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Pen-enabled Tablets and Devices running Android Apps

 

Device Our Opinion Specs
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 (US)
Deutsche Version (DE)
 (+) S-Pen has the best writing experience
(+) S-Pen works without battery
(+) great display with very high resolution
(+) high-end technical specs with a speedy experience

(o) S-Pen cannot be inserted into device

Form factor: 9.7″ feels like an organizer, very handy, but also still big enough to use for note-taking in meetings, lectures or on the go (e.g. in the plane on the train).

  • Stylus: S-Pen
  • Android Nougat
  • 2048 x 1536 pixels
  • 9.7 inches

Available models

  • WiFi-only Version
  • LTE + WiFi Version
Samsung Chromebook Plus (US)
 Our Opinion

(+) S-Pen has the best writing experience
(+) S-Pen works without battery
(+) S-Pen can be inserted into device
(+) great display with very high resolution
(+) physical keyboard enables better text writing than usual tablets

Special: Chrome OS runs Android Apps now.
Form factor: 12.3″ is as big as a sheet of paper (approx. A4 / Letter). Very good for sketching – especially when two people are discussing things with one device in front of them. A bit heavier than the smaller tablets, but still totally ok to work on the go (e.g. in the plane on the train).

Specs

  • Stylus: S-Pen
  • Chrome OS (but it runs virtually every app your Android tablet does – either online or offline)
  • 2400 x 1600 pixels
  • 12.3 inches

Available models

  • XE513C24-K01US
Samsung Galaxy Tab A with S Pen 10.1″ (2016 Ed.) (US)
 Our Opinion

(+) S-Pen has the best writing experience
(+) S-Pen works without battery
(+) S-Pen can be inserted into device
(+) good display with full-HD resolution

(o) computing power is moderate (mid-range tablet)
(o) build quality feels ok, but not high-end

Specs

  • Stylus: S-Pen
  • Android 6, Marshmallow
  • 1920 x 1200 pixels
  • 10.1 inches

Available models

  • SM-P580 (WiFi)
Device Our Opinion Specs
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Ed.) (US)
deutsche Version (DE)
 (+) S-Pen has the best writing experience
(+) S-Pen works without battery
(+) S-Pen can be inserted into tablet
(+) fast and reliable device, even in 2017
(+) great display with very high resolution

(-) no more official Android-OS-Updates available

Form factor: 10.1″ a bit smaller than a normal sheet of paper, thus handy, but still big enough to use for note-taking in meetings, lectures or on the go

  • Stylus: S-Pen
  • Android 5, Lollipop
  • 2560 x 1600 pixels
  • 10.1 inches

Available models

  • SM-P600 (WiFi)
  • SM-P601 (3G & WiFi)
  • SM-P605 (LTE, 3G & WiFi)
  • SM-P607 (LTE, 3G & WiFi)
Huawei MediaPad M2 10.0 (US)
deutsche Version (DE)
 Our Opinion

(+) fast and reliable device
(+) M-Pen has the same weight and size like a normal ballpen
(+) writing with the M-Pen feels nearly as good as with the S-Pen
(+) good display with full-HD resolution

(0) M-Pen works only with a battery
(0) sometimes the palm-rejection does not feel as reliable as with Samsung’s S-Pen

Form factor: 10.1″ a bit smaller than a normal sheet of paper, thus handy, but still big enough to use for note-taking in meetings, lectures or on the go.
Nice extra: a book cover with mount for M-Pen is shipped with the Premium-Version.

Specs

  • Stylus: M-Pen
  • Android 5, Lollipop
  • 1920 x 1200 pixels
  • 10.1 inches

Available models:

  • Premium Edition – look for 3GB RAM to be sure
  • (Standard Edition – has no Stylus and just 2GB RAM)
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 9.7 (US)
deutsche Version (DE)
 Our Opinion

(+) S-Pen has the best writing experience
(+) S-Pen works without battery
(+) S-Pen can be inserted into tablet

(o) computing power is moderate (mid-range tablet)

(-) display has low resolution

Form factor: 9.7″ feels lika an organizer – especially with the book cover – very handy, but also still big enough to use for note-taking in meetings, lectures or on the go

Specs

  • Stylus: S-Pen
  • Android 5, Lollipop
  • 1024 x 768 pixels
  • 9.7 inches

Available models

  • SM-P550NZWADBT (Wi-Fi, white)
  • SM-P550NZKADBT (Wi-Fi, black)

