Google is building its own DeX: First look at Android's Desktop Mode

If you haven't tried it, especially if your workplace allows your phone to have access to some corporate data, DeX + a good pair of AR or just integrated display glasses feels like the future.

I run my S23 Ultra with a pair of XReal One's, and a folding Bluetooth keyboard (DeX let's you use your phone as a touchpad). It is really amazing in widescreen mode sitting in a coffee shop, reading through technical documents and answering work email. When I'm done, it can all fold up and fit in a (spacious) pair of cargo shorts.

I think Samsung has played the long game on DeX, with an eye towards their collaborative XR glasses with Google next year. As great as XReal has been, I am eager to see a "first-party" solution.

I tried it for a while with the best AR glasses I could find at the time, XReal Air 2 Pros with an Xreal Beam, and although I could see the potential, it wasn't good enough to get work done. The screen size was too small, the resolution too poor, and it was a little too jittery and unnatural feeling.

Are the Xreal One's that much of a step forward that you can use it for serious work? Even on my Quest Pro I find it just on the edge of being too annoying to do coding-work. Web browsing is decent.

And second question, worth buying the One or waiting for the One Pros?

I'm extremely interested in this use case. I can imagine a future where your employer ships a "company headset" and peripherals rather than a laptop.

Why don't we have virtual offices to wander around yet?

Xreal One removed the biggest problems with that tech, it's usable now. No more "jittery and unnatural feeling" or stupid dongles/pucks. They put custom silicon in the glasses which stabilizes things and optionally locks displays in space.

It's not perfect but usable.

Yep, I do this too. It works well. I rather would have a Linux Desktop but for now I can get all my work done like this.

That was what SimulaVR was advertising on. Unfortunately it seems things are a lot more difficult than they anticipated and they still have not shipped any devices.

I'd say take another look. The beam has a LOT of issues. The One basically says "give me a signal, I'll project it in 2D and track it with 3DoF." Its smooth, and while it can drift a little (it is only an accelerometer), it is stable for me.

I wear glasses with mine, yet I still find it surprisingly crisp for text in ultra-wide mode. I'd say it is a fairly unobtrusive experience. It also helps that the nose pads don't dig into my skin.

That said, if a Quest Pro isn't good enough, I hesitate to recommend it. The FOV is certainly smaller on the One.

I tried this and battery goes down very quickly on the phone. Do you have a solution for this?

powerbank?

The issue with this is usually that you can't have power from the powerbank going into the only USB-C socket on the phone while the display signal comes out on the same cable. I think it's technically doable, but not usually with dongles that would fit in your pocket.

> Why don't we have virtual offices to wander around yet?

I worked at a place that used one.

Because the actually functionality they provide is the same as Slack, but worse in basically every way, is maybe why.

This is the problem. VR/AR can add value but you really have to tailor the experience to it. And it has to be a suitable usecase.

If you just lift over what you have in 2D it becomes only more painful. But this is what most people do. Also many platforms, like Microsoft Mesh. Yes, it's cool that you can join a teams meeting in VR. But until they add something that actually takes advantage of being in VR, all it does is add more friction. Roasting marshmallows and other cutesy minigames does not add any value whatsoever.

I think there’s maybe a case for VR meeting rooms that you kinda teleport into, but anything beyond that is gonna be niche as hell and just a hindrance in every other case. A whole VR office space? Just gets in the way.

And I expect even a VR meeting space would see more use that’s worse than a normal video call but is happening because someone in charge is over the moon for it, than it’d see use in the far rarer cases where it’s really better.

What bluetooth keyboard do you use? I thinking I want to try this out :)

> Linux Desktop

This is exactly what Librem 5 phone offers. (My daily driver.)

Well, I've done extensive trialling at work during the pandemic (when flying often just wasn't an option at all!) and I do see added value for things like workshops.

Teams has breakout rooms but they are very rigid. You have to switch to one and define them. You can't 'glance over' and see what the other rooms are doing. It's much more flexible to just walk around in a 3D space, work on a shared whiteboard you are standing around, pull in some powerpoints to discuss, and walk over to another group if you're needed (you could see them wave over). At this point it really becomes a real alternative to flying over for a workshop. Thus saving many tonnes of CO2, and much cost in flights and hotels. VR is not quite as good but it's much better at dynamic workshops than a simple video tool like Teams is. Added bonus if you are discussing potential upcoming products that you already have 3D models of. Just picking up a model and going like "Hey why don't we put the USB port on this side", this is really where this shines.

But the tool has to be really good. Other solutions like Arthur, Viverse and Spatial could do it really well (Spatial has since gone full consumer-oriented though and has lost many capabilities for business, it's now more of a luxury VRChat). Mesh can not, it is extremely limited. It's the old AltSpaceVR but dumbed down. It would have been better if they kept AltSpace as it was without messing so much with it.

Same with the Immersed Visor. Also still vaporware. They had lots of journalists fly over for a demo that didn't actually work and all they did was show off hardware.

All the AR glasses vendors have a pocketable dongle for this.

How's the battery life? Have you tried it with XR glasses?

If you want a really small one I've been happy with this:

https://www.amazon.com/iClever-Bluetooth-Keyboard-Foldable-S...

Wouldn't recommend for extended typing though.

Thanks. Do you only connect Dex + XReal + Keyboard with no mouse? I'm worried no mouse will be uncomfortable.

Didn't try the glasses. Concerning the battery, see these:

https://forums.puri.sm/t/nine-months-librem-5-as-my-only-pho...

https://forums.puri.sm/t/a-l5-review-1-week-to-my-ready-to-s...

I actually don't have any sort of Dex/AR setup. Currently only have my phone's screen. Admittedly I've only tested it. Haven't actually done a coding session yet. So total typing time on that keyboard is minimal. So I guess all I can say is I'm happy with the build quality and design. The bluetooth switching between devices is pretty slick.

Any usb-c docking station should work. (should being key, many are lacking something useful - commonly the monitor port is a usb-A video interface with windows-only drivers not a display port that would just work).

Though I suspect a laptop is still what you want. Your phone will generate too much heat to leave in your pocket. Or maybe some backpack (fanny pack?) wearable?

Speed of light limitations there is fundamental latency that will be noticed if you are not close enough. Many musicians are doing virtual jam sessions and 1000km is about the limit. Music is the most demanding application, depending on how your meeting is run some can handle a lot of meetings. Someone on Mars will forever be limited to just watching a presentation, someone on a different continent will need to raise their hand and be recognized before asking a question.

Thanks. If you have experience with the Quest Pro would you say the text clarity is a step up with the Ones? Supposedly the One Pros will be even better, and are coming out soon.

I meant for a pocketable setup as parent explained. You wear the glasses in a coffeeshop connected to your mobile phone (the single USB-C port).

Based on some quick testing this consumes about 1% per minute on my S24 Ultra which makes this scenario unrealistic (at least for me)