Skip to main content

Multi-window Android on an Alcatel all-in-one? Meet the Xess 17

alcatel xess 17 pc
Image used with permission by copyright holder
The Phoenix OS, which turns Google’s Android platform into something that works well on desktop, has found itself a hardware partner in Acatel. Together they’ve launched the Xess 17, an all-in-one PC that runs the Android-based operating system and offers desktop features like multi-window support and a taskbar.

All of that is contained in quite a smart little package. The Alcatel Xess features a slimline silver chassis with a built-in stand, containing a 17.3-inch, 1080p, IPS-touchscreen display, a MediaTek MT8783T octa-core CPU, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage (as per Liliputing).

Recommended Videos

All of that is powered by a 10,000mAh battery which makes the system portable, and there’s even a stylus clipped behind the stand for those who prefer a digital pen.

To give people an idea of how it all runs, Alcatel brought along the all-in-one to Mobile World Congress, the first time the hardware has run Phoenix OS in public. Despite the interesting CPU choice, reports state that the Xess runs well and should offer an interesting option for those looking for a compact system that doesn’t run Windows or OSX.

With an intended launch sometime in the second quarter of 2016, we still don’t have much word on pricing. However, we do know that the European release will come later, so our friends across the pond will have a bit longer to wait to get their hands on it.

Of course Phoenix isn’t the only operating system that makes Android a little more user friendly for those looking for a desktop experience. We previously looked at Remix OS which offers something quite similar. There are even options to get it running on the miniature Jide systems. Don’t expect the performance to be as strong as this new Alcatel piece of kit, but the option is there at least.

Jon Martindale
Jon Martindale is a freelance evergreen writer and occasional section coordinator, covering how to guides, best-of lists, and…
This gorgeous Mac mini hub exacerbates the power button placement problem
M4 Mac mini with Satechi hub on a desk.

Satechi, known for its high-quality tech accessories, is updating its Mac mini hub for the new M4 model. Like previous hubs, it allows Mac mini owners to expand their storage and ports while preserving airflow, wireless signal, and performance. It looks awesome, but this time, the design highlights the problematic nature of the new Mac mini's placement of its power button.

With previous Mac mini models, the power button was at the back, making it easily accessible even when it was in a Satechi hub. The new button placement on the bottom of the PC, however, may prove even more annoying for anyone who wants to buy this accessory.

Read more
Proton VPN vs. Mullvad: Which is the best open-source VPN?
Proton VPN Plus and Mullvad websites appear in a split-screen on a PC monitor.

Open-source software is exploding in popularity and even virtual private networks (VPNs) share code for transparency. With over 100 million open-source developers contributing to the community, there’s an improved chance to find bugs and patch vulnerabilities.

Proton VPN and Mullvad are among the best VPNs available, and both are open-source solutions. You can browse the code used in Proton VPN and Mullvad on GitHub to check that there isn’t any secret logging or undisclosed data collection.

Read more
Some older D-Link routers are vulnerable to attack
D-Link Omna 180 Cam HD

A few legacy D-Link routers can be vulnerable to Remote Code Execution (RCE) attacks since the company refuses to send any updates to patch them up, claiming they have reached end-of-life, as recently posted on its announcement page.

The vulnerability is a serious issue since it allows hackers to take control from anywhere in the world and use a stack buffer overflow. This attack sends more data than the buffer size can handle, potentially corrupting critical information like the return address. Thus, hackers can take control of your PC. However, the company did not detail how the threat works, possibly not informing the hackers too much about the issue.

Read more