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My only real complaint about this plug-and-play accessory is that most of the business monitors we have around the test lab use DVI, not HDMI or DisplayPort, for their input. In Continuum mode, you're restricted to Continuum-compatible apps, of course, which include the Office suite, the built-in music and video apps, the file manager, and a few others. That won't drive extra-large monitors, and the fonts in Windows 10 Mobile's white-text-on-black interfaces (such as in Outlook) sometimes look a little thin, but Word and Excel are terrific. Output comes through at up to 1,920-by-1,200 resolution at 60 frames per second. The third USB port will accept flash drives or hard drives, and suddenly it's Windows 10!
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Attaching a keyboard and mouse makes it more powerful. Choose yes, and your phone's screen becomes a touchpad so you can manipulate the OS on the big screen to display documents, or play music or video, for instance. Plug your Lumia 950 ($359.99 at Amazon) (Opens in a new window) or Lumia 950 XL into the front of the Display Dock, and some sort of monitor into the back, and a message pops up on your phone asking if you want to switch into Continuum mode. Read our editorial mission (Opens in a new window) & see how we test (Opens in a new window). Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. On the back, there are three USB-A ports, a USB-C port for power, an HDMI out, and a full-sized DisplayPort connector. On the front, there's a USB-C port that connects to your phone. This solid little cube measures 2.5 by 2.5 by 1 inch (HWD) and weighs 8.1 ounces, and it's absolutely covered in ports. The $99 Microsoft Display Dock HD-500 is a better option. But that requires a lot of pairing, a lot of battery checking, and Miracast has latency issues even on good days. You can make Continuum happen completely wirelessly, with a Bluetooth keyboard, a Bluetooth mouse, and a Miracast wireless display dongle. It's the latest incarnation of a dream that's been around since 2011's Motorola Atrix -the ability to carry your computing power with you and for it to adapt to the form factor you need.
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The best feature in Microsoft's new Windows 10 Mobile operating system is Continuum, the ability to scale your phone up into a full-on desktop PC.
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