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Samsung DeX and Google Ecosystem Plan
- Thread starter Sarbun96
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I use Dex everyday with my Note 9. I use Dex for Windows and leave it connected for quick access with mouse and keyboard. I’ve tried the other way with a dock I bought 2 years ago. It is getting better and the idea is futuristic if I may say. Dock your phone and you have a pc. For those who can get by with a phone, like my wife, it is perfect for them. Wish there was more competition.
I'm beginning to explore DeX on my recently purchased Tab S6. Combined with the Book Cover Keyboard and a 2nd display, this thing is amazing.
Just tried to get this and I don't want to root my phone or install anything too deep down that path. But it's cool that it's an option! I remember a YouTuber trying to find a complex way to block them on iOS (and all devices on his network) via a Raspberry Pi and all sorts of trickery only for it to still not work :-/
I guess it works exactly the same as the phone version?
What I'm enjoying is no longer depending on the cloud. And being able to have my personal digital world siloed in its own window, on an independent device alongside my heavily secure work PC setup so I can quickly reply to a text, without having to touch the phone. As a bonus, it's always charged. The only issue I'm having is DeX not being detected on the work PC via Windows sometimes... including today, no matter what I just can't get it to pick up after various cables, restarts of the PC and the phone... other days it works fine.
I much prefer using raw HDMI and a multiport adapter though, much more responsive and clear. But I wish there was a way to tell the Note 20U to keep the display OFF while DeX is on as I'd like it to have a better chance at actually charging. It's sort of like the single port MacBook, when using an adapter, it just slowly discharges, best you can hope for is it to stay level. Though... a little more understandable in a PHONE lol
Vanced is safe as long as it's from the official site (which I posted above or XDA Developers, where it's also posted) and doesn't require rooting. It even removes ads in the Youtube Music app.
I haven't used it on a phone so I don't know... but on the S6 (with the Book Cover Keyboard) it works just like a laptop... including support for dual/extended display. Obviously the tablet's display is large enough to be fully usable as part of the desktop.
I have a USB-C dongle (mini dock) that has a lot of ports (including HDMI) and can charge the tablet while it is being used. This enhances the DeX experience and further blurs the line between mobile and desktop.
I've owned a TON of devices that can serve dual-purpose as a tablet and a notebook. They were all successful to one extent or another. The Lenovo Yoga Book (Android version) was the closest overall, but the Google Pixelbook is right there too.
But so far, the Tab S6 + Book Cover Keyboard with DeX is the best of them all.
Samsung did a great job with DeX and the way it can switch from tablet (Android) to notebook (DeX). It's superior, IMO, to next best option (ChromeOS).
When I think of all of the re-thinking and re-working of my workflows I had to make to get productive on my iPad Pro, and see just how more straight forward things are on the S6, it's really enjoyable and productive tech.
This is my understanding as well. Vanced is basically installed outside of the Google Play store. It's similar to how you can directly download an app from a website vs using the app store on a Mac. In this case, vanced is a "direct download".
The "Unknown Sources" prompt you'll see is basically just saying "you are installing an app from outside the play store". This is perfectly allowed in Android, and doesn't require root. I personally do this for my favorite manga/comic app (Tachiyomi).
Edit:
The "Unknown Sources" prompts are just Google's way of scaring people into using the Play Store only. If you know that the app you are installing is safe, it's perfectly fine to install Unknown Source apps.
For example, android apps on the F-droid app store are 100% open source, which means you can inspect + audit the original source code of the apps. So even though they require installation as an "unknown source" app, overall it's fairly safe to download apps from F-droid.
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Just got it downloaded, awesome client for YouTube! Life is much better now. I hated setting a video on only to have to stand and wait for 5 seconds and hit a button (which I suspect is designed to miss taps frankly) to skip.
It was always a fair deal, YouTube: an ad along the side in a banner, and an ad IF the uploader was making money from it back in the day. Then, mandatory, now two ads, now ads that can't be skipped and playing one after a video has finished. Plus it pulls you away from reading comments or the video description and gives details of the advertiser... yuck. Glad I'm above it now, screw their revenue, especially since they've screwed over their creators and demonitised them... and also how they've been removing content lately that 'breaches guidelines' and then leaving clear breaches on... Search 'what are white people better at' and watch the cringey, against-the-guidelines video that's probably been reported thousands of times and still exists... Screw YouTube.
The advantage of the phone in my view is: not needing to also carry a tablet, and having built in internet / call ability on the device directly.
