Smartphone is already many folks' only computer – say hi to optional desktop mode in Android 15 beta
- Reference: 1720783029
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2024/07/12/android_15_beta_desktop/
- Source link:
Google's Pixel 9 range of fondleslabs is coming soon, and the company has already [1]announced an event , Made by Google , for August 13th at 1000 Pacific Time (that's 1700 UTC, and 1800 for Brits.) The new devices are very likely to run Android 15 – whose [2]first developer preview appeared in February .
Android Police [3]reports that one of the less obvious features of the beta may continue to final release and could become more apparent: the desktop mode that can be activated in [4]Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2.1 .
[5]
[6]Youtube Video
[7]
[8]
Having a desktop mode in Android isn't of itself a new thing. Samsung has offered its [9]Dex feature since the Galaxy S8 , and various vultures ventured Dex-wards [10]in 2017 and again [11]in 2018 . The snag was that you needed a [12]special dock to try it. Android 10 gained a hidden desktop mode in its developer features, but it [13]wasn't easy to find .
These days, though, the baseline is rather closer. Monitors with USB C connections are quite ordinary now, with ordinary prices to match, unlike, say, [14]their prices five years ago . You can even get [15]affordable portable ones . While PCs are still plagued with proprietary wireless mice and keyboards, some can be switched to Bluetooth mode, like this [16]inexpensive unit which the Reg FOSS desk uses when travelling. Even budget-model phones are capably specced: this vulture's [17]sub-£300 device has 12GB of RAM and 256GB of flash, and with USB-C everywhere there's no need to faff around with convertors or adaptors.
[18]
If you don't need any special hardware or software, can plug a cheapo keyboard and mouse into the back of your monitor and plug the phone into that, we suspect that this could prove to be a more popular option than fancier vendor-specific offerings of a few years ago.
[19]Microsoft China staff can't log on with an Android, so Redmond buys them iThings
[20]Google begs court for relief from Epic Games' Play Store demands
[21]Google borrows from Android to make ChromeOS better
[22]Qualcomm wants to target all 'all form factors' with SoCs that power Copilot+ PCs
Secure FOSS phone and laptop vendor [23]Puri.sm has an eye on this segment , as we reported last year. Its offering was based around a variant of the [24]NexDock hardware the Reg tried in 2019 .
A phone might make a somewhat clunky laptop, but oddly enough a perfectly serviceable desktop if you don't need to buy any additional kit for it to work. Even a clapped-out old phone with a cracked screen and little battery life. Being of an open sourcey persuasion, we'd love to see this sort of thing supported in replacement phone OSes such as [25]postmarketOS or [26]Ubuntu Touch . Not only might some of the usability issues go away, this could help the generic-Linux-on-phones movement gain some ground. ®
Get our [27]Tech Resources
[1] https://store.google.com/us/magazine/google_pixel_9_pro
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2024/02/19/android_15_first_developer_preview/
[3] https://www.androidpolice.com/android-15-desktop-mode-why/
[4] https://www.androidauthority.com/android-15-desktop-mode-demo-3430991/
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZpFTGoTlyQ@Dkl@jj4V1ggAAAIM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuIiK69BIiM
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZpFTGoTlyQ@Dkl@jj4V1ggAAAIM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZpFTGoTlyQ@Dkl@jj4V1ggAAAIM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2017/03/29/samsung_galaxy_s8/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/Print/2017/05/15/samsung_dex_deep_dive/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2018/07/18/samsung_dexpad_review/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2018/03/20/samsung_dex_2018_first_look/
[13] https://www.xda-developers.com/make-android-10-desktop-mode-useful/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2019/12/02/lenovo_p44w/
[15] https://www.theregister.com/2023/09/05/crowview_portable_2nd_lcd/
[16] https://www.ngs.eu/en/pc-accesories/mice/frizz-dual/PC%20ACCESSORIES/NGS-MOUSE-0916/
[17] https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_poco_f5-12258.php
[18] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZpFTGoTlyQ@Dkl@jj4V1ggAAAIM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[19] https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/09/microsoft_china_apple_google_authentication/
[20] https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/26/google_begs_court_for_relief/
[21] https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/12/google_android_chromeos/
[22] https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/03/qualcomm_arm_pc_ambitions/
[23] https://www.theregister.com/2023/02/22/purism_lapdock/
[24] https://www.theregister.com/2019/03/25/nexdock_2/
[25] https://www.theregister.com/2022/06/15/postmarketos_2206/
[26] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/29/first_focal_based_ubuntu_touch/
[27] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
The Samson [1]Meteor Mic is an astoundingly good USB microphone for a very reasonable price. No installation required, just plug it in and it works.
I'm sure you can find a proper USB webcam for not much either.
[1] https://samsontech.com/products/microphones/usb-microphones/meteormic/
You're right, it would have been prudent of me to just buy the right accessories in advance, instead of assuming that I could cobble together something from bits of kit that I have lying around. But... that's not in the spirit of the game!
I've largely let the last decade's computer trends (Skype, Teams etc) pass me by. A desktop workstation for computery tasks and a phone for communication seemed to have got me this far... but the cracks are beginning to show.
New job may require working with Mac Photoshop users, travelling away may be involved, Win 11 won't support my desktop's CPU, I'd like to explore a stylus interface for some applications, AutoCAD Fusion may be an acceptable substitute for Window-only Solidworks, a late model Intel MacBook Pro with bootcamp may or may not be a sensible purchase, Civ VI isn't that much fun anyway...
