Tech Savvy Mama

Parenting in the Digital Age

Veebeam & Intel’s Wireless Display Stream Content to Your TV (w. Veebeam giveaway)

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Congratulations to @muchablogged who will receive a Veebeam!


Since Tech Savvy Daddy loves gadgets as much as I do, I thought I’d get him to test out Veebeam and Intel’s Wireless Display that allow you to stream content to your television.  Here’s his review of each product along with a comparison and remember to enter to win your own Veebeam!
 
With all of the digital media in a typical household, there’s still a problem getting it to the TV for comfortable viewing.  Companies are trying a variety of methods to see what the consumer finds easy-to-use and practical for getting PC based content to the TV.
Today, we’re looking at two of these choices, Veebeam and Intel’s Wireless Display Technology with NetGear’s Push2TV box.
Both technologies involve streaming your PC’s screen and audio wirelessly to a small receiver box that connects to the TV.  Both boxes come with HDMI ports for your HTDV as well as analog RCA jacks for your old boat-anchor TV.  While it would work, I don’t recommend streaming your PC to an old low-definition TV.  If you don’t have an HTDV, log off AOL, hang up your modem, and go get one. 
The basic idea here is that you can sit on the couch, driving your PC to show your friends and family your digital “stuff.”   That could be:
  • Photo slide shows
  • Videos
  • DVDs
  • Streaming content from places like Hulu, Netflix, iTunes
  • Playing MP3s
  • And any other uses
This is a technology built-in to many new Intel laptops with the new i3, i5, i7 processors.  It uses the computer’s CPU and the Intel Wifi chip in the laptop to send your PC screen and audio wirelessly to a receiver box attached to your TV.
NetGear makes a receiver box connects to your TV.  The Push2TV box has HDMI-out, and even comes with an HDMI cable.  After hooking up the box, it displayed a message on the TV that it was waiting for a device to contact it.  I opened the Wireless Display software on a Dell laptop with an Intel i5 processor and a BluRay drive.   It found the NetGear receiver and told me to enter a security code that was displayed on the TV.  In a few seconds, I was up and running with video mirroring between the PC and the HDTV on the other side of the room.
I was able to see the screen clearly, read the text, and watch the mouse move around.  I went to Vevo.com and watched some music videos in 720P HD.  The sound was great and the video was clear as can-be.
After I had the basics working, I started looking into some details.  The display on the TV had an inch or two wide black frame around it.  I played with the display Control Panel on the laptop and found out some interesting things.
The drivers support either video mirroring OR extended desktop.  This allows you to show the same thing on both the PC and the TV, or to have them be independent.  Having a different display on each can be slightly confusing, but it’s useful for things like PowerPoint which or other programs where you might be displaying content on the big TV while keeping your notes, script, or other data on the other screen.  
Perhaps your vacation slideshow is on the main display while you shuffle through your folders of pictures on the PC screen.  It’s really nice to have the ability to run in either mode.  Like normal PC display functions, it’s controlled through the display Control Panel in Windows.
While in the display control panel, I also changed the screen resolutions and tried out several different combinations.  Intel Wireless Display and the NetGear Push2TV device support resolutions up to 1366×768.  It can support 720p video, but not full 1080p.  
Is this a big deal?  
Well, your laptop doesn’t have 1080p (1900×1080) resolution, so it’s probably not a HUGE deal.  It does mean that you can’t display BluRay content on your TV at full resolution.   There went that idea.
I was never able to get the black-bars around the edge of the screen to go away.  I noticed that the NetGear didn’t show these while waiting for a connection, but they appeared when I was streaming from the PC.  I tried several different resolutions, and I couldn’t get the bars to go away. 
Overall, the video and audio quality were superb, and the setup was quite simple.  When mirroring, there did not seem to be much of a lag or delay between actions on the PC screen and on the TV. 
**Blogging Angel friends Becca, Heidi, Amy, and Nancy are giving away a fabulous 17″ WiDi-enabled Dell Inspiron 17R ($879 from Best Buy) that you want to win!  Visit them to enter! 
Veebeam
The Veebeam product also allows you to stream audio and video to your TV.  They have an HD version and a non-HD (aka SD) version.  As stated earlier, it’s 2010, we’re only talking about HD in this review.
The Veebeam system has some advantages.  
  • Number 1… It does not require a shiny brand-new laptop.  It’s a self-contained system with a receiver box and a small wireless USB stick.  You plug the USB stick into your laptop and stream to the receiver connected to the TV.  
  • Advantage Number 2… It’s both PC and Mac compatible.  It may not be as elegant as using chips embedded inside your computer, you can plug the stick into any computer, even your friend’s.   Your childless-friend can bring over their pictures from their month-long backpack trip across Europe and annoy you to death with their tales of all-nighters, bar-hopping and general singleness.  Who wouldn’t want that?  Anyway, back to the topic at hand.
I connected the Veebeam receiver to the TV via HDMI and it sat there waiting for a PC to connect to it.  I plugged the Veebeam stick into a laptop, downloaded the drivers from the Veebeam website and was ready to go in just a few minutes.  
The laptop picture came up on the TV quickly.  It was crisp and bright.  The picture didn’t quite fit the screen… it was too big.  The left side and bottom of my PC display were cutoff.  I right-clicked on the Veebeam tray icon and changed the settings to use 1080p.  It adjusted for my TV which was expecting a 1080p signal and I was back in business.  No bars around the picture, it was a full-screen.
I played some music videos from Vevo.com.  Looked just as good as the Intel Wireless Display.  Sound was excellent.  The Veebeam product is capable of streaming full 1080p video, which is definitely a plus.
Unlike the Intel device, the Veebeam seems to automatically mirror your PC. You can’t use the TV as a second monitor to show different things on the PC and TV at the same time.  In addition, the Veebeam seemed to have a slight lag between the PC and the TV.  It wasn’t an issue, because the sound and video both come from the TV through the receiver box, so audio and video are in-sync.
Other nice things about the Veebeam product:
  • When not in use, the USB stick fits nicely into a storage slot on the Veebeam receiver. 
  • The receiver has an optical-audio out port which you could use in case you need to run audio to your stereo independently of the HDMI to your TV.  If you use your TV’s speakers or your stereo has HDMI ports, this isn’t an issue.  But it’s good to have this flexibility. 
Summary:
Both products do an excellent job of getting your PC or Internet based content to the TV.  They both allow you to playback DVDs, stream Hulu, or share photos and video clips from recent trips. 
While these two products rely upon your PC for storing content and playing it back, there are some definite advantages to this architecture.  With Push2TV or Veebeam, anything you can play on your PC can be displayed on the TV.
Google TV has been banned by the major networks.  Apple TV has limited functionality of Apple approved content.  There others too, like Roku and Boxee, but none of them will play everything your PC does.
For most people, the Veebeam product is the best choice.  If you’ve got a Mac, an existing PC, or if Blu-Ray content is important to you, look at the Veebeam product. If you have a brand-new PC, or considering one, look for PCs with Intel Wireless Display Technology. 
NetGear Push2TV:  MSRP= $119.    Doesn’t include cost of new laptop. 
Veebeam HD: MSRP= $139.  Includes receiver and wireless USB adapter and items pictured to the right.  Also doesn’t include cost of new laptop.  
Note:  Both products included an HDMI cable, which is almost unheard of these days.  Thank you!  That saves you from getting taken to the cleaners by retailers who selling $30 HDMI cables.
GIVEAWAY: Veebeam is giving one lucky reader the opportunity to stream content from their computer to their television!  Enter to win by telling me what you currently stream to your computer that you would most like to watch on your television.  Include your Twitter handle or email address so I can contact you when you win.
For extra entries:
  • Follow me on Twitter, tweet this, and link to Tweet in your comment: @TechSavvyMama is giving away a @Veebeam to stream internet content to your TV!  Read the review & enter here: http://bit.ly/f4SIyr
Fine print:  Entries will be accepted until Monday, December 20 at 5 pm.  Winner  will be notified via Twitter or email and must provide a US mailing address within 24 hours of notification.  No PO boxes will be accepted.  Tech Savvy Mama and Veebeam are not responsible for lost prizes or delayed shipments.


