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PlexiChore 1.1.0 — Windows (pre-release)

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@pntapps pntapps released this 22 Oct 06:57
v1.1.0
9cf93e5

The first packaged Windows host for PlexiChore: turn an Android tablet into a portable monitor for your Windows PC. You can use it as an extended display, as your main display, or as a mirror, over a USB cable or Wi-Fi. Touch, pen and an on-screen keyboard work on the tablet.

New: no monitor needed. If no monitor is plugged into the PC, the tablet becomes the PC's main screen automatically.

Pre-release. Tested on Windows 11 (GTX 1060) and Windows 10 (GT 710) with a Galaxy Tab S8 (Android 16). Other PCs and tablets should work but haven't been tested yet; please report issues.

Downloads

File For
PlexiChoreSetup-1.1.0.exe Windows 10 (1809) or newer, 64-bit. Installer: Start menu entry, uninstaller, and optional start with Windows and firewall rules.
PlexiChore-Windows-1.1.0-portable.exe The same app as a single file that runs without installing. It's large (~229 MB) because the .NET runtime is built in, and the first launch takes up to ~30 s while it unpacks.
SHA256SUMS.txt Checksums of both files.
Android app Use PlexiChore-Android-1.0.0.apk from v1.0.0. It works with this Windows host.

The Mac app is unchanged; get it from v1.0.0.

Install

Windows PC

  1. Run PlexiChoreSetup-1.1.0.exe. The files are not code-signed yet, so Windows SmartScreen may say "Windows protected your PC". Click More info → Run anyway. You can check the download against SHA256SUMS.txt first.
  2. Choose the options you want. Allow tablets on my network to connect adds Windows Firewall rules for TCP 47800 and UDP 47801, which Wi-Fi needs. USB works without them.
  3. Open PlexiChore. For Extend and Primary, go to Extended display → Install. This downloads and installs the signed, open-source Virtual Display Driver (one administrator prompt). Mirror works without it.

Android tablet: install the APK from v1.0.0, open PlexiChore and follow the short setup.

Connect

  • USB (best): turn on USB debugging on the tablet (Settings › Developer options), plug it into the PC and accept the prompt. The app's USB page can download Android platform-tools (adb) for you.
  • Wi-Fi: tablet and PC on the same network. The first time, the tablet shows a 4-digit code; approve it on the PC.
  • On the tablet pick Extend, Primary or Mirror and tap Connect.

What's in it

  • Extend, Primary and Mirror, plus portrait when you rotate the tablet.
    • In Primary mode the tablet becomes the main display. Your original layout comes back when you disconnect, or at the next start if the app was closed unexpectedly.
  • No monitor plugged in → the tablet is the main screen. Whatever mode the tablet asks for, PlexiChore uses Primary.
    • The virtual screen stays on while it's the PC's only display, so Windows always has a screen.
    • Plug a monitor back in and the virtual screen is removed within about 15 seconds.
  • Hardware H.264 encoding through Windows Media Foundation, with a software fallback; tested on NVIDIA GPUs. Up to 60 fps.
  • Windows display scale set automatically to match the tablet (200% on a Tab S8). The tablet's − / + buttons change it while streaming.
  • Touch, pen and scroll; on-screen keyboard on the tablet.
  • A short grace period after a dropped connection, so reconnects are instant and windows stay where they were.
  • Tray app, start with Windows, Help pages.

Known limits

  • The Wi-Fi stream is not encrypted. Anyone on the same network who captures traffic could see the tablet's picture. Use the USB cable, or Wi-Fi only on networks you trust (connecting still needs your approval on the PC).
  • With no monitor:
    • PlexiChore starts only after you sign in to Windows, so sign in blind or turn on automatic sign-in.
    • A tablet's first Wi-Fi pairing can't be approved, because the prompt appears on the PC's screen. Pair once with a monitor attached, or use USB.
    • Starting the PC with no monitor attached hasn't been tested yet.
  • Up to 60 Hz. Games work best in borderless windowed mode; exclusive fullscreen may fail to capture. HDR isn't supported.
  • Weak GPUs (e.g. GT 710) reach about 51–55 fps with full-screen motion.
  • UAC prompts and the lock screen can't be captured; the tablet shows the last picture meanwhile.
  • Changing the virtual display's list of resolutions requires Repair (administrator).

License

PlexiChore is now free software under the GNU GPL v3.0, with attribution terms (LICENSE, NOTICE). You may use, change and share it. If you distribute it or a modified version, you must release the source under GPL-3.0 and keep the credit "Developed by PNT Apps" (https://www.pntapps.com) in the README and in the app.

Developed by PNT Apps.

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