RemoteDroid app turns your G1 into a wireless keyboard and mouse

It's already been done on the iPhone, and it looks like G1 users can now use their handset of choice to control their computer as well. Given the G1's preponderance of input options, this new so-called RemoteDroid app is also quite a bit more capable, with it letting you take advantage of the G1's keypad, and use either the trackball or the touchscreen as a mouse (with a pair of onscreen mouse buttons provided for good measure). Head on past the break for a demo video, and hit up the link below to grab the app for yourself.

RemoteDroid demo from Joshua Sera on Vimeo.

[Phil @ Jan 1st 2009 6:04PM]

While cool, I honestly cannot see any use for this.

[wilsonwa @ Jan 1st 2009 6:10PM]

Make it bluetooth and you have the perfect ps3 keyboard and mouse.

[7on @ Jan 1st 2009 6:11PM]

HTPC?

[monkfishbandana @ Jan 1st 2009 6:12PM]

Well one of them is shown in the video above :)

[Flashpoint @ Jan 1st 2009 6:14PM]

...seriously fucking with the mind of someone you hate.

Or, possibly, you could tell the girl in the next cubicle she has a secret admirer - and then carry on conversations while you stalk from behind.

[vitriolix @ Jan 3rd 2009 3:38AM]

I have an old laptop plugged into my tv to watch Hulu and streaming Netflix on, with this i can now drive that pc with my phone while kicking it on the couch, sounds good to me.

[rock99rock @ Jan 1st 2009 10:00PM]

AirMouse does all this very nicely for the iphone. It even uses the motion sensors to turn the phone into a gyroscoptic mouse. Pretty sweet for the HTPC.

[SimbaDogg @ Jan 1st 2009 10:19PM]

@wilsonwa

totally agree. that would be bitching. I mean i could always spend like 10 bucks for a basic USB keyboard...or a hell of a lot more for a bluetooth one, but it would be so bitchin if someone could work out a way for phones to be used as an input device for the ps3.

[SimbaDogg @ Jan 1st 2009 10:31PM]

@wilsonwa

totally agree. that would be bitching. I mean i could always spend like 10 bucks for a basic USB keyboard...or a hell of a lot more for a bluetooth one, but it would be so bitchin if someone could work out a way for phones to be used as an input device for the ps3.

[Andrew Luecke @ Jan 2nd 2009 12:42AM]

It would be damned handy on my Car PC. Would mean I wouldn't have to carry around ANY keyboard anymore, if a handheld one was required instead of onscreen

[Stu L Tissimus @ Jan 1st 2009 6:11PM]

As a lover of all things trackball, I can see plenty of use for this. And is that an OS X client I see?!

[monkfishbandana @ Jan 1st 2009 6:13PM]

Actually, it looks like they're running Windows XP/Vista (in Classic mode) under Parallels or something.

[Hangster @ Jan 1st 2009 6:12PM]

portable drawing tablet... yum.

[madwh @ Jan 1st 2009 6:18PM]

iPhone had this 5 hours after the bed I was conceived stopped shaking.

[ScOObyDoo @ Jan 1st 2009 6:30PM]

Yes, and WindowsCE had this long before your parents even thought of conceiving you.

[RioRyan @ Jan 1st 2009 6:44PM]

Except that this is better than the one on the iPhone, because it has a full touchscreen AND a keyboard.

[Erb @ Jan 1st 2009 10:16PM]

Lets see, The iPhone came out in 2007 and if you were conceived afterward, that makes you 2?

[Chris Are @ Jan 2nd 2009 12:39AM]

you're dumb.

[Saad Rabia @ Jan 1st 2009 6:18PM]

It is also already done on many Windows Mobile phones. I even use my Omnia's accelerometer to control the mouse cursor on my PC, amazing stuff. :)

[yyan @ Jan 1st 2009 7:25PM]

Honestly, I've trialed the omnia for two weeks, and it's terrible.

