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

(www.androidauthority.com)
442 points logic_node | 3 comments | 13 May 25 14:30 UTC | HN request time: 0.638s | source
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enragedcacti ◴[13 May 25 14:58 UTC] No.43973693[source]▶
Taking better advantage of a display is nice but imo the really exciting part of desktop mode is the planned integration with Google's Linux Terminal app (i.e. 1st party linux VM support). I have a Samsung DeX device and while you can get a basic dev environment working easily it can be really cumbersome to make it comfortable to use and integrate with your normal tablet workflow. Being able to install full-fat linux apps and run them in a window would be a complete game changer.

source for planned integration: https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/392521081?utm_source=...

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Calwestjobs ◴[13 May 25 20:31 UTC] No.43977363[source]▶
Chrome OS allowed this even before 2020. So you could open Linux (even GUI) and android app right next to each other... Had whole JS dev workflow/toolchain running on that ( did not want to clog my main computer with that ). Problem with mixing apps is that for some you have to use mouse/ stylus because their GUI was not meant to be touched.
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modeless ◴[13 May 25 22:24 UTC] No.43978427[source]▶
It's a shame that Chrome OS was subsumed by Android instead of the other way around. IMO in many ways it had better foundations.
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1. ignoramous ◴[13 May 25 23:02 UTC] No.43978764[source]▶
> IMO in many ways it had better foundations

Security-wise: True; but Android is a gigantic yet well-oiled ecosystem at this point, from silicon designers to manufacturers to vendors to developers, running on handhelds to TVs to wearables to gaming devices (including AR/VR consoles).

> shame that Chrome OS was subsumed by Android

ChromeOS had a decade but Google is wise focus on just one desktop platform. I don't think it should surprise anybody that a platform with 3bn users & 2mn odd apps won out.

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2. cj ◴[14 May 25 01:49 UTC] No.43979875[source]▶
Using android on a laptop with a keyboard and mousepad was always an awkward experience. It's kind of like trying to use an iPad as your main computing device. Similarly bad experience.

Hopefully they work on that.

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3. stuaxo ◴[14 May 25 07:17 UTC] No.43981764[source]▶
Similar with a keyboard and mouse with Android TV - I thought it would be useful for YouTube searches etc, the UI is so ill adapted to keyboard I gave up.

It's always funny charging my phone off the USB C for my monitor, nudging my mouse and seeing a pointer appear on the screen though.