With the S8 expected to launch within the next three months, details of its capabilities are beginning to leak out. According to the Guardian, Samsung is developing an all-new software mode that will turn the S8 into an Android-powered desktop PC, letting you work while on the go.
The S8 will use a hub to connect to an external monitor, keyboard and mouse. You’ll then be able to run Android apps on a desktop interface. The feature is currently known as DeX, short for desktop extension.
DeX has obvious similarities to Microsoft’s Continuum technology, introduced with Windows 10 Mobile. Compatible devices can also be connected to a display and used to display Windows Store apps on a form of the Windows desktop. Microsoft is actively working on expanding the feature. Recently, there have been indications Continuum could support traditional desktop programs in the future.
Samsung may be planning DeX as a way to attract new professional users to its brand. With Windows 10 Mobile’s market share now negligible, the company could introduce the technology pioneered by Microsoft to the masses.
However, while the concept sounds good on paper, questions remain around its actual usability. Many Android apps are only designed for use on phones and struggle to scale properly even on tablet displays. Universal Windows apps are built to run on devices ranging from 4-inch handhelds up to desktop PCs, enabling them to automatically transition into their desktop interface in Continuum.
It isn’t clear how Samsung will ensure Android runs correctly on a full-size desktop monitor. It isn’t the first firm to envision a desktop-based Android experience though. Chinese firm Jide Tech has been pitching its Remix OS for a few years now. It’s a customised version of Android that runs on desktop PCs, including full multitasking support and a Windows-style taskbar.
The Guardian also revealed some more alleged features of the upcoming Galaxy S8. According to the paper’s sources, the handset will be adorned with an “infinity display” enabling an essentially bezel-less design. This fits with existing rumours that Samsung will remove the home button beneath the display and locate the fingerprint sensor below the glass.
Samsung’s iris scanning biometric technology will also make a return. It was first introduced on the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7 and as such is yet to gain mainstream attention. It allows you to unlock your phone by glancing at it, offering more security than the fingerprint sensor.
The S8 is now expected to launch in late March or early April. Samsung has officially confirmed the phone will not make an appearance at next month’s MWC trade show, the traditional launch window for S-series handsets. The company is taking more time to develop the S8 so it can recover from its disastrous Note 7.
