Is Continuum the future of how a smartphone should be?

[anon(50597)]

I once had a pocket-sized computer back in the1980s, was the TRS-80 PC-1 Pocket Computer. Many strides made since those days yet a lot of years have passed too. I can't see phones, as we know them today, competing with the big boys (PCs) due to them lacking the required hardware, nor do I think technology is advanced enough to allow them to do so. So essentially Continuum is just a secondary means, under a different environment, to do some light computing, and any heavy-handed chores will still need to be done with a "real" computer.

You have no vision!! LOL.
I hear what you're saying. Continuum is a bridge to something better. When that something gets here we don't know yet. Hope I'm alive to see it.

Sent from my Alcatel Idol 4S

 

[slivy58]

You have no vision!! LOL.
I hear what you're saying. Continuum is a bridge to something better. When that something gets here we don't know yet. Hope I'm alive to see it.

Sent from my Alcatel Idol 4S

Nope LOL... Actually I do but it's not an overnight affair per se like your visions, really think it'll be several years before we're at that point but then, good chance I'm wrong and that's OK too :wink:

 

[anthonyng]

I'm switching career paths... Independent for many years, all my own hardware. Going the corporate route for a while and will be supplied a PC. Going to try to avoid anything personal on that thing period!

I'm not going to cart around 2 laptops with me (work and personal), hello 950XL and full time continuum! Going to probably lean heavily with RDP back to my SP3 initially but finally will get a use case to really want to use continuum.

Looking forward to it.

 

[Ryujingt3]

I think it's a great idea. But this is where the app gap of W10M really shows. Everybody I show it too asks 'can it run x app?', e.g. Gmail, or something like that. When I show them it only runs what's on the phone they immediately go silent, because everyone knows that nobody likes W10M anymore, sadly. So showing off Continuum fails.

 

[aximtreo]

Haha.. I see your Motorola Ultra Classic, and raise you The Nokia Mobira Talkman 450
That was a beast to lug around. I was using that while working in remote areas in Borneo back in the mid-80s... Ah!! Technology will give you muscles. We're talking about carrying around kilograms of phone, not grams..

Later, I switched to a smaller sexy, svelte NEC Primero eX, another radio phone...



You guys are breaking my heart. My first PC was the Compaq luggable weighing in at 36 pounds with a 9" screen and Dos 2.1. Took it everywhere in the SE on planes and cars. That's why my right arm is 1" longer than my left.

.... !!!

 

[tgp]

I think it's a great idea. But this is where the app gap of W10M really shows. Everybody I show it too asks 'can it run x app?', e.g. Gmail, or something like that. When I show them it only runs what's on the phone they immediately go silent, because everyone knows that nobody likes W10M anymore, sadly. So showing off Continuum fails.

This is why I believe that Samsung's version of Continuum will go over better than Microsoft's version. WM has an app shortage issue, and Continuum is limited to a small subset of those apps. Samsung (Android) does not have that problem.

My opinion is that Continuum on WM will not take off until phones are running Windows on ARM.

 

[anthonyng]

For me, won't be too too bad if they manage to allow non uwp run in windowed mode

 

[HeyCori]

What Continuum really needs are monitors with WiFi Direct as to avoid more docks and adapters (or whatever the Wii U used because that worked perfectly).

 

[fatclue_98]

What Continuum really needs are monitors with WiFi Direct as to avoid more docks and adapters (or whatever the Wii U used because that worked perfectly).

I've tried the various wireless adapters but nothing works as well as a good wired connection. The latency from any wireless option really kills the experience.

Sent from Alcatel Idol 4S with Windows via mTalk

 

[anthonyng]

Been pretty happy with using wireless to connect my 950xl to my company issued lenovo t460. yes not perfect latency wise but I think it's quite acceptable!

 

[meattray]

It's definitely a fascinating idea and i'm hoping it's built out further. I know there's a lot of times I don't necessarily love hauling my surface pro 4 around and would like this idea (particularly for my home office). If I could just plug my phone into the dock and use it seamlessly like I was at my office that would be perfect in my opinion so I don't have to always bring my laptop or surface pro home or something of that sort.

They're definitely on the right track in my opinion.

 

[sd4f]

In an era where the desktop is sort of going away, with the exception of work and heavy duty pc gaming, continuum isn't really a feature for consumers.

It could have a role though. One way I think it could be great is a dock for your TV. It would be competing against smart TV's, but I know a lot of people don't want smart functions in their TV's, purely because it's so easy to implement yourself and do a much better job of it.

Actually now that I think of it, for the consumer, this is somewhere where continuum actually makes a lot of sense; the TV.

 

[meattray]

In an era where the desktop is sort of going away, with the exception of work and heavy duty pc gaming, continuum isn't really a feature for consumers.

It could have a role though. One way I think it could be great is a dock for your TV. It would be competing against smart TV's, but I know a lot of people don't want smart functions in their TV's, purely because it's so easy to implement yourself and do a much better job of it.

Actually now that I think of it, for the consumer, this is somewhere where continuum actually makes a lot of sense; the TV.

Don't you think there's a large market of business/mixed with consumers who are using both a desktop/mobile device for work though? That would work perfectly for me and I think countless others.

