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The Revesun HDMI 2×1 Multi-Viewer with PIP is an affordable seamless switching solution


Over the past few years, social media and other online capabilities have become the new way of communicating and for getting content out to the world instantaneously. In the photography/videography industry, it has allowed us to stream live views of what were once all pre-recorded events. A few years ago, I introduced this capability to my Church with the ability to stream the sermons live on YouTube and Facebook. When we started, we were using 2 video cameras, and we are now up to 6 video cameras. In an effort to keep cost down, we were using a cheap manual HDMI switcher to switch between the output from our main Blackmagic Design Switcher and a laptop, to the input of our streaming box. We use the laptop for introducing “unplanned content” or other “spur of the moment” content. The cheaper HDMI switcher worked well for switching, but there was always a distinct “blackout’ period of a few seconds before the next source showed live. Of course, the issue here was that we needed seamless switching and eventually invested in a smaller but still relatively expensive Roland switcher to do the trick. Although we have a solution, I was still on a mission to find a simple seamless HDMI switcher that did not cost an “arm and a leg”.

I just came across the Revesun HDMI 2×1 Multi-Viewer with PIP. The manufacturer claims that this switcher is capable of seamless switching while avoiding any residual artifacts. It is compliant with HDMI 1.3a and HDCP 1.2. It supports resolutions up to 1080P HD, with 2 HDMI inputs and 1output. It also supports the LPCM, AC3, and DTS digital audio formats.

If you would like to try out the Revesun HDMI 2×1 Multi-Viewer with PIP seamless switcher, you can purchase one on Amazon for $76.99.

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The Revesun HDMI 2×1 Multi-Viewer with PIP is an affordable seamless switching solution originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 1, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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Feel free to connect with Freestream


Fashion shows are one of the events that I love to video, and on a few occasions, I have been a part of a team the included a live broadcast as a part of the event. The hustle and bustle of celebrity types lends a sense of excitement and adds energy to the environment. However, setting up multiple video cameras for these events can be a pain when broadcasting, because of the cables that need to be run from each camera back to the broadcast hub. This issue is even more complicated when we are forced to run cables across areas where models will be walking, since tripping is an inherent risk even when the cables are taped to the floor.

I have researched many wireless HDMI transmitter/receiver kits, but they have always been rather expensive, starting in the $1000S for one set.

Recently, I can across Freestream. It is an HDMI transmitter/receiver kit that claims to work with most HDMI enabled cameras. While we use SDI in most of our connections, we have the ability to use HDMI with no issues. Freestream features, an audio input to the transmitter, a removable and rechargeable battery, an LCD screen, 1080P 60 Hz frequency, a range of up to 1500 feet, and 4 channels that supports the use of up to 4 cameras simultaneously.

You can get more information on Freestream and pick one kit up with an included Pelican case for $699 at the Freestream website, or without the case for $599 at B&H Photo Video.

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Feel free to connect with Freestream originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 17, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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The DotStone 2 Port HDMI Switcher simply works!

For many years, since HDMI first became one of the standard ports included with audio/video devices, I have been in search of a HDMI switch that will allow me to connect more than one device to my TV or one of my monitors. In some cases, I needed it to work vice versa to connect one device to 2 separate displays, and switch between the two.

Over the years I have purchased numerous HDMI switches ranging in price from $80 to $400 and all have failed over a relatively short period of time, with a bit longer than a year being the greatest longevity. Most of the switches, especially the more expensive ones with multiple outputs and in some cases multiple inputs and outputs, required external power and seemed to eventually suffer their demise from the heat their circuits generated. I do suspect that the eventual failure had to do with burned out components or “cold” solder joints.

About a year ago, I once again found myself in a similar situation with a need to connect a Roku box and a Fire Stick to a monitor. Because of my failed history with HDMI switches, I was very apprehensive to try another one, but it seemed like the only sensible option. After extensive online research, I came across the DotStone bi-directional 2 x 1/1 x 2 Manual HDMI Switcher that was quite cheap, and therefore could not inflict the financial damage of its predecessors. Since it also had a relatively large number of positive reviews, I decided to give it a chance.

