Key Takeaways
1. Most smartphones have a plain design with large flat screens and no physical keyboards, moving away from older styles.
2. A Reddit user has created a project to turn an older Samsung Galaxy Note10 Plus into a slider phone with a keyboard using a G60S Pro remote.
3. The modified smartphone operates in DEX standalone mode, providing a desktop-like interface with window navigation and a touchpad.
4. The project is accessible for others to replicate, with free 3D-printing designs available.
5. Challenges include the remote’s gyroscope affecting functionality, but the overall cost is low due to inexpensive materials.
The majority of smartphones aimed at the general public tend to have a rather dull design. They primarily feature a large flat screen with minimal bezels, and modern phones have completely moved away from physical keyboards.
Interestingly, the most widely used mobile operating system made its debut on the HTC Dream, a slider phone that actually included a physical keyboard. While there are a few devices like the Unihertz Titan Slim that still have a real keyboard, and some retrofitting accessories, this remains a niche market.
A Unique Project
Recently, a Reddit user known as AdmiralSym has introduced an innovative project. It transforms a standard smartphone—specifically, an older Samsung Galaxy Note10 Plus—into a slider phone complete with a keyboard. What’s fascinating is that the keyboard used in this project is not a BlackBerry-style keyboard, which is common in similar initiatives, but rather a G60S Pro remote that comes with both a keyboard and a touchpad.
Functionality and Design
A video demonstrates how the modified smartphone operates in DEX standalone mode. The interface resembles that of a traditional desktop environment, allowing the user to navigate through windows and move the cursor using the touchpad. This captivating project is replicable by other users, and the necessary 3D-printing designs can be accessed for free.
Some Challenges
Despite its creativity, the DIY slider phone encounters a few challenges. One issue is that the gyroscope in the remote control can deactivate both the keyboard and trackpad when the device is tilted at a specific angle. On the brighter side, the overall cost of this project is expected to be low since the remote is quite inexpensive and the materials for 3D printing don’t break the bank either.
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