    • Side note: there are more models available, but they do not include the S-Pen
Samsung Galaxy NotePro 12.2 (US)
deutsche Version (DE)
 Our Opinion

(+) S-Pen has the best writing experience
(+) S-Pen works without battery
(+) S-Pen can be inserted into tablet
(+) fast and reliable device, even in 2017
(+) great display with very high resolution

(-) no more official Android-OS-Updates available

Form factor: 12.2″ is as big as a sheet of paper (approx. A4 / Letter). Very good for sketching – especially when two people are discussing things with one tablet in front of them. A bit heavier than the smaller devices, but still totally ok for us to work on the go (e.g. in the plane on the train).

Specs

  • Stylus: S-Pen
  • Android 5, Lollipop
  • 2560 x 1600 pixels
  • 12.2 inches

Available models

  • SM-P900 (WiFi)
  • SM-P905 (LTE, 3G & WiFi)
ASUS ZenPad 3S 10 (US)
deutsche Version (DE)
 Our Opinion

(+) tablet is fast with excellent built quality
(+) good display with high resolution

(0) Z-Pen cannot be stored in the tablet
(0) Z-Pen requires a battery

(-) Z-Pen does not have an authentic writing experience
(-) Z-Pen has a hard tip, which makes loud noises when writing
(-) the battery of the Z-Pen seems to be discharged quite fast, even if you don’t use it

9.7″ feels like an organizer: very handy, but also still big enough to use for note-taking in meetings, lectures or on the go

Specs

Available models

  • Z500M-C1-GR (grey)
  • Z500M-C1-SL (silver)
ASUS ZenPad S 8.0 (US)
deutsche Version (DE)
 Our Opinion

(+) tablet is fast and built quality is high
(+) good display with high resolution

(0) Z-Pen cannot be stored in the tablet
(0) Z-Pen requires a battery

(-) Z-Pen does not have an authentic writing experience
(-) Z-Pen has a hard tip, which makes loud noises when writing
(-) the battery of the Z-Pen seems to be discharged quite fast, even if you don’t use it

Form factor: 8.0″ feels lika a small organizer, very handy, good for personal note-taking on the go.

Specs

Available models

  • Z580CA-1A079A (32GB)
  • Z580CA-1A048A (64GB)

If you happen to know any further android pen-tablets let us know!

If you own one of the listed devices: go to our play store page and download the 14-day free trial of Mind-Objects Think Visual. It is the best support for visual thinking you can get: capture, structure and share your thoughts effortless – with no space restrictions!

Using the software is as intuitive as using pen and paper, with the advantage, that information can be restructured easy and be broadcasted via a projector. This saves time, enables better results and helps collaboration in meetings.

Mind-Objects Think Visual runs on any pen-enabled Android tablet (if you have a device without native pen support you can use Mind-Objects ThinkVisual Touch instead).

Having a Windows or iOS device? Stay updated – get the news when your favorite device is supported and subscribe to our mailing list: http://www.mind-objects.com/platform-request/

 

Why did we choose these devices for Mind-Objects?

  • The above devices can recognize the difference between stylus and finger (which gives us the chance to deliver a great workflow with high productivity)
  • In contrast to normal tablets, using the pen/stylus on these devices feels very similar to using a normal pen on paper (great for people using a tablet for the first time)

 

If you have any questions regarding the above devices or where to buy them – write us in the comments or .

How to pass-on Knowledge using ad hoc Videos

In this post we offer you an example of how to work together with colleagues using Mind-Objects in conjunction with a screencast app (we use AZ Screen Recorder) to create short videos ad hoc.

Example: Product Design Process

As we were working on the new share feature, we designed the process itself with Mind-Objects. My colleague used a screencast software to explain his thoughts to me. Here is a snippet of the video I got (the voice is in German):

Why is this Way of Passing-on Knowledge so efficient?

  • Informal: it is an informal format – and as such it feels like talking to your colleagues. You will not get distracted by anything else than your notes. Others will see, that you are talking about concepts. No overhead. No shiny things. No visual clutter.
  • Fast: it takes only a few minutes to create a screencast (usually just the time of the video in the end)
  • Efficient: because of Mind-Objects you can switch between overview and detail or animate things ad hoc – all while explaining your thoughts using speech. This way storytelling gets a new dimension and spontaneity!