[ice3space1 @ Jan 1st 2009 6:22PM]

Its been on android since Gmote. Nothing really new.

[JohnnieTech @ Jan 1st 2009 10:45PM]

Actually gmote doesn't allow direct control of the mouse. Just control of media...

[Brint @ Jan 2nd 2009 12:07AM]

Yes, GMote does allow this as of the newer version. You can go into trackpad mode and it does exactly this.

[Justin @ Jan 1st 2009 6:23PM]

There's already a program like this. It's called Gmote. The newest version allows using the keyboard to type, and the touch screen or trackball for a mouse. The other half of the program controls a custom VLC install to easily play media from afar (think laptop connected to TV) or stream music to the G1.

[kigamoosh @ Jan 2nd 2009 2:51AM]

I was at a friend's recently, and we kicked back to watch some TV shows on his computer. He had Gmote on his phone, and it made for the perfect remote, especially with all the basic keyboard commands built into VLC. Much better than ever having a separate TV remote -- instead, just extend the keyboard and mouse functionality. It worked flawlessly.

[Dean @ Jan 1st 2009 6:32PM]

Um.. how does that old gen Macbook Pro have a black keyboard...?

[Roman @ Jan 1st 2009 7:42PM]

could be one of those rubber keyboard skins overprotective people put on their MBPs

[bill cant fart @ Jan 1st 2009 9:50PM]

He probably stuck an Macbook Air or Powerbook keyboard on there.

[Cris T @ Jan 1st 2009 10:37PM]

Like the iSkin I have on my MBP
http://www.iskin.com/product_kbrd_pro.html

[Fernando @ Jan 1st 2009 6:41PM]

It's been on any java phone as salling clicker too, only the mouse part though.

[L.Rawlins @ Jan 1st 2009 6:44PM]

I've just tonight turned my trusty Nokia N82's camera sensor into a USB/Bluetooth/WiFi toting webcam for my notebook. Both cameras, no wires!

It's amazing what new life you can breathe into old hardware with a choice bit of code. I hope Android will see vast development in this kind of thing, and less in the novelties I find prevalent in Apples App Store.

Here's hoping.

[Pillow @ Jan 1st 2009 6:54PM]

Salling Clicker anybody?

I remember a script for this which allowed your mobile phone to do this.. and Salling Clicker supports quite a number of phones.

[Pillow @ Jan 1st 2009 6:58PM]

Admittedly it doesn't work like that for touchscreen phones though... But for all you button heads.

[conor @ Jan 1st 2009 6:56PM]

That is awesome.

[ihater @ Jan 1st 2009 6:58PM]

I could use VNC viewer on my Win Mo and control the whole computer on wifi or Bluetooth PAN or though VPN. :)

[Esteban @ Jan 1st 2009 7:00PM]

i know that i might start a fanboy war, but its things like this that make me firmly believe that the iPhone can never be as functional and useful than an Android phone. (Or even a WinMo phone.) Sure, maybe it's not as flashy, but when it comes down to raw usability and function, the G1 wins hands down. Apple's OS is just way too locked down and the App Store doesn't promote creativity. But that is just my two cents...

[chrischin @ Jan 1st 2009 9:17PM]

it's upsetting that there haven't really been any apps for the g1 worth mentioning since the inception of android. the developers have been half-ass'n apps since they can't charge for them yet. i had a hard time choosing between the g1 and the iphone, but in the end it came down to service and i went with at&t... t-mo's service is just ridiculously spotty.

[Cris T @ Jan 1st 2009 10:40PM]

The iPhone has an application that does the same exact thing and its in the App Store.

[civilian @ Jan 2nd 2009 12:21AM]

Those are some pretty strong words buddy. I mean i love android too, but the "Apple app store doesn't promote creativity"? give me a break. Just because its not "open" doesn't mean people didn't push a bunch of really good apps out, including a bunch of apps like this and many other creative ones within apples "locked down" system. I do look forward to what other implementations android can bring into a phone, but this is nothing new. Merely a step in the right direction in terms of its app development. I really hope more people start pushing out some good apps when they can start charging for them.

