Playbook Presentation/Bridge First Time! Awesome!

**edyb** · 05-04-2012, 11:43 AM

i just attended a conference as a presenter and used my Playbook/Torch9810 bridged for first time to present some videos and Powerpoint, and it was AWESOME!

I was in front of a huge room of people. One of a line-up of 4 other presenters that went in series, each of us talking 1 hour. I was nervous that my new Playbook setup wouldn't work so brought my laptop just in case.

I used HDMI out to the projector, my Powerpoint set to 1024x600 size page setup ratio. Bridge allowed me to use my phone as a pointer and flip through SlidesToGo. Looked awesome!

While everyone else had their clunky laptops and pointers, it was so awesome using the Playbook! Nothing more than a small HDMI cable. I brought my plug-in charger in case. Even the sound of my videos were output through HDMI to projector speakers!

I am definitely going to do this from now on, and won't bring my laptop anymore. Definitely the most sleek and impressive setup at the conference!

Quick tip: Find some AMAZING videos to play during intermissions by checking out "Demoscene" on YouTube. There are impressive 3D abstract computer graphics videos in HD and cool music... "Demoscene" on YouTube, look for the finalists and winners from each year's competition!

RIM, if you are reading this, Playbook needs a demoscene competition to get people excited on showing their optimized native code graphics demos!

Sent from my BlackBerry 9810 using Crackberry Tapatalk Forum app

**rotorwrench** · 05-04-2012, 12:33 PM

Cool. I was excited as a kid when I did my first one with my PB. I felt like a tech pioneer with all the other clunky devices and cables around. Like you said, just the PB, a cable and my phone

**guerllamo7** · 05-04-2012, 12:43 PM

Awesome!

The Playbook rocks. Especially if you add a BB Phone.

I helped a friend that teaches classes and uses PP heavily to upgrade to BB and PB and she LOVES it. Way less stuff to carry around - WAY LESS, and she has more control than ever.
Thanks for sharing. The truth about the Playbook just keeps coming out.

**BigAl_BB9900** · 05-04-2012, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by edyb

i just attended a conference as a presenter and used my Playbook/Torch9810 bridged for first time to present some videos and Powerpoint, and it was AWESOME!

Pleased it went well for you

My sole killer reason for getting the PlayBook was for HDMI PowerPoint presenting (so I didn't have to lug a heavy laptop around)

[And the audience sometimes get a video of the Marriage of Figaro overture whilst we are waiting for everybody to sit down - what lucky peeps!]

**GenTarkin** · 05-04-2012, 01:06 PM

OP - ur story sound badass! I thought the PB alone was awesome... man I wish I could try out bridge. I dont have a BB phone - always kinda disliked BB phones.. lol
But when my upgrade time comes through sprint...may have to get one for bridge alone cuz it sounds freakin awesome.

That way I can use it as a remote for my movies to my TV from PB ... hahaha w/o having to get up and hit stop / play ..

**BigAl_BB9900** · 05-04-2012, 01:23 PM

oh yes - now there is Presenter Mode on Bridge (eg flip the slides fwd and back) - the HDMI PowerPoint experience is even better....

**superdookie67** · 05-04-2012, 01:51 PM

Wow, I haven't had a chance to use that yet. It sounds really cool though. Does that extra presenter mode work with older phones, or do you need a BB7 device?

Sent from my BlackBerry 9700 using Tapatalk

**BigAl_BB9900** · 05-04-2012, 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by superdookie67

Wow, I haven't had a chance to use that yet. It sounds really cool though. Does that extra presenter mode work with older phones, or do you need a BB7 device?

Not sure - I thought that it just came with the updated Bridge app but now you've got me thinking.... (the original Bridge app didn't have this Presenter functionality, and you had to faff around with the PB during a presentation, to go and back and forwards twixt slides, and it was a bit of a Pain!)

My BB is a 9900, so is running 7.x

**kjm2010** · 05-04-2012, 02:33 PM

Originally Posted by superdookie67

Does that extra presenter mode work with older phones, or do you need a BB7 device?

Works on my bold with os6.

Presenter came with bridge update for PB Os2

DONT FORGET TO TURN OFF ALL ALERTS ON YOUR PHONE!
Otherwise phone call notifications etc., may end up being part of your presentation unexpectedly.

I use presenter all the time and am despised by coworkers who can't. I love it.

**farside33** · 05-04-2012, 02:59 PM

Presenter mode works properly on the 9800 using OS 6.

**jchavealot** · 05-04-2012, 03:21 PM

Same experiance happened to me. PB worked amazing! Everyone at the break came up to me and had so many questions. I think I may have sold fifteen playbook that day. Just waiting for my promotion

. BlackBerry Rocks!

**416to604** · 05-04-2012, 03:28 PM

glad it went off without a hitch!

**whitbags** · 05-04-2012, 04:16 PM

So, chaps, what do you do when the projector is attached to the ceiling?

**BigAl_BB9900** · 05-04-2012, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by whitbags

So, chaps, what do you do when the projector is attached to the ceiling?