Veebeam provided a product for review purposes and will be directly shipping one to a reader as a giveaway.  In accordance with the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that Intel Corporation covered travel to attend Upgrade Your Life in New York City. Additionally, I received products for consideration during the event. I am not expected to return products after my review period. No compensation was received for this post nor was it an expectation that we write about the event. All opinions are my own and Tech Savvy Daddy wrote this guest review without knowing that Veebeam was providing a unit as a giveaway.  Images courtesy of Veebeam and Intel.

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Original post by Tech Savvy Mama
©2012

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. thesexygeekfiles says

    As usual a very thorough review. Streaming from the computer to the television is the next big thing. So veebeam is definitely a viable option.
    I’ll make a play for it through the contest though first. I like to stream hulu.com on my MacBook Pro. (Love to catch up on Glee, House and Private Practice) on the weekends.
    RJ

  13. Aimee @ Smiling Mama says

    That a detailed review. I have to admit that a good chunk of it was over my head, but I KNOW that my husband would not only understand it all but would LOVE to have this. We don’t stream much to our TV, but I’d really like to be able to do it.

  16. Tabathia says

    Hulu is #1 and I watch a few overseas shows that are broadcast on different sites (can’t name)that I would love to watch on tv
    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

  20. Anne says

    We stream Hulu and netflix on the computer, it would be great to be able to watch on the tv. eajolly1456 at gmail dot com

  25. Molomatic says

    I’m a fan on your FB page (Molly Jorgensen). Thanks for the super fun giveaway. We are TOTALLY addicted to streaming Netflix.

    molomatic at gmail dot com

  26. melanie says

    i would love to be able to watch our tv shows that we miss by streaming from the computer to the tv. our tv doesn’t come in very well because we use an antenna with our digital box so we miss pieces of a lot of shows. this would definitely make tv viewing more enjoyable!

    melanie(dot)myatt(at)gmail(dot)com

  35. From Tracie says

    I would love to be able to stream movies and tv shows from the computer to the tv. Watching them on the comp by myself can be okay, but when it is something that everyone wants to watch it gets a little tricky!

  50. Anonymous says

    I would like to use this to watch The Amazing Race on my TV. This would be such a helpful device.

    -Heidi

    writeme at heidimail dot com

  51. Anonymous says

    I would love to stream the shows Parenthood and Lie To Me. Two shows that I love. This would be the coolest prize to win!

    Thanks for the opportunity!
    Coty.

    cotysloan at yahoo dot com

  60. Anonymous says

    You can remove the black border around the Intel Wireless Display screen by adjusting settings in “Properties -> Adapter -> Resize TV Picture”.

  61. Anonymous says

    Intel announced last week at the Consumer Electronic Show that the 2nd generation of Wireless Display will support 1080p video, 5.1 surround sound, and premium content such as blue-ray. It should be available in next few weeks.