Microsoft Screen Sharing For Lumia Phones HD-10 Preview

Microsoft went with its own branding for the curiously named Screen Sharing For Lumia Phones HD-10, but the device looks and works like your typical Miracast dongle: It lets you beam content from a smartphone to an HDMI-connected HDTV so you can watch movies, photo slide shows, and other content on the big screen.

If you haven't already, be sure to check out IFA 2014: Microsoft Devices Announces New Lumias, Accessories, Firmware for an overview of all of Microsoft's devices announcements today.

Here's what's happening with the Microsoft Screen Sharing For Lumia Phones HD-10:

It's Miracast. Don't be fooled by the name. The HD-10 is your basic Miracast dongle.

NFC pairing plate. Like other Miracast devices, the HD-10 uses Wi-Fi for connectivity. But it includes a handy NFC disc, which makes pairing painless on NFC-compatible devices, including many Lumia handsets. Best of all, you can place this NFC disc anywhere in the room so you can more easily pair your handset and the HD-10, which can remain over by the HDTV.

Supports 1080p. If your HDTV can do 1080p, the HD-10 will support that.

Availability: September 2014

Cost: $79.99 in the United States

Learn more: I've written about my Miracast experiences in What I Use (Home Swap): Home Entertainment and Windows 8.1 + Miracast.