Turn Your Android Phone in to a Desktop PC For Just $35

Smartphones these days are capable of more than just making phone calls, they are getting more powerful by the day and while they may not be able to compete with a dedicated games console or even a mediocre gaming PC they have more than enough power for a host of uses, and that’s exactly what a new Kickstarter is relying on.

Called “Andromium”, this new Kickstarter project aims to turn your Android Smartphone into a fully fledged desktop PC. The combination of software and hardware costs just $35 and for that you get what looks like a regular charging cradle for your phone, with the addition of an HDMI port. However, Andromium is a charging cradle with a difference. This palm sized package gives you access to the “Andromium OS” which comes as an app from the Google Play store. Once installed all you need to do is place your phone into this smart charging cradle and it will automatically swap over to a full desktop-style experience.

The HDMI lead allows you to connect the Andromium cradle to a TV or monitor and will display the OS system and anything you want to run on it so you can enjoy games, movies or do work on your phone. The phone will also run in the background so there’s no need to miss calls or text messages.

This isn’t the first project aimed at turning your phone into a PC, but unlike the Motorola Webtop or the Ubuntu Edge platforms the Andromium is being designed to be compatible with as many Android phones as possible so will not be model or brand specific. The new start-up is looking to secure $100,000 in funding before January the 25^th and is available from as little as $29 for the first 3500 units so could well reach that total. The only drawback is the long term viability of this device and if the company will still be around in two or three years to ensure its compatibility with future devices.

However, with such a small price tag it’s not much more than a charging station would cost, and could well be worth the investment. You can check out full details and see the video on the Andromium Kickstarter page. If your looking for a phone that could work with such a docking station the check out the large range of Android phones at Chinavasion.

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