Can you imagine for a moment only having to carry your smartphone everywhere you go instead of a laptop or tablet? You get to your hotel room or home office and plug in your smartphone to the docking station and “Tadah.” You are now plugged into two full-sized computer monitors, a full-size keyboard, and a mouse.
Mobile-powered smartphone desktop computing is a remarkable technological advancement; it is still in its infancy. It replicates the capabilities of a desktop computer with just a Smartphone mobile device wirelessly or with a few simple accessories. Mobile-powered desktop computing allows users to use a desktop environment with their smartphone.
Technology seems to be moving faster every year. Mobile-powered smartphone desktop computing is another way that we have progressed significantly over the last few years. But it leaves many people wondering if this technological advancement is a good thing. Let’s take a closer look at mobile-powered smartphone desktop computing and the benefits of using it.
Why Is Mobile-Powered Smartphone Desktop Computing a Good Thing?
Mobile-powered smartphone desktop computing is a good thing because it allows users to work without a PC, work from home or on the go, and use one device to access everything they need.
No Need To Buy a PC if You Are Not a Power User
If you do not need to use a desktop full time, users can work on a desktop setting without buying a PC with mobile-powered smartphone desktop computing. Having this capability can save a lot of money for those who need the ability but can only afford one device and need both a smartphone and a desktop computer.
This ability is also beneficial to employers who want their employees to work on the go. This technology is a good fit if an employee spends most of their time in the field, say in sales or construction, but still needs a computer for reporting or certain jobs. Companies can save money by utilizing this new technology instead of using company resources to purchase laptops and workstations for all employees.
Mobile-powered smartphone desktop computing can also be used along with a PC. This additional ability means that all information saved on your mobile device can be used with your PC or by itself. This option is another great way to stay connected on the go without needing a PC, but if you want to connect, the capability is available.
A Cheaper Way To Work From Home
Rather than buying a laptop for every employee, mobile-powered smartphone computing allows employers to give their employees access to working from home. Companies can save a lot of money as buying a laptop computer for everyone is not cheap. The upkeep of laptops can also get pricey.
Allowing employees to access their work on their mobile devices can keep them connected for longer periods of time. The simplicity of checking a mobile device outweighs the added chore of booting up a laptop.
Please see some of our other interesting articles on Tech, and Motorola, like “What Is DNA Data Storage?” and “How to Know if My Phone is 5G Ready?”
A Future Way To Stay Connected Without The Expense of A Laptop Or Computer
While ownership of smart devices has climbed over the past few years, the same can’t be said for digital devices. Companies are more likely to provide employees with a computer or laptop than they are for smartphones.
Frequently companies want employees to use their own cell phones or smartphone. If the popularity of computers continues its decline, companies will be spending a lot of money to keep their employees connected.
Mobile-powered desktop computing gives employees a new way to stay connected without the expense of a laptop or computer. Being able to do this with a device that 81% of Americans already have is something worth considering.
Working From Home Is Easier
If you are more comfortable working on a desktop format, mobile-powered smartphone desktop computing can easily help you do it. All you need to do is set up a dock connection with a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Then, you can get started working anywhere you want.
You can have the dock connector with a monitor, keyboard, and mouse set up at your office and home simultaneously, all while saving lots of other issues we all have with connectivity and access to our main pc.
According to the Pew Research Center, 81% of Americans own a smartphone. In comparison, only 74% of Americans own a laptop or computer. In fact, the number of Americans that own some sort of computer has dropped by about 4% since 2016.
Smartphones Are Simpler Than Laptops
We already discussed the money you can save with mobile-powered desktop computing, but let’s talk about convenience. One device can now give you the possible access you need to everything. You may no longer need to take a call on your phone and pull out your laptop to get something done. You can be working on a spreadsheet, responding to a text, or answering a call, all while working in a desktop environment. It’s all in one spot.
It may be a future where long gone are the days when you have to carry that heavy laptop bag through the airport. Now, it is all there on your smartphone. Overall, the experience of carrying a small mobile device is simpler, easier, and much more convenient.