What you need

Set-Up

Prepare you Tablet with Mind-Objects

How to configure the Screencast App

Result of this Product Design Process

In the following video you see how our sharing feature can be used in Mind-Objects PRO (this video is also created with the method described above – and it is the result of our product design cycle):

Any questions? !

Wissensmanagement im Unternehmen: wie können Sie Wissen schnell und effizient dokumentieren und weitergeben?

Das Weitergeben von Wissen tritt nahezu in jeder Teamarbeit auf: bspw. erarbeiten Sie ein Konzept und stellen es ihren Kollegen vor. Oder jemand neues kommt ins Unternehmen und Sie wollen ihm etwas erklären.

Wenn Sie ihre Ideen zu einem Konzept vermitteln möchten, ist die Frage: wie können Sie ihre Gedanken schnell und effizient festhalten und vermitteln? Ohne viel Prosa schreiben zu müssen, die sich andere nur mühsam aneignen können – und die Sie sehr viel Zeit kostet?

Die Methodik

Unseren Erfahrungen zufolge ist es am besten, Wissen in kleine kurze Content-Elemente (z.B. Videos) zu fassen und diese dann intern auf einem Wiki zu verorten.

Ist ihr Aufwand niedrig, fällt es Ihnen leichter, schnell mal zwischendurch etwas festzuhalten und einem Kollegen zu senden. Folglich ist es wichtig, die Erstellungskosten von Videos sehr gering zu halten.

Dazu eignet sich die Arbeit mit Tablets hervorragend, da diese über Mikrofon und entsprechende Apps sofort aufnahmebereit sind, und Ihnen erlauben, kurze Erklärvideos zu erstellen.

Nutzen Sie nun dem Whiteboard ähnliche Software, die Ihnen erlaubt Sachverhalte frei und visuell darzustellen. Mit der Software Mind-Objects, welche für das visuelle Denken optimiert ist, werden Ihre Gedanken sogar zu begreifbaren Objekten, die Sie nach Belieben während dem Reden verschieben, skalieren und strukturieren können.

Beispiel: Produktdesign

Sehen sie selbst ein Beispiel aus unserem Arbeitsalltag, ein Kollege erklärt seine Überlegungen zur Entwicklung der Mind-Objects-Funktion zum Teilen von Zeichenflächen:

Was sind die Vorteile?

  • Effizient: Da Mind-Objects einen einzigartigen Zoom erlaubt (die Linien werden nicht dicker oder dünner beim Skalieren) können Sie sehr effektiv zwischen dem Überblick und Detailwissen wechseln. Auf diese Weise wird ein visuelles Denken und Storytelling möglich, was es bisher so nicht gab!
  • Informell: reden Sie mit Ihren Kollegen, als würden Sie live vor Ihnen stehen. Nichts lenkt Sie dabei ab, sie können sich voll auf die Sache konzentrieren. Visuelle Einfachheit.
  • Schnell: Sie brauchen nur ein paar Minuten zum Erstellen eines solchen Videos. Meistens exakt nur die Zeit die das Video dauert.

Was Sie dazu brauchen:

Probieren Sie es selbst:

  1. Zuerst Mind-Objects installieren.
  2. Dann die Screencast-App AZ Screen Recorder installieren. Eine optimale Konfiguration des Recorders wird in diesem Video beschrieben:

Viel Spaß bei der Erstellung von kurzen Wissensvideos! Bei Fragen helfen wir Ihnen gerne weiter – !

Digitalisierung zum Anfassen: vom Papier zur digitalen Wissenserarbeitung

Mind-Objects im Praxiseinsatz bei Fraunhofer

Die Gründer von Mind-Objects im Gespräch mit Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jens-Peter Majschak

Prof. Majschak fotografiert von © Christan Hüller
Prof. Majschak fotografiert von © Christan Hüller

Seit 2004 ist Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jens-Peter Majschak Leiter der Außenstelle für Verarbeitungsmaschinen und Verpackungstechnik des Fraunhofer IVV sowie Inhaber der Professur für Verarbeitungsmaschinen/Verarbeitungstechnik an der Technischen Universität Dresden. Vor drei Jahren wurde er als Mitglied der Sächsischen Akademie für Wissenschaften zu Leipzig berufen. Unter zahlreichen Pilot-Kunden hat auch Prof. Majschak die Möglichkeit genutzt, die an der TU Dresden entstandene Software Mind-Objects im beruflichen Alltag zu testen.