I've largely let the last decade's computer trends ... pass me by.
Was that your opening line in your interview?
You don't need a special dock for DeX, just a USB-C cable. Used it many times with the tellies and a Bluetooth keyboard, with touchscreen becoming a trackpad.
You're right don't *need* a special dock if you have a Bluetooth keyboard, and a USB C to HDMI adaptor (or a monitor with USB C). I believe the first version of Dex on older Galaxy phones did push you towards a special Dex dock that had a cooling fan. This why I was surprised that my Galaxy S10 defaulted to Dex when I connected it to a TV - I was expecting screen mirroring, which I think my S8 did.
If you just have a USB C cable, you can install a Dex client on a PC, basically giving that PC's monitor, mouse and keyboard over to the phone. The use cases for this approach are narrower (after all, you already have a running PC!), though possibly useful if:
-you don't want to enter login credentials into the PC
- you want to use a full keyboard with SMS and other messaging apps
- The PC doesn't have a WiFi connection... though using the phone as a hotspot is another solution
- The PC doesn't have a webcam or microphone.
- ummm... The PC has hideous wallpaper?
One great use of DeX is running apps in full screen that you can't do with screen mirroring; I used to do this with some video services. And some file management was a little more intuitive than using the MTP client, especially on MacOS, but this is so slow that I now generally use using a sync folder on Dropbox.
Not all USB-C to HDMI dongles work – I was particularly annoyed that the one for my Planet Gemini wouldn't – and the physical connection to the phone is the achilles heel of this, as you'll want to be able to charge the device while using it. I'm keeping my S10e around just so that I can continue to do this, but I think the connection has silted, or perhaps better, "felted" up over the years: there are reasons why Nokia and Ericsson avoided recessed connectors on phones.
When it's working, it's great for using on holiday to write postcards.
> Not all USB-C to HDMI dongles work
My understanding is that docks sold as being compatible with the Nintendo Switch also behaved themselves with Dex (Switch owners outnumbered Dex users, so user reviews were easier to find). Such docks would power the phone whilst also outputting video over HDMI.
Of course a dock that also has a couple of USB A sockets for mouse, keyboard or storage is handy, and not seemingly not expensive, maybe the pricier ones are more reliable, I don't know.
Although:
item/1005005802533086.html
On aliexpress gets you the ability to dp out AND charge your phone... for a fiver.
Or:
item/1005005429428796.html
Which lets you plug your phone straight into hdmi on a telly...
I mean, if you pay a few grand for a fondleslab, you shouldn't be quaking on a few quid for the right cables.
I'm also very keen on a good mobile desktop solution but, in your case, couldn't you use the android MS teams client?
I remember using my old Windows Phone with a dock in this way occasionally, it was a nice feature although not all that well executed at the time (standard for WinPho!) as not that many apps were built using UWP and so wouldn't run on a bigger screen
stick termux on it and it's a halfway decent computer
Always been interested in a full-on Desktop Environment on Mobile. I've used DeX with Samsung devices, installed MaruOS back in the day on my Nexus 5 to check that out. Heard that the Fairphone 5 has a Desktop Environment capability with Stock Android.
I mainly use GrapheneOS on my current Pixels (8 Pro, 7 and 7a) and would like to see Desktops come there as well (I suppose I could do this with a Pixel Fold/Tablet with GrapheneOS).
> Heard that the Fairphone 5 has a Desktop Environment capability with Stock Android.
DOH- I recently bought a Fairphone 4.
But why would that capability be defined by the hardware?
This could be a very useful feature. But probably limited to Google Pixel phones.
A lot of cool Android stuff gets stripped out by other manufacturers.
For example Samsung phones do not support useing the phone as a web cam, or Font Size quick tile. Nowhere to be seen on Samsung Android 14.
Then Samsungs appalling Camera2 API support.
Android fragmentation is worse than ever.
Special dock my ass
What you really want is a Planet Gemini, the Psion Series 5 form factor with full millennial tech refresh. Already runs Android, just crying for a desktop mode.
Google just need to grok two things:
1) Don't dump the incomparable Martin Riddiford for the clamshell keyboard design, like Planet did with their later models.
2) Turn off the feckin' awful predictive text when typing, because its I-know-you-wanted-a-control-sequence-really leaps into the unknown happen faster than we can spot in time for the next touch-typed keypress.
Ubuntu Touch has had wired (MHL and USB-C alt mode) and wireless (Miracast) "desktop mode" since like forever. You also don't need any kit since the phone display becomes a makeshift touchpad/keyboard.
Pretty useful on the go since most hotels have Miracast-enabled TVs.
Microsoft are not going to like this. Maybe they'll retaliate by getting into the mobile phone business....
Microsoft made an 'Optomised for Dex' version of Office 365 from the get-go.
Haha, I almost found myself using Dex the other day... I had to 'attend' my first MS Teams meeting for a job interview. My once powerful but old laptop was still on Win 7 so no Teams, my desktop doesn't have a webcam or microphone, another old laptop was on Win 10 but was slow and had noisy fans and HDD. Options I considered included installing Linux as a dual boot option on the laptops, using a cable to turn my phone into a webcam and mic for my desktop, using a USB C cable to run Dex on my desktop PC, and using a USB C to HDMI adaptor to mirror my phone's display on to a TV. Trying the latter method instigated Dex (phone screen turns into a track pad), so I pondered on that as a possible solution too.
Eventually sanity prevailed and I just borrowed my friend's iPad.
I could see myself trying Dex or similar again in future, when I've bought a suitable dock.