Update: Now you can download Remix OS and try it out on your PC or Mac. The file weighs 692MB, and all of the instructions on how to burn it to your flash drive are available here along with the download link. But we need to warn you, this is an alpha build of the operating system, meaning you’re bound to find a bug or two around the OS.
Android has really struggled to become the best mobile productivity OS ever since the birth of the Android tablet. Split screen multitasking is a thing, but it’s not great, especially since lots of tablets don’t support it (for some stupid reason). We have apps like Excel, Word, and PowerPoint available to our smartphones, but how productive can we get with a software keyboard and your finger in those apps? Well, the good folks at Jide Technology created a solution for those wanting more from Android.
See, Jide took a look at Android and realized it’s hidden potential that’s been limited by the type of interaction people have with it. And so they set a goal with one thing in mind: to make Android as productive and enjoyable as a PC. And they did it. They did it good, too.
They call it Remix OS, which is basically a Windows-like version of Android Lollipop that features the full Google Play Store, the ability to run multiple apps at once, and other known Android features. Now I know what you’re thinking, “Don’t we already have software to make my PC run Android like this?” And you’d be right, but this is different. Remix OS has features you wouldn’t expect from an Android PC client, like the ability to run tablet-optimized Android apps in multiple windows like in Windows or Mac OS X, a task bar for pinning apps for quick access and useful information at a glance, a full file manager built right into the system, and even keyboard shortcuts we’ve all come to know and love like CTRL+C to copy and CTRL+V to paste. These may seen insignificant since we’re already used to having these things in the operating systems we’re used to, but for Android, it’s ground breaking.
Remix OS is our state of the art Android-based operating system. We mean it when we say you get a PC experience unlike anything on Android and an Android experience unlike anything on a PC. The innovative features we’ve brought to Remix OS 2.0 have been meticulously engineered to bring you the best of both worlds – the harmonious fusion of a mobile and desktop experience.
Remix OS works on Intel and AMD processors, so basically any modern computer (around 6 years old and under) can run this fantastic rendition of Android for PC.
Now, you’re probably jumping out of your seat right now (or if you’re reading this on our mobile app, you’re probably just straight up jumping) and asking yourself, “O MY GOD! WHERE CAN I DOWNLOAD THIS?!? I NEED THIS RIGHT NOW!!!” Well, Jide has announced that as of January 12th, you’ll be able to download Remix OS for free from their website so you can install it on your PC via an 8GB or larger USB drive. But, if you don’t have a USB drive or just want a dedicated machine, Jide sells a tiny computer called the Remix Mini, which is a machine totally dedicated to running Remix OS. It only costs $70 and the only requirement is basically a monitor.
Here’s the specs of the Remix Mini:
- 1.2GHz quad-core cortex A53 (64-bit) Allwinner processor
- 8/16GB of RAM
- 1/2GB Memory
- H.265 4K hardware decoding (1080P HDMI output, Support for 1920*1080 resolution)
- 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi wireless networking compatible
- Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology
- 1-year limited warranty
I’m really looking forward to trying out Remix OS. I’ve wanted to use Android as a desktop OS, but the only thing kinda close to that is Chrome OS which, by far, isn’t as powerful as Android. Like… at all.
You can learn more about Remix OS by visiting Jide Technology’s website at http://www.jide.com/en. You can also pick up the Remix Mini from the company’s Amazon page here.
(P.S. This isn’t a paid product placement. I am solely talking about them because I want to and because I have great interest in what they offer.)
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