Recently launched Jide, a company founded by some former Google employees, Remix OS. We got to work with this operating system for computers based on Android and can run from a USB stick.
Android on your PC
It is quite possible that on hearing the name Remix will ring a bell with you. Last year Jide launched a campaign on Kickstarter to raise money for the production of an Android Mini PC called Remix. A total of $ 1.6 million raised for both the production of the computer as the development of the Android-based operating system.
Remix OS 2.0 is now free to download and has the advantage of being on virtually any computer (PC and Mac) or virtual machine can run. The software is based on Android x86, an unofficial open source project that Android has been ported to the x86 architecture PCs. Remix OS include adding a window interface, support for keyboard and mouse and a familiar start menu increasing. That seems an attractive alternative to Chrome OS, Google’s operating system for laptops which has been largely on the Chrome browser based.
Installation and first impressions
If you want to try Remix OS is useful to create a bootable USB stick. After downloading the necessary files and instructions (via this site) you can use the accompanying USB tool to get the iso file of the operating system on the stick. Jide recommends an empty USB 3.0 flash drive with 8GB or larger with a minimum write speed of 20MB / s. The possibility exists that the system otherwise slow or boat.
The installation process is relatively simple and takes about ten minutes to complete. Then restart your PC and press F12 to determine the bios that the operating system of the USB stick boot. After this, the computer will restart again and you can select ‘Guest mode’ or ‘Resident Mode’. The difference between the two is that stored in Resident Mode all your data and apps, which at the guest mode is not the case.
After the selection have to be patient before Remix OS actually starts and you given a choice of language. For now you only have the choice between English or Chinese. After connecting to wifi you end up in an environment that can be described as a cross between Windows 10 and Chrome OS. Top left you can find shortcuts to settings, file manager and trash, left corner of the taskbar a sort of start menu and right down a dropdown menu for notifications, time, and settings for WiFi, Bluetooth, audio and keyboard.
Ease and applications
The taskbar also contains a shortcut to your download folder, where all media and apk files you end up reaping the web. Unfortunately Remix OS not have Google Play (more on that later), giving you so manually via sites like APK Mirror of Amazon’s app store (Amazon.com/underground) apps to download. Before you can sideload which, you have to dive into the settings to “Unknown sources” box. Then you can install any Android app.
By default, however, contains all the necessary Remix OS apps, including the previously mentioned file manager. Which reminds of the Finder of OS X and displays the file structure of the computer in an organized way. You can easily arrange and rename folders, drag files to the trash, and manage your downloads. Remix OS also contains the default browser of Android, a clock, and calculator- camera app, Media Player MX Player and widgets. Nice is that all functions, such as camera, sound and (scrolling) the mouse, work directly without having to set do these things.
For an alpha version works Remix OS very smoothly, especially if you consider that the operating system from a USB stick is booted. The biggest advantage is that the OS will have the opportunity to bring Android apps to run on a desktop. They open in separate windows that you can use full screen or smaller. The system, which is based on Android 5.1.1, should work in theory, with virtually all applications.
Google Play install Services
Remix OS 2.0 standard does not have the necessary Google Play Services to apps like YouTube, Gmail and Google Drive to run. Fortunately, there is an opportunity to do so to install the Services with GMSinstaller, which you can find instructions on this page. This is basically for each user a must, as you simply Google Play can use for downloading apps.
The latter is a predominantly good . Applications such as Gmail, YouTube and Chrome are fine fullscreen and windowed to use, which also goes for popular apps like IMDb, TripAdvisor and VLC. Also, most games that are optimized for tablets like Temple Run 2 or Asphalt eight, his playing. Logically, the mouse operation is not optimal, although Remix OS also touchscreen support
In addition, the operating system has basically everything you expect of stock-Android, including the possibility of a VPN or Cloud Print to enable, support for multiple Google accounts and access options to enlarge the text and adjust colors. Quite right you find the familiar notification window with the handy not disturb mode and screenshot option. An alpha version feels Remix OS already very complete.
Conclusion Remix OS review
Even at this early stage of development Remix OS already particularly suitable the Android system and apps to run on a desktop computer. The operating system is free, easy to install and feels familiar. By default, there are already some useful utilities available and you have the option to sideload apps, but it is best to immediately install the Google Play Services with a tool like GMSinstaller. You can then seamlessly use any Google Apps, allowing the capabilities of the system are basically unlimited. We are very curious about what the future holds for Remix OS, but also in its present form, the system is worth a try.
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