Nach mehreren Jahren angewandter, industrienaher Forschung mit Praxispartnern haben wir Mind-Objects an der Professur Mediengestaltung der Informatikfakultät der TU Dresden entwickelt. Herr Prof. Majschak, welchen ersten Eindruck haben Sie von der Software?

Es ist ein tolles Werkzeug um seine Gedanken, in welcher Form Sie auch vorliegen – ob verbal, bildlich, usw. – mit seinen eigenen Händen zunächst mal zu protokollieren oder zu dokumentieren und sukzessive zu strukturieren. Also sozusagen denkend protokollieren. Diese parallele Möglichkeit finde ich genial. Damit ist eine große Eintrittsschwelle anderer Werkzeuge weg, in denen mir diese ihre Art der Strukturierung aufzwingen. Das ist bei Mind-Objects prinzipiell anders. Ich muss mich hier erstmal nicht mit der Philosophie einer Mind-Map oder irgendeiner anderen Notation beschäftigen, sondern kann einfach loslegen, wie ich das kenne, seit ich malen kann.

Für mich ist Mind-Objects das neue digitale Papier und u.a. auch endlich mal ein echter und entscheidender Schritt zum papierlosen Büro.

Welche Erfahrungen haben Sie innerhalb der Testphase gemacht?

Jeder kennt das Problem: klassische Programme aus gängigen Office-Paketen, sind für Mitschriften innerhalb kürzester Zeit eher ungeeignet. So kam bei mir immer Papier in die engere Wahl. Da liegt jetzt aber der entscheidende Vorteil von Mind-Objects: Die Software ermöglicht es, schnelle Notizen anzufertigen und diese hinterher in einer chronologischen, logischen oder sonst einer sinnvollen Reihenfolge zu ordnen – ohne dabei ein neues Blatt Papier zu verschwenden (und noch eins und das nächste …). Besonders das Erstellen von Mind-Maps ist mit dieser Software ein leichtes.

Aha ok. Also erstellen sie jetzt auch Mind-Maps im klassischen Sinne, wie man sie kennt?

Naja eher nicht. Eigentlich schreibe ich Text-Blöcke, Text-Schnipsel usw., verbinde diese dann durch irgendwelche Kanten, Pfeile oder ähnliches. Dazu skizziere ich dann bildliche Darstellungen – diese Multi-Format-Darstellung ist eine große Stärke von Mind-Objects. Die war für mich bisher nur auf Papier zugänglich.

Was war Ihr persönlicher Aha-Effekt bei der Nutzung von Mind-Objects?

Aufgrund der einfachen Bedienung kam ich schnell zu einem Punkt wo ich dachte: die Software kann dann doch nicht vielmehr als ein großes Zeichenblatt mit einem magischen Radiergummi und Ausschneide-Tool. Doch nach und nach habe ich die Möglichkeiten erkannt, die die Software bietet!

Sie ist „denkkonform“. Die Verblüffung kam beim Text schreiben. Da gehen einem viele Gedanken durch den Kopf und irgendwann stellt man fest, dass der Inhalt an anderer Stelle besser passt. Genau hier liegt der Clou von Mind-Objects. Texte, Grafiken usw. kann man problemlos klein zoomen. Schnell kann man sie somit zerteilen, verschieben oder einen Hinweis an anderer Stelle machen.
Was ich sehr positiv finde ist, dass trotz des Zoomens weiterhin eine sichere Navigation möglich ist.

Hat sich Ihre Herangehensweise bei der Erstellung von Schaubildern geändert und wo sehen Sie den Unterschied zum herkömmlichen Papier?

Kurz gesagt ich bin spontaner geworden. Mit Mind-Objects kann ich ohne Punkt und Komma meine Gedanken fließen lassen. Wenn ich im Nachhinein merke, das passt nicht an diese Stelle, kann ich es einfach markieren, verschieben oder löschen. Auch geometrische Figuren können dank der Werkzeuge unkompliziert ersetzt werden.

Was ist Mind-Objects nicht für Sie, wo sehen Sie Grenzen der Nutzung?

