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Samsung DeX

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Re: Samsung DeX

#161

Post by rsync »

FreakyT wrote: post #13

It's definitely neat, but I feel like this has been done before without success -- examples like the Motorola Atrix, Windows Continuum, and even the cancelled Ubuntu Phone come to mind. (And, going further back in time, let's not forget the Palm Foleo!) It seems like a neat idea on the surface though, so I wonder why as a concept the phone-connected-to-desktop-peripherals thing hasn't gained more traction. My suspici…

"so I wonder why as a concept the phone-connected-to-desktop-peripherals thing hasn't gained more traction."

I think there's a slightly different model that makes even more sense ...

What we see with DeX (and Altrix, etc.) is the phone as the CPU that gets plugged into larger devices.

But what I think makes more sense is a smaller module, as the CPU, that gets plugged into larger devices including a phone.

So instead of plugging your phone into your "PC" you would move the core module from your phone, to your PC.

That way the core module can be much smaller and can power future phone upgrades, etc.

I think a PCMCIA[1] card (a "PC-CARD") would be a great form factor for the compute module...

[1] People Can't Memorize Computer Industry Acronyms

Re: Samsung DeX

#162

Post by rsync »

numbsafari wrote: post #38
askafriend wrote: post #20

I don't think this is something that people actually want or have real painful need for today. If you already have a big monitor like that then you probably already have a desktop computer. If you don't, then you probably already have a laptop. If you have neither, then I doubt you're the type of user who's going to get this today and a monitor to go along with it because your needs are probably already filled by an…

I would love this. I’m sick of lugging a heavy aluminum notebook around. I want to drop my phone into a cradle or have it wirelessly connect to a KVM setup so I can launch into a desktop session for running tmux and a browser. Wish this worked with iOS.

"I would love this. I’m sick of lugging a heavy aluminum notebook around. I want to drop my phone into a cradle or have it wirelessly connect to a KVM setup so I can launch into a desktop session for running tmux and a browser."

I don't know if this really solves that, though ...

I would like to maintain the same compute environment from phone to laptop but I would still need to bring the laptop (or, rather, the laptop shaped dock) with me everywhere.

This is because you can't possibly plug untrusted/unknown devices into computers you own. There is no way I am plugging my "CPU" into a hotel/airport/Regus workstation.

Re: Samsung DeX

#163

Post by atrilumen »

spike021 wrote: post #78
numbsafari wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would love this. I’m sick of lugging a heavy aluminum notebook around. I want to drop my phone into a cradle or have it wirelessly connect to a KVM setup so I can launch into a desktop session for running tmux and a browser. Wish this worked with iOS.

Many of the newer laptops aren't very heavy at all. My Macbook Air is aluminum and can fit in a small backpack/messenger bag. Unless you just want to not be carrying anything.

Seriously, my 12" MacBook is all I need / want now.

I found the smallest sling bag that it would fit inside, and quickly became accustomed to carrying it at all times.

When my Nexus 5 died, I barely felt it. I went months without a phone because it just wasn't a pressing issue.

There's no way I'd trade it for a phone dock and desktop peripherals.

Re: Samsung DeX

#164

Post by hello2 »

I've been using a Dex for about 6 months, exclusively, including now. It has some annoying bugs: * you can't select text very well, only in some cases (for example in the browser address bar) * some applications simply can't run (for example firefox mobile), but they are very few * zoom with the scroll doesn't work in most cases (google maps) * can't zoom in with the scroll in the browser , and when it does, the increments are very high, can't be customized and they are forgotten when you close the page. * all pages open in mobile mode and you have to click "desktop mode" for each and every one of them that is not displayed like you want. * reading PDFs is impossible because you can't customize the zoom (may be a deal breaker for students), and with a big monitor you get big text, not possible to read. * most bitcoin wallets don't work with the ledger nano s on android, (I use my work computer for transactions).

But despite these, overall it's been a decent experience. I download torrents like I did on my PC, I watch movies. I have all my data with me at all times, which I like very much. I used to have a laptop but it was mostly furniture; with a small kid at home I didn't have time to even open it in most nights. And when I did have time, all I did was watch a movie or download a torrent, which is what I do with the Dex anyway.

I wish it would've had a USB 3.0 port.

Re: Samsung DeX

#165

Post by terminalcommand »

joenathanone wrote: post #155
petecox wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would web browsing be any different to performance on a phone or iPad; it's just connecting an external display over USB-to-HDMI? As long as the phone's GPU supports that...

For me, I browse the web differently on desktop, for example on desktop if I visit HN, I might open 5 different links and their comments at once before visiting them one by one. In the middle of that I might open email, and then open tabs from the email. I could easily end up with several windows with 6-7 tabs in each open. That sort of thing I would never do on my phone or tablet, just because of the form factor I k…

I'm currently using an iPhone 5, have 11 tabs open and am streaming music from spotify.

