RemoteDroid app turns your G1 into a wireless keyboard and mouse
By Donald Melanson 
posted Jan 1st 2009 6:01PM
posted Jan 1st 2009 6:01PM
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.
While cool, I honestly cannot see any use for this.
Make it bluetooth and you have the perfect ps3 keyboard and mouse.
HTPC?
Well one of them is shown in the video above :)
...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.
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.
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.
@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.
@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.
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
As a lover of all things trackball, I can see plenty of use for this. And is that an OS X client I see?!
Actually, it looks like they're running Windows XP/Vista (in Classic mode) under Parallels or something.
portable drawing tablet... yum.
iPhone had this 5 hours after the bed I was conceived stopped shaking.
Yes, and WindowsCE had this long before your parents even thought of conceiving you.
Except that this is better than the one on the iPhone, because it has a full touchscreen AND a keyboard.
Lets see, The iPhone came out in 2007 and if you were conceived afterward, that makes you 2?
you're dumb.
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. :)
Honestly, I've trialed the omnia for two weeks, and it's terrible.
Its been on android since Gmote. Nothing really new.
Actually gmote doesn't allow direct control of the mouse. Just control of media...
Yes, GMote does allow this as of the newer version. You can go into trackpad mode and it does exactly this.
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.
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.
Um.. how does that old gen Macbook Pro have a black keyboard...?
could be one of those rubber keyboard skins overprotective people put on their MBPs
He probably stuck an Macbook Air or Powerbook keyboard on there.
Like the iSkin I have on my MBP
http://www.iskin.com/product_kbrd_pro.html
It's been on any java phone as salling clicker too, only the mouse part though.
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.
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.
Admittedly it doesn't work like that for touchscreen phones though... But for all you button heads.
That is awesome.
I could use VNC viewer on my Win Mo and control the whole computer on wifi or Bluetooth PAN or though VPN. :)
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...
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.
The iPhone has an application that does the same exact thing and its in the App Store.
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.
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).
I like how Engadget starts the article by saying it's already been done on the iPhone. Hehe.
I really want a G1...
Trackball? A game of Cabal or Centipede?
Oh the usefullness!
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?
I don't know about you guys, but I'm more interested in the black macbook keys transplanted onto a last gen macbook pro.
Me too!
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
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)
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).
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".
I LOVE s#!7 like that!
VERY COOL!
Very cool. Endless possibilities for messing around with your co workers. Screen shoting their desktop and hiding the icons, and taskbar is getting old. Still fun to watch the frustration though.
It must be a slow news day. This is a neat app but if several phones have already had it why is Engadget worthy?
Because we're expecting Android to grow and and evolve into many different things so all of its developments will be tracked.
Hi, I'm the one that wrote this app, so a few replies:
The app is for controlling a computer during presentations, if you want to use it from the couch, or any time you don't want to be tied to a larger keyboard and mouse.
I actually wasn't aware of Gmote when I did this. I've checked it out, and it's nice, but it's primarily a media control app. The keyboard lacks control keys, and the shift key seems to work inconsistently. I wanted to make a more narrowly-focused app that does one thing well. Other features that Gmote lacks are things like a scroll wheel, which I plan on adding soon.
The black keys are just a protective rubber cover that I got from my local Mac store. $10 bucks or so.
Actually, Gmote uses the trackball on the g1 as a scroll wheel. The ability to tap anywhere on the screen to click is a nice plus too =) But very impressive app you have written. I look forward to future updates
Gotta try this... tried gmote and was really impressed with the smoothness of the mouse control, despite some of it's shortcommings. I dig the onscreen mouse keys for this app though!
What the hell's up with that MacBook Pro? Is it custom-modded or some prototype model?
Nevermind, I read Joshua's comment.
Oh god, I have to run this on my GF's computer!!!
My old Moto Q had a remote keyboard app on it. My new Tilt doesn't. It would come in really handy with my media center PC. Anyone have suggestion on a downloadable WinMo equivalent?
LOL Windows Mobile phones been doing this for a while now. I know cuz i wrote the script for it on Salling Clicker's script forum
Any Windows Mobile phone can be used as long as it has a keyboard. A couple of keys aren't mapped though such as Page up and Down and " and a few others I can't remember but all the important keys should be already mapped. Check it out
http://www.salling.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6506
power to the intellectually curious.
I got a similar app on the G1 about a week after it came out. It was neat, but the mouse input was laggy to the point of being unusable.
For those wondering! Yes you can use it to play games. I've just tried it with Medal Of Honour Allied Assault, however the mouse is recommended as trying to run around and then find the fir button is very difficult, plus when the cursor reaches the edge of the screen it won't go any further which is a slight limitation!! However the first can be overcome by switching all the keys round and using a keyboard character to fire.
Damnit! Why, oh why did I buy my LG Dare, when the G1 was right around the corner?! Get me out of this contract!
Good for System Admins that connect video to a server and the keyboard and mouse are not working when connected.
The keyboard cover is a zCover TypeOn zPrinted Language Keyboard Skin in Clone Black. They don't list them anymore on the zCover site, so you'll have to look around if you want one.
Anyone seen this with a windows mobile device?
Hans