Bei dieser Analogie zum Papier drängt sich ja der Vergleich zum Notizblock für ToDo-Listen, protokollierendes Mitschreiben, Einkaufslisten etc. auf. Dazu nutze ich es eher nicht. Es geht weniger darum, sich etwas zu merken oder schnell aufzuschreiben, vielmehr darum mit Inhalten gedanklich aktiv zu arbeiten und Konzepte zu entwickeln. Da ist es wirklich stark.

Was sind Ihrer Ansicht nach die größten Stärken von Mind-Objects?

Wissen zu dokumentieren und zu strukturieren und damit sich selber immer besser zu strukturieren. Und an diesem Prozess auch andere teilhaben zu lassen. Ich nutze es zwar, wie gesagt, selber sehr gerne im stillen Kämmerlein zur Selbst-Reflektion oder zur Reflektion von verschiedenen Sachverhalten. Aber im Zweifel kann man sowohl die Ergebnisse als auch den Prozess mit anderen teilen. Das finde ich die wesentlichen Punkte: Dokumentation, Strukturierung und Kommunikation/Teilhabe/Interaktion mit Gruppen.

Haben Sie vielen Dank für die Einblicke in Ihre Nutzung von Mind-Objects!

Gern geschehen!

Set up Your Android Tablet for Presentations and Meetings

You have a tablet running Android and want to optimize your device for presentations?

The follwing settings (with links to further posts with detailed information) will boost your experience – and the one of your audience of course.

What you need are the following devices:

Prepare your Tablet for Screen Sharing

  • Optimize your notification panel for Screen Mirroring
  • (Samsung Galaxy NotePro and Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition) Deselect the option “Multiwindow” to prevent the sidebar from distracting your work – just enable it on demand through the notification panel
  • Enable “Show Touches” for your audience, so that they see what you are doing
  • If you want to share your Mind-Objects screen in online-meetings you can use the App Cisco WebEx Meetings (or connect your tablet to a PC or MAC using SideSync and then use any online-meeting software to share the respective window showing the tablet screen)

Further UI Tweaks

  • Set your screen-timeout to 10 minutes for undistracted work with your tablet (settings > device > display)
  • (Samsung devices only) Disable S-Pen detachment options (German “Entnahmeoptionen”) by selecting “none” (in settings > controls > pen detachment options)
  • (Samsung devices only) If you are not using the S-Pen button functions and accidently pressing the button, you can disable the S-Pen button (settings > controls > S Pen > and disable “Air Command” (German S Pen-Befehle). Sidenote: the Tab A 9.7 has an improved S-Pen where you can’t press the button by accident that easy – so you won’t need to disable this funtion.
  • (Samsung NotePro) If you don’t need the “Magazine Screen” you can disable it like shown by a video from lawmanfj

Prepare for Content Sharing (using Mind-Objects)

  • Setup your e-mail account on the tablet (go to settings > general > accounts > e-mail) to be able to send screenshots directly out of Mind-Objects
  • If you don’t have an internet connection available you can also share your screenshots via Bluetooth or USB-Cable with other devices

Conclusion

With the settings above you are all set for using Mind-Objects in your daily work. If you are new to your website: check out our page about Mind-Objects.

We are happy to answer any of your questions – !

Screenmirroring – how to connect your Samsung Note Tablet with any kind of projector, TV or Screen

You have a Samsung GALAXY Note Tablet (e.g. GALAXY Tab A 9.7, GALAXY Note 10.1. (2014 Edition) or GALAXY NotePRO) and want to connet it with a projector, TV or any other screen?

There are several ways to do that. Since most of todays projectors, TVs or screens have either an HDMI or VGA connector we focus on solutions for these two.

We propose the three best ways for each in this article.

Solutions for HDMI

If your desired target screen has an HDMI connector, your best options are (in descending order):

Link to our step by step how-to Required Prerequisites Pros Cons
Best Option Use an HDMI Dongle

20160122_150104
  • HDMI Dongle (e.g. Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter or similar)
  • our favorite option – best screen quality, no cable – so you can walk around during presentations
  • works all devices we tested
  • (may sometimes show a dark screen when you are not interacting with the tablet)
Second Choice How-to: AllShare Link Cast Dongle

