Turn Your Phone into a Computer with These 5 Simple Hacks
You’re out on the road, but there’s suddenly a time-sensitive task you need to handle ASAP. Your PC is at home, and you’ve also left your laptop and tablet on the coffee table. Then what? The solution is to turn your phone into a computer.
Your smartphone is the only device to access your task, but its small screen and keyboard make it frustrating. So, here are five simple ways to turn your phone into a computer.
1. Download an operating system (OS)
One way to achieve the full desktop experience is to turn your phone into a Linux PC using the OS Ubuntu Touch. The essential feature of this OS is its convergence system. It provides a desktop environment when connected to an external display.
And so, while your phone is connected, it becomes an Ubuntu desktop. This OS is also pre-installed with tools like LibreOffice.
Another option would be the Maru OS. This OS provides a computing experience on your smartphone, which allows you to multitask and achieve desktop productivity.
An option for Samsung smartphone owners is the DeX. It’s a software platform that extends your phone into a computer, providing a real desktop operating system experience.
2. Download desktop launch apps
If you don’t want to download an OS, you can use a desktop launch app. For instance, there are the Sentio Desktop and Leena Desktop UI.
These launch apps essentially allow your Android to function as a desktop without downloading an OS. They feature browsers, PDF viewers, file managers, and so on.
3. Cast your smartphone onto an external display wirelessly.
Working on a small screen can be frustrating, so to achieve the desktop experience, cast your smartphone’s screen to an external display. This can be your flatscreen TV or a PC monitor.
One of the most straightforward and convenient ways to cast your smartphone is with a Chromecast if you own an Android phone. To cast your iOS device, use the AirPlay function to connect to your Apple TV.
Once you’ve successfully projected your smartphone’s screen, you’d be halfway done turning your phone into a computer. The only downside is that latency may be imprecise, so there might be disconnections while watching videos. However, that’s usually not the case as Chromecast is the most compatible solution for Androids.
4. Connect your smartphone with a cabled connection.
Don’t worry if you can’t cast your smartphone wirelessly; you can always use cables.
For Android devices, you’d need a USB Type-C adapter to connect your phone to the external display or a USB Type C adapter hub where you can connect via an HDMI.
However, not all Android smartphones have this cabled casting function, for instance, the Google Pixel 3 and OnePlus 6T.On the other hand, for iOS phones, you’d only need a Lighting to HDMI adapter to connect your phone to the external display.
5. Connect a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard.
The final step to fully achieve the desktop experience is to connect a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Bluetooth ones are more convenient and hassle-free as wired ones require additional adapters and a USB hub to connect the keyboard and mouse simultaneously.
However, iPhones can’t connect to wired keyboards, mouses, and Bluetooth mouses. But, it can connect to Bluetooth keyboards.
Your Smartphone, Your Mobile Computer
Now that you know how to turn your phone into a computer, you no longer have to worry about preparing that presentation or editing that spreadsheet on a small screen.
With a few accessories and an external display, you can easily convert your smartphone to a PC. We hope these hacks will be helpful whenever you’re in a pickle to work on the road.
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