Software for PC and smartphone interaction

Since the purchase of a smart on Android, I was interested in its functional content. In practice, it turned out that Android is able to perform almost any task solved on a regular PC, only slower and not always more convenient. But it complements the PC perfectly, and the mechanisms for using the capabilities of a smart on a PC and the capabilities of a PC on a smart - a lot.

The article focuses mainly on emerging and future users of Android-smartphones; I hope that advanced users will also find something new in it and / or will contribute. Under a cat on points, in question-answer style.

How to use PC internet connection on a smart?

• Everything is already written to me . I personally use Connectify (creating a wifi hotspot on windows 7).
  

How to use the Internet connection smart on PC?

• Everything is already written to me in the same topic . Here I use the standard features of the Android OS (Wireless and Networks >> Modem Mode, available starting from Android 2.2). Smart owners with an earlier version of Android should pay attention to PdaNet (USB-Tethering, Bluetooth DUN).
  

How to share the file structure of the device?

• Method 1. Standard - via data-cable. The disadvantages are obvious - wired contact, you have to unload the sd-card, sometimes install the driver. Dignity - transfer speed.
  
  
• Method 2. To raise on the device FTP (SSH, SMB, HTTP, HTTPS, WebDAV , AFP ) -server. The method is reliable and simple, it requires a WiFi connection to the computer. Programs such as On Air (also offers WebDAV and AFP communication), SwiFTP, and the ability to be built into File Expert and Remote Web Desktop programs are able to raise the FTP server on the device.
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  On Air has a simple interface and a minimum of settings. After the server has started, a four-digit numeric password is generated (when attempting a brutus, the server crashes after the n-th number of requests, apparently, the built-in precautionary measure), the server address is displayed. The main disadvantages are that you can not manually set the user name, password (you can only specify that this password will always be static), the server port, the share-directory. Dignity - simplicity.
  
  SwiFTP FTP Server is the most comprehensive FTP server I've tried. Specify the user name, password, port, and even the share-directory (only here found such an option). The disadvantage is the lack of sharing in one click (meaning that you cannot create a shortcut on the desktop, when clicked, the ftp server would rise), and the interface itself does not have.
  
  File Expert (my choice) is an application that acts as a file manager, but includes both FTP and a WEB server. Enough settings, you can not just specify the share-directory (always sdcard). You can create a shortcut for launching an FTP or WEB server.
  
  Remote Web Desktop ( Full version paid) acts as a multifunctional WEB-server, and an FTP server is also integrated. The big drawback is that in the free version for the FTP server the speed is limited - only 100 kb / s (on average, no limit is ~ 2-4 Mb / s). However, the WEB-server has a wide range of capabilities. In the paid version it is possible to communicate via the HTTPS protocol (I have never seen such an opportunity anywhere else). There are enough analogs (usually contain Web Desktop in the name or something similar), however Remote Web Desktop is the most functional, in the free version there are not many restrictions.
  
  Samba Filesharing (suggested by belk ) allows you to raise an SMB server on your device. The most relevant for Windows users - the device will be displayed as a shared network folder. I need a root.
  
  Paid QuickSSHd runs the SSH server on the smartphone, on the PC it remains to use any SCP / SFTP client (Windows: WinSCP ; Linux: OpenSSH ; Mac: Cyberduck ).
  
  
• Method 3. Access to files via bluetooth. A long-standing method, requires the presence of bluetooth on the receiving device. On Android, additional software is not required, just turn on the visibility of the device. On Windows, you need something like BlueSoleil .
  
  
• Method 4. Use the Internet (file servers, dropbox). Self-evident.
  UPD : In ES Explorer recently added the ability to work with dropbox.
  

How to view the file structure of the PC?

• Method 1. Using bluetooth. On the device, install ES Explorer (Settings >> Bluetooth options >> Remove the check box “Hide BT”; specify the exchange folder). On a PC for Windows, you will need BlueSoleil, in its settings specify the share-directory.
  
  
• Method 2. To raise on the PC FTP (SMB, WEB) server. Again, ES Explorer helps out on a smart, everything you need is there. On a computer running Windows 7, you can use the buggy FTP server built into IIS . And you can simply view the shared network folders Windows (tab "LAN" in ES Explorer, tab "Network" in File Expert) - by Microsoft SMB Protocol.
  

How to get full access to the device's camera (control, media stream)?

• The surest way is to take advantage of IP Webcam for Android . Requires - the presence of a stable WiFi (Internet) -connections. With the help of IP Webcam, we raise the WEB-server, having previously specified such settings as video resolution, quality, orientation, username / password, port, the ability to transmit an audio stream. After starting the server, go to the specified address (I have 192.168.2.101:8080) from the browser and select any of the interaction methods - you can open the stream in the media player, open the remote control panel, use the java-browser plug-in (play video and audio in the browser , need only java!) use javascript to update the Cardo in the browser, view the broadcast by the media on the other smartphone using tinyCam the PRO Monitor (in the free version is not network the ability to scan for the presence of cameras), use the smartphone's camera etc. I communicate in to Skype. Brief instructions are given. Do not achieve the desired result is very difficult.
  

How to stream media from a smartphone?

• Very simple - install VLC Direct . On the PC you will need VLC Player . In VLC Direct on a Smart, you can use the Automatic Wizard in Settings - it makes the whole process great.
  

How to view streaming media on a smartphone?

• Use any streaming player - AndroStream Free ( Pro ), Stream Media Player ( Pro ), LittlePlayer Free ( Pro ).
  