Ceiling mounted projectors usually have the cabling pre-installed - and if they don't, a tech support person can stand on the table and plug the cables in....

**madman0141** · 05-04-2012, 05:38 PM

Good for you glad to hear good news

**edyb** · 05-04-2012, 06:53 PM

Projector mounted to ceiling...

That is a silly question. How would you connect your laptop in that case? or iPad? or anything? Same problem no?

Usually there is a connector box on your podium table or wall that is reachable with all the connections.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9810 using Crackberry Tapatalk Forum app

**BigAl_BB9900** · 05-04-2012, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by edyb

Projector mounted to ceiling...

That is a silly question. How would you connect your laptop in that case? or iPad? or anything? Same problem no?

Hi edyb

I also initially thought the poster was making a sarky comment...

However, he could just be p****d off like a lot of other PlayBook owners (me included) who expected the PlayBook to be DLNA compliant from day one (prior to the launch of the PB, RIM Execs were spouting off that DLNA would be on the PB)

A lot of the newer projectors (especially for home theatre use) are DLNA compliant, so streaming to them over WiFi is a doddle. I think that this type of thing will soon be very common for office projectors as well

Come on RIM, get your finger out, make the PlayBook DLNA compliant in OS 2.1!

**edyb** · 05-05-2012, 01:34 PM

Ok thanks for the clear-up. I didn't realize he was referring to DLNA.

If and when that happens, it will be even more spectacular. Right now none of the projectors I have used are DLNA, but then again they are all older models installed in the hotel conference rooms and at home.

If you look at DLNA.org, RIM is listed as one of the contributing members. Not even APPLE is listed! So I hope RIM will add the software (hopefully just code and not hardware-reliant) to be able to do it. If it is just using existing WiFi band then hopefully will be easy enough to implement with just code.

Having said that, even with DLNA projectors, any installation will have to provide for the fact that NOT ALL PRESENTERS have the newest laptops or devices even capable of DNLA so either way, there have to be cable connections "somewhere".

In fact, I am just HAPPY enough to have HDMI inputs on the project. You'd be surprised how many projector setups in conference rooms still only have a VGA input!!!!

**Mallet21** · 05-05-2012, 02:16 PM

Great Thread! Is there such a thing as an hdmi to VGA converter/dongle? A lot of the conferences I go to are not wired for hdmi.

**Barljo** · 05-05-2012, 03:52 PM

There is - if you search Amazon for just that, you'll find one.

I believe that some PB owners have had success with this one:-

HP HDMI to VGA Display Adapter - Video converter - HDMI: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

Although I have no personal experience as yet.

**Dim-Ize** · 05-05-2012, 09:52 PM

Good thread. I'd like to ask two questions:

1) Does anyone besides me have trouble creating PowerPoint presentations with embedded video and having it display properly? My fonts are often goofed up when I copy over the PPT to the PlayBook and I'm not sure which video format to use so that the video plays within the presentation itself, vs. launching a separate video player.

2) What adapter would I need if the HDMI is just sitting in the middle of a conference table? I have a 10 foot HDMI cable, but, I'd rather not string that thing all through the room if the setup is already there. It is just the big female adapter vs. the smaller one on the PB.

As far as a my setup, I've been using my PC to do my presentations since item number 1 above gives me some concern. Then I use SplashTop while at a podium and I can see exactly what my slide is behind me. I create a small network with Connectify so I have fast viewing of my slides / videos and then use Bridge to advance.

**whitbags** · 05-07-2012, 08:02 AM

Chaps, I seriously was asking a question I didn't know the answer to. I work in an environment where introducing your own IT is not permitted. You can't even bring a presentation on a USB stick as the USB drives are encrypted or disabled. As everything is already hard wired in, I have no idea how you connect a device to a ceiling mounted projector.

And as for the DLNA thing? I have no idea what that is

**Barljo** · 05-07-2012, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by whitbags

Chaps, I seriously was asking a question I didn't know the answer to. I work in an environment where introducing your own IT is not permitted. You can't even bring a presentation on a USB stick as the USB drives are encrypted or disabled. As everything is already hard wired in, I have no idea how you connect a device to a ceiling mounted projector.

And as for the DLNA thing? I have no idea what that is

I heartily sympathise - the company I'm with is precisely the same. With good reason, of course, but it's still frustrating. I occasionally run the all-staff presentations for them (about 250 staff all in) and it's very annoying to rely on Manager's laptops to accomplish what they want...

I think that the adaptor I linked to about (or something similar) would do to plug into a ceiling mounted projector. Somewhere, there should be a switch box to plug into the projector 'network', most likely using VGA, so just cable between those and you should be good.

On a side note, DNLA is a software standard that allows digital media devices (PB, laptop, PS3 etc) to talk to each other on a database type level. So, you could have all your movies stored on your Laptop, and access them over your home network from your PS3. Someone else, I'm sure, can explain it better - Digital Living Network Alliance - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia may help, but may confuse things further!