A decade after the failed Atrix 4G Laptop Dock, Motorola is taking another step to turn a phone into your computer. Through an Android 11 update, Edge Plus users on Verizon can now pair the device to a larger screen for a desktop-style experience similar to Samsung’s Dex. In a nutshell, this means you have access to all the productivity, games and streaming apps on your phone on a monitor or TV.
Motorola hopes you’ll use it for everything from editing work documents and making video calls (which should look good thanks to the solid collection of cameras on the Edge Plus) to gaming. Fortnite – or a cloud gaming service like Xbox Game Pass or Google Stadiums (via a Bluetooth controller) – to watch Netflix.
The new “Ready For” platform uses an interface with more windows that are launched when you connect to a screen via a USB-C or HDMI port. You can also add accessories such as a keyboard or mouse to further enhance the feel of a desktop. There is no dedicated app and you can use your phone as a second screen while working on a larger screen. To help, Motorola is releasing a “Ready For” dock on Amazon on April 19, with prices to be announced closer to launch.
Of course, a lot has changed since the Atrix 4G laptop – essentially a stupid laptop made smart by attaching the Motorola phone to the back. Smartphones, internet and home internet speeds have progressed rapidly. In the meantime, Samsung has probably come closest to creating a smartphone-powered desktop experience with its wireless Dex software platform. If Dex and Ready For stay, it could lead to more phone makers wanting to use computers to take advantage of the remote boom.