Some days ago I received my new Microsoft Lumia 950 XL, which is one of the first phones with Windows 10 Mobile. Microsoft also created some new cool accessories, such as the Microsoft Display Dock HD-500. The Microsoft Display Dock allows you to connect your Lumia 950 or Lumia 950 XL using a USB-C cable and adding a keyboard and mouse and connect it to a bigger screen. Windows Universal Apps such as for example, Mail, Outlook, Office, Edge, File Explorer and several others scale up on the connected screen like they would run on a desktop computer running Windows 10. This Windows 10 Mobile feature is called Continuum for Phones and it allows you to use your phone as a desktop PC. This is great for example think about it, you only carry your phone and when you need to do some real work you can connect it to mouse, keyboard and screen and you have a desktop ready to use.
Display Dock Connections
The Microsoft Display Dock HD-500 has a USB-C Port for connecting and charging your phone, 1 powered and 2 full-sized USB 2.0 ports to connect keyboard, mouse, USB drives or external drives, a HDMI and a Display-Port for connecting the screen or beamer. The device supports a resolution up to Full HD (1920×1080).
Continuum for Phones
Continuum for Phones makes it possible to use this feature. Now Continuum for Phone also works wirelessly using Miracast for example with the Microsoft Display Adapter or even using the Xbox One with the Wireless Display App (right now for Preview Members only). You can also connect a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to your phone, so you can use this feature completely wireless.
Continuum for Phones has also some limitations, right now it only supports Windows Universal Apps and no Win32 apps or old Windows Phone Apps.
Some apps which work with Continuum for Phones:
- Calendar
- File Explorer
- Photos
- OneNote
- Excel
- Word
- PowerPoint
- Messages
- Maps
- MSN Money
- MSN Sports
- MSN News
- Alarm and Clock
- Groove Music
- Movies & TV
- Microsoft Edge
- Xbox
- Fitbit
- Cortana
- Camera
I am sure a lot of developers are working on porting apps to the Windows Universal App Platform and make them available on several devices. Continuum for Phones is one of the best examples how Windows 10 and the Windows Universal Apps will improve the Windows Ecosystem. I think for some people and even employees, Windows 10 Mobile phones could replace the desktop PCs, since you have a lot of great Universal Apps for Mail, Office and other Offices tasks. If Microsoft makes a Universal App for Remote Desktop available you can even have a full desktop, with full desktop apps on your phone while docked to a screen. And with the new Mobile device Management options in Windows 10 Mobile, this can be perfectly managed by enterprises. They can also implement the Microsoft Windows Store for Business on Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile.
Tags: Continuum, Continuum for phones, Display Dock, Hardware, HD-500, Lumia, Lumia 950, Lumia 950 XL, Microsoft, Microsoft Display Dock, Windows, Windows 10, Windows 10 Mobile Last modified: January 7, 2019
It would be great to a Universal App for Remote Desktop, do we even need a laptop then?!
Does the HD-500 supports 2 screens as it has both an HDMI and a Display Port connectors ?
Very good question. I haven’t tried this but I am pretty sure it only supports one screen.
Can i plug external hard disk like seagate 500 gb or 2tb?