WELL guys, I'm here with my first negative potentially deal breaking experience regarding the Note 20 Ultra ...
I've been having a tonne of fun on Minecraft via DeX and also listening to music, replying to Whatsapp etc in a windowed mode. But today, as I try to enjoy music via Spotify and my Sony WH1000-XM3s it keeps overheating, initially stuttering and crashing then giving me a warning that Spotify is the cause and force closing it automatically within 20 seconds.... Then, having accepted defeat I just played MC on it's own closing all other apps, until I got the same message... I really hope this doesn't keep up, because it'll be a real deal breaker for the DeX-periment. Note, with this being the Exynos 990 I wonder would it be the case with the Snapdragon... sigh, as things are going so well with this phone. I do love it, and am getting used to the S-Pen and all. I have a long list of Samsung accessories to buy over the coming weeks for it, but if it keeps this up the thing could be listed on eBay...
Worse even, when I tried to post this reply initially apparently Samsung Internet was the cause and it closed too...
I've been having a tonne of fun on Minecraft via DeX and also listening to music, replying to Whatsapp etc in a windowed mode. But today, as I try to enjoy music via Spotify and my Sony WH1000-XM3s it keeps overheating, initially stuttering and crashing then giving me a warning that Spotify is the cause and force closing it automatically within 20 seconds.... Then, having accepted defeat I just played MC on it's own closing all other apps, until I got the same message... I really hope this doesn't keep up, because it'll be a real deal breaker for the DeX-periment. Note, with this being the Exynos 990 I wonder would it be the case with the Snapdragon... sigh, as things are going so well with this phone. I do love it, and am getting used to the S-Pen and all. I have a long list of Samsung accessories to buy over the coming weeks for it, but if it keeps this up the thing could be listed on eBay...
Worse even, when I tried to post this reply initially apparently Samsung Internet was the cause and it closed too...
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That's not good. You may be correct and it could be the Exynos processor. Check over on reddit before making a decision to sell it. Someone else may have had the same issue and have a solution. Good luck.
I'll keep an eye out for similar experiences. But I've already been pricing up a MacBook Air M1 and iPhone 12 Mini...
My only concern now is , is settling finance early (by paying it in full) helping my credit or making me look like I'm indecisive when they see how many big plans I've taken out and settled early this year alone! (note: all flexible where paying early without penalty is allowed)
Question, are you using either of the official DeX accessories? The official accessories both have built in fans to help cool the device, which might solve the problem.
No they are suggesting the dock because of the over heating issues not to make the connection.
Would it still be beneficial? And do they still sell it now that its no longer a requirement for newer phones?
Update, I did the same workload today on DeX: Minecrsft, WhatsApp and Spotify. Strangely it worked fine.
I've been using the official DeX pad, and while this is only my anecdotal experience, the fan does kick in fairly frequently when I'm doing a lot on the device. I've never had an issue like what you described.
As for if they're still selling the device, I bought mine through Amazon and it seems to work fine. Just be on the lookout for fakes, since as far as I know, only the official docks support 1440p resolution + more than 5 apps open at a time. My setup is also directly connected to a monitor + keyboard/mouse, not sure if that makes a difference.
Sorry guys, but I'm thinking of going back to the dark side and giving into having a standard phone and computer again. The idea I had and the vision of one ultimate device was always so unrealistic, and until DeX, it was actually impossible. The Note 20 Ultra is a phenomenal phone (sure, mines is handicapped with Exynos) but I'm going to watch this space because years of development and partnering with Microsoft could really change the world.. especially if Apple ever decides to do it and gets it into the mainstream. But that's a long time to personally hold out and compromise.
It's all just little small odd ends that add up to me wanting to go back to the standard desktop. This phone helped me live a dream I've had for a couple of years now and it did NOT fail, it's just that I underestimated what I needed or simply just liked about the conventional phone and laptop setup. I over estimated how much I'd value having access to my own files and world on my work PC , and how I'd enjoy the simplicity of one device. But I underestimated the horrible feeling (to me) of having this device in my hand from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep. Things like staring at the same wallpaper, holding up the phone in the same hand, that position of typing on its keyboard, then having to sit in a fixed position at my desk to sit back and maybe knock out a journal entry etc, thus not being able to do that at a cafe in phone mode all just added up. I know it's really specific and small stuff, but hope that sheds some light on it.
