The idea of turning a smartphone into a full computer has come up several times, but every solution that reached the market fell into the same trap: proprietary accessories and interfaces that only work with a single phone. The Superbook project aims to break that trend with a portable terminal that we can connect via USB to different Android-based smartphones, and use it as if it were a normal computer.
How many times have we talked about computers in our pockets? After all, smartphones are exactly that. Products with four or eight cores and 2 GB of RAM should be capable of delivering much more than WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram and Pokémon GO. We worked for years on systems with lower specifications, and we did pretty well. So what's the problem? First, I still hold the thought that mobile devices (regardless of the operating system) are designed with consumption as a priority. And second, there comes a point where interface limitations become too large. Certain tasks require much more dynamic, and dedicated input devices (read "keyboard and mouse"). Asus people explored for a long time the potential of hybrid smartphones that transform into PCs, and Microsoft offers a similar concept with Continuum function, but at the end of the day, they are all proprietary solutions that demand additional accessories and are only compatible with a limited number of smartphones. That's when Superbook appears.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/ePYtThsS5rISuperbook is a terminal whose goal is to transform a greater number of Android smartphones (version 5.0 and above with 1.5 GB of RAM) into a laptop computer. The shell has its own keyboard and touchpad, an 11.6-inch screen with 1080p resolution, and an internal battery that besides lasting 10 hours, has the ability to recharge the smartphone. The key here is the "universal" profile of Superbook: Essentially, all smartphone owners have to do is install the companion app Andromium OS, and connect the USB cable. In less than two seconds, Superbook and the Andromium app transform the smartphone into a laptop that can browse via WiFi or mobile network without any inconvenience, and open all the necessary productivity tools. From a certain point of view, it's almost like a Chromebook.
The people responsible for this project had already tried to fund a compatible "dock", but the restrictions of that format are too great. With Superbook they offer everything the user requires in a very convenient unit, and the fact of being able to use different smartphones in the same terminal is excellent. Logically, this made their Kickstarter campaign take off, with more than 1.1 million dollars raised. That amount enabled certain hardware extensions (such as 1080p support and 10 hours of battery), and if they reach two million, the keyboard will be backlit. How much does it cost? 99 dollars, with worldwide shipping. The only problem is that "backers" will be forced to wait until February of next year, but we wish them success.
