Microsoft is crafting its own version of Chromecast

posted by Maxwell R. / Aug 23, 2014, 12:19 AM

Microsoft is crafting its own version of Chromecast

Google’s Chromecast is arguably the best value in existence as far as media devices go. At $35, it is priced to be an easy purchase decision.

It may be centered on the Google experience, but it is super easy to set up. All that is needed is an available HDMI port on your TV, Wi-Fi, and either an Android smartphone, or Chromebook, or a computer running a Chrome browser to get things started.

The major media players like Netflix and Hulu were on board from the get go (obviously, YouTube was too), and Google has stated that Chromecast is a success. The content delivery of Chromecast has prompted the world’s internet search engine to dig deeper, and later this year, Android TV will be available.

Microsoft tipped its toe into the entertainment scene from the opposite direction, with Xbox. The system has been a success despite hiccups, but it faced competition in a way that Chromecast did not. Sensing it can score success with a dongle-like apparatus, Microsoft is an as yet unnamed product of its own.

According to documents filed with the FCC, and Wi-Fi Alliance, Microsoft is working on a “Miracast Dongle” media adapter. It is a product of Microsoft Mobile Oy, indicating that this is a project that was being worked on in Finland before the Nokia acquisition. The model number is PYAHD-10 (or HD-10 based on the label), and for now, the diagrams and description of operation submitted to the FCC are being kept as confidential.

Given the short-term nature of confidentiality being requested (90-days), we expect to see some type of formal announcement about this device in the not-so-distant future (perhaps IFA 2014?). It stands to reason that we expect functionality within the whole Windows ecosystem, but particularly Windows Phone. We would also expect that it would interface with existing Live ID and Xbox accounts for access to some, if not all, media content from the entertainment side of Xbox.

What do you think the HD-10 will be? What do you think it will be called?

via: The Verge

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38 Comments

1. Kishin

Posts: 706; Member since: May 30, 2013

Okay!

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 12:58 AM 1

2. 0xFFFF

Posts: 3806; Member since: Apr 16, 2014

"Redmond, Start Your Photocopiers". It's more true now than it was back then. Sad, really.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 1:00 AM 8

18. XperiaFanZone

Posts: 2277; Member since: Sep 21, 2012

You mean the way Google "photocopied" Neo TV?

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 4:42 AM 5

24. Liveitup

Posts: 1798; Member since: Jan 07, 2014

You mean the way Mountain View complete view on design language across the entire company was influenced Redmond. Those photocopiers was started a while ago. Metro aka Modern UI and Material UI. http://media.tumblr.com/5d5f4f74ba049623b42e7144d1a28e8a/tumblr_inline_n7qnpytWef1qzvm1l.png

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 6:49 AM 4

25. AJagtiani

Posts: 466; Member since: Apr 24, 2014

LOL dude "material UI" is just another way of Google saying "We copied modern UI on Windows" UI. Stupid copycat Google. First copied MS's Office suite and now that "material UI". I hope Samsung don't adopt that copied UI on their new TouchWiz on Android L next year.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 9:33 AM 2

26. sgodsell

Posts: 6739; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

So stupid. Have you even seen that Android L functions nothing like WP? Idiots like you say they have taken and copied the modern UI. Learn what the term means before looking like and idiot. The UI term means User Interface. The UI is completely different to Windows Phones UI. In fact Androids UI is so powerful and robust compared to WP. It allows users to change its UI into anything they want including WP, iOS and many others, and has done this since day one. Just look at the play store and you can see that there are many launchers that can change the UI and color schemes. The flat design is another thing as well as the colors. But to say that Google copied the UI just proves to the world how ignorant you really are.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 9:50 AM 8

28. Liveitup

Posts: 1798; Member since: Jan 07, 2014

So Stupid are you kidding me ?, the only one stupid and ignorant is yourself. Android is trying to find visual identity through 'Material Design', borrowing from Microsoft Modern UI. Since its inception, Windows Phone has had a bold visual design language defining the core experience of the OS. Modern design gets its influence from NYC Subway maps etc. At Microsoft, the lineage starts with Windows Media Center, up through the ill-fated Zune HD, finally spearheading the core design of Windows Phone 7 and Windows 8. Android has never been that fortunate . Android OS has been evolving with an almost ad-hoc set of principles however things began Matias Duarte joined the Android team back in 2010. Since then, we have seen attempts at a new language, notably the Roboto font for Android 4.0 ICS. Duarte once famously criticized Microsoft's Modern design language calling it "airport lavatory signage" and "too starkly systematic." Now he's doing the same thing he once critercized opting for clean fonts etc, The UI is flatter looking and has all new geometric on screen buttons just like WP for Christ sakes kid the even have the WP three dot menu button amongst a host of other features taken from WP. They took the Flat bright messaging colored messaging bar found in WP and made it a major part of material UI by placing it top and bottom of the messaging and Icons bar found in Material UI. even the flat squares taken from from Microsoft's playbook that is content filled as opposed to chrome, that is just a few of the ideas from WP that Android has incorporated. Google is not alone, however, in this trend, as even Apple has moved towards a flatter, non-skeuomorphic look in iOS 7 and iOS 8, their app developers, websites just about even thing design language have moved to Flat. Sometimes its like you guys suffer from amnesia , when i look at Android Gingerbread days compared to today its clear that they are inspired by WP UI. That's not hating on Android just saying the facts. Educate yourself.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 11:50 AM 2