[Dustin @ Aug 26th 2009 3:19AM]

The iPhone really isn't much to behold. It didn't have the first app store, it was simply the first time that a device was restricted to purchasing apps from one place (WinMo phones have had app stores available since inception). Esteban is right in that the store does not promote creativity. It's not that there aren't creative programs available, it's that it's solely a commercial venture that requires apple's approval to be part of. No system where there the provider can modify the availability of content can truly call itself innovative.

I still don't see why people continue to benchmark the G1 against the iPhone. Simply put, Android could use some work but is in many ways better than the iPhone OS, the G1 hardware is millions times better than the iPhone. The only thing that the iPhone has on the G1 is that it's multitouch...which makes no difference (if all it's good for is pinching, I'll stick to what's cheaper).

[LocalToast @ Jan 1st 2009 7:06PM]

I like how Engadget starts the article by saying it's already been done on the iPhone. Hehe.

I really want a G1...

[ishism @ Jan 1st 2009 7:13PM]

Trackball? A game of Cabal or Centipede?

[rento @ Jan 1st 2009 7:16PM]

Oh the usefullness!

[kenboy127 @ Jan 1st 2009 7:39PM]

what is the best app that does this for the iPhone? it would be cool to try out. the ones that i saw in the app store were rated poorly for lagging. any good jailbroken ones?

[gizmodofan @ Jan 1st 2009 7:40PM]

I don't know about you guys, but I'm more interested in the black macbook keys transplanted onto a last gen macbook pro.

[jnz @ Jan 2nd 2009 5:08AM]

Me too!

[yay1234 @ Jan 1st 2009 7:38PM]

talking of cool apps, check out iSteam for the iphone, it makes your phone like a steamy mirror, you blow on the mic, with droplets and stuff, very impressive: http://isteam.co.uk

[Mobius_1 @ Jan 1st 2009 7:39PM]

Android is really starting to catch on now, and with only 1 not-so-perfect device to promote it at the moment. That is quite a testament to the quality, usability, and customisability of the Android. However, I think Engadget will have way too many posts if they report every damn mod to the G1 and future Gs. Heck, start a new blog on this or put most of them on Engadge T-Mobile and put a weekly highlight post on main Engadget(pple)

[makoto42 @ Jan 2nd 2009 12:21PM]

I would love the G1 hardware. More than the others. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that something similar will go to Sprint or Verizon (no GSM carrier covers certain areas I need coverage in, much to my chagrin).

When I heard Samsung would be delivering Omnia/Instinct like Android phones, the most excitement I could muster is the hopes that a G1-alike would somehow make it as well. Notably:
-I loved the trackball. I didn't mind the chin as it meant the trackball stayed in a convenient spot. I actually ended up not even noticing the chin when opened, to my surprise.
-Loved the option for touchscreen. Sometimes its just handy. The firmware adding the soft-keyboard will give an additional option.
-Loved a physical keyboard. I will confess it could have been better, but compared to iPhone and Storm....
-Loved the screen size (ok, could be better, but compared to the good blackberries, it is nice.

The things I would add are pretty much software changes (optional orientation change based on accelerometer, performance optimization).

As a device hardware design, I haven't tried another I liked so much. The only thing holding me back is T-mobile isn't an adequate carrier for my needs. I would jump ship from Verizon to Sprint in a heartbeat if Sprint carried such a phone (been staying with an old RAZR to be able to jump ship whenever I feel like).

[paul-engadget @ Jan 1st 2009 7:40PM]

a guy has already done this with nokia tablet, it emulates the touch pad and keyboard over bluetooth, works with windows and linux, probably OSX too now - google for "bluemaemo".