Currently I’m using scrcpy with a PC to desktop my phone with a keyboard, mouse, and monitor. It’s much more comfortable and much faster for me to use the phone that way. Scrcpy is a pretty amazing bit of software, you can access all the phone’s controls without issue. It also has a generous set of hotkeys so you have the option of using mouse or keyboard for some phone controls
However using scrcpy requires a PC where Desktop Mode does that without the need for a PC. Eliminating that requirement is even better for people that don’t have a PC. Though you still have to buy some hardware.
You can presently do the same thing with a PC and scrcpy so I don’t know that it would be worth the overhead only to accommodate those that want to avoid owning a PC. I mean you can get an entry level PC system pretty cheap these days, about the same cost as a mid-range phone.
More in details:
Connecting monitor, mouse and keyboard, together with a power supply, to a smartphone is a primitive feature that was eradicated from first Android phone for commercial reasons. Actual hardware is missing some extra connection. I did connect to a tablet mouse and keyboard via BT, but no external monitor; anyhow it was a good, usefull sensation.
Tried also some OTG adapters, but none was able to do the magic: HDMI monitor, mouse, keyboard AND power all at the same time.
Such functionality should already be included in basic Android; [imho] is the hardware that was evicted.
I also feel it would be a waste of resources better employed in having a robust OS and cloud.
Especially since scrcpy is an already existing solution for using the phone on a larger screen with keyboard and mouse. Indeed, it requires a computer. People who have a screen, and keyboard generally own a computer too !
Yet it is true that more and more people are only using smartphones and no longer using computers. But will they buy a screen to use with their smartphone ? Has stated before several attempts have failed before, so it is not a feature that people will expect.
Let me mention that Google Desktop does have an advantage over scrcpy in that it can use most of the screen real estate allowing you to expand app windows and such. However as of Android 15, it does not allow this for all apps and it’s still pretty kludgey in terms of window management. Scrcpy only mirrors the screen of the phone in terms of appearance and aspect ratio. Still it’s much bigger than the phone itself and lot easier to read and control.
No, not really an advantage, nor something what could be used productively, specially as there are some other basic hassels with the base O/S, like SIM and energy management etc.
And as other user mentioned most messaging/social tools have desktop add on’s. Secondary as one who had offered once a nextcloud service it looks, at least from this pov, that the telephone makes more sense as an extension of an productive environment, than the other way around.
I agree with @strugk and @LibereTonOrdi .
If we want to get more range we shouls stick to essential features. Getting a desktop mode will not change mind of people to keep using /e/os or move to it.
Most of the people want a phone for daily usage und i think it would be more useful to reduce bugs and implent OS features and powerful preinstalled apps like improvement of fork apps like
gallery
Calendar
tasks
App Lounge
If i speak to my friends and family, they say that its really important to have a reliable OS. so the priority should be to remove regular Outage of App Lounge and Cloud Features. The fact that i cant ceeate a folder/album in gallery or cant create repitious tasks is not user friendly for people who just want to buy a device and start using. Not everybody wants to download 3rd party apps and individualize his OS.
Thanks for the great goal at @Murena Team to create a privacy friendly system for everyone
Since USB-C Docks with HDMI and USB for Keyboard and Mouse are already pretty common, I don’t understand that argument. I now already use my Dock at work for typing long messages and would love to be able to use the phone with the mouse flawlessly in that case instead of having to pick up the phone and swipe the screen to get to another application.
But I see the point regarding bug fixing and especially the Cloud disaster, but that seems to be handled by a different team, I guess.
I’d like to see a desktop mode. Often I work at desks with an usb-c docking station, keyboard, mouse and monitor where I connect a notebook.
While travelling I’d prefer only to carry my smartphone and use this in these environments.
So I strongly support a /e/OS desktop mode.
I find it interesting, have a use case for it and would try it out for the first time.
Would use it while traveling with remote Desktop (Rustdesk) and surfing the web.
I’m not sure if Android would be sufficient for me to replace a Linux laptop. It would be nice if I would not need a Laptop on a vacation. Only a small keyboard/mouse/port replicator/hdmi cable for use in hotel.