How to control a computer using an Android smartphone?

• Method 1. Full control - using VNC (RDP). We put a VNC server ( TightVNC , RealVNC ) on the computer, a smart VNC client ( Remote VNC w / Ad , VNC Viewer (paid)). We establish a stable connection with the computer via WiFi, set up a server, a client - and voila! You can type text, control the mouse, press shortcuts - almost completely control the OS. For management under the RDP protocol there are also enough clients .
  
  There is one thing - RealVNC uses a proprietary protocol, so an encrypted connection can be established only if you use a paid VNC Viewer on Android.
  
  
• Method 2. Control over individual applications. This is true for some players ( Aimp UControl ), for the client uTorrent 3 ( µTorrent Remote ), and so on. A powerful solution for managing torrents - Transdroid - advises habrovchenin Wizard999 (support µTorrent, Transmission, rTorrent, Vuze, Deluge and BitTorrent 6).
  
  
• Method 3. Using a smartphone as a mouse. This allows you to do RemoteDroid ( Pro ), on the PC you will need to run the Remote Droid Server . As pilgr hints, there are also applications that allow you to control the active application on a PC by emulating pressing hot keys / combinations: Unified Remote ( Full ), MultiRemote , gPad remote touchpad / keyboard ; and (PR) his own development - piCat (for now alpha).
  
  
• Method 4 (proposed by EveresT ). Take advantage of TeamViewer App for Android . Provides complete control. Free for non-commercial use, works great over the Internet (more precisely, this is its main purpose). You will need to install a non-mobile version on your PC ( Windows ; Mac ; Linux Red Hat, Fedora, Suse, Mandriva , Debian, Ubuntu 32-Bit , Debian, Ubuntu 64-Bit ). All settings are intuitive, the product is just awesome!
  
  Habrayuzer Saenco and anagnost insisted that the alternative was mentioned - LogMeIn . The truth is, while there is no free client for Android - only paid ones, but two . He did not feel - they say that it is convenient.
  
  
• Method 5 (proposed by naryl , SantaClaus16 ). On a smartphone, use an SSH client (for example, ConnectBot ), on a PC, deploy an SSH server (Linux: OpenSSH; Windows: MobaSSH ; Mac ). Checked the ConnectBot + MobaSSH bundle - it works! Method for Linux lovers console.
  
  
• The magnificent VNC / RDP client - Wyse PocketCloud ( Pro ) - suggested (again) the habrauzer Wizard999 . PocketCloud Companion is installed on Windows or Mac - it can be used via the Internet to use your favorite VNC or RDP server installed on a PC. For authorization, you need a Google account (who does not have it). We enter Google-login and Google-password on the smartphone and on the PC (it is clear that you will need to enter only once). After logging in from the PC on the android, the connection is immediately displayed, go in and enter our VNC or RDP password (or Windows password, depending on how you set up your VNC or RDP server). I got this bundle: Android - Wyse PocketCloud, Windows - PocketCloud Windows Companion and RealVNC (authentication method - VNC Password). It’s such a mixture of methods 1 and 4 - a very good idea.
  

How to control your smartphone using a PC?

• The task is not very practical, but if you need to solve it, then the Remote Control Add-on comes to the rescue. It will require a root . The program raises the VNC server on the device. After it is enough to open the display URL in the browser (java required) or in any VNC client (ip: 5901, no encryption).
  
  
• If management means viewing / writing SMS, managing contacts, etc., then it will be convenient to use the capabilities of Remote Web Desktop or a similar program (for example, Remote Desktop ).
  
  Habrayuzer SabMakc offers to use MyPhoneExplorer (only for Windows, Android smart support is included with version 1.8). It is possible to connect via bluetooth, USB-cable and via WiFi, many buns.
  

How to use a PC keyboard to enter text on a smartphone?

• When a WiFi connection is established, you can use the WiFi Keyboard or ezKeyboard (the first text entered is immediately displayed in the smartphone, but not displayed in the browser, the game mode is also provided; the second text is sent only after pressing the button). WiFi keyboard is also provided in Remote Web Desktop (you can both enable and disable auto-sync), but there is a minor flaw - the WiFi Keyboard checkbox in the smartphone settings is removed by itself (for unclear reasons), which prevents you from using the required input (you need to climb again in the language and keyboard settings, put a tick). Personally, I prefer ezKeyboard, although I rarely use it ( Swype , you know, cool stuff).
  

How to use the GPS module of the smartphone on the PC (external GPS-receiver)?

• Method 1. Via bluetooth - use GPS over BT . Instructions for LG GT540 (link provided diesel80 ).
  
  
• Method 2. Through the USB-cable. From the side of the smartphone, you need ShareGPS . Instructions for LG GT540 (link provided diesel80 ).
  

How to directly send links from a PC browser to a smartphone?

• Use the Chrome to Phone app (suggested by A1lfeG ). On the PC for the browser you will need to install the extension ( Chrome , Firefox , Opera ). Unfortunately, the application is not available in the market for Russia (or did it seem to me?). The alternative is LinkPush . Extensions as such are only for Chrome and for Firefox ; the rest can use the bookmarklet (optionally, you can turn on the notification in Google Talk). Chrome to Phone itself could not be touched, but, apparently, the program is more functional than LinkPush.
  

It is clear that not all the questions and ways of interaction between PCs and Android-based devices I considered. If you have any other suggestions or comments - bring them in the comments, I will try to include in the article later.

UPD : since its initial publication, the article has undergone major changes (mainly additions), as well as some of its views. Thank you all for the tips!