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Dell's Mobile Connect Application Will Allow Users To Easily Mirror Their Smartphone on PC; To Come Pre-installed On Company's Future PCs (venturebeat.com)
From a report on VentureBeat: Smartphones and computers were designed in different eras, and they don't really work well together, forcing us to split our time between them. But Dell is trying to change that with Dell Mobile Connect software, which makes the two devices more interoperable. [...] You can now make and receive phone calls directly from your computer, and you can also send and receive text messages on your PC screen. This allows you to stay connected on your PC without worrying that you're missing phone notifications or calls. And you can use any Android app on your PC. That allows you to bring your small-screen apps like games to a bigger screen. If your computer doesn't have a touchscreen, you can control the mirrored phone game with a keyboard and mouse. [...] Dell will preload the software on new Dell consumer and business PCs, and it has a free smartphone app that works on either Android or iOS. Dell Mobile Connect will be available on all new Dell Inspiron, XPS, Vostro, or Alienware purchased worldwide in January 2018 or later.
>> stay connected on your PC without worrying that you're missing phone notifications or calls
Who doesn't have their phone beside them or in their pocket when they're working on a computer? Hell, with most multi-factor authentication schemes, the code/approval comes through your phone, so you're screwed if you don't have it with you.
Smartphones and computers were designed in different eras, and they don't really work well together, forcing us to split our time between them.
I feel so bad when I'm awakened in the middle of the night, and there's my PC sitting on my chest, demanding a fair share of the time that I had given to my phone.
So you'll be able to make calls and text on your PC..... like macOS has offered for years? The addition of running Android apps is nice. Though most of the most useful apps have a desktop counterpart that generally offers a better workflow, as it's been designed for use on the desktop.
I do not care what anyone says, your communications are monitored. It just happens - that's the way these systems work.
And it's all stored.
I'm a despot wannabe. I'd like to be Stalin^10. And what I see in today's tech, I could do it - if I could get to be POTUS.
Just say'in.
Dell announces they are stopping support for "Dell Mobile Connect".
Now there is an absolutely epic security fail in the making ... an application with tethers your phone and PC together, to allow you to control either from the other.
Which pretty much means a guaranteed attack surface against both of them.
This positively smacks of a remote exploit which is inevitable.
And it's more crapware which comes bundled with a PC to make it even slower and more annoying to use.
I'm sorry, but over and over when companies try to add convenience, they absolutely fuck up both privacy and security.
...On the Mac. I can text to/from anybody on the Mac (or an iPad), I can call/answer calls on the Mac, etc.
Very handy when you leave your phone in the bedroom, for example, but are at the computer doing something. Simply answer the phone at the computer using the built in mic/speaker.
I can create a doc on the iPhone. Then come home and edit it on the Mac. Do a final revision and send it from my recliner in a text from the iPad.
Run a smartphone app (likely in a window) on the computer? That doesn't sound good. Usability issues, security issues, etc. If I want it on a larger screen, I can put it on my TV via AirPlay or HDMI.
I have been able to do that with Android phone, via Hangouts, for years. I very seldom use the phone and messaging capabilities of my cell phone provider (T-Mobile) relying instead on the data feed. In fact, if I could have a plan with data alone, I would - keeping the phone/messaging stuff is so obsolete.
If history is any indication, this software will definitely work flawlessly, won't open you computer up to additional vulnerabilities, and bosses will love that their employees can now spend more time on faceboook instead of doing, um, you know, that thing they pay you to do.
I can see this as a great sticker item for consumer PCs, you know, that little sticker that says what it can do but turns out can't, but you don't realize it until after you've bought it. For business PCs this is a huge reason NOT to buy Dell. What are they thinking?
https://www.microsoft.com/en-u...
It's pretty cool.
I don't respond to AC's.
This sounds identical to KDEconnect, except for Windows.
Cheap storage VM.
I've been waiting for things to get to the point that desktop hardware is essentially redundant. Smartphones will be able to easily pair wirelessly to a keyboard/monitor/mouse and switch into desktop mode. One device to rule them all.
I've been doing most this with my Nokia since when? 2002? As long as my phone holds up I'll b
Bluetooth has offered this for several years: Connect the phone to the PC and any calls automatically play through the PC headphone/mic set.
While I prefer a PC UI over a fiddly phone, I do not want my PC having continuous access to the contacts list and communication logs from my phone. There was a time when tel-cos offered SMS via an internet gateway, eliminating the need for a continuous connection to the phone.
While a mouse provides accuracy, fingers are faster, so many games aren't usable on a PC. Plus, last I looked, emulators were incompatible with many games.
Treating the PC as another phone doesn't solve the data-update problem. Good applets have a desktop version which can be synced with the handset: That's what really matters. Running the same OS just brings Android problems to the PC: Providing every service with its own API ensures security (eg. cloud storage) until it is avoided. It also means every applet having the same bug (eg. Google Calendar: Version 12 and still can't sync properly).
Dell will preload the software on new Dell consumer and business PCs.
Oh, great. One more piece of pre-installed software I need to uninstall. Honestly, fire up any new computer from Dell, HP, you name it - the number of programs running in the background before you even start any of your own applications is mind-boggling. It's like if you bought a brand new car and they loaded the trunk full of sand before you left the lot.
I think at one time Alienware was know for not doing this, but they've been purchased by Dell so I don't know if they're any better now.
Three years ago. You can already remote your smartphone with an app, doing nearly everything they said they want the app to do.