Jide’s Remix Singularity isn’t the only project to turn Android phones into desktop computers. French company Auxens recently released an preview version of a new Android-based operating system called OXI.

Here’s the idea: OXI lets you use your smartphone or tablet like a normal mobile device, with all apps running in full-screen windows. Or you can enable a multi-window mode that makes Android look and feel more like a desktop OS.

But the coolest feature? You can cast the multi-window environment to an external display while staying in full-screen mode on your mobile device. This lets you keep using your phone as a phone… while also using your phone to power a desktop-like experience on a second screen. It’s like Microsoft’s Continuum for phone… except for Android.

Auxens recently released alpha versions of OXI for a handful of devices including the OnePlus 3, Google Nexus 5X, Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE Advance, and Samsung Galaxy Tab S2.

The software is based on CyanogenMod 13, but now that the open source CyanogenMod project is dead, the developers are working to update it to LineageOS 14.1

Auxens is also partnering with Chinese phone maker Vernee, and Charbax caught up with the companies at Mobile World Congress, where he shot a lengthy video showing the software in action.

The phone can connect to an external display via Miracast wireless display technology or a USB connector with a DisplayLink/HDMI /USB connector.

It’s still very much a work in progress, and Auxens says the operating system works best on 1080p displays, currently only supports running a single instance of any app, and cannot resize some apps properly.

But it’s still a promising look at technology that could help make your Android phone the only computing device you need to carry around… at least sometimes.

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8 replies on “OXI ROM: Use Android phones like desktops (with an external display)”

  1. Gets me really angry that Google itself isn’t doing anything (as far as I know) related to this. So motivated by artificially creating markets to meet their business interests, they no longer allow users to organically direct market growth. Their solution is to get Android users to switch to their data-gathering web browser via ChromeOS.

    On Android, you can still use the device without an account effectively, root it, filter ads/tracking via root, use alternative browsers, VPN easily, and tons more related to security/privacy… Lots of this control (so far) isn’t available on ChromeOS. It’s only advantage is that it’s running a full-featured browser (with the serious privacy issues).

    From the video, Auxens has (just) four developers and they really put together something amazing here. The only thing I didn’t like was the “start” menu – wish the apps could be categorized (with addition of search by tags, descriptions).

    So many companies are putting in lots of valuable work related to this… some are Android Desktop proper like RemixOS and others are like this bridge solution. The market appeal here cannot be understated, imo.

  2. Hmmm. Which would be better, something like this or a cheap Chromebook with Android support (assuming I’m always carrying a phone)? To be honest, I don’t know.

    I wish the best for small companies like Jide and Auxens but, like Alan, I’d rather see a Google-supported solution.

    It’s interesting to remember that the Palm Foleo was announced almost ten years ago and still no-one has come up with a successful product of this type.

    BTW, I suspect Charbax came up with the phrase “Android Continuum”; Auxens and Vernee would be unwise to use this themselves.

    1. Hey,
      I’m on this ROM since some days, and I think, actually, it’s better than a cheap chromebook… because you could bring it always with you, you could transform it in PC, in Netbook… it’s amazingly convenient ! And with the power of a chipset like X30, X20, or same my s650 (I’m trying it on redmi note 3 pro)… we get great performance !
      link for ROM for my device and where you could do feedback : https://forum.frandroid.com/top

      1. I had to run your link through Google Translate, since I’ve forgotten most of the French I learned in high school. 🙁

        I just wanted to confirm your setup. If I understand correctly, you have a physical keyboard attached via USB OTG and display to a Shield TV using Chromecast, n’est-ce pas? Do you find any lag when trying to interact with the display? Have you encountered any Android apps that don’t work at all?

        Considering the problems that Google is still having with Android apps on Chrome OS, if Auxens can make this work, I’m impressed.

        Thanks for the feedback. It’s good to hear from someone who actually uses the product.

  3. Personally, I hope Google creates a built-in mobile/desktop convergence feature. I don’t see any of these 3rd party solutions succeeding.

    Still hoping Microsoft’s Continuum and even Ubuntu Phone’s/Touch’s convergence solutions work out well.

  4. I don’t think they should be allowed to title their video “Android Continuum”… lol

    1. It looks like mixed Unity with a bit of Gnome 2 (both Desktop Environments for Linux OSes).

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