Mind-Objects-AllShareUSB
  • Samsung EAD-T10E Link Cast Dongle
  • our second favorite option – best screen quality, no cable – so you can walk around during presentations
  • may not work with every HDMI cable sind the version of the standard may be a different one – try to use the cable which comes with the Dongle when you can to prevent any problems
Third Choice How-to: SideSync

SideSync_Mind-Objects_01
  • Laptop (Windows or Mac OS)
  • Samsung SideSync software (free)
  • the software SideSync is free and since most people have a Laptop with them, no further Hardware is required
  • you have to carry a second device next to your tablet
  • the screen quality using the WIFI connection with SideSync is not as good as the one with the USB cable
  • using the USB-cable limits your mobility
Back-Up Choice MHL-Adapter

Mind-Objects_MHL3-Samsung
  • MHL-Adapter for the USB Port of your tablet
  • easy to use, reliable
  • your mobility is restricted due to the cables attached to your tablet

Solutions for VGA

If your desired target screen has an VGA connector, things get more complicated. But it is still possible: you basically have the same options as above, but you have to use a VGA converter in combination with the first two options:

Links to step by step solutions Required Prerequisites Pros Cons
Option 1
 Wireless Screen Sharing for Android Devices with VGA
  • Samsung EAD-T10E Link Cast Dongle
  • VGA Converter
  • no cables attached to your tablet – best mobility
  • getting the connection to your target screen is tricky because you need to know the exact timing when to connect the cables during the connection process
Option 2
 Screen Sharing for Android Devices using a VGA Cable
  • MHL-Adapter for the USB Port of your tablet
  • VGA Converter
  • easy to use, reliable
  • your mobility is restricted due to the cables attached to your tablet
Option 3: Workaround using a Laptop
 How-to: SideSync
  • Laptop (Windows or Mac OS) with port or adapter for VGA
  • Samsung SideSync software (free)
  • the software SideSync is free and since most people have a Laptop with them, no further Hardware is required
  • you have to carry a second device next to your tablet
  • the screen quality using the WIFI connection with SideSync is not as good as the one with the USB cable
  • using the USB-cable limits your mobility

More options

For screen mirroring we also use the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter V2. The setup is as easy as using the Samsung AllShare Link Cast Dongle and our tablets showed the adapter in the notification panel as well. The Wireless Display Adapter does seem to work with any HDMI-cable which makes it even more reliable as the AllShare.

We also tried the Google Cromecast with an HDMI port (may also work with an VGA Converter but we din’t try yet). Our experience was mixed: while mirroring the screen from the tablet to a TV the screen froze after a few minutes. Further the chromecast only works when connected to a local WLAN – which may not be available at every location you visit.

Of course there are further options, we didn’t try yet so we can’t say anything out of experience right now:

  • Amazon Fire TV Stick (HDMI, may also work with an VGA Converter)
  • Connect to projectors or screens with a built-in Miracast protocol (should work directly without any adaptors or dongles)

Any questions? !

Wireless Screen Sharing for Android Devices with VGA

Sometimes you want to give a presentation or moderate a meeting in a building where no HDMI projector can be found – only VGA devices are available.

Another situation might be, that the HDMI cable coming from the projector is built into the wall and does not work wiht your AllShare Link Cast Dongle (e.g. it has the wrong HDMI standard).

In both cases you are stuck with the “good old” VGA. How can you start your screen mirroring anyway?

There are two solutions: a wireless one we describe here and another one using a cable (see Screen Sharing for Android Devices using a VGA Cable).

What you need

How to Connect your Tablet to a VGA Device (typically an old Projector)

Working with a VGA converter is a bit tricky – the order and timing in which you have to connect the different cables is essential. The working solution we tested is the following:

  1. Connect your AllShare Link Cast Dongle to a power source – do NOT connect the HDMI cable to the converter (just to the Dongle)
  2. Connect the converter via VGA to the projector and to a power source
  3. Start the screen mirroring on your tablet (like shown in our how-to using HDMI), then do the following:
    1. Wait until the LED on the Dongle lights up in blue (steady – not blinking!) – then wait aprox. 2 seconds…
    2. …and connect the HDMI cable to the converter

Mind-Objects_AllShare_VGA_Adapter

Now you should have a wireless connection to the projector. At the beginning you have to practice a little to adjust the timing.

