Motorola and Lenovo just announced Smart Connect at MWC 2024. Smart Connect enables users to have a seamless cross-device experience between PCs, phones and tablets. Basically, it’s like the device integration you’d expect in the Apple ecosystem, but with Motorola and Lenovo devices.
Smart Connect is a big step for both Motorola and Lenovo, as it demonstrates both companies’ commitment to delivering a smarter software solution for everyone. The Smart Connect ecosystem will benefit all consumers, from students and gamers to creators and business users. And for Android fans who have been eyeing Apple Land with envy, it’s a nice taste of what iPhone, iPad and Mac users have been enjoying for years.
Using Smart Connect will eliminate those annoying distractions that can occur when switching between compatible devices (ie phones, tablets and PCs). Smart Connect will allow users to change tasks and maintain a smooth workflow on existing devices without additional effort. The biggest benefit of this will be the fact that you don’t need to buy new devices of a specific operating system to achieve this goal.
Smart Connect also has a feature where the user can magnify what is displayed on the phone on a larger screen. This is incredibly convenient for games, movies, television shows, and even apps.
There are several different ways that Smart Connect can be used.
Cross Control allows you to use one keyboard and mouse to navigate between PC, tablet and phone. There’s also swipe to stream, which lets you stream different app activities to multiple devices with a single swipe. Share hub is a way to quickly share files and media on compatible devices, even those on a different operating system.
Notifications will also stay synced across all your devices. There’s even a universal smart clipboard that lets you easily copy text and images to another device that uses Smart Connect. Instant Hotspot turns your phone into a secure hotspot for your tablet or computer. You can also stream videos and games or launch a mobile desktop directly to your smart TV from your Motorola device.
Like Apple’s Continuity Camera, the webcam feature in Smart Connect lets you turn your smartphone into a webcam. This means you can use your phone’s high definition camera system and look your best in those video calls.
Now, this all sounds amazing! But what do you need to get this great new feature? Smart Connect will work on any Lenovo PC running Windows 10 or later (through the Microsoft Store), and “select” Lenovo tablets and Motorola devices through the Google Play Store. Specific device compatibility has not yet been revealed, but more information will be shared before Smart Connect launches.
Obviously, it remains to be seen how this all works in the real world, but if it all does what Motorola claims it does, the Smart Connect could be worth the hype.
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