I've tried Windows PC + iPhone, iPhone + iPad (Air and Pro models) and all sorts of combinations over the years. But the one that re-emerges is the Mac + iPhone combination. I don't think there is a need or room for a tablet in my life, but I've sure boosted Apple's share price with the silly number of times I've given them the money for one! lol
It's all just little small odd ends that add up to me wanting to go back to the standard desktop. This phone helped me live a dream I've had for a couple of years now and it did NOT fail, it's just that I underestimated what I needed or simply just liked about the conventional phone and laptop setup. I over estimated how much I'd value having access to my own files and world on my work PC , and how I'd enjoy the simplicity of one device. But I underestimated the horrible feeling (to me) of having this device in my hand from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep. Things like staring at the same wallpaper, holding up the phone in the same hand, that position of typing on its keyboard, then having to sit in a fixed position at my desk to sit back and maybe knock out a journal entry etc, thus not being able to do that at a cafe in phone mode all just added up. I know it's really specific and small stuff, but hope that sheds some light on it.
I've tried Windows PC + iPhone, iPhone + iPad (Air and Pro models) and all sorts of combinations over the years. But the one that re-emerges is the Mac + iPhone combination. I don't think there is a need or room for a tablet in my life, but I've sure boosted Apple's share price with the silly number of times I've given them the money for one! lol
No need to apologize, sounds like you gave it a fair shot and found that it doesn't quite work for you.
I personally think that the DeX desktop experience is still immature, and for early adopters only. DeX has required me to do some hacky stuff to get an acceptable experience (dev settings for resizable windows, kiwi browser + user agent extensions for full desktop browser, per-app DPI changes, etc). Not to mention, a lack of good options for lapdocks, HDMI docks, etc, doesn't help either.
Thankfully, DeX is good enough for my typical day-to-day, but I do hope either Google or Apple release a more polished official implementation in the future.
Yeah I hope the idea does take off.
In practice, having to sit at the desk setup in my room was similar to the ties of having a desktop PC, which I never try or buy because I know I won't want to be stuck at that desk any longer than I need to be these days (I use it for WFH with a work laptop and it makes a big difference comfort wise) so plugging the DeX in here wasn't as good, I was sitting in the same spot all day.
Then, comes the idea of the Nexdock or my own PC or even using the work PC as a shell to run DeX. Other than via a host OS being laggy, these options mean I'm still effectively carrying a laptop with me and a charger anywhere I go. And it's not like the Nexdock is cheap?! But still, I'm carrying it with the compromises of DeX when I could be carrying, say a MacBook Air? So I end up with a laptop plus phone. And I need to charge the laptop.
And as a phone, I loved that it was massive and hoped to gain the functionality I had with the iPad and Pencil, plus phone / pocketable form factor. But holding it up is effort for reading a magazine or book - and it's not big enough to read magazines from knees distance like the iPad was. Writing on it, whilst I was getting better, is more like sketching on a sticky note, as opposed to the iPad's near A4 feeling of being able to do art or full page diagrams etc. My little finger is hating the pain of supporting it when using it in bed. And one handed mode is clumsy / requires two hands to tap back out of it.
So whilst I gave it a good go, each mode: desktop, laptop, handheld modes just didn't stand up in everyday use. Really, a laptop on the desk, on my lap wherever in the house or garden or coffee shop I need it is the most comfortable and practical and least compromise solution, with an iPhone in my backpack which is likely barely used, but as such has a battery near full and is still relaying info to the Mac like photos and calls etc.
Some other gripes.... Google Assistant and Bixby are utter trash. I was shocked about Assistant to be honest, after always hearing how much better these were compared to Siri. Asking it to resume playing, or play a podcast, or actually getting it to work via my car's voice assistant button was never successful no matter what. The apps don't communicate properly and when they do, they need very specific instruction. whereas with Siri I can speak / ask it things naturally in a thousand different ways and it tends to work more times than not. I never thought I'd be defending Siri, that's for sure! Lol
I don't think I'll personally be making such a dramatic switch up again anytime soon like this. I'll watch from the sidelines as others do, though
It sounds like there is a difference between DeX on the Galaxy phone and tablets. My experience with DeX on the Tab S6 has been stellar.
I've got some more experimenting to do but it is looking like it can replace my other tablets and chromebooks. The big test will be next week when I take the Tab S6 and book cover keyboard as my only computing device on a trip.
Your experience with google assistant is interesting. I've used Google Assistant and Siri extensively, and I literally cannot think of a single thing Siri does better. Google Assistant is so far ahead of Siri that they're not even comparable IMO.