While I wait for Google’s books to mature before purchasing a unit, I’m using a traditional Windows-Android setup. I’m happy with this combination for now. I already have a Googlebook-like setup thanks to some useful apps. I typically use Quick Share to wirelessly transfer files between my laptop and my phones, while using Microsoft Phone Link as a bridge for everything else. I recently found an open source app that could perform these functions better than Google and Microsoft apps combined. Don’t worry, you don’t need to create another online account. Related Forget telephone link; This ad-free open source app outperforms it in every category. This one belongs on my list of must-have items. Free myself from the chains of Google and Microsoft. Open source is the way to go. Although I could stick with Microsoft Phone Link as an all-in-one app and call it a day, I preferred Quick Share as my primary file-sharing software. Quick Share is built into Android and allows me to send files to my laptop from any phone, not just those with my Google account signed in. Enter KDE Connect. It is a free open source application that is available on Android, Windows, iOS, macOS and Linux. Its cross-platform compatibility is broader than Microsoft Phone Link and Quick Share combined. More importantly, KDE Connect does not require an online account to function. I can link multiple phones to their Windows app without creating individual profiles. At the same time, I could connect multiple desktops and laptops to my Android phone. Setting up KDE Connect is simple: install the app on your chosen devices, connect them to the same Wi-Fi network, and pair them through the app’s home screen. Due to KDE Connect’s extensive feature set, it requires several Android permissions to access your files, notifications, clipboard, and more. KDE Connect uses a persistent push notification on Android to indicate your ongoing connection to another device. You can disable this in the main settings of the KDE Connect app or in the Android root notifications menu. KDE Connect is more than just a file sharing application. It allows my laptop and phone to communicate all the time. KDE Connect is packed with features. My favorite is the notification sync and response. When my phone receives notifications, I can read them and respond from my laptop. It stops me from checking my phone every time it vibrates. Related to that, KDE Connect allows me to share a single clipboard between my phone and my laptop. When I copy text to my Windows PC, it is automatically sent to my Android and vice versa. It’s a huge time saver when multitasking. File sharing is another highlight. The implementation of KDE Connect essentially makes Quick Share obsolete for me. It’s simple: choose a file on Android and send it to Windows, and it will appear in the Downloads folder. The same steps apply from Windows to Android, no PIN or QR codes needed. The most interesting feature is the remote entry. KDE Connect can turn my Android phone into a mouse and keyboard, a media controller, or a presentation remote for my laptop. Although I haven’t found much use in them, I discovered another secondary purpose for my spare Android devices. Disable plugins you don’t need in the KDE Connect plugin settings. For example, if you don’t use the presentation remote on your Android, turn it off to save battery. It is not plug-and-play. You must configure. The downside of using an open source application is the learning curve. KDE Connect doesn’t hold your hand after installing the app. Instead, Microsoft Phone Link guides you through setup and, annoyingly, reminds you of new features every time there’s a software update. KDE Connect was originally created for Linux; The Windows version was released just a few years ago. Its user interface still looks a lot like other Linux software and seems out of place compared to most Windows and Android apps. However, the design of KDE Connect is not my biggest problem. Your dependence on the network is the biggest problem when traveling. Because the app requires both devices to be on the same local Wi-Fi network, using KDE Connect on the go is a hassle. Setting up a standalone mobile hotspot is the easiest solution. Related I skipped AirDrop for Android’s Quick Share to fix a frustrating file transfer bottleneck Google’s Quick Share has solved my frustrations when sharing files between Android and PC One open source app to replace them all Like other open source apps, KDE Connect takes some time to set up and get used to. Once installed, you need to do most of the work to make it work perfectly. The main advantage of open source applications is continuous development. KDE Connect developers listen to user feedback and read bug reports, which will be addressed in future updates. KDE Connect has become a staple in my Windows-Android setup. It doesn’t have the same smoothness between a Googlebook and an Android, but it’s better than paying $1,000 for a new laptop.
