous iterations and with micro USB and appropriately enabled gadgets there are many advantages to be gained.  MHL 3.0 has 4k support for multiple simultaneous display and 7.1 HD enhanced surround sound with Dolby TruHD all while charging up to 10W from any supported connections.

Although MHL 3.0 is 75X faster than MHL 2.0 at 75Mbps, it still doesn’t hold a candle to the 4.8 Gbps (1Gbps=1024Mbps) transfer rates seen on USB 3.0 or 10Gbps seen on Apple’s Thunderbolt, but it can be boosted to a (still much lower) 600Mbps with a 10 pin converter.

MHL 3.0 can be a big benefit for cell phone accessories when it comes to additional peripherals or docs since it has mostly media benefits.  It would be especially useful in streaming services such as the Chromecast or Roku.

Additional support for peripheral controls such as keyboards and touch screens provide another huge benefit, along with better Remote Control Protocol, which allows control through a remote control your phone or other device when plugged into a TV.

Although the most convenient technology would not require any sort of tethering,  wireless technologies that can accomplish anything similar to MHL 3.0 at this point are either nonexistent or way too expensive.

For now, MHL provides us with the ability to make better connections between more of our gadgets, but also shows us how much we could do as this technology continues to improve.  Coupled with the improvement of streaming dongles, the idea of needing an entire entertainment center to surround your ideal TV setup is fast fading.

Source: Engadget

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BRAVIA Smart Stick costs $149, adds Google TV experience to Sony’s TVs

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BRAVIA Smart Stick costs $149, adds Google TV experience to Sony's TVs

After appearances in early FCC leaks and a quick preview this weekend, Sony has officially announced its next Google TV device, the BRAVIA Smart Stick. We already knew the MHL and USB connected dongle would only work with Sony's 2013 or later HDTVs, and its functionally similar to the company's previous Google TV boxes so what's left? Sony has revealed that the NSZ-GU1 carries a $149.99 pricetag and a bit more about the product's strategy. This stick doesn't replace the TV's built-in smart features, the UI is built so it "seamlessly integrates Google and Sony's own BRAVIA apps, allowing viewers to stay in a single menu to launch any of their apps." That also means owners don't have to switch inputs to access live TV thanks to the HDMI passthrough, and should offer quick access to BRAVIA apps not on Google TV like Hulu Plus. The downside? Its limited compatibility means it's no Apple TV or Roku alternative, and until software updates arrive it's not a replacement for Google's popular and cheap Chromecast HDMI dongle. If you have / plan to buy a new Sony HDTV and are interested in living the GTV lifestyle, you should find it at Sony Stores and "select retailers", although we couldn't locate one online (yet) after a brief search.

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Source: Sony Blog

Sony BRAVIA Smart Stick revealed, it’s Google TV in a Chromecast-looking dongle

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Sony BRAVIA Smart Stick MHL dongle revealed with Google TV and Sony apps

The Sony NSZ-GU1 Google TV device we've seen pop up in FCC filings has been at least partially revealed today, and it's called the Sony BRAVIA Smart Stick. The blog post doesn't specifically mention any Chromecast-style features, but it is an MHL dongle that runs both Google TV and Sony's own BRAVIA apps. The features are just like Google TV boxes Sony has released before, with a remote (that the FCC filings showed is at least similar to the previous ones) that has QWERTY and voice search support. Additionally, its "picture-and-picture" feature lets users see a browser in one window and TV in another. Since it's a true Google TV device it can install and run Android apps from the Play Store, but any other details will have to wait until it's officially announced on Sunday (the truly dedicated can dig into the source code, linked after the break). Of course this does leave one other question: Now that app support is available as a simple plug-in dongle, does that mean Sony is going to ship plain-jane HDTVs and leave the "smart" features for add-on accessories like this one?

Update: @CJ_000 points out the web-based instruction manual is up on Sony's site, and should answer most questions about how it works. It also lists the pre-installed apps, and at least so far, Hulu Plus is not among them. We're not seeing any DIAL-related features available to start with, so now we really want to know when it will be available, will it work with TVs other than Sony and how much will it cost?

