If you use Google Apps, you already know that your email, contacts, and calendar are automatically synced between your computer and your phone without needing to connect the two via cables. But did you know that you can do a lot more with this two-way connection?
In this roundup, we’ll take a look at apps that let you type long text messages on your computer keyboard, use your phone as a mouse for your computer, manage your PC downloads remotely, call friends using your computer’s sound system and microphone, and pretty much anything else (except for charging the device) — all without wires. It’s wireless nirvana!
Android Via Computer
Remote Phone Call
Price: $6.44
Starting off the list is a really cool looking app for Windows machines. This app will let your completely manage your phone calls right from your computer. View call lists, make and answer calls, view contacts and more. This is a great tool for anyone constantly in front of a Windows computer.
Wifi Keyboard
Price: Free
Wifi Keyboard allows you to use your computer keyboard as your Android keyboard. Just enable the app, go to the provided IP Address, and start typing!
Remote Notifier for Android
Price: Free
Remote Notifier for Android is an app that sends notifications to your PC so you don’t miss them. It will alert you of phone calls, SMS messages, and more. You can connect via wifi or bluetooth.
Wifi SMS Communications Manager
Price: $0.99
Wifi SMS Communications Manager will allow you to send SMS messages from the browser on your computer using a simple web form. It will also notify you when you receive a new SMS message.
LazyDroid
Price: Free Trial/$3 After
LazyDroid takes an app like Wifi Keyboard to the next level. Like Wifi Keyboard, you access the app via an IP Address; from there you can make calls, send SMS, and even access the file browser all right from your computer. This is a very well done app that I strongly recommend!
Remote Web Desktop
Price: Free
Like LazyDroid, Remote Web Desktop allows you to view your phone on a “desktop-like” interface using your Wifi network. Incredibly feature rich for a free app, Remote Web Desktop allows you to view a file manager, send texts, manage contacts, take screen shots (on rooted phones) and much, much more. Definitely worth checking out.
Remote My Droid (lite)
Price: Free
A third app that allows you to access your phone from your browser is Remote My Droid, which allows you to view files, read and send texts, and more. The developer also promises a pro version later this year.
MightyText
Price: Free
Currently in private beta (and previously called Texty, Texter), MightyText works with its Chrome Extension companion to allow you to send text messages right from your browser.
Barnacle Wifi Tether
Price: Free
Barnacle Wifi Tether allows rooted phones to become wireless hotspots (despite certain carriers’ best efforts). Turn on Barnacle and it will create a Wifi network of the same name that you can then connect your computer to. This has come in handy quite a bit when I couldn’t get a real Wifi connection.
Television
Google TV Remote
Price: Free
Those who have Google TV can also use their Android phone as a remote using the Google TV Remote app. As long as both your phone and your TV are on the same Wifi network, they will connect and you can control your TV. You can even use the side volume buttons!
Boxee Wifi Remote
Price: Free
Google TV isn’t the only one in the phone-as-a-remote game. Boxee, an Internet TV device, also has an Android app that allows you to control the box with your phone or tablet. Play, pause, search, and control volume all from your Android device!
Roku Remote
Price: $1.49
Rounding out the trifecta of Internet TV remotes is Roku Remote, an Android app that controls your Roku box. This app will connect to multiple Roku devices via your wifi network, and the claim is that it works better than the remote Roku comes with.
DISH Remote Access
Price: Free
Sometimes just a remote isn’t enough. Sometimes you want to watch TV on your device. If you’ve got DISH network, DISH Remote Access allows you to do that and more. Using the app, you can watch TV, manage your DVR, and do program searches from anywhere. A must have for ever DISH subscriber.
File Management
Dropbox
Price: Free
With phones and tablets becoming more powerful, it’s fair to want to work on those devices and sync that work with a computer. There is (in my humble opinion) no better way to do this than with Dropbox. Sign up for an account and install the native Dropbox account on all of your machines/devices. You now have seamless syncing across everything.
Android Sync Manager WiFi
Price: Free
A tool a bit more powerful for PC users comes in the form of Android Sync Manager WiFi. Using your wifi network and the PC client, you’ll be able to access the sync your files, as well as your calendar, contacts, messages, and more.
WiFi File Explorer
Price: Free
Looking for a more cross-platform solution? While you can’t sync calendars or contacts, Wifi File Explorer will let you stream files between your Android device and your computer using only a wifi connection.
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ASTRO Bluetooth Module
Price: Free
ASTRO Bluetooth Module is an add on for ASTRO File Manager, a very popular file manager for Android. This module will allow you to create a bluetooth network that allows you to share files.
