[APP][4.2+] SecondScreen - better screen mirroring for Android devices

farmerbb · May 29, 2014

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.

PLEASE READ BEFORE DOWNLOADING:
• 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.
• This app is ONLY for devices with AOSP / Google experience ROMs. It is not guaranteed to function properly on devices with manufacturer-skinned ROMs.
• This app does not provide screen mirroring capabilities on its own. Screen mirroring may require either an MHL/SlimPort adapter or a wireless solution such as Miracast or Chromecast.
• A Bluetooth keyboard and mouse is strongly recommended as the app can make UI elements smaller and harder to press on the device itself.

Features:
• Easily change resolution and density (DPI) - take full advantage of the resolution of your external display, and show the Android tablet interface if you're using a phone
• Simple profile-based interface - easy to enable/disable different profiles for different types of displays
• Many configurable options, including:
• Automatically enable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi - quickly connect a keyboard, mouse, and/or game controller
• Automatically enable Daydreams
• Lock screen orientation to landscape
• Show desktop sites in Chrome by default - browse the real Web, on your TV!
• Overscan support for older TVs (Android 4.3+)
• System-wide immersive mode (Android 5.0+)
• Disable device backlight and vibration - save battery while your device is connected (not compatible with all devices)
• Full integration with Tasker
• Load profiles automatically when a display is connected
• Quick Actions - quickly and easily run SecondScreen features without creating or editing profiles
• Homescreen shortcuts - launch a profile with one tap, without entering the app

Download:
• Download SecondScreen on the Play Store
• Download SecondScreen on F-Droid

Explanation of permissions:

Feedback in this thread is welcomed and appreciated! Hope you guys enjoy the app!

XDA:DevDB Information
SecondScreen, App for the Android General

Contributors
farmerbb
Source Code: https://github.com/farmerbb/SecondScreen

Version Information
Status: Stable
Current Stable Version: 2.9.1
Stable Release Date: 2019-10-31

Created 2014-07-19
Last Updated 2019-11-02

farmerbb · May 29, 2014

Miscellaneous links

SecondScreen beta

SecondScreen group on Google+
Join SecondScreen beta

Source code

SecondScreen source code on GitHub

AHOME · May 29, 2014

It sounds very good. I want to try it. Please send me a PM. Thanks.

neilhae · May 31, 2014

I'm using Kindle HD 8.9.

Each function works well on it, except screen turn off.

But it has one problem.

I got an enlarged letter box when I change resolution.

My TV has 1920x1080 resolution and Kindle has 1920x1200;

so it has originally black letter box on left and right side.

But when i change Kindle resolution to 1920x1080 using this app,

the letter box is created even on upside and downside.

Is it natural or just my machine problem?

farmerbb · May 31, 2014

neilhae said:
I'm using Kindle HD 8.9.

Each function works well on it, except screen turn off.

But it has one problem.

I got an enlarged letter box when I change resolution.

My TV has 1920x1080 resolution and Kindle has 1920x1200;

so it has originally black letter box on left and right side.

But when i change Kindle resolution to 1920x1080 using this app,

the letter box is created even on upside and downside.

Is it natural or just my machine problem?

No, switching the resolution to 1920x1080 is supposed to eliminate the pillarboxing on the left and right side. It sounds like a quirk with how the Kindle outputs it's image over HDMI.

What happens when you try a different resolution such as 1280x720? Does the letterboxing and pillarboxing get worse? Also, have you tried connecting your Kindle to a different TV?

Regarding the screen turn off - does it at least dim the backlight down low? Some device kernels have safeguards that prevent the backlight from turning all the way off.

neilhae · Jun 1, 2014

farmerbb said:
No, switching the resolution to 1920x1080 is supposed to eliminate the pillarboxing on the left and right side. It sounds like a quirk with how the Kindle outputs it's image over HDMI.

What happens when you try a different resolution such as 1280x720? Does the letterboxing and pillarboxing get worse? Also, have you tried connecting your Kindle to a different TV?

Regarding the screen turn off - does it at least dim the backlight down low? Some device kernels have safeguards that prevent the backlight from turning all the way off.

When I try a different resolution such as 1280x720, the letterboxing and pillarboxing are exactly sams as 1920x1080 (??)

The screen turn off option isn't activated and I cannot check it.

Since I have 1 TV monitor, I didn't try connecting to a different TV.

I'll tell you the result whenever I try to a different one.

farmerbb · Jun 1, 2014

neilhae said:
When I try a different resolution such as 1280x720, the letterboxing and pillarboxing are exactly sams as 1920x1080 (??)

The screen turn off option isn't activated and I cannot check it.

Since I have 1 TV monitor, I didn't try connecting to a different TV.

I'll tell you the result whenever I try to a different one.

OK, it sounds like it might be an issue with the TV then.

If the "Turn backlight off" option is grayed out, that means the kernel values needed to disable the backlight weren't found on your device. It looks like the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 uses a TI OMAP chipset and the app only recognizes the values for Snapdragon and Tegra.

lpasq · Jun 21, 2014

I set a profile using all default settings. I have start on HDMI connection. I use Tasker to launch profile when my N5 connects to Pioneer AppRadio 3 using AppRadio Unchained to mirror phone. Works great, except that my Nova Launcher gets the expanded desktop toggled off by SecondScreen. My expanded desktop is a feature of GravityBox for Xposed Framework. I will provide a logcat my next connection session. Any other info needed to give development feedback?

farmerbb · Jun 21, 2014

lpasq said:
I set a profile using all default settings. I have start on HDMI connection. I use Tasker to launch profile when my N5 connects to Pioneer AppRadio 3 using AppRadio Unchained to mirror phone. Works great, except that my Nova Launcher gets the expanded desktop toggled off by SecondScreen. My expanded desktop is a feature of GravityBox for Xposed Framework. I will provide a logcat my next connection session. Any other info needed to give development feedback?

