What is Reddit's opinion of SecondScreen?

I love finding niches that haven't been filled yet by other developers, and building apps that add functionality that Android is missing.

A couple years ago, I wanted to improve the experience of how Android devices work when connected to external displays. I had a set of Tasker scripts that I would run every time I connected my phone to my TV, but I wanted to create something with a bit more flexibility. So, I created SecondScreen, an app for rooted devices that gives you a toolbox full of options to optimize your device for better screen mirroring.

Also, when N Developer Preview was released earlier this year, I was intrigued by the presence of a hidden freeform window mode. Finally, stock Android devices with this enabled could run apps in desktop-like resizable windows, but Android was still missing a taskbar and start menu to make it feel more like a desktop operating system. So I wrote Taskbar, an app that enables freeform window mode on any Android Nougat device and adds a start menu and taskbar for desktop-style usage on big-screened devices.

You can fix the aspect ratio when mirroring via HDMI by using Second Screen.
Essentially, it changes the resolution and dpi of your device. So set it to 1920x1080 and you get a 16:9 ratio. I use it with my phone and Galaxy Tab S4.

You can turn your xperia phone into emulation and gaming powerhouse. Just buy USB C to HDMI cable and hook up to big monitor or TV. Use second screen app to set output to 16:9 ratio to get full screen over HDMI. Then grab a Bluetooth PS4 or Xbox controller.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farmerbb.secondscreen.free&hl=en_US

It's one of the Xperia feature that often overlooked. You can;t do the same on Google Pixel devices and Xiaomi phone coz they lack the usb-c hdmi output feature.

As /u/Elmax- mentioned above he uses SecondScreen, which is another app I've developed that changes your phone's resolution/density when plugged into an external display.

SecondScreen and Taskbar integrate with each other, so when you hook your phone up to the display, SecondScreen can automatically change your phone's resolution while Taskbar sets itself as the default launcher. The result is that you can have a desktop-like experience using apps in freeform mode while the phone is docked, then unplug the phone and everything is set back to default, including your previous launcher.

I develop two apps, SecondScreen and Taskbar, that when used together act as an alternative to Samsung DeX.

SecondScreen is a screen mirroring toolkit that lets you change your device's resolution/density to better fit large screens such as TVs, and can also turn your device's backlight off. It requires either root or adb access to operate (turning backlight off only works with root)

Taskbar adds a start menu and recent apps list to your screen, and also lets you run apps in desktop-style freeform windows. It also requires an adb command in order to operate. You can then pair a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to complete the PC-style experience.

Both apps are free and open source :)

> First Problem: When plugged in using hdmi, the screen is still on on the handheld.

Have you tried SecondScreen? It's the app I see most commonly recommended for this issue. I only have the original XD, which doesn't have this problem, so I haven't tried it, but from what I hear the SecondScreen app does exactly what you want.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farmerbb.secondscreen.free&hl=en_US

Honestly, it's because I stopped using root myself when Nougat came out. Also, it's easy enough to enable freeform mode with root via a shell command:

settings put global enable_freeform_support 1

I do have a root app, SecondScreen, that can do a lot of stuff to make Android more desktoppy, like changing resolution/density, forcing Chrome to always show desktop sites, etc.

Sort of. If you use the app SecondScreen and set it up to make the resolution 1080, the NexDoc 2 will function as a monitor/keyboard/mouse.

The RP2 doesn't have a desktop experience like Samsung or Huawei, so it is mostly running android apps in a laptop form factor. Chrome with desktop sites works pretty well.

Honestly, I would compare it to a very slightly inferior Chromebook.

(Source: I have a RP2 and a NexDoc 2, and have had a Chromebook to compare.)

I connect it to my 24" monitor for photo editing and general use.

I also connect it to a TV to play games with a controller lag free.

No idea if you can run an external touch enabled display. I'm sure if you search the web you'll eventually find someone else who has tried who can report back.

Regarding the desktop functionality, there are a number of different ways to accomplish this. Android natively supports keyboards and mice (I use a Bluetooth set). The only real issue is the default scaling, which is where other apps come in. I use one called Second Screen which allows a bunch of customization, including changing the DPI to something more appropriate for a large external screen (I run 240).

Here are my profile settings for Second Screen: Screenshot

Meanwhile Second screen has been offering similar desktop layouts since 4.3 with tasker functionality. This is nothing new, but i hope they keep working on it and make it something special to stand out.

If your rooted you might test the app "Second Screen" and see if it improves things for you.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farmerbb.secondscreen.free&hl=en-GB

SecondScreen is an application designed for power users that frequently connect their Android devices to external displays. It works with your existing screen mirroring solution to give you the best experience possible. With SecondScreen, you can change your device's resolution and density to fit your TV or monitor, enable always-on desktop mode in Chrome, and even turn your device's backlight off, among several other features.

Featured on XDA-Developers, Android Police, and AndroidHeadlines!

PLEASE READ BEFORE DOWNLOADING: • This app REQUIRES a rooted device! The app will do nothing if you have not already modified your device for superuser access.

If you have either a rooted device, or adb installed on your computer, you can install the SecondScreen app, which lets you change your phone's resolution when connected to an external display.

On a non-rooted device, it requires one-time setup of connecting your phone to your computer and running an adb shell command.