Music
iSyncr WiFi Add-On
Price: $0.99
There are tons of ways to sync music to your phone or tablet, but iSyncr with the WiFi Add-On may be the best. This app lets your transfer songs from iTunes over a Wifi connection. It requires the purchase of iSyncr, either for PC or Mac, which costs $2.99.
WiFi Tunes Sync Pro
Price: $1.29
Here’s a standalone app that will allow you to sync your iTunes playlists to your Android device wirelessly. There is also a free trail version if you want to try before you buy, which limits to 1 playlist and up to 30 songs.
doubleTwist AirSync
Price: $4.99
AirSync is a wireless add-on for doubleTwist, an app widely regarded as “iTunes for Android.” While doubleTwist allows you to sync while your Android device is connected to your computer, AirSync is an add-on that will allow you to sync via your wifi network.
Spotimote
Price: Free
With the launch of Spotify in the US a couple weeks ago, this app has turned out to be a great find. Earlier in the roundup I mentioned an iTunes Remote; this app is a remote for Spotify. Have complete play control, select playlists, and even search and add tracks. Also stream tracks if you have a premium account. The catch? It’s only for Windows machines.
Remote for iTunes
Price: $4.99
So you want to switch a playlist or album in iTunes, but your computer is across the room or in a different place in the house completely? No problem. Remote for iTunes uses your Wifi network (like most of these apps) to connect with your iTunes library. Using this app you can play any album, artist, or playlist you’d like without moving from your spot.
iRemote iTunes WMP
Price: Free/$3.00
Here’s another Windows-only app that allows you to control either iTunes or Windows Media Player via wifi or bluetooth. Just download the desktop software and get started!
Browser Sync
Chrome to Phone
Price: Free
I’m sure there have been plenty of times when you were browsing the web on your computer and you came across a link you wanted on your phone. I used to email the links to myself; that is, before Chrome to Phone. Download the Android app and the Chrome extension and start sending sites directly to your phone!
Multimedia Streaming
Media Show on PC
Price: Free
Showing the photos on your phone to a group of people can be a bit cumbersome. With Media Show on PC, you can use your wifi network and any computer’s browser to display your photos on a much fuller screen. And the best part? The app is totally free!
SECuRET LiveStream
Price: $1.62
This awesome little app allows you to stream what your Android device’s camera captures right to a computer over a Wifi connection. Great if you want to set up a spy cam or just mess with your friends.
Wifi Media Sync
Price: $2.99
Wifi Media Sync will allow you to select certain files to sync with your PC, presumably by selecting folders on your computer. When you press the sync button, Wifi Media Sync will check for changes and new files to sync with your device.
Remote Computer Control
LogMeIn Ignition
Price: $29.99
This fantastic app will allow you to remotely access your computer from anywhere, at anytime. By providing remote access, you’re not only gaining access to the file system, but the keyboard, mouse, and applications installed on the computer. You’ll have complete control. Great if you’re always traveling, especially if you have an Android tablet.
Desktop Remote
Price: $1.49
A similar app to LogMeIn Ignition is Desktop Remote, which allows you to stream video, use your Android keyboard, and touch to move the cursor on Windows computers. It requires a piece of free desktop software.
µTorrent Remote
Price: Free
µTorrent Remote is a nice little app that will allow you to monitor and manage the µTorrent downloads on your PC or Mac from anywhere you get an Internet connection. View what your downloading, seeding, and what’s completed. Definitely a must have for big µTorrent users!
Remote Transmission
Price: Free
Similar to the µTorrent Remote is a remote for it’s Mac/Linux competitor, Transmission. Remote Transmission allows you to view and track your torrents, as well as pause, resume, and add new torrents.
Remote Command Prompt
Price: Free
Are you a command line geek? Remote Command Prompt is the app for you. This allows you to access your PC’s command prompt from anywhere. Install the desktop software and you’ll be good to go!
Seagate GoFlex Access App
Price: Free
Do you have a Seagate GoFlex Home Network Storage System? The Seagate GoFlex Access App lets you stream and access content from that storage system right on your Android device!
Remote Mouse and Keyboard
Price: $3.21
This cool little app creates a wireless touchpad for your PC or Mac. Great if you want to control your computer from across the room! Requires desktop software.
XFINITY Mobile
Price: Free
Comcast Customer with XFINITY? This app is a must! Check your email, voicemail, and control your DVR from anywhere in the world. You can even see a call history and view tv listings.
Android VNC Viewer
Price: Free
Here’s another VNC viewer for Android. This one works with most VNC clients on desktop computers and has the benefit of being free. If you’re looking for a VNC viewer, this might be a good start.
So that’s all I’ve got! There are a ton more out there, and some I purposefully left out (like Google Music and Amazon Cloud Player ) that don’t provide a direct link to some other in-home device. What do you use? Sound off in the comments!
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