Hmm, I'll have to install Xposed + GravityBox + Nova myself and take a look.

What do you mean by "all default settings"? Do you mind posting screenshots of the profile you're using? Expanded desktop could be toggled off if you have the UI refresh method set to "Restart SystemUI & kill background apps". This setting also restarts whatever launcher you are using.

EDIT: Okay, I installed Xposed, GravityBox and Nova Launcher and did some minimal testing. Expanded desktop stays on for me no matter what I try. What expanded desktop setting are you using in GravityBox?

lpasq · Jun 21, 2014

This is probably specific to AppRadio Unchained and your app. I will logcat tomorrow then when next in car.

---------- Post added at 09:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:58 PM ----------

farmerbb · Jun 21, 2014

lpasq said:
This is probably specific to AppRadio Unchained and your app. I will logcat tomorrow then when next in car.

Thanks, a logcat would be helpful

Could you try one more thing as well? In your AppRadio profile try setting the "Screen rotation" option to "Force auto-rotate" and see if it fixes your issue, or does the same thing.

farmerbb · Jun 21, 2014

I just pushed an update that SHOULD fix any issues with the Pioneer AppRadio. The app was forcing a specific system dock state even if the default settings were used, and it's likely that Android switches to a different dock state when connected to the AppRadio. Let me know if the June 21st update fixes things.

lpasq · Jun 21, 2014

farmerbb said:
I just pushed an update that SHOULD fix any issues with the Pioneer AppRadio. The app was forcing a specific system dock state even if the default settings were used, and it's likely that Android switches to a different dock state when connected to the AppRadio. Let me know if the June 21st update fixes things.

I will test today, and report accordingly, and copy post on ARU thread for the many users that might appreciate your work.

lpasq · Jun 21, 2014

lpasq said:
I will test today, and report accordingly, and copy post on ARU thread for the many users that might appreciate your work.

No luck... Logcat will be pm'd

update: issue likely related to nova or gravitybox... all works for me by simply toggling expand desktop tile in notifications tray once after secondscreen active

update 2: wow! thanks for the diligent bug hunt and fix!!!

farmerbb · Jun 22, 2014

lpasq said:
No luck... Logcat will be pm'd

update: issue likely related to nova or gravitybox... all works for me by simply toggling expand desktop tile in notifications tray once after secondscreen active

update 2: wow! thanks for the diligent bug hunt and fix!!!

Just pushed version 1.2.5 to the Play Store, it fixes the issues @lpasq has described regarding GravityBox and expanded desktop.

mikek753 · Jun 22, 2014

I can test on S3 with ARU

farmerbb · Jun 23, 2014

Would anyone be interested in a built-in profile for the AppRadio? Using 800x480 as the resolution and maybe 213dpi for density. I don't own an AppRadio myself but is that a good combo? It wouldn't have backlight off checked by default as that is an option I want users to turn on manually.

jdpdata · Jun 23, 2014

farmerbb said:
Would anyone be interested in a built-in profile for the AppRadio? Using 800x480 as the resolution and maybe 213dpi for density. I don't own an AppRadio myself but is that a good combo? It wouldn't have backlight off checked by default as that is an option I want users to turn on manually.

Yeah, but would changing the resolution and DPI have any negative results? I assume my AVH-8500BHS is down rez now, looks fine to me.
Oh, and I'm confirming my issue with backlight turning back is because I was switching to another app that have auto brightness level adjustment (car home ultra). You said you'll come out with a new version to fix this issue? I'd like to test it when it is available.

But other than that, your apk is working beautifully during my 1 hour commute this morning. Thanks!:good:

farmerbb · Jun 23, 2014

jdpdata said:
Yeah, but would changing the resolution and DPI have any negative results? I assume my AVH-8500BHS is down rez now, looks fine to me.
Oh, and I'm confirming my issue with backlight turning back is because I was switching to another app that have auto brightness level adjustment (car home ultra). You said you'll come out with a new version to fix this issue? I'd like to test it when it is available.

But other than that, your apk is working beautifully during my 1 hour commute this morning. Thanks!:good:

Well, changing the phone resolution to match the external screen's would eliminate issues such as letterboxing/pillarboxing, fuzzy text, etc. And it would give you a consistent screen output no matter what type of device you hook up (phone or tablet, etc.). It would also theoretically save CPU/GPU cycles and battery running at that resolution.

Negative results would be: home screen icons/widgets potentially disappearing, and the added wait time while your device changes its resolution and DPI. So, I dunno. Again I don't have the AppRadio so I'm not sure what the best user experience would be.

Yeah, Car Home Ultra would definitely mess with my app's backlight off feature. I should be pushing 1.2.6 later today, it will have an "experimental backlight off" option you'll want to try.

jdpdata · Jun 23, 2014

Can I please test v.1.2.6? I haven't purchase your apk yet.
Please email to me jdpdata at gmail dot com. I'm willing to test DPI and resolution changes too.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[APP][4.2+] SecondScreen - better screen mirroring for Android devices

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