RemoteDroid app turns your G1 into a wireless keyboard and mouse
By Donald Melanson 
posted January 1st 2009 6:01PM
posted January 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.
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