Hi everyone,

[UPDATE : see post 2 - WORKING !!!!]

I've been looking at device convergence for a very long time. I believe Microsoft and its Continuum technology will achieve it for us one day in the near future, but at present, there could be existing technology that can almost bring us there.

By convergence, I mean only using 1 device for almost every computing and telephony task you need. I will not argue the suitability of GPU/CPU power not UI element size, but the use case I propose is this:

1 primary device that performs both telephony and computing (ie makes calls and lets you surf the web, chat, play games, email etc)

Using this 1 device, you connect it to a larger monitor eg 17"+++ and a keyboard and mouse when you want to use it for content creation tasks. By this I mean use of Excel, Word, Powerpoint or even CAD applications where possible.

I would say that the idevices do have lots of keyboard accessories but not much in the way of casting to a big screen for better productivity.

I have tried it with my Tab S and the outcome is actually pretty good since I have my email and calendaring, as well as productivity apps and VPN access. It works as a really small notebook.


To enable this convergence by connecting to a large screen and input devices, you use some kind of converter.

At present, there are 4 (which I know) kinds of "converter" which Android can use:

1. Screencasting (via Miracast, Chrome or other equivalent) + Bluetooth to keyboard and Mouse
2. MHL for either Samsung or generic Android
3. Slimport
4. Displaylink

I believe most people are aware of 1 and 2, some may know of 3 and some may know of 4.

I have been trying 1 and 2 with all my devices (see my sig) and find limitations with both technologies. I have used the Samsung Allshare Cast, a no-name Miracast dongle and a smart TV, and paired with bluetooth keyboards and mice or via a Logitech wireless combo.

There is a noticeable lag of about half a second with screencasting, and if I used no2, bluetooth input has some lags as well.

So I went to search for a better solution for no2 since it offered less of a performance hit, so I found this:



However, since it is MHL, it is more or less limited to only mobile phone use, and some types are Samsung-only (5P vs 11P). I almost bought it....but I found out about no4, Displaylink, accidentally.

Note that no3 never really took off, and the number of devices supporting Slimport are very very few, so I guess it died a natural death.


At first glance, no4 seems to be a PC/Mac-only solution, but just a few weeks ago, an Android app was launched that allows Android 5+ to connect via Displaylink and mirror your screen, and also function as a USB hub.

Information:
What is Displaylink ?

http://www.displaylink.com/shop/docks

The Android app is here : Android Displaylink beta

According to some reviews I have seen off the Playstore link, it works with quite a number of recent Androids, including the OnePlus One, Nexus 6 and Note 3.

The connection method is like this:




I would like to ask if anyone has tried such an item before, appreciate if you can post your experience here.



I have seen some local retailers carry this:

http://www.j5create.com/our-products/docki...ons/jud500.html



So, anyone who has used these or similar products, your feedback is greatly appreciated, as I am contemplating to get something like this if it is truly universal.

This post has been edited by joytest: Jun 29 2015, 08:39 PM

Since nobody has responded, I would take it that nobody has tried it out.

I am fortunate to have been able to try it today

The Universal dock tested was the HP 3001PR

http://h30094.www3.hp.com/product.aspx?sku...837&pagemode=ca



I installed the Displaylink Desktop app, hooked up an OTG cable, and connected it to this dock.

It recognized it immediately and mirrored the desktop onto the monitor.




Worked for my Note 4 and Tab S 8.4.


I hope this category of device gains more traction and drives us all towards true ubiquitous computing faster.

Now to look for a way of buying this...... anyone has tips on ordering from Amazon?

This post has been edited by joytest: Jun 29 2015, 09:09 PM

Very interesting. Wish to hear more on your new venture

Haha thank you.

It isn't exactly a new venture. I have longed for this (and a Note-type device) ever since I laid hands on my first computer many many moons ago.

I have tried quite a number of things like KVM, notebooks, netbooks, tablets etc but there has always been something missing. Working in IT does let me have access to quite a few toys so I am fortunate but full convergence has never been achieved yet.

