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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.
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.
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.
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.