Today Microsoft introduced their new Miracast-based wireless streaming device for HDMI monitors and televisions. Its lengthy name is the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter and it's Microsoft's take on an HDMI streaming dongle. One of the most popular devices in this category is Google's Chromecast, and there are many similarities between the two devices. Like the Chromecast, the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter is a small adapter that plugs into an HDMI port on your television and uses a USB port for power. From the photos Microsoft has provided, the USB connector seems to be wired directly into the adapter which could pose a problem depending on your television's arrangement of ports as the cord does not look very lengthy. 

The adapter allows streaming and display mirroring from any device with support for Miracast screencasting. Because of this, the adapter is able to work with a variety of devices running on different operating systems, rather than being a device limited to devices that run Windows or Windows Phone 8.

At $59.95 USD, the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter is around $25 more expensive than Google's Chromecast. It is available for pre-order now on Microsoft's online store, and it will ship in October 2014. 

Source: Windows Blog

Comments Locked

56 Comments

View All Comments

  • batongxue - Tuesday, September 23, 2014 - link

    Dat stupid naming just shows, once again, how not creative Microsoft is.
  • inighthawki - Tuesday, September 23, 2014 - link

    Who cares? Who seriously purchases a product based on how creatively they named it?
  • rave123 - Tuesday, September 23, 2014 - link

    Apple enthusiasts probably do.
  • steven75 - Tuesday, September 23, 2014 - link

    Apple enthusiasts purchase things *despite* it's naming.
  • Homeles - Tuesday, September 23, 2014 - link

    I can't think of a more classic example of groupthink than the anti-Apple circlejerk.
  • B3an - Tuesday, September 23, 2014 - link

    Funny, i can't think of a better example than Apple customers.
  • mkozakewich - Tuesday, September 23, 2014 - link

    But can you think up a clever and original name for it?
  • TheSlamma - Monday, September 29, 2014 - link

    Ofcourse not man, this is the generation of free anonymous complaints and ZERO contributions. Millennials should not only be the entitlement generation but the cake and eat it too generation.
  • Mark_gb - Wednesday, October 1, 2014 - link

    Yet Another Expensive Microsoft Video Gadget. Or the great YAEMVG. LOL
  • Eraser85 - Wednesday, September 24, 2014 - link

    Apple enthusiasts put their phones in microwaves and in the water just because they read it on facebook.

Log in

Don't have an account? Sign up now