Other than occasional crashes and a tiny bit of lag, my aged phone handles it very well.

On the other hand, when I'm on the desktop I open multiple browser instances with 20+ tabs open on each of them. I guess I have a problem :).

Re: Samsung DeX

#166

Post by DennisAleynikov »

synicalx wrote: post #92
joenathanone wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a Samsung Dex, I only use it now to charge my phone. It's useful but not useful enough. It's the sort of experience that works in a pinch but a laptop or desktop delivers a much better desktop experience, and there is no proper RDP app. The MS RDP app doesn't go full screen. For this to catch on, in my mind, it needs to provided an experience that can replace a desktop, otherwise having to have a dock, monitor…

I'm curious, how are finding performance for basic stuff like web browsing? Real bummer to hear about the RDP app, that was a big incentive for me, but it's no use if it won't go full screen

I've been stress testing my dex setup and it's surprisingly performant. To push it to the limits I decided to start a youtube channel documenting how it goes and I'm not even using the official DeX station, just a $20 ripoff from china. It's been suprisingly powerful to edit video on and even have all the files on same device. Even the adobe suite is suprisingly well implemented on android. I find that any issue I have with missing programs I can find on XDA in the form of an apk file.

http://youtube.com/c/DennisAleynikov

Re: Samsung DeX

#167

Post by DennisAleynikov »

hello2 wrote: post #164

I've been using a Dex for about 6 months, exclusively, including now. It has some annoying bugs: * you can't select text very well, only in some cases (for example in the browser address bar) * some applications simply can't run (for example firefox mobile), but they are very few * zoom with the scroll doesn't work in most cases (google maps) * can't zoom in with the scroll in the browser , and when it does, the incr…

So glad to hear there are others using this long term as a computing solution. it feels like I'm downgrading when I'm using any other computer now because it doesn't have all my apps & files just a click away and all of my info logged in properly.

I was sure I could get away with using something that's essentially a chromebook but I was surprised how well apk files replace any program I would have google "function of program .exe" I can search for the equivalent apk file. Really neat for editing videos as well, since the graphics chip is optimized for video encoding it seems that the programs use that to their advantage when exporting large files.

To really put the DeX to the test I'm uploading as many videos as I can edited and shot all on the s8/DeX. http://youtube.com/c/DennisAleynikov

Re: Samsung DeX

#168

Post by DennisAleynikov »

Koshkin wrote: post #15
vthallam wrote: post #10

Pretty impressive. Considering that it also allows you to login to a remote windows machine. Lots of enterprise companies use Windows and citrix receiver as a way to login remotely, this makes very useful when you are travelling just with your phone.

> just with your phone ... and a DeX station.

You could get a much cheaper (mine was $20) slimport/displayport usb-c to hdmi converter. That's all the phone is looking for to launch the DeX environment.

The dongle version of the station works even better cuz it can lay flat on my desk and the finger print scanner is easy to reach.

Re: Samsung DeX

#169

Post by DennisAleynikov »

contingencies wrote: post #127

I've got an S8+ (great phone!) and haven't tried this. When I can have a fully fledged Linux desktop on my device, parallel to the native phone services and with pocket-portable screen connectivity I will stop carrying a laptop. My 2013 Apple MBP is dying, and the replacement won't be Apple, since 95% of all I use on Apple is open source anyway, and the prices are stupid. Looking at NUC/BRIX devices, phones, etc. Sam…

Bro, don't worry too much about the full linuxness of it. The s8+ is a beauty with brains and even without the official dock (mine's $20 from some chinese dropshipper) and it's been incredible with access to the android bash and more with debian being able to run on the device hardware itself. I highly reccomend you try it out, I've been testing out video editing on it and never thought I could give up final cut and a mac but I find it hard to go back.

Check out some of the stuff I've made using the s8+ and a dex dongle https://www.youtube.com/c/DennisAleynikov

Re: Samsung DeX

#170

Post by terminalcommand »

StudentStuff wrote: post #141
spike021 wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many of the newer laptops aren't very heavy at all. My Macbook Air is aluminum and can fit in a small backpack/messenger bag. Unless you just want to not be carrying anything.

Thinkpads have gotten shockingly thin and light, all while improving spilled liquid resistance and enhancing the cooling. The T440 and newer seems to have been a complete redesign, a 14 inch laptop that weighs 1.8kg and is neither too big or too small. Slap a 1080p or 2560p panel in it, and the laptop is a monster!

For lightness I think the x series are a much better choice. I've been using an x201 for many years now. Even at its old age, it's suprisingly light to today's standards and has decent battery life.
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