Dex part 2

The exploration of the Samsung Dex desk environment warranted a second look, as I purchased yet one more Bluetooth keyboard and a mouse to go with it. 

Moving the windows around certainly improved and text editing in Google Docs became easier. 

Even if I admit the mouse button has some slippy quality, it looks like the environment is not as well designed as it first appeared to be. Tiny glitches are not uncommon, and there is maybe some vestige of the touch screen interface in the way the UI buttons work.

Apps generally play more nicely with the large screen format than I expected, although it's not universal.

Sublime Text mobile version didn't quite convince me on the small screen and didn't quite win me over on the full screen either.

The focused writing app Iawriter was nice, but I find it hard to justify it as Docs works now so well. It could work better on the small screen, as there's less clutter.

When using mostly one application, such as the Docs, the system works nicely.

I didn't do a huge survey of mice and keyboards, but did some quick choices based on size, weight and portability.

The mouse is Jlab GO Charge, which can be recharged with USB-C style connector. The mouse can be set with 2.4GHz or Bluetooth interface, and there's a dongle for the 2.4-style connection. The dongle can be carried in a slot within the mouse, so it's unlikely to get lost if stored this way.

The keyboard is Logitech Keys-to-Go 2, a relatively new and not too cheap keyboard. It felt light enough with normal size keys and a standard layout.

The keyboard is powered by CR2032 batteries, which is not a huge plus, but contributes to the flatness and lightness. The 36 month battery life sounds like the usual bogus, but let's hope I don't have to switch them more than once a year. (I'm looking at you Apple Mini BT keyboard!)

At least there is a power switch to prevent accidental current draw. The Keys-to-Go 2 doesn't even weigh much more than my earlier Voxicon foldable block, 222 grams against Voxicon's 166. The shape is better for sliding into a bag compartment.

The arrow keys are tiny and the presence of the function key row might be questioned, but all in all the layout is a proper one and not a compromise like in the Voxicon. The ; : _ - are where they are supposed to be. The key feel is good but not quite as firm as in the Apple Mini.

The non-removable cover flap was a major attraction and feels worth it when traveling. I just couldn't bother with a separate box or bag for keyboard.

The flap is supposed to go under the keys when typing, there's even a magnet to help keep it in place. To me this didn't work well at first, as the keyboard "jumps" a little while typing on the mushy hinge. Another magnet near the back might have helped.

But it looks like the hinge part might become a little more loose over time, which should improve the situation.

Edit: 26.10.2024. The included batteries (2 x CR2032) died already. Not too promising...

Samsung Dex desktop

A theme I occasionally return to: what's a nice light-weight solution for a computer desktop or writing environment?

The obvious answer is "use a small laptop, dummy", but apparently I have been looking for something else.

My last Samsung phone could already provide a Google Docs environment for emergency note-taking, and now that I got an excuse to buy a newer phone, there's an added dimension.

Samsung S23FE has the Dex ("DeX") function which does not only mirror the screen to a larger display, but provides a desktop-like environment with all the support for a mouse and keyboard you'd expect.

For me the most basic way to do this is to use an USB-C to HDMI cable. A hub would work, but at least for now I think carrying a larger block around might work against the concept. I'll get yet another Bluetooth keyboard and a mouse and suffer the recharging carousel.

Fujitsu, Exibel, Belkin

After I bought one adapter, I found I already own two previously, and I don't quite get why as I believe my previous phone did not do any display mirroring. So I have a Belkin, Exibel and a Fujitsu adapters. Exibel and Fujitsu are on a short cable whereas the Belkin has an integrated 2m cable.

At least I could discover these are not all equal, as the Belkin one did not work with my HP Elite display at home. The Fujitsu and Exibel worked just fine.

The HP Elite display was a little disappointing, only offering one possible resolution which scaled poorly with the native resolution. Swapping the overscan options in the display itself, did not help.

At the office, the Fujitsu B27-9-TS-QHD display fared better, enabling a "Full HD" of 1920 x 1080. This display also accepted all the three adapters. The way the display is set up as a USB hub requires a weird cable, so I couldn't check if it would have acted as a hub for the phone.

The display and the phone react quite fast to the connection, the slightly older HP took a few more seconds to align itself.

Multiple windows open on desk

The phone touch screen can act as a trackpad, but sadly when the saver turns the screen off, it has to be turned on again to function. It may also deplete the battery quicker, despite being very low-key.

Basic pointer navigation and panning content worked rather well with the screenpad, pinching and selecting text less so.

Moving and resizing windows I felt was unresponsive, more due to design than the touch screen.