With products like this that are more universal than solutions that have come before, I am quite excited about it and I hope the public sees this as well and forces the industry to more open standards for interoperability so that we can use our computing power more efficiently, perhaps like cars and petrol consumption.

Of course there are always those with vested interests and/or greed who will lock users in....

Just an update if anyone is interested.

There seems to be several vendor chipsets that perform USB graphic display, and I found it here:

http://support.displaylink.com/knowledgeba...-with-3rd-party


I found a j5create universal dock with HDMI and 3 USB3 ports for RM345 at a LYP retailer and almost bought it, then I did some checking and found out that j5create uses MCT chipsets.

Some further googling took me to Magic Color Technology, a Taiwanese company that produces chipsets that handle USB display and I/O. MCT only has Windows and Mac drivers, none for Android.

So, for those intending to get Universal USB docks, Displaylink chipset based products are currently the best bet.

This HIS dock looks like the most compact one of its type, and it is also fully USB powered.

http://www.hisdigital.com/un/product2-820.shtml



Most of the other docks which I have checked tend to use 12V, 18.5V or 19V DC adapters, which are a nuisance to carry around.

Hi, i was wondering i'm using a Asus Padfone S and would like to know if this product can be used as a replacement for slimport/MyDP to connect via HDMI ?

HP 3001PR

If your device has Android 5+, you should be able to use it after installing the Displaylink Android driver on Play Store.

I have ordered a Startech USB3SMDOCKHV which I suspect is the same HIS device I posted above.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NJF21T...ailpage_o00_s00


It should arrive in 2 weeks' time and I will post some reviews.

It's here:











Works nicely with my Galaxy Tab S 8.4 and Note 4.

This post has been edited by joytest: Aug 17 2015, 03:18 PM

correct me if i'm wrong TS, u only use your n4 or tab as a PC/media center?

only thing needed is a big display, in ur case, a smart tv?

and of course a bluetooth mouse and keyboard

Not just media center.

I wouldn't need to go through so much hassle just for media casting. I have tested MHL and Miracast.


I'm trying to become as portable as possible. I personally find that 8" to 10" is the sweet spot for maximum portability, but most such devices are tablets geared towards media consumption.

I can access corporate email and Excel, Word, Powerpoint on my Tab S but it's cumbersome to perform updates or type long emails. I have tried Miracast and find that there is a 0.5 second lag that actually breaks your concentration when you want to write / update something.

MHL does not have the lag but I am left with a bluetooth mouse and keyboard. This introduces its own set of problems when the bluetooth devices go to sleep, there is a lag to wake them up again.

Even then, MHL is a phone-only solution. As I posted earlier, I had almost gotten the combined MHL + OTG dongle until I came across Displaylink.

The pics of CoC were only for initial testing of connectivity, to show it works.

The upside is that by using a combo OTG + Charging extension, I can use:
1. Logitech K400R wireless combo keyboard + mouse
2. the Displaylink dock
3. CHARGE MY PHONE AT THE SAME TIME.

You can see this in the pic showing the Logitech Unifying receiver.

All day fully portable computing.

An additional benefit is that this dock will also connect to any Win 8.1 and/or Win 10 tablet without needing to get pricey bluetooth keyboard docks.

This post has been edited by joytest: Aug 17 2015, 05:32 PM

thank you very much for d lengthy explanation,really appreciate it

I'm planning to use my n4 for d same reason as u,mainly to use it as a some sort of replacement whenever I'm being lazy opening up my laptop.lol

it's a pity when your smartphone had such an amazing screen,but limited to only 5.7",if u know what I mean

Connected to my work laptop, Displaylink drivers installed....immediately recognized all devices and connected to the desk monitor via HDMI.

Ultimate Universal dock !!!! (of course excepting that other locked down platform )

still can't find HIS dock sold at malaysia yet

I ordered from Amazon. Newegg Singapore lists it but it doesn't ship to Malaysia. You might need to get some friends to help.

I got the Startech one because I preferred the color.