After using the very small but well-built switcher for almost a year, I am very pleased with its reliable and consistently perfect performance. I honestly was not expecting much, but I have been so impressed by it that I have now purchased a second one. Since I do not care about the convenience of having a wireless remote, this manual switcher is a win!! I have additional praise for its included feature of bi-directional switching, which I have tried it in both directions with multiple devices. I am happy to report that it has performed flawlessly.

You can purchase the DotStone 2 port Bi-direction Switch on Amazon for the amazing price of $10.18

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The DotStone 2 Port HDMI Switcher simply works! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 2, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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This tiny USB Type-C to HDMI adapter is perfect for travel

I have a USB Type-C to HDMI adapter that I use to connect my 12-inch MacBook to an LG 29″ monitor on my desk. The size of that adapter doesn’t matter to me because it never leaves the desk. But if I carried a USB Type-C to HDMI adapter with me in my gear bag every day, I would prefer to have the smallest adapter available. Nonda offers just such an adapter.

The Nonda USB-C to HDMI Adapter is very small and features 4K with resolutions up to 4096 x 2160 @60Hz in a fold-up form factor that you’ll have no trouble finding space to store it in your bag or pocket.

The wrap around braided cable helps keep the adapter small and compact, and the $22.99 price tag won’t empty your wallet.

Read more about the Nonda adapter at nonda.co or head over to Amazon to order one.

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This tiny USB Type-C to HDMI adapter is perfect for travel originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 9, 2017 at 2:37 pm.

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Samsung Dex Station review

Ever since the first days of the Palm Pilot PDA, I’ve wanted a small handheld device that would function as my phone, my camera, and my desktop computer. One device to rule them all!

Companies like Motorola with their Atrix phone flirted with this concept six years ago, and I’ve even tried turning an Android smartphone into a pseudo computer by connecting a mouse and a keyboard using an OTG adapter. With the right apps, it’s possible to get real work done with this type of setup but working on a phone’s small display is pretty painful.

Samsung has a solution for this. It’s the DeX Station. Verizon Wireless sent me one to test. Let’s check it out.

What is it?

The Samsung DeX Station is a docking station for the Samsung Galaxy S8, S8 Plus, and Note8 smartphones. It allows connection to an HDMI display, a keyboard, mouse, and speakers, to turn the smartphone into a multi-windowed multi-tasking desktop workstation.

What’s in the box?

DeX Station
AC adapter
USB Type C cable

Design and features

The DeX Station is a black plastic module that reminds me of a bulging hockey puck.

The top cover slides open and turns into a backrest for the phone which plugs into the exposed USB Type-C connector.

The lid has a built-in fan that turns on to keep the phone cool when it is working hard from displaying multiple windows and apps.

Verizon sent me a Samsung Galaxy S8 to test with the DeX and it fit in the docking station perfectly. The DeX will also work with the Samsung Galaxy Note8, but it won’t work with other smartphones that have a USB Type-C connector. The DeX Station is only compatible with Samsung Galaxy S8 and newer devices.

Along the base of the DeX, you’ll find two USB 2.0 ports that can be used to connect a keyboard and a mouse. There’s also an Ethernet port if you need a hard wire into your network.

Next to the Ethernet port is an HDMI port and a USB Type-C port which is used with the included AC adapter to power the DeX.

Setup

Hooking up the DeX Station is simple as long as you have a monitor with an HDMI input and an HDMI cable. I connected the DeX to an LG 29″ monitor. I also connected the Samsung Galaxy S8 to a Logitech K780 keyboard using a USB dongle, and I paired a Microsoft Bluetooth mouse to round out the setup.

When connecting the S8 to the DeX connected to the monitor, you’re given the option to mirror the display as shown above.

