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Comment by laweijfmvo | Hacker News Reader

  > "Google wants to turn Android into a proper desktop operating system"

Years ago (2020 I believe) I received a new laptop and Samsung S20-something for my new job. The laptop was DoA and I was unable to complete any of the internal training courses assigned to me (which required certs and such to access). I remembered DeX and on a whim, plugged the Samsung phone into my hub with Monitor, Keyboard, and mouse. Set Chrome to desktop mode and "worked" entirely on my phone until they replaced the laptop. It worked shockingly well, even back then.

I don't think those types of "desktop mode" features ever took off, myself included, but I really wonder why. If Apple let you run macOS from a tethered iPhone, it just might!

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> If Apple let you run macOS from a tethered iPhone, it just might[…]

…cannibalize iPad or Mac sales.

It’s almost insulting that modern iPhones support keyboard, mouse, and monitor via an USB-C hub, yet the experience remains artificially limited.

I got a Pixel Fold recently, and using it makes me sad that Windows Phone got cancelled. It was absolutely ahead of its time. I would love to roll an PS that can provide three interface experiences from the same device.

>I don't think those types of "desktop mode" features ever took off, myself included, but I really wonder why.

The Motorola Atrix had this "webtop" thing that was pushed before this sort of tech was ready and it was kinda, well, bad. Slow, glitchy, and hot. Battery life wasn't great either.

It had a really fierce ad campaign though, so I personally know a few people that bought one. I don't remember anyone enjoying it.

> If Apple let you run macOS from a tethered iPhone, it just might!

Maybe that's why? It seems that people just aren't currently capable of fathoming the concept of "one device for everything". If Apple did it though, people might realize it's a good idea. Then again, I think it's unlikely that they will, because they do want to sell you a Mac as well as an iPhone/iPad.

I was able to connect a USB c hub monitor keyboard and Bluetooth mouse into a Pixel 8 Pro with the latest (non beta) version of Android and get a good desktop experience including keyboard shortcut keys.

It will be interesting to see where this goes as Google merged Android and Chrome OS

DeX is pretty much still an option on Samsung tablets, however I don't miss UNIX command line on my tablet, that is why those features never take off, only a minority cares about them.

I wonder how many of these are just attempts for Google to try to slim down how much equipment they have to hand their own employees internally.

IIRC, they started handing their contractors Pixel Tabs and docks to work from?

The S20 Ultra is pretty powerful.

Some comparison websites do not list DeX for the cheaper S20FE -- AFAIK all S models since then offer it?

Discovered it by chance when trying my Thinkpad's Thunderbolt Dock as a power supply. That was a ridiculously good moment when I had my full setup (mouse, erg. keyboard, 34" screen) available for my phone.

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