Roku makes some of the most popular devices for streaming internet video on a TV. Now you can also use a Roku as a sort of wireless display for your phone, tablet, or PC.
Blogger Dave Zatz uncovered support documents that show screen mirroring and video casting features are on the way.
Update: It’s official. Roku has announced screen mirorring beta. The feature begins rolling out to users today and should be available to all within a few weeks.
Screen mirroring lets a Roku display just about anything that’s on your phone, tablet, or PC screen. Want to watch a YouTube video without opening the Roku YouTube channel and searching for it? Just fire up the YouTube app on your phone, mirror your screen, and it’ll show up on the big screen.
More importantly this opens the door for beaming photos from your mobile device to a TV, viewing PowerPoint-style presentations, or maybe even playing mobile games on a big screen.
The Roku 3 Model 4200 and Roku Streaming Stick Model 3500 will support screen mirroring, which means the Roku 1, Roku 2, and older models probably won’t.
Screen Mirroring features will work with Android, Windows 8, and Windows Phone 8 devices, which suggests that Roku may be using Miracast wireless display technology. All three of those software platforms support Miracast.
There’s also a page mentioning support for Firefox video casting beta. This lets you use an Android phone or tablet with the Firefox web browser installed to select videos you want to beam to your TV through a Roku. Not all video formats will work, but this opens the door for streaming individual videos while using your phone as a remote control rather than mirroring your entire display.
In other words, it offers functionality similar to what you could expect from a Google Chromecast or the upcoming Matchstick Firefox OS device.
Not bad for a device that also offers hundreds of channels of online content and a remote control-friendly user interface.
The Roku Streaming Stick sells for $50, while the Roku 3 has a list price of $100. Both devices are often available for much lower prices.
Great news. I love my Rokus, but I’ve been jonesing for some Miracast receivers. I didn’t want to go and buy new Miracast adapters and then find out I could have bought new Rokus. Because, honestly, I wouldn’t have bought both. It would be in their best interest to hurry up and deliver this update before a ton of people buy competing products and never look back.
I suspect this became a “must have marketing bullet point” rather than something most users have any serious use for. Doesn’t hurt except to divert development resources from more important things. Most Roku devices don’t sit in corporate conference rooms awaiting use for PowerPoint shows.
Miracast screen mirroring is a great technology for Windows and Windows Phone users. Big developers generally ignore those platforms, and even when apps are available they are second rate compared to their android and IOS counterparts. This gives me access to a first rate experience even if developers haven’t integrated casting or media sharing tech into their apps. Plus, I can now mirror my desktop screen from my office on my tv in the living room
Screen mirroring is used for a variety of functions in the home. Use your imagination. Are there sources of data or video you would like to wirelessly broadcast to your big screen TV that entertainment companies aren’t providing? Hint, nudge, think. Roku Stick plus Screen Mirroring under $50 is a game changer! 🙂
This won’t work really with all the Devices. We support iOS, Mac Book, Windows, Android and Other devices!
Shameless plug.
Facing same problem
I have a Samsung S4 running 4.4.2. It finds the Roku 3 but won’t connect to it. Roku was updated Oct 7 and screen mirroring is enabled. Any suggestions?
Cliff what is the error message you are getting when you try to connect?
My S4 does exactly the same, i can screen mirror onto tv using HDMI cables but roku it finds the roku device and i click connect, it says connecting and the icon appears as if connecting but then after a few mins just a message comes up saying unable to connect. My S4 is also running 4.4.2 and my Roku is the HDMI one and screen mirroring is enabled on both roku and S4, i’ve been trying for weeks, any help would be appreciated 🙂
I have the same issue. Any help is appreciated!
“Screen mirroring lets a Roku display just about anything that’s on your phone, tablet, or PC screen. ”
I am wondering about sound as well.
yes, sound too. It’s Miracast technology. Think of it as wireless HDMI.
This sounds awesome!! I wish my Windows 7 would work on it though =(. I’d settle for a Chrome extension too =P. Thanks for the hard work!
This sounds awesome!! I just wish my Windows 7 would work too =(. Or maybe even a Chrome extension one day hopefully! Thanks for the hard work guys.
* * * * ROKU SCREEN MIRRORING (beta) TUTORIAL 10/08/2014 * * * * – Feel free to duplicate this information to other mediums. – RECOGNITION: Roku has done a great job once again! Thank you Roku Executive Team for continuing to be a business model game changer by meeting consumer needs through “On Demand” entertainment. Thanks to your product I have helped multiple households lower their monthly bills and increase their entertainment options and enjoyment. MY SUCCESS: I have successfully installed the Roku “System Update” and utilized the “Screen Mirroring (beta)” on a “Roku 3 4200X” in combination with a “Samsung Galaxy Note 3”. On the Note 3, I installed the “Dolphin Internet Browser” and set it to “Desktop Mode”. With a Roku manual “System update”, a “compatible Android device”, and a “mobile browser” set to “desktop mode” I have been able to stream any video from any source.… Read more »