&w=3840&q=100)
Google previews Samsung DeX-like desktop mode for Android at I/O: Details
Google is working on a new desktop mode for Android devices; the new feature was teased during the Google I/O developer conference 2025. This feature will allow compatible smartphones to deliver a PC-like experience when connected to external displays, similar to Samsung's DeX. Florina Muntenescu, an engineering manager at Google, shared that Google is building on Samsung's DeX platform to create better multitasking tools in Android 16.
A demo during the Google I/O event showed a new layout that appears a lot like Samsung DeX. Apps such as Gmail, Chrome, YouTube, and Google Photos appeared in a taskbar at the bottom of the screen. The time was displayed at the top-left corner, while the Wi-Fi and battery icons were on the top-right.
Google's new desktop mode will be part of Android 16. One of the key features is adaptive apps. These apps can resize and move around the screen just like on a computer. That means users will be able to drag, drop, and arrange apps any way they like. Google said that they are making API changes to Android 16 that would no longer react to orientation, resizability and aspect ratio restriction, giving users a more responsive user interface by default.
Google also posted more information on its blog, saying that Android 16 will focus on making apps work better across many different devices. This includes not just phones, but also tablets, foldables, Chromebooks, cars, and even mixed reality wearables. With this update, Google is showing that Android is growing beyond phones.
Google's desktop mode feature is expected to be rolled out with Android 16 later this year.
What is Samsung DeX?
DeX, which stands for "Desktop eXperience," allows Galaxy smartphone users to mirror their phone's screen on a Windows PC. Launched in 2017, Samsung DeX also offers a desktop-like interface when the smartphone is connected to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge early deliveries start in India, pre-order deal still available
Samsung's latest high-end smartphone, the Galaxy S25 Edge, has officially started reaching buyers in India. If you've been waiting to get your hands on one, now's probably a good time to act — especially with the pre-order window still open until May 30. Not only is the phone finally shipping, but Samsung's early bird offer is also live, giving you a straight Rs 12,000 discount through a free storage upgrade. In short, this is your best chance to get the 512GB storage model for the price of the 256GB Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is available in two storage variants: 256GB and 512GB, both paired with 12GB RAM. Regular pricing starts at Rs 1,09,999, but the storage upgrade offer lets you buy the 512GB version at no extra cost when you pre-order the phone via Samsung's official website. If you're planning to pay in instalments, Samsung also offers no-cost EMI options for 6, 9, 12, and even 18 months (with HDFC Bank cards).What makes the Galaxy S25 Edge interesting is that it doesn't try to be just a design-focused ultraslim smartphone. Instead, it's a phone designed for those who want big-screen performance in a slim, lightweight body. At just 5.8mm thick and 163 grams in weight, it is the thinnest and lightest flagship smartphone Samsung has made — yet it still manages to pack top-tier hardware, including the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, 12GB RAM, and a 200-megapixel primary rear Of course, the Galaxy S25 Edge is not without compromises — there's no telephoto lens, and the battery is a modest 3,900mAh. But this isn't a phone for power users chasing all-day battery life. This is for those who value design, comfort, and everyday performance wrapped in a premium shell. Plus, if you want to settle for a stylish middle-ground between the Galaxy S25 Plus and the S25 Ultra, the Galaxy S25 Edge perfectly fits the stands out most, though, is how refreshing the Galaxy S25 Edge feels in a market full of bulky flagships. If you've been longing for a slim, light, and capable phone that doesn't feel like a brick in your pocket, the S25 Edge is definitely worth a look. There's a choice between two colour options: Titanium Silver and Titanium early deliveries now rolling out and the pre-order upgrade still active till May 30, this could be the best time to buy the Galaxy S25 Edge.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
3 hours ago
- First Post
Texas set to enact age verification law for app store & play store escalating debate over kids' online safety
Senate Bill 2420, which passed both chambers of the Texas legislature, now awaits Gov. Greg Abbott's signature. The legislation would require app store operators to verify the age of a device user and, for those under 18, obtain parental consent before allowing app downloads or purchases read more A bill requiring Apple and Google to verify the age of users on their app stores is poised to become law in Texas, positioning the state at the center of a growing national debate over regulating smartphone use by children and teens. Senate Bill 2420, which passed both chambers of the Texas legislature with a supermajority, now awaits Gov. Greg Abbott's signature. The legislation would require app store operators to verify the age of a device user and, for those under 18, obtain parental consent before allowing app downloads or in-app purchases. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Texas would become the second US state to enact such a law, following Utah's lead earlier this year. A similar bill has also been introduced in Congress. Another proposed bill in Texas, still under legislative review, would ban social media access for users under 18. Polling shows broad public support for such measures. A 2023 Pew Research Center survey found 81 per cent of Americans favor requiring parental consent for minors to create social media accounts, and 71 per cent support age verification before access is granted. The push for age verification has sparked tensions between tech giants. Meta Platforms, owner of Instagram and Facebook, has clashed with Apple and Google over where the responsibility for enforcing age restrictions should lie. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified before the US Senate last year that app stores, not individual apps, should handle age verification. 'Parents shouldn't have to upload an ID or proof they are a parent in every single app their children use,' Zuckerberg said. Meta declined to comment on the Texas legislation. Advocacy groups supporting the bill argue app store-level verification is necessary to give parents meaningful control over their children's technology use. 'The problem is that self-regulation in the digital marketplace has failed, where app stores have just prioritized profit over the safety and rights of children and families,' said Casey Stefanski, executive director of the Digital Childhood Alliance. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Apple and Google have pushed back, warning the bill would require the collection of sensitive personal data across all apps, even those with minimal risk. 'If enacted, app marketplaces will be required to collect and keep sensitive personal identifying information for every Texan who wants to download an app— even if it's an app that simply provides weather updates or sports scores,' Apple said in a statement. Both companies advocate for a more tailored approach, sharing age data only with apps that require it. 'We see a role for legislation here,' said Kareem Ghanem, Google's senior director of government affairs and public policy. 'But it's got to be done in the right way, and it's got to hold the feet of Zuckerberg and the social media companies to the fire.' Concerns over the impact of social media on youth mental health have intensified globally. The US Surgeon General has issued an advisory warning about the risks, and multiple states are suing Meta over alleged harm to children. Australia banned social media use for those under 16 last year, and other countries, including Norway, are considering similar steps. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from Reuters
Mint
4 hours ago
- Mint
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 vs Z Fold 7: Major differences we expect to see
Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 7 has allegedly been spotted again in synthetic benchmarks. This time, the device was reportedly seen in a Geekbench listing spotted by tipster Abhishek Yadav on X. The listing reveals a Samsung device featuring the Exynos 2500 chip. It scored a single-core score of 2012 and a multi-core score of 7563. The Geekbench listing also reveals CPU details, with one core at 3.3 GHz, two cores at 2.75 GHz, five cores at 2.36 GHz, and two cores at 1.8 GHz, making for a deca-core processor. The RAM is listed as 10.68 GB, which could mean 12 GB of RAM will be present, along with Android 16. If this does turn out to be true, it would make for an interesting comparison to the Z Fold 7, which is expected to be the other foldable launched this year by Samsung, and is anticipated to be a traditional-style foldable, instead of a clamshell-style foldable like the Z Flip 7. If the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 does debut with the Exynos 2500 or 2400, it would be a big difference compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which is reportedly expected to ship with the Snapdragon 8 Elite, the current Qualcomm flagship. Moreover, it could feature Samsung's tuning and be a custom Snapdragon for Galaxy chipset, similar to what other Galaxy models this year, including the S25 Ultra, are expected to pack. However, based on the benchmark scores, the phone may not be as powerful as the Z Fold 7. Another set of differences could be the presence of a telephoto camera with the Z Fold 7. Samsung has not included a telephoto camera in its clamshell-style foldables yet, and the renders that have leaked so far do reveal that the Z Flip 7 may continue to ship with a dual-camera setup, one of which could be a wide camera and the other an ultra-wide shooter. It is also being hinted that the Z Fold 7 could double down on being thin, so that is something Samsung could be aiming for. Having said that, Samsung could always revert to its previous strategy and launch the device with region-specific hardware, meaning the Exynos 2500 for some regions and the Snapdragon 8 Elite for others, as has also been hinted in reports. Therefore, this is worth keeping in mind. Both the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 are reportedly expected to launch in the month of July at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked. However, there has been no official word from Samsung, so this information should be taken with a pinch of salt. However, what is interesting is that over the past few years, Samsung has indeed launched its new foldables in July or August, so it wouldn't be out of the ordinary to expect the new foldables to hit the market in July or August this year too.
