A while back, Google released Chrome Remote Desktop for computers and later on released the Chrome Remote Desktop app for Android.
The Google Remote Desktop app allows you to access your desktop remotely through your Android device.
The Android application was released about a month ago and it is available for download from the Google Play Store. Once you have installed the application, you simply connect your desktop or laptop to the service. Ensure that Google Chrome is running in the background to be able to access your computer through your Android device. You can also access your Android device through your desktop. With this application, it is also possible to access third party computers provided you are permitted access.
Was the Chrome Remote Desktop for Android a hit or a miss? Read on to find out.
The Basics and Setup
If you do not already have this application on your Android device, you can simply download it for free from the Google Play Store. You need to activate remote access on the application for the app to be able to ‘see’ your computer. You will be required to go through some security checks to activate visibility, so this is nothing to worry about. You will be required to provide an account name and PIN to be granted access.
The application comes with a device list which shows the active computers. Since Google Chrome runs in the background, you can easily restart and log-in into your computer from a remote Android device. The pin code is requested every time you need to connect.
How Does It Work?
Once the app is installed and activated, pairing your computer and Android device is easy. It will take a few minutes to get the hang of using the application but after that it will be smooth sailing all the way. If you use the app in front of your computer, you can easily see how the computer and Android device interact. The mouse pointer will move around as you interact with the app from your Android device.
With this application, you can easily open and close apps on your computer. You can send tweets or emails, open folders and even listen to music. In simple terms, this application allows you to do anything on your computer from a remote location.
The Usability
This app leaves a lot to be desired, but at least it works. If you own a computer with a 6.9 inch screen and above, you will notice that the application cannot fully accommodate the whole screen and this leads to a lot of scrolling. However, you can tip the Android device sideways for a better view. Another notable aspect is the reduced size of the items. The application does not come with zooming capabilities, which is a letdown, since it could have been helpful for better interactions. This makes this app ideal, mostly for tablets, as opposed to Android mobile phones.
Another notable problem is the inability to drag and drop documents from your PC to your phone. If you want to transfer a document, you will have to send it to your email address and access your email through your phone to get the document. The other option is using Google drive, which has to be installed in both devices. You can also access documents directly from your phone using Dropbox or other cloud storage services.
Conclusion
Despite the drawbacks, the Chrome Remote Desktop application for Android devices is a great tool to use, on the go.
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