起初有HDMI！嗯(Well)，不是真的，但十多年来， HDMI一直是将视频和声音(video and sound)从设备传输到外部电视或显示器的主要方式。(TV or monitor)然而，从几年前开始，出现了一个新的竞争者，它的名字叫Miracast——一项承诺让您将您的计算机和设备无线连接到各种屏幕的技术，无需任何特殊设备。Miracast的传播速度非常快，即使您可能没有听说过，您家中也很可能至少有一台支持该技术的设备。如果您想了解更多有关Miracast的信息(Miracast)以及它如何为您提供帮助，请继续阅读：
Miracast是什么，它有什么作用？
Miracast是一种技术，可让您从计算机、笔记本电脑、平板电脑或智能手机(tablet or smartphone)无线投影到外部电视或显示器(TV or monitor)。这称为截屏，这意味着Miracast将设备的显示和声音(display and sound)从您的设备流式传输到您以无线方式连接到的外部电视或显示器(TV or monitor)。
因为它允许您做与HDMI 电缆(HDMI cable)基本相同的事情，即将视频和声音(video and sound)从设备传输到显示器，所以Miracast经常与HDMI进行比较。有些人甚至将Miracast称为“ HDMI over Wi-Fi ”或“无线HDMI ”。
这是一个由 Wi-Fi Alliance创建的视频，它很好地描述了Miracast：
Wi-Fi Alliance是负责我们无线设备使用标准的全球公司网络(worldwide network)，于 2012 年推出了一项名为Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Miracast™的(Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Miracast™)认证计划(certification program)，从那时起，许多消费电子产品制造商都采用了该标准。Miracast一开始就得到了(Miracast)英特尔(Intel)的大力支持，这可能是因为英特尔在(Intel)Miracast推出之前就已经拥有了英特尔(Intel )WiDi解决方案。(WiDi)Miracast还具有不是专有解决方案的优势，这意味着任何供应商的任何设备都可以 Miracast认证。
Miracast 是如何工作的？
Miracast是一种依赖WiFi Direct 无线(WiFi Direct wireless)网络连接的标准，它允许您的设备以最高 1080p全高清分辨率(Full HD resolution)和 5.1环绕声(surround sound)将视频流式传输到外部显示器。
这意味着Miracast通过在您的设备和外部显示器之间创建直接无线连接来工作。(wireless connection)Miracast不依赖于您的无线家庭网络(wireless home network)。在某种程度上，Miracast的工作方式类似于 ad-hoc 网络。
为了连接到外部显示器，您的设备会创建一个使用 WPS无线网络(wireless network)标准(wireless network)（WiFi 保护设置(WiFi Protected Setup)）并使用WPA2保护的无线网络，从而使Miracast连接非常安全。
Miracast还有另一个很棒的功能：它不关心您从设备流式传输到外部显示器的视频或音频类型。(video or audio)您可以使用它来显示受DRM保护的文件、DVD电影、音乐 CD 和任何其他类型的媒体文件，无论它们使用何种编解码器或格式。(codecs or formats)如果您想了解有关Miracast的更多信息以及与之相关的所有内容，请查看此网页：Wi-Fi Certified Miracast。
我可以在哪些设备上使用 Miracast？
Miracast是一个相对年轻的标准，它于 2012 年底推出。然而，它受到了很多人和很多主要科技公司的极大关注。因此，您可以在一大堆设备上使用Miracast ，而且每天都有更多设备获得Miracast认证。(Miracast)
科技界最重要的参与者都在他们的设备和/或软件上支持Miracast ：
- Microsoft在Windows 8.1和Windows Phone 8.1、Windows 10和Windows 10 Mobile中提供Miracast 支持(Miracast support)。
- Google在Android 4.2 Jelly Bean和更新版本中提供Miracast 支持。(Miracast support)
- 亚马逊(Amazon)在其Fire OS中提供Miracast 支持(Miracast support)。
- 许多电视制造商销售包含Miracast 支持的(Miracast support)智能电视(Smart TVs)。
- 如果您的电视或外接显示器不支持Miracast，您可以购买Miracast 适配器(Miracast adapter)，通过显示器的HDMI 或 USB 端口连接(HDMI or USB port)并带来Miracast(Miracast capabi)功能。有许多选项可供选择 - 以下是一些最受欢迎的Miracast 适配器(Miracast adapter)示例：Microsoft 无线显示适配器(Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter)、Belkin Miracast 视频适配器(Belkin Miracast Video Adapter)和ASUS Miracast 无线显示适配器(ASUS Miracast Wireless Display Dongle)。
您如何使用 Miracast？
使用Miracast(Miracast)将您的设备连接到外部显示器既简单又快速，但在每个平台和操作系统(platform and operating system)上也是一个不同的过程。
如果您需要这方面的帮助，我们为您准备了一些教程。他们来了：
- 对于Windows 10设备，请阅读：如何使用Miracast从Windows 10投影到(Windows 10)电视或显示器(TV or monitor)。
- 对于Windows 8.1设备，请阅读：使用Microsoft 无线显示适配器从(Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter)Windows 8.1 投影(Windows 8.1)到另一台显示器。
