Android Desktop OS and X7

[ceeuu]

I have several handheld Android devices and recently purchased a NEO X7 that I have connected to a high-res HDMI monitor. I am wanting to use the X7 as a Thin Client computing device, to do general web browsing, watch videos, listen to music, and simple document editing, etc.. as my daughters homework computer. The problem I see is that the default use of the OS is for handheld devices and so the user desktop displays everything really large compared to a Linux/PC desktop.

Is it possible to scale the desktop features so more can be displayed (icons smaller, application windows have smaller (relative) title bars, etc)?

I am wanting to hopefully do more with this Thin Client type of box for applications like kiosks or similar… (install needed apps and then disable Play Store to control what is on the box)

Ideas?

[kong76]

I have several handheld Android devices and recently purchased a NEO X7 that I have connected to a high-res HDMI monitor. I am wanting to use the X7 as a Thin Cient computing device, to do general web browsing, watch videos, listen to music, and simple document editing, etc.. as my daughters homework computer. The problem I see is that the default use of the OS is for handheld devices and so the user desktop displays everything really large compared to a Linux/PC desktop.

Is it possible to scale the desktop features so more can be displayed (icons smaller, application windows have smaller (relative) title bars, etc)?

I am wanting to hopefully do more with this Thin Client type of box for applications like kiosks or similar… (install needed apps and then disable Play Store to control what is on the box)

Ideas?

You can change DPI settings to make everything smaller but you need root to make the change and then the new dpi sticks forever so you can remove root afterwards if you need to.

I use texdroider_dpi from the play store but there are several other tools and you can even do it manually by mounting /system readwrite and editing /system/build.prop, looking for "ro.sf.lcd_density=240" replacing whatever number is there for your desired dpi. You can safely create that line anywhere in the file if it is not there for some reason.

Android is viable for light work but you have to deal with its quirks and be very careful on app selection.
Few office/pdf apps support proper scrolling with mouse wheel as they tend to scroll way too slowly with it if at all and none support desktop-like text selection with mouse. You have to go through the whole long press and then drag the handles as if the mouse pointer was a virtual fingertip.

One thing is certain: ROM choice is critical on rockchip devices. They can make or break the usability on these devices due to general lag, driver support and stability issues with vendor ROMs. It is trial and error really but QuickShot ROMs are awesome.

[ceeuu]

Thanks for the info, I'll give this a try and see how it works for me..

[rdsok]

In addition... printing on an Android is more of an afterthought and isn't directly supported by most apps. Granted the printer companies have come up with some sort of solution... what I've seen is cumbersome at best.

As a thin client... ie remote into a "real" computer... it works fine depending on the remote control software you are using and if it is supported on the computer you are connecting too. I use mine like this for connecting to my Window's Pro at work all of the time... ( Windows Home versions don't support it natively and require additional software to provide it )

[ceeuu]

Haven't looked at printing, but something to consider, thanks.

I do use VNC and RDP remoting apps and they seem to work ok, but hopefully be better with more screen real estate if this DPI idea works out.

Thanks for the comments,

[adfurgerson]

This may be worth looking into if you are interested in Linux.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zpwebsites.linuxonandroid&hl=en

[ceeuu]

Interesting.. I think that if I went with Linux (and it is a temptation since that is what I do all day) I'd rather go with a full Linux install rather than Linux running inside Android.. Are there installs of these different Linux's they highlight on the Play Store site? I'd be interested in looking at a Linux install possibility.

[adfurgerson]

Interesting.. I think that if I went with Linux (and it is a temptation since that is what I do all day) I'd rather go with a full Linux install rather than Linux running inside Android.. Are there installs of these different Linux's they highlight on the Play Store site? I'd be interested in looking at a Linux install possibility.

Ubuntu may be the only option for a full install. I have never used Linux but was considering trying the android installer, or a virtual machine with PC.