Introducing the Samsung DeX
The Samsung DeX is the Android equivalent of the Windows Display Dock by Microsoft, giving smartphone owners the ability to utilize the power and capability of their mobile device to operate within a desktop computing environment. This plug-and-play device enables users to set it up either as a workstation or a gaming computer via the use of a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse and hooked up to a desktop monitor via an HDMI cable.As a pure desktop replacement, there’s no doubting that there are a number of shortcomings compared with a fully-blown desktop PC, particularly when it comes to utilising more intensive applications. With the DeX, users are limited only to the mobile apps supported by Android. However, the news of Samsung’s new gaming partnership with Android game developers will add a new dimension to the DeX, transforming it from a primarily business/remote working device to an entertainment device too. According to Techradar, it is also possible to run Windows 10 on the DeX.
From Final Fantasy to BombSquad
Fans of the Final Fantasy gaming franchise will be excited to hear that Samsung’s new partnership includes working with Square Enix. Samsung and Square Enix confirmed: “Square Enix’s FINAL FANTASY XV POCKET EDITION will provide both Vulkan and DeX [with an] optimized gaming experience in [the] coming months.” Desktop gamers will also be interested to know that a number of popular gaming titles are being brought to a desktop environment via DeX in the near future, most notably Super Evil Megacorp’s Vainglory, Game Insight’s Survival Arena, Eric Froemling’s BombSquad and Lineage 2 Revolution from Netmarble. Samsung’s new gaming partnership will soon see these titles become available on a desktop monitor and playable using a point and click mouse on larger screens to create a more immersive and engaging desktop gaming experience by utilising the high-performance real-time 3D graphics Vulkan API. Aside from the ability to play these popular gaming titles on desktop PCs, they will also be playable via the smartphone devices themselves; ideal when gamers are away from their desks.With the Samsung DeX ecosystem almost certain to expand now over time, it’s hoped that the company will continue to forge new working relationships with third-party gaming developers and bring exciting and enriching gaming experiences to smartphones around the world.
Linux on Galaxy
Aside from Samsung’s exciting gaming partnerships, the tech giant also recently confirmed a new project titled "Linux on Galaxy", designed to offer a Linux-powered desktop environment to Samsung Galaxy devices. Developers will be given the flexibility to run their preferred Linux distribution on their smartphone, with Linux on Galaxy set to be installed as an app, giving smartphone users the freedom to utilise multiple operating systems at once.Samsung added: “Whenever they need to use a function that is not available on the smartphone OS, users can simply switch to the app and run any program they need to in a Linux OS environment.” This could enable the leading Android games to be played within a Linux environment too. Within the last 12 months, advancements of Linux graphics drivers have enabled developers to release Vulkan API-enabled games, which will be good news for DeX users. Vulkan’s input should also see an increasing number of 64-bit games released on Linux, resulting in much-improved gaming performance.
Gaming: Linux Vs Windows
In fact, the gap is very much narrowing between Windows and Linux in terms of PC gaming. Linux has much to thank for Valve’s Steam client, which has gained traction as one of the most popular environments for digital PC game marketplaces. The development and expansion of HTML5 technology has also transformed browser gaming, much to the benefit of Linux.Today, gaming in HTML5 is considered one of the most popular ways to play online. Its simple, hassle-free functionality on virtually all web browsers and operating systems – coupled with the easy access of HTML5 games online – has created a mass appeal that’s rivalled and overtaken Flash games. Traditionally, popular free browser game sites such as Miniclip have utilised Flash technology but an increasing number of game developers are opting to sacrifice Flash for HTML5, which is music to the ears of gaming sites whose users have increasingly diverse gaming environments, including Newgrounds and Kongregate, which have had to make the transition from Flash. Another case in point here is the iGaming sector, where HTML5 allows online casino players to play iGaming titles including timeless classics such as roulette and blackjack and more innovative 3D slot titles, regardless of what environment they’re using – from Red Hat and Ubuntu to Windows. It also means minimal need to rely on Adobe or other companies for updates, as HTML5 works out of the box.
HTML5 itself is not a type of programming language. Instead, it utilises APIs such as WebAudio, Canvas and WebGL to bring together all of the necessary gaming components to allow a game to played within any browser, without the need for any additional plugins that can slow down the performance of operating systems.
HTML5 is also great news for gaming developers looking to find more efficient ways of reaching mass markets. Developing games in this single code base allows them to be operated on any desktop or handheld device that supports HTML5, allowing for the creation of games for both smartphones and PCs alike. HTML5 games also have a pick-up-and-play feel, as they’re not required to be installed on any device, saving valuable memory space on smartphones in particular. HTML5’s ability to utilise WebSockets technology for client-server communication has also helped develop the Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) scene into the global browser gaming phenomenon it is today, generating estimated revenue of $11.1bn in 2017.
A vastly expanding community of HTML5 gaming developers is great news for the Linux OS, helping the environment to finally challenge Windows as the undisputed leader of PC gaming.
