Phoenix is a low-latency extension system. It allows you to use an old Android tablet (starting from Android 4.4 KitKat) as a secondary interface for your Mac.
The project streams the Mac screen to the tablet via H.264 and sends events back to macOS via UDP, effectively turning an obsolete device into a modern productivity tool.
I have officially reached my personal goal for this project: low-latency screen streaming from Mac to an old tablet.
- This was tested and verified on a device with an MTK (MediaTek) chipset.
- Usage Tip: I personally use this as a third monitor by creating a virtual display with BetterDisplay on macOS and streaming that specific window/display to the tablet.
- Maintenance: Since the streaming works for my specific needs, I will not be providing any further updates, fixes, or touch implementations.
Important: While the project handles video streaming successfully, the touch functionality is very incomplete. The code contains only a basic skeleton/draft for touch events. It is not functional and requires significant work to be implemented properly.
- Requirements: Xcode 13+, macOS with Screen Recording support.
- Run: Open
PhoenixServer.xcodeproj, build, and press START PHOENIX. - Permissions: You must enable Screen Recording and Accessibility in System Settings → Privacy & Security.
- Requirements: Android Studio, target device with Android 4.4+ (API 19).
- Setup: The app uses mDNS to find the Mac. If discovery fails, enter the IP manually.
- Connect: Once connected, the tablet will display the Mac's screen.
Since this project was built for personal use, some IP addresses are currently hardcoded. You must update them to match your own network:
-
Server Side (macOS): Open
PhoenixServer/Sources/Managers/ServerManager.swiftand replace the placeholder IP with your Android Tablet's Local IP (you can find this in your Tablet's Wi-Fi settings). -
Client Side (Android): When you launch the app on your tablet, you will need to manually enter your MacBook's Local IP to establish the connection.
- Discovery Fails: Ensure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi.
- Lag/Freeze: UDP is fast but unstable on crowded Wi-Fi. If you experience lag, it's likely your Wi-Fi or bitrate settings. Fix it yourself, I'm done here! 😂
This project is a labor of love dedicated to giving old hardware a new purpose.
Development: 100% AI-generated. As a "non-developer", I directed the AI to write every line of code, handle logic, and fix bugs to bring my ideas to life.
Philosophy: Sharing this "AI-authored" experiment because if it solved a streaming problem for me, it might be the foundation you were looking for.