Or you can go full screen which effectively turns the smartphone into a desktop computer that can multi-task with multi-windows, a taskbar, app shortcuts, etc. The effect is pretty awesome and really made me feel like my one-device-to-rule-them-all gadget daydream had finally come true.

Launching the Chrome browser really feels like you’re surfing on your laptop or desktop and you forget that you’re using a smartphone. You can do multiple things at once like having multiple tabs open in the browser while updating files through the Play store.

My first gotcha was noticing that Gmail through the Chome browser showed the mobile version of the site instead of the desktop version which I prefer.

I tried requesting the desktop version through the browser settings and tried using an incognito window too but didn’t have any luck.

To get around this issue I tried the Samsung browser and discovered that it does allow you to load the desktop version of Gmail. Yay! The desktop version of Gmail lets me have my multiple inboxes and stars just like working on my Mac or Windows machine. This is a big deal for people like me who get eleventy billion emails a day.

Although the DeX desktop doesn’t look like your phone, notifications still come in like normal and can be accessed in a panel on the bottom right corner of the display.

You can also see thumbnails of open apps to easily switch between them.

There’s also a launcher screen with all your installed apps listed for easy launching.

And there’s a nice big settings picker window.

Working through a browser feels very much like you’re working on a laptop or desktop computer. But when you try to use some of your favorite apps, you’ll start running into issues because they probably won’t work in full-screen mode like you’d expect and want with this type of setup.

Examples of this include Words With Friends, which launches in a phone-sized window that cannot be resized.

The Netflix app has the same problem. What’s even worse is that I couldn’t get the Netflix app to load a video. It would stay on the loading screen forever. But if I tried using my iPhone to watch the same video that I was trying to pull up on the S8 connected to the DeX, it popped up just fine when using the same WiFi connection.

The Samsung internet browser usually works the best to go to the web versions of apps and services vs. the mobile apps that you have installed on the phone. So I thought I could get Netflix to work that way, but it just showed a blank black screen.

I also tried the Chrome browser but it would just launch the Netflix app.

Some apps won’t launch at all when connected to the Dex Station like Verizon’s Messages+ app and even worse, the Firefox browser won’t work at all.

However, you can use Samsung’s messages app to send SMS messages while connected to the DeX.

A few other things that I noticed:

  • Right mouse click is supported with Dex optimized apps.
  • Double-clicking the mouse to select a word in the Chrome browser in an edit window will not work but it does work in the Samsung browser.
  • Trying to edit images in Google Photos just brings up a blank black screen.

Who is this product for?

I was excited to try the Samsung DeX Station, but after I used it, I started thinking what I would use it for and came to the conclusion that it would not be useful for someone like me who already has a laptop at work, a laptop at home, and a tablet.

The DeX would be perfect for a minimalist who has no extra room or need for multiple computers but does have an HDMI display, a keyboard, and a mouse to use when a full-screen desktop experience is required.

I can imagine a time in the not too distant future where our smartphones really WILL be our only devices and we’ll have docks like the Samsung DeX Station at our day job and our home.

Final thoughts

I enjoyed using the Samsung Dex Station and am excited for the future of devices like this one. I would happily go down to one device if the OS on that one device was beefed up a little more, all apps took advantage of full-screen mode, and there were docks to turn the phone into a laptop and a tablet too. I think it’s just a matter of time and I can’t wait.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Verizon Wireless. Please visit their site for more info.

 

Product Information

Price: $149.99
Manufacturer: Samsung
Retailer: Verizon Wireless
Pros:
  • Easy to use
  • Turns the phone into a desktop computer
  • Multi-window, multi-tasking
  • Phone charges while docked
Cons:
  • Most apps appear in small phone sized windows that can't be resized
  • Netflix would not work
  • Some apps won't work at all while docked in the DeX

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Samsung Dex Station review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 27, 2017 at 4:04 pm.

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