- 对于Windows 10 移动版(Mobile)设备，请阅读：如何使用Miracast从Windows 10移动版投影到(Mobile)电视或显示器(TV or monitor)。
Miracast 技术(Miracast technology)的优缺点
使用Miracast 技术(Miracast technology)有很多优势，因此在不久的将来它有很大的机会被更多的人和公司采用。这里是其中的一些：
- Miracast可帮助您摆脱电缆并进行无线连接。
- 设备之间的Miracast(Miracast)连接非常容易设置。
- 您不必在智能手机或平板电脑上安装(smartphone or tablet)HDMI端口即可使用外接显示器。
- 您不需要在您的家中安装有效的无线网络(working wireless network)。您甚至不必拥有路由器。
- 您可以在旅行时随身携带Miracast 加密狗(Miracast dongle)，您可以使用它将视频从智能手机、平板电脑或笔记本电脑投射到任何带有HDMI 端口(HDMI port)或USB 端口的(USB port)电视或显示器(TV or display)，具体取决于您使用的加密狗。
与生活中的其他事物一样，Miracast也有其缺点。以下是一些最重要的：
- 稳定性问题(Stability issues)- 尽管经过Miracast认证的设备的设计和制造旨在以快速简便的方式进行连接，但某些Miracast连接并不可靠。这在很大程度上取决于您用于Miracast连接的设备的质量。
- Miracast 的延迟没有标准化(Latency is not standardized for Miracast)。这意味着您可能会看到Miracast 传输(Miracast transmitting)设备上的内容与外部Miracast 接收(Miracast receiving)显示器上的内容之间存在延迟。例如，如果您想在智能手机上玩自己喜欢的动作游戏(action game)，同时连接到大屏幕电视，视频或音频可能与您的动作不同步。同样(Again)，这在很大程度上取决于您用于Miracast连接的设备的质量。
- 仅显示镜像(Display mirroring only)——谷歌的Chromecast 和苹果(Chromecast and Apple)的AirPlay技术稍好一些，因为它们允许多任务处理，而不仅仅是屏幕镜像。
我的设备是否支持 Miracast？
2016 年6 月 15(June 15)日，全球有 5238台Miracast认证设备。如果您想检查您拥有或想要购买的某个设备是否经过Miracast认证，您可以在 Wi-Fi Alliance 官方网站(Alliance website)上进行简单搜索，此处为：Product Finder。
结论
Miracast是一项伟大的技术，它可以极大地改变我们与周围屏幕交互的方式。想象一下，您家中的每台显示器都以无线方式连接到发送视频和/或声音的任何设备。想象一下，您可以将智能手机或平板电脑(smartphone or tablet)连接到您附近的任何电视。如果Miracast继续变得更好并被更广泛地采用，那么在连接到各种显示器时，它可以完全取代我们对电缆的需求。您如何看待这项技术？你用它吗？您对Miracast的未来有何预测？
Simple questions: What is Miracast and how do you use it?
Αt first there was the HDMI! Well, not rеally, but HDMI has been the main way of transmitting video and sound from а device to an external TV or monitor for more than a decade now. Howeνer, starting a few years bаck, a new contеnder has appeared and its name іs Miracast - a technology that promises to let you connect yоur computers and devices to screens of all kinds, wirelessly and without any specіal equipment. Miracast is spreadіng qυite fast and, even if you may have not heard about it, it's very likely that you have at least one device in your home that supports this technology. If you want to know more about Miracast and how it can hеlp yoυ, read оn:
What is Miracast and what does it do?
Miracast is a technology that lets you project wirelessly from your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone, to an external TV or monitor. This is called screencast and it means that Miracast streams your device's display and sound from your device to the external TV or monitor to which you connected wirelessly.
Because it allows you to do basically the same thing as an HDMI cable, which is to transmit video and sound from a device to a display, Miracast is often compared with HDMI. Some people even refer to Miracast as "HDMI over Wi-Fi" or "wireless HDMI".