Update 2: Reader Bryan points out a page in the manual that confirms this accessory is only for 2013 model year (and later) Sony HDTVs.

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Source: Sony Blog

Sony’s first post-Chromecast Google TV device is a dongle, not a set-top box

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Sony's first postChromecast Google TV device is a dongle, not a settop box

We first got a whiff of Sony's NSZ-GU1 earlier this month from an FCC filing, and now the folks at GTVHacker point out those documents have been updated with more info and pictures. The first new Google TV hardware seen since the $35 Chromecast dongle launched, this device appears to be a blend of the two. A key difference revealed from the pictures however, is an odd stepped design, with the MHL/HDMI port protruding from the bottom of the box. The brief user manual included in the filing may explain this however, as it can draw power via that MHL output and the USB connection to a BRAVIA TV. A tiny diagram in the truncated user manual shows it plugged into the side of a TV like the Chromecast or Roku Streaming Stick. If you're wondering about the PS4 -- yes, we looked, but there's no indication it's meant to work directly with the upcoming console.

Like previous Google TV devices, it brings HDMI passthrough to the table along with an IR blaster, remote diagrams (in a separate filing) look similar to the one included with the NSZ-GS7 and GS8. Inside is a low power Marvell DE3108 SoC, 8GB of flash memory and 1GB RAM, however the specs indicate it's limited to 720p video output. As GTVHacker put it, the entire thing is similar to the Chromecast but with Google TV features. What remains to be seen is when it arrives, how much it costs, and what software tweaks Google and Sony can cook up to make this generation of Android-powered smart TVs more appealing.%Gallery-slideshow76478%

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Via: CJ Heres (Twitter)

Source: FCC (1), (2)

Epson launches MHL-enabled 1080p 2D/3D projector for $999

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Epson launches 1080p 2D3D PowerLite home cinema projector for $999

It's rare that we document the arrival of a new projector, but we thought that Epson's PowerLite Home Cinema 2030 deserved some special attention. It's the company's first unit that offers an MHL-enabled HDMI port, enabling you to output video from your Android phone or tablet. Otherwise, the unit offers 1080p 2D/3D visuals, built-in speakers and a 2,000 lumens bulb. It'll be available at the start of September from Epson's online store for $999 -- a small price to pay to get those Netflix episodes of Breaking Bad splattered over your walls.

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MHL 3.0 promises double the bandwidth, 4K support

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Oh, MHL 2.0, we hardly knew ye. The MHL Consortium, that Nokia / Samsung / Sony / Toshiba teamup behind the titular standard, has announced version 3.0, a specification that will be available for download early next month. At the top of the features list here is the ability to transfer at double the bandwidth of its predecessors, a bump that includes support for 4K resolution all the way up to 2160p30. Specification 3.0 offers power charging up to 10W, 7.1 surround sound, multiple simultaneous display support and is backwards compatible with older version. A more detailed rundown of what's coming can be found in a press release after the break.

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Source: MHL Tech

LG launches TV set and all-in-one PC with 29-inch 21:9 ultra-widescreen

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LG launches TV set and allinone PC with 29inch 219 ultrawidescreen

Remember LG's EA93, that eye-catching 29-inch 21:9 "ultrawidescreen" monitor we played with at IFA last year? Well, it's just spawned a couple offspring. Today in Korea, the company launched a TV set and an all-in-one PC which use the same 29-inch IPS panel with the same 21:9 aspect ratio, 2,560 x 1,080-pixel (WQHD) resolution and 178-degree viewing angles.

LG's new all-in-one PC boasts a standalone TV tuner with instant-on (no booting required) and simultaneous PC and TV operation (PiP and several split screen modes). Details are few, but we know it features an Intel Core i5 CPU, NVIDIA GeForce GT640M GPU (3D capable) and HDMI / MHL inputs (to use the display as a monitor). The PC comes pre-loaded with an instant messaging app (and matching mobile version) which lets users watch television while chatting.

The TV set supports PiP and split screen, including a 16:9 plus 5:9 mode (HD broadcast plus connected smartphone), and offers a comprehensive set of inputs (DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI and MHL). Pricing is 1.49 to 2.29 million won ($1,315 to $2,021) for the PC (based on configuration) and 690,000 won ($609) for the TV.