As far as doing this with the native Android OS, https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farmerbb.secondscreen.free&hl=en does this. I use it regularly.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sentio.desktop&hl=en is another option.

The issue is that many phones don't support video out over USB-C (Pixels, I'm looking at you).

I enabled it via terminal command:

> adb shell settings put global enable_freeform_support 1

In addition to enabling Force Activities to be Resizable in developer options.

That gives you the option to toggle window mode in the app switcher - the box within a box:

Screenshot

You can also use an app like Second Screen

number 7: SecondScreen Awesome app. It will save you a ton of battery, at least in my experience. I will have to toy with it and maybe use tasker to have it auto turn on when hdmi is connected, or maybe it has that option. I will report back.

You can try my app, SecondScreen. It's open source and allows you to turn your phone's backlight off, among other things.

second screen app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farmerbb.secondscreen.free

to make it working you have to use 1 adb command.

You can try Second Screen. I haven't used it in some years so not sure it'll still work. You may need to run a command line from a PC the first time to grant permission. Just read the prompts carefully before assuming it won't work.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farmerbb.secondscreen.free

I haven't tried this for this specific use case but it's you can try Second Screen (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farmerbb.secondscreen.free). It let's you set custom resolutions and in specific settings, even save them as profiles. It's been a long time since I used this app so can't recall if I did on a Samsung or not. Also can't remember if root is required (I don't think so).

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farmerbb.secondscreen.free&hl=pl&gl=US
Play with this

Yes you can.

Takes an ADB command to grant a single permission to an app.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farmerbb.secondscreen.free

Yes, this is for using an external screen. I previously had this rigged with Tasker to force vertical in all apps.

It worked well, but generally resulted in games being zoomed out to fit in the shorter horizontal space. You end up with weird letterboxing.

This app called SecondScreen might work:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farmerbb.secondscreen.free&hl=en&gl=US
but:
" This app REQUIRES elevated permissions, granted via root access or adb shell commands. The app will do nothing if you do not have a rooted device or access to adb. "

And there is also in the android Developers Settings an option called "Force Desktop mode" which you could try but for me that did not work.

3rd option is the one that I already mentioned; Use TV settings to Zoom in.

Samsung has Dex which bypasses all this but it is for Samsung S-models only.

I haven't tried too hard since I basically don't use it, but the only way I've seen it adjust to the external resolution is to turn on DEX.

EDIT: I did also find a thread that mentioned this Second Screen app and giving it permissions via ADB but I haven't tried it yet. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farmerbb.secondscreen.free

There's an app called SecondScreen designed to force a specific display resolution, dpi, orientation, and much more. It's designed for connecting a phone to an external monitor (wired/chromecast/miracast) and configuring the phone at a more appropriate dpi and launching taskbars, windowed mode, etc. But you need none of that, I know.

Though it does more than you need, the fact that it can change device resolution and create resolution presets means it can do exactly what you want. Just create one preset for "Normal" that runs at native res, native dpi, nothing else enabled and another profile for 1920x1080 - also at native res, orientation, etc. Essentially, make sure your presets don't change any other settings besides resolution. Given your limited needs, you could even skip creating presets and just use the "Quick Actions" widget and select resolution (1920x1080 or Device Native)

It doesn't require root, but you'll need to run one ADB command to give the app the needed permissions.

I use Second Screen it lets you change the resolution, navigation bar and other things. I know it works because I downloaded it for the exact same reason as you.

Thing about it though, is that it needs higher access to work properly. If you're rooted then it works right out of the box but if you're not then you'll need to use adb on a PC and grant it the permissions it needs. Make sure you read the app description and familiarize yourself with adb if you don't know how to use it.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farmerbb.secondscreen.free

Try this app, u need to adb in order to get it work

U can change resolution and dpi whichever u like Kindly report if its stable on Surface Duo

You can try Second Screen https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farmerbb.secondscreen.free

I don't know if it'll help specifically with your needs but it does give you some control.

Just... Last phone I tried it on, it I had to change resolution so it fit the screen properly and it caused all of my app icons and widgets to get moved around and resized. Not sure how it'll work on a Samsung device yet.

There is an app SecondScreen which can modify device native resolution to 1920x1080 for fullscreen casting on TV.

If you're rooted and have a bit of time to tinker and get the settings right you could use secondscreen

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farmerbb.secondscreen.free

Try SecondScreen: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farmerbb.secondscreen.free&hl=en

I haven't used it for ChromeCast, but I have used it on my old phone for a HDMI (MHI) cable direct to my tv.

*root only.

you'll have a much better time on a big monitor using the app second screen, it changes to dpi to be more friendly on big screens.

You might try out Second Screen. It'll let you try different resolutions for TV's & monitors. One of the settings might look better.

Heads-up, you can use this app to fix that, no root required.

Desktop mode is not available by default. But you can force enable it using developer settings but the "desktop mode" is barebones and to be fair, useless and not practical.

But there are some third party solutions such as

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farmerbb.secondscreen.free&hl=en_US

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farmerbb.taskbar&hl=en_US

also; check out past posts

https://old.reddit.com/r/SonyXperia/comments/hmy11k/can_i_change_the_resolution_when_using_usbc_to/ https://old.reddit.com/r/SonyXperia/comments/grsr8m/how_does_the_xperia_1_look_and_perform_when/