Thanks for the sharing
will look into this soon

I shared this thread to a blogger who writes about embedded software and single board computers CNX-Software :

The blogger has picked up and reposted my content hopefully to a wider audience.

http://www.cnx-software.com/2015/08/29/con...ocking-station/

Is there any possibilities of getting sound out from the connected PC when you do this? Because i need to record the screen of my Android device with sound recorded too. Thanks

like u, i try to look for "convergence". something that can do all. trying even stuff like padfone, asus transformer, etc...

at one time, Motorola Atrix looked promising.

so, good to see you sharing some of the info here...

plus, with the Microsoft event yesterday, it does seem like we're nearing something "workable". just saw some of the videos of the MS event and the Mcrosoft Display Dock seems impressive!

nice!
i am looking for wireless display solution for all devices to be connected to VGA projector. donno what is best solution for this.

Well, that is Windows 10, We Android can't

If that's all you want to do, use the app called Telecine, works on Android 5+


With the USB docks here featuring Displaylink, Android does approach a goid level of convergence.

I'm sure you can't run AutoCAD on the Lumia 950/950XL either right. True convergence means the ability to run all binaries across the platform.

Not happened yet despite so many attempts in the last 15 years.

jump ship!

well, with Windows 10, supposedly there's universal apps. i guess we'll see if this convergence thing will come true in the next few years.

the way i look at it, if there's such convergence, it'll probably be from Apple of Microsoft. unlikely Android will become a laptop/ desktop OS. there's also the Chrome OS by Google that also blurs the lines further.

I have ordered the Jide Remix Mini....let's see how THAT works out.

It is a modified Android for a more desktop-y feel.

2 more months only... Can't wait to find out more...

Aren't they shipping this month?

Ops.. Silap.. Ya this months.. I thought it was Znaps that I pledged..

What exactly are you hoping with these experiments?

The thing with continuum is the apps scale up and treat your connected monitor as a second desktop thus all apps change its dpi and scaling to fit better on larger screen.

Fundamentally androids has all the gears needed for it but i doubt they would do it now not until android tv apps are matured and wireless latency are lowered. Nobody wants to plug in anything anymore theseday and people will be more willing to buy another devices like apple tv box or just accept the latencies then plugging in their phone to the tv.

This is as close to Continuum before Continuum gets in mainstream.

See, most people treat their mobile devices as consumption devices.

All your examples are consumption use cases. I don't mind latency for consumption either, since I'm just sitting back and watching without interaction.


If at all you want to get productive, you need a keyboard and mouse, no doubt about it.

Productivity folks don't really mind plugging stuff in, since they are carrying 1 master device with peripherals all over the place. That's what Ubuntu phone, Continuum etc are all trying to do. Observe the USB dock thingy that Continuum uses, plus some software component in Windows phone that tells the app to rescale.

I thought continuum would work with miracast. If microsoft can make it work with chromecast the better.

Personally one master device to rule them all isnt possible, try that out but it never work. My surface pro 3 Windows has legasy but no touch friendly system doing anything without a mouse is a pain and windows10 suck my battery, android are touch devices but no good apps for huge screen, ipad are good particularly ios9 using 2 finger and 3d touch as a mouse are brilliant but its too limited in its connectivity ability not just between devices but also between apps.

Non of it can do what i wanted it to do brilliantly. So
Am now i just embrass continuity. Microsoft and google apps are sync to the cloud and i can get thing done no matter what devices i use.


Unless theres a windows 10 device at lower than 9" screen with LTE and call calling facility with 3D touch and stylus and will not run hot when running android emulator.

This is an interesting thread. Thanks to the thread starter.

You have a very interesting idea, I once have this idea, but decided to give up and just stick with notebook. But wouldn't today's cloud technology be enough for phone and laptop sync? Like you could work on your computer and everything will be on your phone the next second, which is much more convenient.

Edited: Just re-read again, your point is power efficiency, seems to a good idea.

This post has been edited by teckyang97: Jun 13 2016, 07:14 PM