desktop - 2/3 - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

Mar

Fascinating: OnLive Unveils OnLive Desktop - A Free, Instantly Available Windows 7 Cloud Instance For Tablets, Complete With MS Office, Media Streaming, And More [Hands-On]

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in App Reviews, Applications, News, Tablets, Videos

OnLive, the company that has already revolutionized gaming is now gunning for making the same kind of splash in OS virtualization. And not just any OS virtualization, but Windows 7 in the cloud, for free - a set of words I never thought I'd write in the same sentence.

Something worth pointing out right off the bat is OnLive's "groundbreaking video compression technology" that is used to stream the Desktop cloud to your tablet. If there's one company that has figured out how to perfect streaming of full-screen media, it's definitely OnLive.

I was a bit skeptical at first, but after trying out every aspect of the app through a relatively slow, Spanish Vodafone HSPA+ hotspot here in Barcelona, I have to say I'm thoroughly impressed.

Jan

[Deal Alert] Splashtop Remote Desktop HD On Sale For Just $6.99 From The Android Market (That's $3.00 Off)

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Applications, Deals

To celebrate a successful launch on the Blackberry Playbook, the makers of Splashtop Remote Desktop HD have trimmed its price to $6.99 in the Android Market, down from its previous $9.99 price tag.

Splashtop's remote desktop client is one of the most popular apps of its kind, boasting over 5 million mobile users, and optimization for Tegra 2 tablets.

The app allows users surprisingly sophisticated control of their desktop computer from anywhere with an internet (or 3G/4G) connection, providing access to PowerPoint and Keynote presentations, Microsoft Outlook, 3D games, full computer browsing, and various other software not available for Android.

If you've been looking for a great remote access client at a reasonable price, or have been waiting for a good bargain on Splashtop, now's your chance.

Nov

[New App] AirDroid Lets Your Desktop Control Your Android Phone Over WiFi Using A Simple, Gorgeous Interface

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Applications, News

For those who spend a lot of time looking at a computer, and can't be bothered to look at their phone very often, Sand Studio has introduced AirDroid, an app that allows users to control their Android Phone from a computer via WiFi.

The great thing about AirDroid is that it works - it's easy to start up, and functions flawlessly (in my experience). The interface is also very polished - mimicking a desktop launcher complete with moveable icons, a task bar, and controls that allow you to do just about anything.

One of the most impressive features is the ability to access SMS messages, manage them, and send messages right from a web browser.

Oct

[New App] Want Your Android Launcher To Look Like iOS? There's Now An App For That - Espier Launcher

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Applications, News

I'm not sure I would personally ever do that (wait, I'm sure - I'm shrugging just thinking about it), but let's say that you really love the look and feel of the the iOS desktop UI found on Apple's iPhone, with the launchpad, rounded corners, folders, trembling icons with little X's, etc. However, you also love the flexibility that Android offers. Can both be combined? The answer, as it turns out, is yes - Espier Launcher, which just landed in the Android Market (probably immediately infringing on a few dozen Apple patents).

The app is openly advertising its similarity to the iPhone desktop layout, icons, and functionality - if it ever picks up, I give it a few days on the Market before Apple wheels in the ~~big guns~~ lawyers.

Aug

Now Possible: Enable Honeycomb-Style Gmail Preview Pane On Regular Gmail.com - Yup, Gmail Labs Still Going Strong

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in News, Off-Topic

The latest post over at the official Gmail blog brings us some heart-warming and exciting news around a new Gmail Labs feature called Preview Pane.

It means Gmail Labs are still going strong and
If you own a Honeycomb tablet, you may already be familiar with the preview pane interface that Gmail for Honeycomb uses. There are 3 panes in total - folder list, message list, and a convenient preview pane, and as of today, you can view all 3 right in your regular Gmail.com.

The new UI is likely to boost productivity for most users (if you run around Gmail using only keyboard shortcuts and don't even need a mouse, the productivity boost will likely not apply to you).

Jun

Official HTC EVO 3D Desktop Dock Listed As "Coming Soon" At Best Buy, And It's Quite A Looker

Posted by Nate Kimmey in EVO 3D (Shooter), News, Sprint

If you're planning on picking up an EVO 3D on June 24, you might want to set aside some cash to grab this sleek-looking desktop dock to go with it. The HTC-made accessory is currently listed as "coming soon" on Best Buy's website, so chances are you'll be able to pick one up on launch day.

The dock uses a 5-pin microUSB port for charging that is also MHL adapter-compatible (read more about this snazzy microUSB and microHDMI hybrid here), and despite the plastic construction, looks damn sexy doing it. You'll have to drop $50 to get it, but it'll be a nice replacement for the EVO 3D's missing kickstand, at least while it's parked on your desk.

May

[Quick Look] Remotely Access Multiple Features On Your Phone With LazyDroid Web Desktop

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Applications, News

I really, really love apps that let me remote access my phone. In the past, I've used apps that let me take screenshots remotely, access my SMS remotely, and do a few other simple tasks without ever having to touch my phone.

Today, though, I've come across the mother of all remote control apps, and it's appropriately named LazyDroid Web Desktop. This thing is super cool - it lets you access your phone over Wi-Fi or USB through a desktop-esque application inside of your browser. Have a look:

LazyDroid allows you to access your SMS, contacts, camera, clipboard, sensors, and file manager all from the comfort of a familiar interface without ever having to leave your browser.

Apr

Forget About Motorola's WebTop Dock, Transform Your EVO 4G Into A Desktop PC

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Development, EVO 4G (Supersonic), HTC, News, Sprint

Of all the things that are cool and impractical in this world, this has to be one of my favorites. At one point or another, all EVO 4G owners have wanted to ditch their desktop PCs in lieu of their smartphone, right? Okay, maybe not - but if you ever get the urge to do so, then XDA member Lokifish Marz has the setup for you.

Using mostly free software and a little bit of elbow grease, he has his EVO 4G set up as a fully functional desktop computer, including a mouse, keyboard, speakers, monitor - the works. You really need to see what I'm talking about to get the full effect of how cool this is, and fortunately for us, Lokifish has made a video to demonstrate:

Pretty incredible, no?

Apr

[App Review] Join.me Is A Clean, Easy Way To Share Your Screen From Desktop To Phone

Posted by Brad Ganley in App Reviews, Applications, Apps/Games, Reviews

Last Updated: July 24th, 2011

If you have ever tried to do tech support for someone on the go, needed to remotely see how exactly somebody did something on their computer, or found it necessary to view another person's screen from your smartphone for some other reason, you're already well aware of the frustration that arises from not having your computer handy. Fortunately for you, you've got an Android phone, and I've got the perfect tool for you.

Join.me, a sweet program designed by those crazy screen-sharing, remote-controlling, virtual LAN-creating programaholics at LogMeIn, allows you to either share your computer screen or view people sharing their screens from anywhere.

Feb

Official RealVNC Viewer For Android Hits The Market - And It Doesn't Come Cheap

Posted by David Ruddock in Applications, News

Ok, so it's not that expensive, but $10 (5.99GBP)? Seems a little pricey for a remote viewer client (though LogMeIn will run you $30, by comparison), especially considering RealVNC's "Personal Edition" desktop software costs 30 bucks. Fear not, because there is a free version of the RealVNC software for Windows, and while it lacks a lot of the nifty features the full Personal Edition has, the Android viewer client doesn't support most of them anyway.

If you want a completely free Android VNC experience, I suggest TightVNC for PC or Chicken of the VNC for OS X, combined with the equally free android-vnc-viewer (though you'll probably spend a little more time configuring them).