Smartphone Security Benefits
There are also security benefits that you get with a smartphone that you may not otherwise. Smartphones are all moving toward facial recognition security rather than just relying on a password. Even older models use fingerprint identification to ensure user safety. Laptops do not frequently offer this benefit.
Many laptops that do offer this are a lot more expensive. So, while it is possible to get that added security for employees, it would cost the company even more than a basic laptop. Smartphones are harder to hack than laptop computers. So, your company’s information will be safer.
Benefits of Allowing Employees To Work Remotely
We have already discussed the financial implications of allowing employees to work from home, but there are more benefits to consider. With mobile-powered desktop computing, employees could work from home without needing to remember their laptops or bothering to travel.
Traveling to work can be difficult. Not only is time wasted, but it could be difficult for those who are dealing with inclement weather or car troubles. But having an easy way to ensure employees can still get their work done despite things out of their control means that you get more productivity without the hassle of commuting.
No commuting to work means that employees save money on gasoline and mileage on their vehicles. Overall, this means more money in their pocket at the end of the week. For employers, mobile-powered smartphone computing could eliminate the possibility of forgetting their work equipment and allow them to work from home.
Overall, working from home is beneficial to the employee, employer, and the environment as it keeps cars off the road. It can also be less stressful for the person by avoiding the daily commute in large metropolitan areas.
Current Mobile Desktop Computing With a Laptop, Dock, and Peripherals
Many people are already using Mobile Desktop Computing with a Laptop, Dock, and Peripherals. It is super convenient if you are traveling or when you are working between an office and home to have a docking set up like the Dell Docking Station with a Dell Inspiron Laptop from Amazon.
Before the new Smartphone option, you only needed the laptop, and for size and convenience, you cannot beat a setup like this. Whatever you are doing, the most economical and convenient way to use a desktop configuration.
We use this every day in our office and home and have completely converted to the use of this system. It is very exciting to see the newest evolution in ease of use and technology with Smartphone Desktop Computing.
How Does Smartphone Mobile-Powered Desktop Computing Work?
Smartphone mobile-powered desktop computing works via a program in a smartphone that allows it to run like a laptop on a screen, keyboard, and mouse. All you need is an adapter or Bluetooth wireless connection, and you’re ready to get started.
An adapter like the dock shown in the video above allows your phone to be plugged into multiple types of cables that will connect to your monitor. There are a few different adapters you can buy depending on your needs. You can purchase a basic HDMI adapter or get a multiport adapter that allows you to connect your smartphone to multiple sources.
Once you have your adapter, you’re ready to get connected. Use a monitor, keyboard, and mouse for the full desktop computing experience. If you purchase Bluetooth-enabled accessories, then you won’t need a multiport adapter. But some keyboards and mouses require a connection. In this case, a multiport adapter would be best.
Once you have all the necessary tools, the software will allow you to access your phone as a desktop device. Depending on the integration features, you should be able to access all your phone applications as well as the desktop application. It gives you all your information in one easy place.
Android Device Mobile-Powered Desktop Computing
Most of the devices on the market for Smartphone Mobile-Powered Desktop Computing are Android Devices. With support from Google and Android, companies like Samsung, Motorola, and Huawei smartphones already support “desktop mode,” and nowadays, a smartphone can be more powerful than a PC. Huawei is banned in the U.S., and we will discuss the problem with Apple iPhones in this arena in a moment.
Samsung DeX Mode
The most prominent Android Mobile-Powered Desktop Computing devices that come pre-loaded are the Samsung lineup with DeX Mode. From the Samsung Galaxy S8 forward, including the Note series.
From the article the Beginner’s Guide to Samsung DeX we get the information that Samsung DeX is a software platform that extends your smartphone or tablet into a desktop computing environment. It operates on almost all of Samsung’s main *smartphones launched since 2017.
DeX can be used wirelessly or directly on the screen with a keyboard case. It can also be connected to a monitor with an external keyboard and mouse, just like a desktop. So you can use your Samsung smartphone as your PC, or you can use Dex PC, which lets you drag content between your smartphone and your PC.
