Otherwise known as, ‘just how many acronyms can you get into one blog title’?
A popular but little known feature of the Samsung Galaxy S was its ability to do video out from its 3.5mm jack, as long as you had the appropriate cable to go into the standard AV ports on the televion.
So it may come as a disappointment to some that Samsung have removed this feature in the phone’s successor, the otherwise extremely handsome Galaxy S2. Instead, the Galaxy S2 is the first to combine USB and HDMI capabilities in one with their MHL port, meaning that you can charge, sync data and stream audio and video through the same port.
Many modern smartphones are too slim for a built-in HDMI port, and MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link) ports allow you to incorporate multiple functions in one port – as long as you have the right adapter. So for Galaxy S2 TV output, you’ll need to acquire HDMI-to-MHL adaptor, and unfortunately these aren’t always cheap – not to mention that the release of the official Samsung Galaxy S2 MHL adapter is still quite a way off on the horizon.
A more cost-effective option is the BizLink MHL to HDMI adapter, which will be available over on the main site within the next fortnight – much earlier than the official cable. The adapter lets you transform your phone’s MHL output into a Galaxy S2 HDMI out, allowing you to connect to your HDMI-ready TV with ease and stream media directly to it from your phone.
The BizLink also has a Micro USB port on the side of the adapter which lets you charge your phone at the same time – good news, since streaming media can be a bit of drain on your Galaxy S II battery power!
BizLink MHL to HDMI Adapter