Google’s Pixel 8 steps forward by integrating desktop mode
Google has made waves once again through the release of cabled display output and a new desktop mode. While currently a niche feature for many users, this change brings immense implications to the realisation of the next generation in mobile computing. It’s a small step driving a giant leap for how we engage with work [...]
The article Google’s Pixel 8 steps forward by integrating desktop mode appeared first on Descrier.
Google has made waves once again through the release of cabled display output and a new desktop mode. While currently a niche feature for many users, this change brings immense implications to the realisation of the next generation in mobile computing. It’s a small step driving a giant leap for how we engage with work and entertainment, and it’s a move worth taking seriously.
Display output changes
As reported by the ever-helpful team over at Android Authority, the new display out potential from Google was recently discovered with the release of the Pixel 8. The idea is simple, you can connect a USB-C cable from your phone to a display, and have the display act as a second screen. This doesn’t require any special apps as screen mirroring does, and it’s capable of much faster and more reliable output.
This change alone is useful, but it’s by working in combination with a special desktop mode that the potential begins to shine. In essence, this gives Google’s Pixel 8 and the upcoming Pixel 9 a way to act as a mobile computer system that overcomes the traditional limitations of a smartphone. Though it’s not the first in the business to take this approach, with the much more established Samsung DeX setting the current standard as noted by Mashable, it does help popularise an approach that’s been inevitable for years.
What a mobile desktop means for users
The big advantage of Google’s and Samsung’s desktop modes is that they essentially let a mobile act as a computer. The things that you can do easily on a desktop that are frustrating on a smaller mobile touch screen then become simple, enormously boosting the capabilities of our ubiquitous pocket devices.
On an entertainment level, this could be seen in a common use like checking out online casino gambling at Paddy’s for only betting enthusiasts. Browsing and collecting bonuses like free spins and deposit matches also works perfectly on mobiles, but some players might prefer the feel of a mouse and keyboard as a way to play. In this case, they could load games like Oil Tycoon and Catapult Cash on a big screen, play a few rounds, and unplug their phone, and go whenever they were done. All of this, without requiring a desktop or laptop computer for casino play or general browsing.
More profound implications could be found in the future of work and communication. While mobiles can serve to write emails in an emergency, they’re not ideal for typing long documents, and they’re notably poor at working with most advanced work systems like Microsoft Excel or Adobe Photoshop. Desktop mode would overcome these limitations, letting users manage their work in a more mobile form. This would still require Bluetooth peripherals to become more standardised, but this is just a matter of time.
The idea of using phones as computing platforms that integrate with docks is not a new one, but it has taken a long time to find its feet. It’s through the interest of big tech companies like Google and Samsung that these first real steps have been taken and that the approach will be taken seriously. It might take a while before the software support reaches its potential, but make no mistake, this approach to computing will one day be common.
The article Google’s Pixel 8 steps forward by integrating desktop mode appeared first on Descrier.