this post was submitted on 09 Mar 2025
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Android

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Android has a greatly overhauled desktop mode on the way to replace the current primitive proof of concept in developer options. 6th gen Pixels added hardware-based virtualization support and 8th gen Pixels added USB-C DisplayPort alternate mode. It will all come together soon.

Overhauled desktop mode is already partially shipped as a disabled-by-default feature. Android enables some of it for the Pixel Tablet already but not Pixel phones. We plan to enable the same feature flags for phones too. Either way, it's an experimental developer option for now.

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[–] BatrickPateman@lemmy.world 23 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Ooh, interesting. And here I was thinking I would be sticking with my 7 until support ends.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 10 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)
[–] BatrickPateman@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

No - at least not last time I checked. 🤔

[–] NickwithaC@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Check your carbon monoxide detector.

[–] BatrickPateman@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago

Weird. Had a post it about that on my bathroom mirror just the other day ... 🤨

[–] sauce@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I am in the same boat! A few days ago I told my buddy I'm gonna ride this as long as I can. And iirc they are providing 7 years of security updates?

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 1 points 3 weeks ago

I really don't think I'd ever keep any phone for 7 years but it doesn't hurt. But yeah, desktop mode will be the first meaningful feature add since the Pixel 5.

[–] RiQuY@lemm.ee 12 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Pixel 8 and up, I have a Pixel 7, bruh.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 5 points 3 weeks ago

Same. I wasn't planning to upgrade but if this is remotely useful I can use it to replace my laptop with its' dying battery. Can also take it on the go with with one of those NexDock laptop shell things.

[–] Aggravationstation@feddit.uk 3 points 3 weeks ago

Also same. Think I'll stick with it and my laptop for as long as I can then when the time comes to upgrade one of them see if this will meet my requirements.

[–] higgsboson@dubvee.org 7 points 3 weeks ago

Just yesterday, I was comparing my phone to my aging laptop and realized my phone is about twice as powerful.

[–] Scholars_Mate@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago

Looking forward to this. I have a pair of XREAL Air 2 Pros that I mainly use to watch movies when I'm traveling. With those and a bluetooth keyboard, desktop mode on my Pixel 8 would be pretty neat.

[–] warmaster@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

Holy shit, I might switch to gOS sooner rather than later then.

[–] foggenbooty@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Having used Dex on my Samsung I'm not even going to consider going back to Pixel until they have this working well. If you have a use case for it, Dex is awesome.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

You do you. I haven't touched a Samsung device since my S6 that was absolutely chock full of unremovable bloatware.

[–] foggenbooty@lemmy.world 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

It's a lot better now. I have an original Galaxy S and moving from it to a Nexus was a breath of fresh air. I was never I to the Samsung bloat.

However, the Pixel line has been stagnating and Samsung had been working hard to add little quality of life features that honestly Android should have had a long time ago. The bloat is way less and a lot can be uninstalled. With a custom launcher on it it's actually better than my Pixels (IMO).

Google is just not interested in making Android more usable or real features. They want more AI and assistant nonsense. Dex is just something that Android should have had years ago, so it's good that they're starting but they're way behind.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

It's a lot better now.

People tell me this all the time but every one I've ever seen is full of Samsung bloatware. Then they want to argue with me that it isn't bloatware. Anything that isn't essential to the core OS and can't be removed is bloatware, in my eyes.

[–] thedeadwalking4242@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

It’s not better it’s still full of bloat I don’t know what these people are talking about

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 3 points 3 weeks ago

Thank you for confirming.