Samsung DeX Promises Desktop Level Productivity

Portability and productivity are two aspects of a device that seem to be mutually exclusive. It becomes a tedious choice users have to make every time they decide to pick up a new device. However, Samsung is looking to change that with their new flagship, the Galaxy S8 and S8+. Together with their new flagship with its gorgeous Infinity Display, the South Korean company announced a new tool to help Galaxy S8 users be more productive, the Samsung DeX.

With the Samsung DeX, Samsung is putting professionals who are on the go in the spotlight. It’s essentially a simple dock which allows apps to function in a desktop environment. It allows users to be more productive through features such as windowed apps and better multitasking. This essentially means that there’d be less reason to carry around a laptop for work. The Samsung DeX will turn your Galaxy S8 into a computer. The DeX will expand the ports available on the S8 with an ethernet port, HDMI port and two USB 2.0 ports. The DeX itself will be powered by a USB type-C port and will be equipped with a cooling fan.

DeX Compatibility & Optimisation

The new Samsung DeX was developed in collaboration with partners such as Adobe and Microsoft. These partnerships will ensure that apps such as the Adobe Acrobat Reader mobile, Adobe Lightroom mobile and Microsoft Office suite will come on the Galaxy S8 and S8+ with DeX compatibility.

What do they mean by DeX compatibility? The Samsung DeX will enable a desktop-like environment geared for productivity. As such, apps built for Android will need to have a “DeX” mode. This will allow the apps to be able to appear as Windows on the desktop instead of taking over the whole screen as it usually does. In addition, productivity in a desktop environment requires that the apps be able to interpret keyboard and mouse input. As such, all Android apps intended for use in the DeX environment will need to be optmised to receive such input. Samsung will also be collaborating will companies such as VMWare, Citrix and Amazon Web Services to enabling users to access virtual desktops remotely and securely.

The Samsung DeX will be launching together with the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+. It looks like it will set you back about USD$149 (RM 660). It will ship bundled with the S8 and S8+ in some regions.