Since its introduction in 2017, Samsung DeX has been the centerpiece of Samsung’s effort to enable the fast-growing population of mobile and flexible workers to do more with their smartphones by extending them into a desktop computing experience.
According to a survey by GfK of 1,200 mobile workers across six industries, workers can already get half of their work done using only their phone. Sixty-two percent said they would be willing to give up their PC entirely, provided they could connect their smartphone to necessary peripherals.
The DeX platform fills this need, enabling users to connect their Galaxy smartphone to a monitor, keyboard and mouse for a full desktop experience. With DeX, employees at companies like innovative startup Tamarack Aerospace Group can simply carry their smartphone as their primary computing device and be productive anytime, anywhere.
Samsung DeX Improvements With the Note9
The launch of the Galaxy Note9 brings two major advancements to the DeX platform, making it even more viable as a desktop replacement. While previously your phone connected to the monitor through a lightweight piece of hardware called the DeX Station — or, more recently, the DeX Pad — the updates to the platform introduced with the Note9 let users connect via a simple HDMI adaptor.
This further lightens the load for mobile workers — who are expected to comprise three-quarters of the U.S. workforce by 2020, according to IDC — and makes it even easier for you to turn any space into a workspace.
The second enhancement is that you can now work on the DeX experience on your monitor, while simultaneously using your Note9 for an entirely different task. Described as “dual mode,” this update means you can essentially enjoy two computing experiences at once, both powered by your phone, for ultimate multitasking capability.
Why Dual Mode Matters
Most of the time when you are using DeX, you’ll be focused on being productive with a monitor, keyboard and mouse. Your mobile notifications will all be accessible in the notifications bar at the bottom right of the DeX interface, and you can easily respond to text messages or even take calls right there. So, what’s the value of dual mode when you can access everything on your phone within Dex?
For one, habits die hard. You are probably used to texting with two thumbs and will reach for your phone when you are DeX-ing, so now you can. Beyond that, here are a few other use cases where you might want to keep using your phone as a phone while it powers DeX on the big screen.
- Present and Notate: If you’re in a meeting, you can connect your Note9 to a conference room display via the HDMI adaptor to show slides, videos or other content in DeX. But what if you want to take notes privately on your phone using the S Pen at the same time? Dual mode lets you do that, taking full advantage of the power of the Note9 to multitask.
- Take Photos or Scan Documents: You’re back at your desk working on DeX and want to take a photo or scan a document with your phone. Because of Dual Mode, you can go right ahead. The images will be saved in your Gallery, and you can access them immediately in DeX.
- Work and Listen: Like to listen to music as you work? Keep your neatly formatted DeX screen dedicated to your main work tasks, while controlling your background streaming music app on the screen of your Note9.
- Work and Message. Similarly, you can keep your preferred messaging app open on the Note9. This way, you don’t have to close your messaging app entirely, while ensuring new pop-ups don’t pull your focus away from your main work.
The shift to the Next Mobile Economy is well underway. Businesses that empower their workers with cutting-edge mobile tools such as the Note9 and DeX are enabling employees to be more flexible and productive — up to 34 percent, according to Frost & Sullivan — and better serve partners and customers in real time. That’s a key edge in this highly competitive age — and one that doesn’t risk security and costs.
Learn how the Galaxy Note9 can power your mobility, your productivity and your business.
