Microsoft's media dongle FCC filing
Microsoft is producing its own plug-in media streaming device to take on Google's Chromecast, it has been revealed.
News has emerged of such a device courtesy of the US's Federal Communications Commission, or as we've come to know it, the FCC.
Both Windows Phone Daily and Nokia Power User have come across filings for a device called the HD-10. A little further digging has revealed that this device is a Miracast Dongle with Wi-Fi, HMDI, and USB connectivity - the latter of which it will use for power.
Miracast is a wireless connection standard that allows you to mirror information from one display onto another. It should be noted that it's not quite as advanced as other similar standards such as the aforementioned Chromecast or Apple's own AirPlay, which it uses to share media between iOS devices and the Apple TV.
As we just explained, Miracast is all about echoing the media playing on another device - it can't be used to stream media from an online service. Nor can it be used to play multiplayer games, or to stack up media files from multiple devices.
Still, with Miracast support now rolling out to Nokia's (and hence Microsoft's) Lumia range of Windows Phone 8.1 devices, it would make sense for Microsoft to supply a means for streaming media from these onto a TV set.
Don't be surprised if you hear more about this Microsoft media streaming dongle at the company's Lumia event at IFA 2014 on September 4.
Read More: Google Chromecast vs Roku Streaming Stick
Via: GigaOM