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Source: LG Korea

Eyes-on with Hyundai’s in-car tech for 2014: CloudCar, MirrorLink and a 9.2-inch display

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Eyeson with Hyundai's incar tech for 2014 CloudCar, MirrorLink and a 92inch display

Many who live in North America wouldn't put Hyundai at the forefront of in-car technology, but the Korean au hoping to change that reputation by 2014 with a more internet- and mobile-savvy platform. We had an opportunity to peek at some of those components at the automaker's CES booth. CloudCar calls out for attention as the most distinctive: going beyond the existing BlueLink system, it pairs the car's infotainment unit with at least a Jelly Bean-equipped Android phone to put an always-online interface in front of the driver. The early CloudCar example runs on a very simple interface with options like Google Maps navigation, media playback and Google contacts on the left. It's built for multitasking and will keep directions going even as we're firing up NPR or sharing to Facebook (hopefully, while stopped). While it's not exceptionally deep, it appears suited to the need-it-quick nature of real driving, with shortcuts like directions to the office or a call to a favorite contact.

Other additions aren't quite as conspicuous, but could still be very welcome when we see it in future cabins. Hyundai is one of the first car builders that we know of to embrace MirrorLink, echoing whatever's on a phone's display (in this case, Android) through MHL; there's a companion Android app with a car-sized interface for navigation, hands-free calls and music. Hardware should get an upgrade as well through a premium system with a 9.2-inch, 720p display. The company isn't quite ready to narrow down which vehicles will see what upgrades, although we're told the early strategy may split CloudCar and MirrorLink between different model lines. If you're willing to accept that the technology could change in a year's time, you can get a peek at the future in the gallery below.

Gallery: Hyundai CloudCar, MirrorLink and 9.2-inch display at CES 2013

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Hisense previews 2013 TV lineup that includes a 110-inch 4K set, Google TV and glasses-free 3D

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Hisense previews 2013 TV lineup that includes a 110inch 4K set, Google TV and glassesfree 3D

Hisense gave us a tease of its TV future late last year with reasonably-sized 4K sets. We now know that it's bringing a lot more to CES -- and we do mean a lot. Its 2013 lineup will include the XT900 line, which brings 3D-capable 4K displays to 65-inch, 85-inch and slightly staggering 110-inch sizes. If extreme resolution isn't top on the list, there's still the 55- and 65-inch XT780, which port Hisense's Google TV interface from a set-top box to the set itself. Glasses-free 3D rounds out the previews: while just a concept, the 60-inch GF60XT980 is promising through its combination of face tracking and a 2160p display to avoid the usual 3D eyewear while preserving detail. Unspecified models across the entire mix carry MHL-capable HDMI ports to handle devices like the Roku Streaming Stick. Prices and ship dates will have to wait until closer to release, Hisense says, but many more details (including a snapshot of the XT780) await after the break.

Continue reading Hisense previews 2013 TV lineup that includes a 110-inch 4K set, Google TV and glasses-free 3D

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Source: Hisense

Roku celebrates 700 channel milestone with new partners: Coby, Harmon Kardon and others now Roku Ready

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Sure, Roku's compact Streaming Stick will happily pipe streaming content to any MHL-ready TV, but there's nothing like the guarantee of certification to convince you you're buying the right flatscreen. Roku has announced partnerships with six mare hardware manufacturers, ensuring future devices from Hisene, Harmon Kardon, Coby, Voxx Accessories, Apex and TCL will be "Roku Ready." New TVs from partners old and new will be on display at CES, Roku teased, all flaunting the Streaming Stick's access to a wealth of streaming content.

There's news on that front too, Roku says its devices now offer access to over 700 channels of streaming entertainment. Brands such as Blockbuster On Demand, PBS, SyFy, VEVO and Fox Now give consumers choices from some of the top brands in streaming video, the company says in a press release, with services like Amazon's Cloud Player and Big Fish Unlimited's casual gaming portal rounding out the Roku experience. Read the announcements for yourself after the break.

Continue reading Roku celebrates 700 channel milestone with new partners: Coby, Harmon Kardon and others now Roku Ready

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