Once the connection is established, you can even switch to another source on the projector and back or remove the VGA cable from the projector temporarily without loosing the connection between the Dongle and tablet. This way you can hook up the connection before a session and then give other speakers the stage in the meantime. Try to not disconnect the tablet with the dongle (e.g. don’t shut down the WLAN) before you finished your presentation.

Have a good presentation or meeting!

If you have any questions or need furhter information please use the comments below or . We are happy to help you!

Screen Sharing for Android Devices using a VGA Cable

Sometimes you want to give a presentation or moderate a meeting in a building where no HDMI projector can be found – only VGA devices are available.

Another situation might be, that the HDMI cable coming from the projector is built into the wall and does not work wiht your AllShare Link Cast Dongle (e.g. it has the wrong HDMI standard).

In both cases you are stuck with the “good old” VGA. How can you start your screen mirroring anyway?

There are two solutions: a wireless one (see Wireless Screen Sharing for Android Devices with VGA) and another one using an MHL-Adapter cable we describe here.

What you need

How to Connect your Tablet to a VGA Device (typically an old Projector)

  1. Connect your VGA converter to a power source
  2. Connect the VGA cable to the projector
  3. Connect the HDMI-Adapter to the tablet
  4. Connect the HDMI cable to both adapters
  5. Choose the right source (VGA) on the projector

Mind-Objects_MHL_VGAconverter

Have a good presentation or meeting!

If you have any questions or need furhter information please use the comments below or . We are happy to help you!

Alternatives to the Samsung AllShare LinkCast Dongle for Sharing your Android Tablet Screen

You want to share your mobile screen wireless using an alternative to the AllShare LinkCast Dongle? Here we propose a solution.

What you need:

  • Your Android tablet. We tested it with several devices running Android 5.
  • HDMI compatible display or projector (or VGA when you use a VGA Converter in Addition)
  • Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter V2 (or similar HDMI-Dongles e.g. VicTsing 2,4 G HDMI Miracast Dongle)
  • Charger for USB (we used the one from our tablets)
  • Win 8.1 or 10 device with the Wireless Display Adapter App to make firmware update (you only need this if you have the first version of the microsoft wireless display adapter)
Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter
The Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter. In version 1 it comes with an extension for the HDMI male connector – in version 2 for the USB connector.

Setting up the Wireless Connection

1. Preparation (only for version 1 of Microsoft Display Adapter – you can skip this otherwise)

Before you can get a connection between your Android device (at least when you have Android 5) and your HDMI Display you need to update the firmware of your Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter. Do the following:

  1. Download and install the free Wireless Display Adapter App
  2. Plug the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter into the HDMI slot of your display or projector and connect it to the power source
  3. Connect your Windows Device with the Adapter
  4. Open the App and go to “Firmware” and follow the instructions to update the firmware
  5. After the update you may also change the name of your adapter

2. Connect your Android device

  1. Plug the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter into the HDMI slot of your display or projector and connect it to the power source (you may use your charger from the tablet if no USB port is available)
  2. Turn on WiFi (if there is a known WiFi network wait until it is connected)
  3. Choose “Screen Mirroring” from the settings menu or from the notification panel

We prefer using the notification panel, since you are way faster, than when you open up the settings menu first. In the beginning of this video, we show you how to configure your notification panel for this purpose.

Side Note

At some locations you can’t reach the projector because it is fixed to the ceiling or similar and at the speakers desk there is only a male HDMI cable coming out. In this situations you need a HDMI female to female adapter in your pocket. We used one from HDMI zu HDMI Female Adapter, but you may use any adapter of your choice.

This way we share the screen from our mobile wiheboard software Mind-Objects during meetings, making them more productive.

Have a good presentation!

If you have any questions or need further information please use the comments below or. We are happy to help you!

Screen Mirroring between a Samsung GALAXY Note Tablet and a projector using an MHL-Adapter

Using an MHL Adapter is one of the easiest ways to connect your Samsung GALAXY NotePRO or GALAXY Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) with any other screen, projector or TV via HDMI.

We tested the Samsung HDMI-Adapter MHL 3.0 EE-HN910.

With our devices it worked with and without an aditional power source (not shipped with the adapter, you can use the one from your smartphone). We tested it with Full HD screens and different projectors. The order in which you connect the different cables didn’t matter either.

So it’s fairly simple: just connect the different cables and the screen mirroring starts automatically.

If you prefer connecting your device wireless have a look at our respective howto.

Any questions?!