Samsung’s One UI 8 is out and along with it comes a great change to DeX itself. Out goes Samsung's custom implementation, in comes Android's native Desktop Mode. The promise? Improved app compatibility, a more “desktop-like” experience. Standardization, my friends, isn't always progress. Sometimes, it's a step backward.

Did Samsung Listen To User Needs?

Let's be clear: the "official" narrative is all about improvement. But I can't shake the feeling that Samsung may have traded real productivity gains for the illusion of streamlined software. We expect that this change will allow for improved compatibility of our apps with the new app environment. Okay, but at what cost?

It’s the equivalent of what happens when governments inevitably find “efficiency” by centralizing every service, turning a friendly one-stop shop into a bureaucratic hellscape. Ok, the spreadsheet is great and all, but what about the user experience? Often, it's a disaster. Is absurdly complicated UI becoming Samsung’s own version of that trap, focusing on internal metrics vs. the needs & wants of their power-users?

Advanced Window Management Vanished?!

The biggest blow, for me, is gutting advanced window management. Samsung's old DeX let you arrange windows exactly how you wanted, with a level of precision Android's native mode simply can't match. I’m not even referring to just being able to snap windows left and right. I mean true control.

Think about it: I used to have very specific setups for different tasks. Prepare your development environment for programming. Split the laptop screen into thirds—one-third for the terminal window, one-third for the code editor, and one-third for documentation. One for writing, with two writing documents open side-by-side, and a research window floating above, taking advantage of the large monitor. Now? I’m locked into an inflexible, more cumbersome process. It would be like trading in a Ferrari for a Ford Focus. Sure, it takes you there, but man what an experience that is—and slower too.

Is this the future we want? A future where we trade off personalization and flexibility on the altar of “standardization”? It’s a challenge that takes me back to the early days of blockchain when developers were grappling with how to deliver decentralization in a sleek, easy-to-use way. Often, in the pursuit of a white whale system, essential qualities are stripped away.

Keyboard Shortcuts: A Thing of the Past?

Another critical loss: custom keyboard shortcuts. I configured my DeX to have keyboard shortcuts for pretty much everything. I can start apps, switch between virtual desktops, even start specific actions in apps with a flick! It was a well-oiled machine of productivity. Now, all those specialized shortcuts have disappeared, replaced by bland Android commands (or just lack thereof).

This is about more than a slight delay. Most importantly, it opens up an entirely new level of interaction with my devices. It would be as if a concert pianist one day was just not allowed to play with all ten fingers. Sure, they can stay on stage, but they are going to be off their game.

Consider this: a study found that proficient users can perform tasks up to 40% faster with keyboard shortcuts. By removing all customizability, Samsung is willfully hampering its most enthusiastic and loyal consumers. Is that really a smart move? That feels like a double cross to the folks who finalized DeX to begin with.

Perhaps this—that poor planning might return to haunt those who create it— is the new reality. Yet, is this the world we want, one that is increasingly easier, more homogenous and dumber? Where the requirements of the advanced power user are jettisoned in favor of trying to please everybody and cast the widest net possible. I hope not. I truly hope not.

What Now? Workarounds and Hope

Alright, enough ranting. What can we do? Well, there are some potential workarounds. Third-party window management applications might offer some of that functionality. I’ve yet to find any with true replacements for the former DeX experience. Dynamic re-learning of the new keyboard shortcuts (or lack thereof) is a painful and irritating requirement.

The silver lining? Maybe, just maybe, Samsung is listening. None of these updates are irreversible, so if enough of us raise our displeasure, maybe they’ll dial back some of these moves in later updates. After all, they established a really strong niche with DeX. Throwing all of that away so we can achieve marginal gains in other areas doesn’t seem like a smart strategy.

Maybe you should too. Let’s make sure Samsung remembers that productivity isn’t just about checking boxes. It’s all about giving users the power to do things their own way. Otherwise, DeX runs the risk of quickly devolving into yet another cookie cutter Android gimmick – a shadow of its past glory. And that would be a tragedy for those accustomed to real mobile productivity.

  • Submitting feedback directly to Samsung.
  • Exploring alternative apps and tools.
  • Sharing my experience (and frustrations) with the community.

This isn't just about a software update. It's about the direction Samsung is taking. Are they truly committed to pushing new ideas and leading the way for their customers? Or are they merely playing buzzword bingo to maximize short-term profits? The fate of DeX, and with it Samsung’s dedication to its most demanding consumers, all rests on this pin.

This isn't just about a software update. It's about the direction Samsung is taking. Are they truly committed to innovation and empowering their users, or are they simply chasing trends and prioritizing short-term gains? The future of DeX, and perhaps Samsung's commitment to its power users, hangs in the balance.