Here's a video created by Wi-Fi Alliance that describes Miracast in a great way:
Wi-Fi Alliance, the worldwide network of companies that takes care of the standards used by our wireless devices, launched a certification program called Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Miracast™ in 2012 and, since then, many consumer electronics manufacturers have adopted this standard. Miracast has received a lot of support from Intel in its beginning, probably because Intel had already had its Intel WiDi solution even before Miracast was launched. Miracast also has the advantage of not being a proprietary solution, which means that any device from any vendor can be Miracast certified.
How does Miracast work?
Miracast is a standard that relies on WiFi Direct wireless network connections and it allows your device to stream video to the external display at a maximum 1080p Full HD resolution and 5.1 surround sound.
This means that Miracast works by creating a direct wireless connection between your device and your external display. Miracast doesn't rely on your wireless home network. In a way, Miracast works similarly to an ad-hoc network.
In order to connect to the external display, your device creates a wireless network that uses the WPS wireless networking standard (WiFi Protected Setup) and is secured using WPA2, thus making the Miracast connections quite safe.
Miracast has one other great feature: it doesn't care what kind of video or audio you're streaming from your device to the external display. You can use it for displaying DRM protected files, DVD movies, music CDs and any other kind of media files, regardless of the codecs or formats they use. If you feel that you'd like to learn more about Miracast and all the things related to it, check this web page: Wi-Fi Certified Miracast.
On what devices can I use Miracast?
Miracast is a relatively young standard, as it was launched at the end of of 2012. However, it has received a great deal of attention from a lot of people and from a lot of major tech companies. As such, you can use Miracast on a whole bunch of devices and there are more getting Miracast certified each day.
The most important players of the tech world, all support Miracast on their devices and/or software:
- Microsoft offers Miracast support in Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile.
- Google offers Miracast support in Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and newer.
- Amazon offers Miracast support in its Fire OS.
- Many TV manufacturers sell Smart TVs with Miracast support included.
- If your TV or external monitor doesn't support Miracast, you can buy a Miracast adapter that connects via the display's HDMI or USB port and brings Miracast capabi lity . There are many options to choose from - here are a few examples of some of the most popular are Miracast adapters out there: Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter , Belkin Miracast Video Adapter and ASUS Miracast Wireless Display Dongle.
How do you use Miracast?
Connecting your devices to your external displays using Miracast is easy and fast but it's also a different process on each platform and operating system.
If you need help with that, we have a few tutorials ready for you. Here they are:
The pros and cons of the Miracast technology
There are plenty of advantages in using the Miracast technology, so there's a big opportunity for it to be adopted by more people and companies in the near future. Here are some of them:
- Miracast helps you get rid of cables and connect wirelessly.
- Miracast connections between devices are very easy to set up.
- You don't have to have HDMI ports on your smartphone or tablet in order to be able to use an external display with them.
- You don't need to have a working wireless network in your house. You don't even have to have a router.
- You can take your Miracast dongle with you when you travel and you can use it to cast video from your smartphone, tablet or laptop to any TV or display with an HDMI port or a USB port, depending on the dongle that you use.
Like everything else in life, Miracast also comes with its disadvantages. Here are some of the most important:
- Stability issues - although Miracast certified devices are designed and created to connect in a fast and easy manner, some Miracast connections are unreliable. It depends a lot on the quality of the devices that you are using for Miracast connections.
- Latency is not standardized for Miracast. That means that you might see lags between what's on your Miracast transmitting device and your external Miracast receiving display. For instance, if you want to play your favorite action game on your smartphone while connected to a large screen TV, the video or the audio might not be in sync with your actions. Again, it depends a lot on the quality of the devices that you are using for Miracast connections.
- Display mirroring only - Google's Chromecast and Apple's AirPlay technologies are slightly better because they allow multitasking, not just screen mirroring.
Do my devices support Miracast?
On June 15, 2016 there were 5238 Miracast certified devices in the world. If you want to check whether a certain device you own or want to buy is Miracast certified, you can do that with a simple search on the official Wi-Fi Alliance website, here: Product Finder.
Conclusion
Miracast is a great technology and it can greatly change the way we interact with screens around us. Imagine that each and every display in your home is connected wirelessly to whatever device sends it video and/or sound. And imagine that you can connect your smartphone or tablet to any TV that is close to you. If Miracast continues to get better as well as being adopted more widely, it could replace our need for cables completely, when connecting to displays of all kinds. What do you think of this technology? Do you use it? What is your prediction of the future when it comes to Miracast?
