Controlling your PC with Android Devices

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Controlling your PC with Android Devices

Mobile devices have a lot to offer to its users. It is small, easy to carry, and generally lasts longer than older methods of computing such as the Laptop. Still, these devices still lack the sheer power and ease of use of a PC. Sometimes, you wish you could carry your PC or do PC level tasks with your Android.

Well, our mobile devices aren’t powerful enough to handle all PC tasks, but what if I tell you that Android can actually be used to remotely control your PC? Your PC will still do all the work, but the control interface you use such as the mouse and keyboard will be replaced by controls of your mobile devices.

Splashtop

One of the most popular apps that your smartphone or tablet can use to control your PC is the Splashtop app. This app has a partner program that you can install in your PC to remotely control your computer.

The free version allows you to remotely control your PC as long as both devices are in the same network. This is pretty useful when you are at home and say, in the toilet doing your business while still being able to work with your PC.

In the business environment, this allows the user to be away from their desktop for a while to do things somewhere else. They can monitor the activity on their computer on the phone and even control it easily if any interactions are needed.

Say for example, you are installing a program or simply compiling a code. You don’t want to stay there for the whole duration of the process, right?

Of course, if you want to be able to control your own home computer while somewhere else completely, you have to purchase a license from the developer to unlock the feature. If you like working on your PC while on the go with a tablet or smartphone, then the price is well worth it.

Splashtop’s current advantage is the ability to seamlessly control Windows 8 devices with the same gesture support as you would on a Windows 8 tablet. Now you have a Windows 8 device and an Android in one. It also lets you connect to up to 5 computers.

PocketCloud

Another fast growing mobile to pc control solution is PocketCloud. It is slightly more comprehensive than Splashtop because it allows VNC and RDP connections. It is also a complete desktop experience for your mobile devices, but it does not offer the same Windows 8 experience that Splashtop emulates.

PocketCloud also has the advantage of being able to connect to the 3G and 4G networks by default. You don’t need to pay for a license just to connect while on the go. The slight disadvantage is that you can only connect to one computer under a free license. That shouldn’t be a disadvantage for many users since most people only have one personal computer anyway.

The mouse control of PocketCloud also seems more intuitive than Splashtop. It uses a touch mouse interface with a circular gesture control. It is up to the user which one of the two is easier to use.

PocketCloud Explore

Another great offering from PocketCloud is the ability to browse your PC files without the whole PC experience. Sometimes, all you need are the files that are already on your PC. Rather than fumbling around a simulated desktop experience, the user can easily  access their files using the same connection protocols as the PocketCloud.

Remote Control Collection

Controlling your PC doesn’t always have to be like running a virtual PC on your mobile device. Sometimes, you just need to control your laptop or PC using your intuitive smartphone commands while being right in front of your computer.

Smartphones these days can now serve as input methods for your computer. You can have it act like a mouse, a keyboard, a media control set, and even as a presenter. The Remote Control Collection gives you a complete collection of input solutions that can be used to control your PC.

This collection works great with Windows 8 too. It can act as your microphone for the voice control feature in your PC environment. The only thing missing now is the Windows 8 gesture support.

There are other dedicated apps like this on the Play Store, so make sure to check out which ones work best for you.

1 Comment

  1. Prasanta Sheesays: September 1, 2017 at 5:19 am

    In addition to above, you can also use R-HUB remote support servers app for remotely controlling your PC from Android devices. It can be freely downloaded from Android store.

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