[Google Chromecast] sebastian_henze:
Tronsmart T2000 EZCast ProTronsmart T2000 EZCast Pro HDMI-Adapter

Hello everybody :)

I'd like to write a short review about my HDMI-Stick I got for about $40 from geekbuying.com.

If the thread is on the wrong forum, please don't hesitate to move it at the correct place :)

Most of you may know Tronsmart from their Android-TV-Sticks or TV-Boxes.

Now they have a go at producing a Chromecast alternative - and this succeeds remarkably well!

Everybody who wants to stream media files to the tv on a simple way should have a look at this $40-device.

Included in scope of delivery:

Tronsmart T2000 EZCast Pro HDMI-Adapter

HDMI extension cord (m/f 22cm)

Micro-USB-cable (100cm)

Quick reference guide (English)

Supported Operating Systems:

Android 4.0 and higher

iOS 7.0and higher

WindowsXP and higher

OSX 10.9 and higher

(These informations are from the manual / the website. But I can also imagine that older version with additional software should work, too.)

Let's start at the very beginning :)

After the stick was plugged into the TV, the wizard was automatically starting and helps you during commissioning. Due to the MHL 2.0 port the stick is powered directly from the HDMI-port - if the TV includes this feature.

If the TV does not support MHL, the stick can be also powered from a custom USB port or a standard USB power adapter.

The wizard displays a QR code to the necessary app for Android or iPhone (EZCast Pro). After the installation of the app it automatically connects to the Tronsmart. Then it searches for the nearby Wi-Fi-Networks where you have to select yours and enter the password. As soon as the stick is connected to the Internet, it updates it's firmware over the air. What particularly surprised me was that the stick has automatically switched to the German language - As you have probably noticed in meantime that English is not my mother tongue at all - so please forgive me for my terrible English ;)

The Android app is (roughly) translated into German and can be operated intuitively and logically (of course there is also the possibility to switch to English). So there are menu items for direct streaming of photos, videos, documents, and music. But ther is also a function to transmit the camera image directly to the TV-screen.

What is particularly noticeable positive is that you are not bound to the EZCast Pro app. Since the device is directly connected to your Wi-Fi and supports protocols like Miracast, DLNA and Apple Airplay, the content can also be streamed from alternative apps like Allcast, Yatse or BubbleUPnP.

Various tests on portals such as YouTube or IMDB were consistently enjoyable. Thus, videos and trailers could easily stream with Full HD resolution on the TV.

But there are also a few special functions built-in which I have never seen on other devices before. For example there is a feature which divides the TV-screen into 2 or 4 sections. Then you have the possibility to stream from up to 4 devices simultaneously. This doesn't work (yet) with videos, but can be used for images or documents. Even the camera broadcast works in this function and can be used as a kind of video conference.

Of course, I've tried the "Screen-Mirroring" function with an iPad via Airplay. This works flawless and stable.

Features:

Audio / Video-streaming in Full-HD

Pictures, Webpages, Documents and (live-)camera streaming to the TV

Stream the whole display to the TV

MHL 2.0

4-in-1 Split-Screen

Miracast

DLNA

Apple Airplay

Firmware-Upgrades Over-the-Air

Specifications:

The stick will probably have mainly compete with the Chromecast. Although the app is not completely embedded into the system, but features such as MHL, supporting various communication protocols or the 4-in-1 split mode are exciting and fresh approaches.

As soon as the split-mode will also support video-files, there are interesting things which could be realized.

Short comparison with the Google Chromecast:

[+] "Open" protocols (DLNA, Miracast and airplay)

[+] Stream with the program of your choice

[+] More and more devices support MHL. So no additional power source is needed

[+] 4-in-1 split screen

[+] You can watch the output of the stick directly on other Smartphones with the EZCast-App

[+] Direct link or router mode possible

[-] Mirroring of my Android screen did not work with the app

[-] Not as seamlessly integrated into the system as Chromecast is

Where to get?

I ordered the stick at geekbuying.com. Currently there is a special offer where you can get the stick for about $39.99.

http://www.geekbuying.com/item/Tronsmart-T2000-MHL---HDMI-Mirror2TV-EZCast-Pro-Dongle-Stick-Miracast-Airplay-DLNA-Support-4-to-1-Split-Screens---Black-333831.html

If you have questions or suggestions please let me know :)

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