Dex mode without keyboard

[Toby Hager]

Anyone use Dex mode like a normal tablet when not using the keyboard? Just curious!

 

[srgonu]

Never used Dex without keyboard.

 

[kixfan]

I had an S4 and never used Dex mode once. First thing I did after getting my 7+ is order a keyboard case. Only thing I hate about Dex mode is it destroys my icon placement when I go back to normal mode.

 

[Apple2Droid]

I never used Dex on my S4, but I tried it on the S7+ yesterday, just because I wanted to see how it works with multiple apps, as an alternative to split-screen, primarily because using Twitter makes me practically dizzy. I couldn't figure out how to resize windows, or figure out how to switch back. If I can learn how to resize windows in Dex mode (without keyboard), I would probably use Dex most of the time, primarily because of Twitter.

 

[Apple2Droid]

Anyone use Dex mode like a normal tablet when not using the keyboard? Just curious!

So have you tried DeX without a keyboard? Is it working for you?

 

[rhapdog]

I couldn't figure out how to resize windows, or figure out how to switch back. If I can learn how to resize windows in Dex mode (without keyboard), I would probably use Dex most of the time, primarily because of Twitter.

There are many apps that the developer restricts purposefully from being allowed to be resized. However, if you use Developer Mode, you can over-ride the manifest values and make all windows resizable.

To enable Developer Mode, go into Settings, then About Phone. From there, tap on "Software information." On this screen, start tapping on "Build number" repeatedly until it says the Developer Mode has been enabled, or You Are Now a Developer, or something like that. Exit back to the main settings screen, and Developer Options is now at the bottom.

Enter Developer Options. Careful what you mess with here. If you don't understand it, best to research it before you mess with it. Scroll down to the Apps section and find the switch labeled "Force activities to be resizable" and turn it on. There is another switch "Enable freeform windows" which should already be on, if not, turn it on.

That's it. You can now drag the edges of a window to increase or decrease the window size.

 

[Toby Hager]

I actually love the interface and prefer it over the launcher lol

 

[DennisOS2]

Anyone use Dex mode like a normal tablet when not using the keyboard? Just curious!

I use DeX mainly w/o a keyboard and never with a monitor. I have a Tab S4 I use as a highly mobile computing device. I use it everywhere and especially as a real notebook with Samsung Notes and the S-pen. There are few uses I can't do with DeX and the S4, although I don't have proprietary 'company' apps I have to use. Probably not many would work in Android. I have Office that is fairly useful, more than just getting the job done even though they do lack a fair number of functions compared to desktop versions. I have highly configured the Android UI using NOVA, which is highly configurable. The draw for me for DeX is a tool bar at the bottom for quick access to basic parts of the UI and apps and could be for utilities if there was a bit more development. So, I am looking for more options for that tool bar and other ways to improve organization.

Does anyone have the inside track on DeX development? No real changes/developments in the last few years