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by userbinator 1360 days ago
I suppose if you don't think of your phone as the general-purpose computer that it really is, then it won't seem obvious. But otherwise, I also recall using dig, netcat, traceroute, and a few other network tools a few times. Having a shell, even a root one, is one of those things that you don't need often, but when you do, you really do.
1 comments
the_only_law 1360 days ago
I mean I know what my phone is. I just do not want to use that interface for those sort of tasks. Tiny little screen, virtual keyboard that tries to hard to be clever, etc.

Even browsing the web to read wikis and documents and stuff is a complete pain half the time.

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dinom 1359 days ago
How I miss my galaxy S3!

I'd hook it up to a proper display using an MHL cable then connect a Bluetooth keyboard. It was a sweet setup and the assorted tools (plus root shell) actually came in very handy. It could fill in for a laptop quite nicely.

These days it seems there's no legitimate alternative to MHL... can any phones directly connect to a display anymore via wire? Or is the only option screencasting to a smart TV?

FWIW, I generally like my appliances on the dumb (or open) side.

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MayeulC 1359 days ago
A lot of phones can be connected to an external display via USB-C. Better supported than MHL (how many incompatible standards was MHL? 4?).

Samsung has "Dex", their android desktop interface.

Linux phones can generally offer a full DE, either the pinephone or Librem, or compatible phones that have a video out where you can install something likke postmarketos.

Most phones also support miracast, and you can plug in a mouse/keyboard. I think the Charging in + keyboard + mouse + video out is clearer with USB-C.

Sent from my Galaxy S4 ;)

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e-clinton 1359 days ago
Much easier to just carry my MacBook everywhere as I already do.
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forgotpwd16 1359 days ago
>I just do not want to use that interface for those sort of tasks.

That is your preference. For others the advantage of utilizing a familiar interface outweighs the disadvantages (that maybe even aren't for some) mentioned.

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userbinator 1359 days ago
Neither do I. Yet sometimes that's the only thing you have on hand.
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