A couple of times I felt the virtual keyboard failed to respond, which was surprising as I would expect it to be a robust function. A physical keyboard would be preferable anyway.

Display resolution options appear limited

After connecting a Bluetooth keyboard, I think this is a better environment for Google Docs than a Raspberry Pi 4/400 on Raspbian.

Now it is clear the small Voxicon keyboard that was passable for writing notes on the tiny screen, is no longer qualified for typing on the big screen.

The Samsung Android phone with a desktop is quite funny experience, reminding me of how things were on Atari ST or early Mac.

It's weird that I tend to forget the whole phone ecosystem is there: browser, Facebook, maps, calendar, messaging, etc. and whatever you put into your phone are already in place, and as I have left them. Perhaps some part of my mind thinks this is a "computer" and hence a separate world from the phone.

A bunch of apps

This Samsung is at the low-end of Dex-capable phones, so it doesn't have the best processor or a lot of memory (8GB though). I wouldn't expect much from web browsing, for example scrolling news sites is probably better to do on the slick mobile screen.

Dex at least on this phone is not the route for watching Netflix or other streaming services full screen, as it does look a little choppy. Only in an emergency. Casting is far more preferable, but of course it needs a Chromecast dongle in the same network.

The Youtube app felt passable for watching a small video but I'm thinking the small screen might again be more forgiving for low bitrate videos.

It may be the more powerful Samsung phones can do video better and the overall experience could be smoother.

Looking more at third-party apps, it's clear not every app is maintained well enough to play nice with the Dex environment. For example, whereas the Blogger app might work for creating posts on the mobile screen, it was actually better to open Blogger inside the browser in Dex. The app seemed to make a mess out of the keyboard input.

There are hilarious details. Opening a Google service through browser can initiate the phone-based security check – on the exact same device.

At least on S23FE the Dex is hardly a replacement for an entire desktop computer, but it looks like surprisingly diverse tasks can be handled with it and they can benefit from the large screen format.

Voxicon keyboard

Apparently I just can't resist buying a new keyboard once in a while.

At least this one fills a different niche than usually. The Voxicon DK-199B-G is a tiny foldable Bluetooth keyboard.

Previously, my on-the-go keyboard has been a battery powered Apple Mini keyboard. Although it feels fine, I was looking for something even more portable. Also, as a battery hog it was necessary to remove the batteries when not in use.

Well, less about the Mini and more about the Voxicon. Three Bluetooth channels, dozens of hours of battery life promised. The charging is done with the included Micro-USB cable, which is getting a little old-fashioned.

Folded, the dimensions are 202mm x 47mm x 16mm. A magnet keeps it together. It's almost conceivable the keyboard could be carried in an inside breast pocket.

Opened, the keyboard is 202mm x 90mm x 15mm, depending on whether the screen stand is folded out. The separate parts of the keyboard are connected with a ribbon cable, I can only hope it is sturdy enough.

I first tried typing with Google Docs and a version of Sublime Text on Android. The experience on overall was passable.

The keys itself have a quite good, crisp, tactile feel to them, not the usual cheap BT/IR keyboard mushiness.

The smooth bottom means a cloth or rubbery surface could be desirable.

There's a little bit of rise to the keys, too, something often forgotten from even larger mini keyboards.

I have to admit my hands are somewhat too large for this, but the final verdict will have to wait as I haven't written that much with it yet.

There are the usual woes of a compromised keyboard, many common symbols are in different places.  Although backspace is technically in the correct place, it's at a cramped corner and not above the Enter key, because of the Enter shape. 

The design is such that the stand "flaps" should be opened to give more room for fingers at the top row. The flaps are removable, though, with what looks like three very tiny Torx screws. But I'm not going to mutilate this keyboard yet.

Some common symbols might need more key presses than usual. Home/End/Page Up and Page Down are reasonably accessible from fn+cursor keys, and Scandinavian keys are at least direct keys even if a little weirdly placed.

As mentioned, the keyboard includes a stand for phone/tablet, and it is simple to use. For added coolness factor I prefer to have a separate stand for the phone. The separate stand is more pleasant to use with a tiny screen as it can be positioned better.

The built-in stand might make more sense with a tablet, to give that pseudo-laptop feel and your gaze can be a little higher.

For the occasional urge to make notes or an e-mail on a phone, I can justify this better than the Apple Mini keyboard. Certainly the Mini is better for typing, but this micro-keyboard has some advantages and I'll try carrying this around instead. It's light years better than the atrocity I once covered in my blog.

Edit 19.8.2024: Press FN+BT selection key (1-3) long to enter the pairing mode. The light will start flashing.