Wireless display of PC on TV is now possible using WiDi technology. Netgear's Neo TV Pro media player has added WiDi and changed the game for media players. Media players have been able to stream movies, music, and photos shared over your home network and from online services—Netflix, Hulu, Vudu and so forth. But, a number of TV shows and other online videos are only available on web browsers.
Smart TV and Connected Blu-ray Web Browsers are blocked
More and more, connected Smart TVs and blu-ray players are promising a web browser Internet experience. Still, most of these web browsers have been blocked from playing video from network TV websites from CBS to Fox. When you visit a website, the site can distinguish if you are using Safari, Firefox, Chrome or Internet Explorer and what type of device you are using to view the page. If it detects that the device is not a computer, the video won't play.
Only Computer Web Browsers have full access.
Unless you want to connect your PC to your TV using an HDMI cable or with a VGA (monitor type) connection, the only way to watch those blocked TV shows is on your small computer screen. In my post about cutting the cord (canceling cable), there were a number of TV shows that I watch regularly that I could only watch on my 13-inch laptop or by connecting a laptop to the TV.
It was always a hassle to connect my computer and I found myself wishing I could push a button and instantly see what my computer screen mirrored on my TV. Although I would be able to see my desktop on a 46-inch screen, primarily I wanted to be able to watch those TV episode videos that weren't available any other way.
Netgear Neo TV Pro
Neo TV Pro can do is the answer to accessing not only Hulu Plus and TV rental services, but with the push of a button, all online video is available. With a computer, laptop or other device that has Intel's wireless display technology, WiDi (pronounced why-die), the Neo TV can send on whatever you see on your computer screen to your TV.
The Neo TV Pro will display whatever video or photo you are viewing on your computer. This eliminates the need for a separate app to stream movies, music and photos from other computers or NAS drives on your home network. Instead, stream the media files to your computer and it will be displayed on your home theater via WiDi and the Neo TV Pro.
What is WiDi?
Briefly, WiDi is Intel's Wireless Display technology that is built into a number of laptops. It sends a mirror image of whatever is displayed on your laptop screen to a WiDi receiver. Previously, you needed a dedicated receiver connected to your TV. WiDi receivers include: Netgear's Push2TV, Belkin's ScreenCast, and D-Link DHD-131. The Neo TV Pro is the first device available that is not solely a WiDi receiver but incorporates the receiver into a media streamer. We can expect that more TVs, connected components and media streamers will include WiDi in the future.
Netgear representatives told me that there have been about 100 WiDi-enabled PCs available. They expect that WiDi will be built into new models of laptops not that WiDi has been adopted as a standard by the WiFi Alliance. This means that WiDi can be incorporated into non-Intel computers as well as on phones and tablets. According to Netgear this will include the Samsung Galaxy and phones.
WiDi's mirroring of your PC desktop is similar to Apple's AirPlay. AirPlay allows you to mirror your iPhone or iPad to your Apple TV to display on your TV. Will WiDi become the PC alternative to iTunes, AirPlay?
Does Your Laptop Have WiDi?
If your laptop is WiDi-enabled, it will have a label that reads Intel Wireless Display technology or WiDi. There may be a physical WiDi button labeled on the side of your laptop or towards the top of the keyboard. There will also be a WiDi utility. There should be an icon on your desktop to start WiDi. If you don't see it, search for WiDi among your PC's programs. To send a mirror image of your desktop to the Neo TV Pro (or other WiDi receiver) either push the button on your laptop or click on the WiDi icon on your desktop.
I have not had the chance to try out the Neo TV Pro, but if it works as described, and can stream 1080p HD video as promised, this may the perfect device for those who want to cut the cord and cancel cable or satellite service. And it's reasonably priced at $69.99. But first, it's a great excuse to buy a new model WiDi-enabled UltraBook.
Do you stream TV episodes from online network TV websites?
