RemixOS enters beta stage - interview with Jide Technology's David Ko

Jide’s Remix OS for the PC was first showcased at CES 2016, but it was made clear that it was alpha software, intended only for developers. After only a month however, Jide Technology is now ready enter the beta phase, and apart from the mandatory bug fixes, users will get get to enjoy a few new and useful features as well. We’re here at MWC 2016, and got to spend some time and speak with David Ko from Jide Technology, about the future of Remix OS and the impact it is expected to have in the world of tablet computing. Let’s take a look!

Since the alpha version of Remix OS, Jide has received a lot of feedback from the already robust community, allowing for them to quickly incorporate any requested features in time for the beta phase, that was officially released yesterday. These features include the ability to install Remix OS on a hard disk instead of requiring a USB drive, OTA updates, and 32-bit support and UEFI support to open up compatibility, to name a few.

What is important to keep in mind is what Remix OS brings to the table when it comes to productivity, which is Jide’s trump card to help invigorate a somewhat faltering Android tablet market. Over the last 10 years, we’ve all seen the growth of the Android platform, moving from smartphones and tablets, to televisions and our cars, but historically, the main point of focus has always been on content-consumption. However, natural progression dictates an eventual shift into the productivity space as well, and we can expect to see a lot of movement in this regard over the next couple of years. Google had a solid first attempt in the Pixel C, but while the software package still has a ways to go, the message is clear that Google is definitely moving into the productivity side.

Jide Technology is hoping to stay ahead of the curve as far as the shift to the productivity side of things goes, and apart from features like multiple windows and other multi-tasking features that we’ve seen, we can also expect to see support for productivity apps for digital drawings, Adobe Lightroom, and others. Having a larger screen on tablets, 2-in-1 systems, and PCs is ideal for productivity, and these are the kind of devices Jide is focused on.

Jide also now has a very close relationship with Qualcomm, and have built a prototype of the next generation tablet as a reference design, powered by a high-end Qualcomm chipset, and we can look forward to something exciting later this year. However, Remix OS is intended to provide the same experience regardless of whether the device features current high-end specifications or older generation processing packages found with old PCs or tablets. Obviously, high-end devices will come with a lot more capabilities, but in general, when using the device for activities like browsing the internet or social media, watching videos on YouTube, and more, the experience will remain largely the same.

Jide is currently focusing on larger screens to provide the best experience possible, but the company certainly isn’t limiting itself to just one form factor. The key thing though is that the possibilities are endless, and with an ecosystem that is continuously growing and adapting, Remix OS will also be able to adapt to any form factor.

When it comes to what’s next for Jide and the Remix OS following the beta release, working closely with the growing RemixOS community will remain a big focus, and listening and adopting the feedback Jide receives is going to be key moving forward. In the second half of the year, we can also expect to see a lot of hardware partners coming out with devices running Remix OS.

So there you have it for this interview with David Ko from Jide Technology! You can find out more about the Remix OS, and download it, at www.jide.com. With multi-tasking capabilities limited to things like the Recent Apps menu, even on tablets, we would definitely encourage everyone to see this version of Android in action, and don’t forget to check out the full interview in the video above.

Stay tuned with Android Authority as we continue to bring you more great coverage from MWC 2016!