I am very surprised that this feature is being considered while there is such a great gap to competitors that requires improvement and based on this all of Murenas focus and capacity. If /e/OS wants to be an European answer to the US tech giants then product management should bring key improvements the fundamentals of what customers ask for on modern smartphones. From my review of /e/OS I suggest the following to be improved first before ever considering desktop mode (which I have never seen being picked up by a great userbase even after Ubuntu and Samsung have put great efforts to it):
* Camera App - Most requested feature of a smartphone, currently very underperforming UI; no one hand operation;
* Gallery - No Zoom to see more/less picture in overview, no search, no face or object recognition, no location based grouping, no albums, no last deleted, no quick cropping, auto enhancement, no drawing tools to quickly comment pictures
* Easy Data Transfer between Devices - no AirDrop like file transfer
* Easy Backup & Restore - No Easy Cloud or Local Backup & Restore possible
* More elegant & easy to understand design of UI - Same fonts across apps, more Structure instead of flat white; colors with less contrast; no overlay menus; etc.
* Smart-Home Compatibility
* On-Device Search
* Voice Assistant
* Feedback Option within Murena Apps (including App Store and Settings)
* Personalization
* Leverage AI across the system and apps
* many many more…
Interesting. From my point of view, none of those features/fixes listed would seem like a higher priority than a usable desktop mode (possibly the last one, “many many more”, but I don’t know exactly what that refers to). In fact I hadn’t even noticed that those features are missing or broken, probably because I’m not a very typical smartphone user and more of a desktop/laptop kind of person. Actually, some of those features are things I’d prefer not to have on my phone (e.g. smart home functionality, voice assistant & AI). As long as I can’t attach a keyboard and a monitor, I tend to use the smartphone as a simple device for phone calls, short text messages and one app (e-id). I’m not a typical smartphone user, I know…
In principle I agree that to the extent that there are serious bugs and important features missing, then those should be addressed before venturing into new areas such as providing a desktop mode.
However, perhaps not all resources can be reallocated to where they would create the greatest value. Assuming that Murena were going to hire a programmer, then it would certainly make sense to hire someone skilled and interested in the highest priority tasks. But if a substantial part of the work were to be carried out by volunteers (and salary costs were minimal) then it might turn out to be difficult or even counter productive to persuade a developer with a certain skill set and interest to work on a completely different feature or bug fix.
So, while I agree with those who say that resources should primarily be allocated to areas with serious shortcomings of /e/OS as a phone OS, I think that it would be great if novel ideas such as a good desktop mode could be encouraged as well. As long as they don’t dilute the main effort (and focus) in a detrimental way. Make sure that the base is solid first (if it isn’t already), but then I’d like to see desktop mode as a priority near the top of the list of new features.
Anyway, perhaps I should just buy a new lighter laptop than the old heavy one that I currently have. But it would have been nice to be able to travel without a laptop computer altogether…
Hi, I agree with others that have pointed out that quite a number of companies; Samsung is the 1st to come to mind; have tried this…and for the most part I personally found it unreliable. Secondly; and slightly unrelated; but an important thing for me; is that since the 3G shutdown; my Samsung Note 9 with e OS running nicely; had to be reverted back to factory, as e OS didn’t/doesn’t support VoLTE; and my much loved phone became a brick. Hopefully this can be addressed by you awesome people at some near point. Thanks for all the great work you all do.
While I think it could be amazing for a small business/NGO and I might use it in this context, I also think you should concentrate your resources on getting the current or essential features (like backup) more robust and test them more. A desktop mode basically duplicates testing efforts and possibilities for bugs. And if it is buggy, it would be a total disaster&flop, which you shouldn’t risk.
Do it with low effort, enable other desktop apps, …
Version 2;
Run a Linux installation in a VW
Real desktop computing
Replace a laptop
Version 1 is important to me. I want to use a HDMI connection to play videos and PDFs. At the moment, it is not very pleasant when you add a big screen. Version 2 is cool but not a high priority.
