TURN YOUR PHONE
INTO A GAMING CONSOLE
You can take your favorite mobile
game to a bigger screen by connect-
ing your phone’s USB-C port to a hub
equipped with an HDMI output. Plug-
ging the other end of the HDMI wire
into a TV or computer monitor brings
your app in a widescreen for more
details and action. Unlike when using
wireless protocols to cast your dis-
play, there’s virtually no lag, resulting
in smooth competitive play. If your
USB-C hub has an ethernet jack, you’ll
even be able to hardwire a rock-solid
connection and avoid the network
interruptions that can happen over
WiFi. Add a wireless controller to thissetup and you’ll get a console-like per-
formance and experience from your
mobile gaming device.
STEP 1 Connect your phone’s charger
to a wall outlet and the USB-C end into
the PD port.
STEP 2 Plug your TV or monitor’s HDMI
cord into the hub and set your display to
the appropriate input.
STEP 3 Connect your phone to the
other USB-C port on your hub to charge.
STEP 4 View your phone on the TV and
confirm your desired resolution.
STEP 5 Pair a Bluetooth controller
(such as your Xbox or PlayStation’s) to
your phone.
STEP 6^ Load your favorite mobile game
and play on the bigger screen.TURN YOUR TABLET
INTO A MOBILE CONTENT-
CREATION STATION
Despite manufacturers’ best
efforts, tablets remain the over-
looked middle child between phones
and computers. There’s a com-
mon misconception that they aren’t
serious production machines, but
linking them up with a USB-C hub
can make them legitimate alterna-
tives to laptops. Attach a powered
USB microphone through a USB-C
hub to facilitate quality podcasting
or livestreaming. Or connect a key-
board to write out scripts or a mouse
to work on designing visual social
media posts in content-editing suites.
STEP 1 Plug in your tablet’s wall
adapter and connect the USB-C charger
into the hub’s passthrough port.
STEP 2^ Load up your USB-C hub with
production equipment like a USB mic,
keyboard, or control deck.
STEP 3 Open up a recording app to
monitor your audio input source, and
ensure it matches the name of your
attached accessory.
STEP 4 Connect a mouse and key-
board for design or text work.
STEP 5 Launch into a media-editing
suite to start recording. If you’re into live
broadcasts, crack open your platform of
choice and start rolling.
STEP 6 If you’d like to share your work
with a group or simply view it on a full-
size screen, attach an HDMI cable to your
USB-C hub. The screen will pop up on
your external display.
TURN YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
INTO A LIVING-ROOM PC
A Chromecast with Google TV, with
the help of a USB-C hub, can function
as a full-f ledged living-room computer
with your TV as the monitor. Surf the
web, share USB or SD stored media
with a group, or video chat with friends
and family.
STEP 1 Using a 60-watt power brick (we
recommend Anker’s PIQ) to ensure there’s
surplus power for not only your Chrome-
cast but attached devices, plug the USB-C
wire into the USB-C hub’s PD port.
STEP 2 Load up your hub with a wireless
keyboard receiver, webcam, and SD or USB
card storage. Plug the USB-C hub into the
Chromecast.
STEP 3 Navigate to the Play Store using
your Chromecast to download a browser
such as Puffin, which you can use to surf
the web on your TV screen.STEP 4 View your media using an app like
VLC Media Player. After opening the app,
navigate to your connected device, and
select the media file you want to open up.
STEP 5 Download Google Duo, and con-
nect a webcam to create a video-capture
source. Give your contacts a call to video
chat over Google Duo.
STEP 6 (optional): Connect an ethernet
cable to your USB-C hub for a hardwired
connection to eliminate stream buffering.November/December 2021 83