29. 0xFFFF

Posts: 3806; Member since: Apr 16, 2014

"Educate yourself." You should try taking your own advice. Paper was flat a long time before Microsoft even existed.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 1:04 PM 5

34. sgodsell

Posts: 6739; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

I think you need the education. First of all you throw around the term UI and design language as being exactly the same thing. Does the WP UI function like Androids UI? NO, it doesn't, and the same goes the other way. But Android's UI (User interface) is so robust and powerful that it can give developers the option to change the UI. Something that is impossible to do on any WP device. Now as far as design language and color schemes. That is a different animal. If Google and Android was using the same UI. Do you think for one minute that Microsoft wouldn't take Google to court. Of course Microsoft is well noted to go after anyone. Just look back at the Lotus 123 and Excel days. Where did that go. Remember you can't go after anyone for looks. Functionality is another thing.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 9:27 PM 2

32. hemedans

Posts: 746; Member since: Jun 01, 2013

modern ui start with 1.encarta 1995 2. msn 2.0 3.media centre (win xp) 4. zune HD 5.wp, w8, xbox sourcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_(design_language) was mountain view there since 1995?

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 7:40 PM 1

33. 0xFFFF

Posts: 3806; Member since: Apr 16, 2014

The so-called "Modern UI" is just basic layout that has been done on paper for a long time before there were computers. Just because Microsoft took these designs and put them on a computer screen doesn't mean it is something authentically novel. Any design that existed on paper before the computer should not be patentable in the first place. Too bad the USPTO is a "highest payment gets the patent" system.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 7:48 PM 2

37. Pings

Posts: 304; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

Metro UI didn't start with Encarta 1995. Have you seen or used Encarta 1995. I have and it does not have any hints of Metro UI. Metro UI can from AOL 1996. http://files.gendo.nl/images/AOL-Metro.jpg

posted on Aug 24, 2014, 11:14 AM 1

38. AfterShock

Posts: 4146; Member since: Nov 02, 2012

Ouch, stole it from AOL, lmao.

posted on Aug 24, 2014, 7:58 PM 1

3. pokharkarsaga

Posts: 545; Member since: Feb 23, 2012

Google's 'Knowledge Vault' Can Teach Itself The Answers To Your Questions, May Drastically Improve Google Now http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/08/22/googles-knowledge-vault-can-teach-answers-questions-may-improve-google-now/ Skynet is here...............

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 1:04 AM 3

4. Kjayhawk

Posts: 294; Member since: Oct 07, 2010

I like Microsoft, personally I think they have a lot of great ideas. Unfortunately I think their ecosystem sucks. Microsoft I feel has just been adding things as they go rather than perfecting one thing at a time. I feel apple and google have done a great job of this. Both companies have great products and probably will move on once they are done perfecting them (well android took like 2 years, but without a doubt now it is the most complete OS of any platform). Windows phone came out really half baked, its way better now than what it was, but still needs a lot of work. They are trying to compete with ChromeOS with a cheap laptop, which makes no sense because really chromebooks dont make up enough of a market. They released a half baked idea of a console the Xbox One (They did fix it thanks to Phil Spencer, who is probably the coolest person in gaming and sold me an Xbox one which I love now). Sorry got off topic, what i was trying to say is Microsoft needs to do a better job of building its ecosystem yes they look alike but that doesn't mean i want to use them. Internet explorer, Bing, windows music, media player, microsoft office are all things i don't enjoy that I wish i did because if I did I wouldnt have to be split between Google, Apple and Microsoft products. Hopefully this product comes out and is great but microsofts tack record with their first product usually sucks. Kinda just rambled sorry

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 1:08 AM 4

6. rodneyej1

Posts: 3576; Member since: Jul 06, 2013

I see your point... I might agree with you if you were talking about the ecosystem a few years back, but lately everything has been coming together quite nicely... It's all pretty synergetic now, way better than 3 years ago... ...... Nevertheless, I'm glad that someone else understands that ecosystem isn't just about the app store... Good job, my friend!

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 1:15 AM 2

9. dushyant

Posts: 94; Member since: Mar 14, 2011

Too long won't read it.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 1:49 AM 4

13. Wiencon

Posts: 2278; Member since: Aug 06, 2014

Good, you won't start another fanboy war, stupid troll.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 3:35 AM 3

14. dushyant

Posts: 94; Member since: Mar 14, 2011

Its quite ironic , that you are saying so. Quite funny actually.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 3:45 AM 3

17. Awalker

Posts: 1958; Member since: Aug 15, 2013

I do the same thing. I don't feel like reading an article within a article.

posted on Aug 23, 2014, 4:38 AM 2

12. boblight

Posts: 84; Member since: Jul 28, 2012

Agreed. I think that Microsoft has the potential to do better, to create better stuff and actually perfect it. But I guess that they are not used to the rapid developing tech culture now. Maybe before the smartphone era they would have been able to be the top. But nowadays, products come and go in a blink of an eye. An app may become popular today, and tomorrow people wouldn't even talk about it. They are kind of still stuck in the old mentality, which I think what Satya is trying to change now. Anyway, besides my rambling also, great comment dude. For a change theres someone who actually understand the current situation instead of blind bashing !