Dex Usability With Applications like Microsoft Windows and Google
One of the biggest questions for us is if we are getting the full Decktop PC Experience on a Samsung Smartphone with DeX. The answer is yes and no, and it is improving every year.
You can use applications from Microsoft and Google-like Word and Excel as well as Google Sheets and Docs, for instance. There is a multitude of available productivity applications that are available to use just like your normal PC.
There are, of course, some that do not work perfectly yet, but there are collaborations between Samsung, Microsoft, and other software providers. You can use Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive and do everything from video conferencing with Skype and Zoom, as well as printing and scanning.
Motorola “Ready For” Mobile Desktop
Motorola’s Ready For website says that Ready For Mobile Desktop amplifies your phone’s capabilities by connecting to any monitor or display.
With Motorola’s version of smartphone mobile-powered desktop computing version, you can work on a larger screen with your video chat and emails. With “Gametime,” you can play mobile games on a large screen with a wireless controller.
With the Motorola Edge, Edge +, and Moto g100, and the “Experience Hub,” you can watch TV, work on homework, use the Mobile Desktop Launcher, or do a video call. You can download Ready For PC for Windows and simultaneously access your phone apps and your PC files on the same screen. They also sell a Motorola Ready For Adjustable Dock on Amazon which is a nice and convenient feature.
Apple iPhone Mobile Powered Smartphone Desktop Computing
Apple has not embraced the Mobile Powered Smartphone Desktop Computing like Samsung, Motorola, and other Android Smartphone Companies. We also know there are workarounds, apps, and tricks out there to use your iPhone as a PC in certain circumstances.
This tech certainly seems like it should be a priority in a global market and an amazing opportunity as powerful as Apple iPhone Bionic Processors are. It is kind of like driving a bus instead of a car.
- Use a Digital AV adapter to connect to a Monitor or TV.
- Plug a Lightning Digital AV Adapter or Lightning to VGA Adapter into the charging port on the bottom of the iPhone.
- Connect an HDMI or VGA cable to your adapter.
- Connect the other end of your HDMI or VGA cable to your powered-on secondary display monitor or TV.
- If necessary, switch to the correct video source or HDMI on your secondary display.
- The screen on your iPhone should appear on your TV, display, or projector.
- Screen mirroring – iPhone users can use a third-party app for iPhone screen mirroring to pc. Screen mirroring will let you cast your iPhone’s screen to your Windows laptop or desktop PC over Wi-Fi.
- Bluetooth Mouse and Keyboard – You can use a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard with your iPhone.
- Go to Settings, Bluetooth Devices, make sure the Bluetooth toggle is on, and then put your mouse or keyboard into Bluetooth pairing mode.
- When the Bluetooth Mouse or Keyboard appears on the list of available devices, tap on the name, and it will pair with your iPhone.
Final Thoughts
Overall, currently. Mobile-powered desktop computing is a good thing and gets better all of the time. It can bring all your work to one convenient device. Mobile-powered computing can allow employees to work from home while saving the company money on expensive laptops.
So, with mobile-powered desktop computing, you have the ability to easily connect your mobile device to accessories that make your computing that much easier. Check out mobile-powered desktop computing for an easy, cheaper way to have access to a desktop at home.
*DeX is available on Galaxy Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+, S9/S9+, S10/S10 5G/S10+/S10e, S20/S20+/S20 Ultra 5G, S21/S21+/S21 Ultra and Note8, Note9, Note10/Note10+/Note10 5G/Note10+ 5G, Note20/Note20 Ultra/Note20 5G/Note20 Ultra 5G and Fold, Z Fold2 and A90 5G and Tab S4, Tab S5e, Tab Active Pro, Tab S6, Tab S7/S7+, Tab Active 3.
References:
- Pew Research Center: Technology Device Ownership: 2015
- Statista: Desktop/laptop ownership among adults in the United States from 2008 to 2019
- Review 42: 39+ Smartphone Statistics You Should Know in 2020
- Samsung Knox: The Beginner’s Guide to Samsung DeX
- Apollo Technical: Statistics On Remote Workers That Will Surprise You (2021)
- CNBC: Cell phones a harder hack target than computers, FireEye’s President says