Even on the consumer side and disregarding the business I would find it quite useful as well. Yes, I do the majority of my home browsing and things on a mobile device or tablet but there's a lot of times where I still get up and head to the laptop and or desktop computer to look through things. As you stated, maybe it's through a TV as the monitor as opposed to a separate monitor and keyboard elsewhere.

 

[fatclue_98]

Don't you think there's a large market of business/mixed with consumers who are using both a desktop/mobile device for work though? That would work perfectly for me and I think countless others.

Even on the consumer side and disregarding the business I would find it quite useful as well. Yes, I do the majority of my home browsing and things on a mobile device or tablet but there's a lot of times where I still get up and head to the laptop and or desktop computer to look through things. As you stated, maybe it's through a TV as the monitor as opposed to a separate monitor and keyboard elsewhere.

I wouldn't call Continuum a lifesaver but it has made my job easier by a magnitude of 100. My office is the backseat of an SUV. I'm no different than 1000s of other PMs who have to visit multiple jobsites and constantly preparing reports, submitting payroll, answering 100s of emails and ordering materials,etc. My setup is simple. I have a 15" flip-down monitor bolted to the ceiling and it's 12v (no added power requirements). I plug in the HDMI cable to the monitor, connect a keyboard with trackpad and I'm done. I do have a power inverter to drive the all in one printer in the back but that's not an everyday occurrence.

I could have a laptop, but that would mean another item constantly running off the inverter plus a hotspot. The only added bulk with my Continuum setup are cables and a keyboard which stow neatly away in a pocket on the seat back. Call me crazy but I'm enjoying simplicity, not to mention the "holy sh*t!" looks from the uninitiated. That's priceless.

Sent from Alcatel Idol 4S with Windows via mTalk

 

[jimapollo]

This is why I believe that Samsung's version of Continuum will go over better than Microsoft's version. WM has an app shortage issue, and Continuum is limited to a small subset of those apps. Samsung (Android) does not have that problem.

My opinion is that Continuum on WM will not take off until phones are running Windows on ARM.

That's the point I guess. And it's seem to to happen soon. Windows on ARM. But the question is how long it will take to get a proper Device and ecosystem? Actually the prospect seems to be the old story... Microsoft is way ahead with there thinking and devices, but the crowd is not ready yet, and the money will be made by others...

 

[fatclue_98]

This is why I believe that Samsung's version of Continuum will go over better than Microsoft's version. WM has an app shortage issue, and Continuum is limited to a small subset of those apps. Samsung (Android) does not have that problem.

My opinion is that Continuum on WM will not take off until phones are running Windows on ARM.

We have yet to see what Samsung's take on this subject will be. Just because Android has more apps means nothing, literally. Andromium is limited to a file browser and a forked Chrome-based browser. It's no better than a Chromebook and certainly less useful than Continuum.

 

[meattray]

I wouldn't call Continuum a lifesaver but it has made my job easier by a magnitude of 100. My office is the backseat of an SUV. I'm no different than 1000s of other PMs who have
to visit multiple jobsites and constantly preparing reports, submitting payroll, answering 100s of emails and ordering materials,etc. My setup is simple. I have a 15" flip-down monitor bolted to the ceiling and it's 12v (no added power requirements). I plug in the HDMI cable to the monitor, connect a keyboard with trackpad and I'm done. I do have a power inverter to drive the all in one printer in the back but that's not an everyday occurrence.

I could have a laptop, but that would mean another item constantly running off the inverter plus a hotspot. The only added bulk with my Continuum setup are cables and a keyboard which stow neatly away in a pocket on the seat back. Call me crazy but I'm enjoying simplicity, not to mention the "holy sh*t!" looks from the uninitiated. That's priceless.

Sent from Alcatel Idol 4S with Windows via mTalk

That's a very cool setup. You should take a picture sometime. I'd like to see it in action.

 

[tgp]

We have yet to see what Samsung's take on this subject will be. Just because Android has more apps means nothing, literally. Andromium is limited to a file browser and a forked Chrome-based browser. It's no better than a Chromebook and certainly less useful than Continuum.

True, we have no idea what Samsung will come up with. AFAIK they have not officially announced their next device iterations. We don't even know if the S8 and Note 8 will be running Android. For all we know, they'll have W10M!

I did leave a sort of disclaimer in my post, "I believe...".

 

[raycpl]

If Samsung does a android "Continuum", would their user be less forgiving than WP users about scaling issues, or less scathing about how they don't need it either, this "its useless to me"...
or if Apple does it.... my God, its revolutionary!!

... !!

 

[Zeem Frostmaw]

If Samsung does a android "Continuum", would their user be less forgiving than WP users about scaling issues, or less scathing about how they don't need it either, this "its useless to me"...
or if Apple does it.... my God, its revolutionary!!

... !!

If Apple did Continuum but using an OSX desktop it would be pretty epic to be fair

Android doesn't really have a well known and well used equivalent to push for a Continuum clone mind. I think that will be their disadvantage; it'll just be Android on a TV. It won't be Windows. Windows comes with very positive connotations in a desktop environment.