I've been hesitant to write about the Netgear PTV3000 adapter and the Nexus 4 because, as we found out way back in November, it doesn't yet work. That is, the PTV3000 is using "precompatability" firmware, meaning that its Miracast isn't playing nicely with Miracast on the Nexus 4.
Welcome to the wonderful world of being first adopters of a new standard. It happens. Back in November, Netgear PR told me they were working on a firmware update, with my favorite timeline -- "soon." Weeks went by, and my last two e-mails asking for an update haven't been returned. Bother.
But, as these things happen, the firmware indeed has been in testing, and it's leaked out. So I popped the 2.2 update onto my PTV3000 to give it a go.
[INFO]Mind you, this is not official firmware. This is test. This is not final. I expect bugs. That said, it works OK. Some quick thoughts on the Miracast experience in general:
[/INFO]
Right now? Miracast is a fun novelty. But that's all it is. Hell, it's not even listed as a feature of the Nexus 4 now on Google Play, if that tells you anything.
Welcome to the wonderful world of being first adopters of a new standard. It happens. Back in November, Netgear PR told me they were working on a firmware update, with my favorite timeline -- "soon." Weeks went by, and my last two e-mails asking for an update haven't been returned. Bother.
But, as these things happen, the firmware indeed has been in testing, and it's leaked out. So I popped the 2.2 update onto my PTV3000 to give it a go.
[INFO]Mind you, this is not official firmware. This is test. This is not final. I expect bugs. That said, it works OK. Some quick thoughts on the Miracast experience in general:
[/INFO]
- Display mirroring is fine. Works as you'd expect. It's also kinda boring. That's not to say it doesn't have its purposes -- it most certainly does. (More on that in a minute.)
- Netflix works. Mirrors over just fine, and frame rate seems OK. I'm not sure if I'm surprised by that. Didn't try watching a lot of shows. Just some kids cartoon that was on the recommend list. (Thanks, kids!)
- Tried playing Riptide GP. Didn't go well. So many variables that could have led to that lag. But it was unplayable.
- YouTube didn't go so well either. Interesting, though, is that the N4 recognizes the PTV3000 as an available output, just as it does the Nexus Q. Had frame-rate issues, though, and audio didn't always work. Moreover, it again was just being mirrored. Not sure if that's the intended function, or if it's supposed to act like a second screen, much as how Youtube works with the Nexus Q, or (I believe -- haven't tried it) the new YT functionality with Google TV.
- Video from Google Play works OK as well. Again, not great.
Right now? Miracast is a fun novelty. But that's all it is. Hell, it's not even listed as a feature of the Nexus 4 now on Google Play, if that tells you anything.
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