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Comment by jl6 | Hacker News Reader

My mobile OS dream has always been to have a phone that I can plug into a docking cradle (or maybe just a USB-C cable these days) to connect it to a full size monitor, keyboard and mouse, and then use it as a regular PC, and then unplug it and have the same “data state” available on the mobile OS (albeit perhaps with different apps, reflecting the different input methods and screen size).

Is this any closer to becoming reality with modern Android?

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I recall around 2019 or so plugging an Android phone into a Dell USB C dock and it just worked. Connected to the monitor, USB keyboard and mouse, and even the ethernet port.

The only problems were that the version of Android I was running did not have windowing, so every app was full screen, and it could only drive one monitor. I guess some of the apps were also goofy on a widescreen monitor, but that's not really Android's fault.

It felt like the dream was almost there, but as time went on it was also obvious that nobody was terribly interested in making that dream a reality.

> I guess some of the apps were also goofy on a widescreen monitor, but that's not really Android's fault.

It is the main Android's fault. It's not based on GNU/Linux, so you can only run specifically designed apps and can't run ordinary desktop apps. As such, a large screen is almost useless even if it technically works.

The latest Android now supports virtualized Linux and free-floating windows, so you can run any software packaged for Debian.

You will also send a bunch of "telemetry" to Google.

It was a reality back when Windows Phone was a thing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Continuum

Those things were incredibly slow.

I had one and slowness was hardware related as phone would heat up. Modern iPhone or Android could easily power 4K display for most productivity work.

Yes, this is possible with Samsung Dex.

However, when I sit in front of a big screen it is just easier to connect a "real" PC to it. Syncing data between my desktop and phones are pretty fast anyway.

I share that dream and, yes, it's getting closer with modern Android. IMO Google has seemingly embraced this path (e.g. with ChromeOS "merging" with Android) I could see a future where docked desktop mode in Android is basically like what we have today with ChromeOS.

https://www.androidauthority.com/run-desktop-linux-apps-on-a...

"An upcoming Android update will significantly upgrade the Linux Terminal app, enabling it to run full-fledged graphical Linux programs on supported devices"

I wish Apple would do this. The SoCs in modern iPhones are more than enough to power a desktop OS.

I think the issue is that a unified computing platform would devour a decent amount of their laptop sales, but in the long run I think it would be a superior experience for the user. It really is a political problem and not a technical problem at this point.

Build a monitor with a base to set the iPhone on with wireless charging, you drop the phone on the base and it automatically pairs to the monitor and mouse/keyboard. You can call the system “Apple One” or something similar catchy. There you go Apple, just saved you millions of dollars on product development.

If it was a phone running basically MacOS when plugged in a display with an iPhone skin when mobile it would finally convince me to buy an iDevice for the first time in more than a decade.

Imagine if developers had the tools required to make this for you. Apple doesn't trust users not to cannibalize their own markets.

I know :-( I really dislike Apple for making amazing hardware and limiting it with awful software restrictions.

A friend of mine has been doing that for several years now on his phone. He does it since he's so incredibly mobile for work.

Not sure which model though. So yes, somewhere, somehow this is possible.

> to have a phone that I can plug into a docking cradle (or maybe just a USB-C cable these days) to connect it to a full size monitor, keyboard and mouse, and then use it as a regular PC

This phone exists: https://puri.sm/products/librem-5, and it's my daily driver.

Can we trust that this isnt a law enforcement or intelligence agency honeypot like previous such devices have been?

Which previous devices? Can you provide some links?

Librem 5 has open schematics [0] and runs an FSF-endorsed distro [1]. What else do you need for the verification [2]? Otherwise Linux could also be a honeypot, right?

[0] https://source.puri.sm/Librem5/l5-schematic

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25504641

[2] https://puri.sm/posts/hidden-operating-systems-in-chips-vs-s...

I think they might be referring to ANOM which was an FBI honeypot for criminals seeking encrypted communication [0]. However, I'm not sure where they are drawing a parallel there beyond librem not being a 'mainstream' phone manufacturer.

[0]: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Trojan_Shield

Pixel phones can do this today using shared storage and Termux/OotB Linux VMs from Android 15 onwards, and Android apps for phone UI.

However, Google is evolving Android's security model towards app-specific storage and away from shared/global storage access (for legitimate security concerns), so no telling how long the window will be open.

My old LG Android phones were able to do this - worked quite well. I know the V60 had - not sure about the older V20.

Unfortunately they stopped making phones because they didnt sell well. Which I always thought was odd because they had all the coolest niche features and were fairly priced.

It's basically possible with any device that supports DP Alt Mode? Any remaining issues are usually software (lack of proper desktop environment etc) but there are ways around that with Android. Samsung has DeX.

There are very few devices that actually run a desktop OS, which allows to run any ordinary desktop apps.

Samsung dex does this fairly well. The problem is that if you need to carry around a display and keyboard, you might as well carry a laptop.

I think folding phone is the better approach.

I prefer a UMPC with an LTE card and "AR" glasses. It's plug and play, works now with no fuss from the manufacturer, it's just normal Linux.

which UMPC do you use for this?

Which AR glasses are good enough in screen quality for coding?

Do you wear the AR glasses when you're out and about like a coffee shop?

I thought android can sort of do this

With increasingly more obstacles with time and no full ownership of the device.

It can — and all the more so since most recent update which adds more features to desktop mode. iPadOS 26 is also prioritising increased convergence with enhanced windowing support. Definitely been a ground shift recently.

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