While we absolutely adore our Nexus One -- now that it's got a bellyful of that
fabulous frozen yogurt -- one of the most exciting Android additions shown off at Google I/O isn't actually slated for Froyo: the ability to
push apps and music over the air from computer to phone. The underlying framework apparently is, though, and thus a bite-sized version of the functionality is already available at Google Code. If you're one of the
lucky few running Android 2.2, you can get an extension for Chrome and Firefox web browsers that will let you push URLs, Maps and YouTube video links direct to your device using a Google Account. You can think of it as an early foray into a
Continuous Client, perhaps, sharing with yourself before you head to a business meeting. Better yet, share an account with a group of friends and push interesting items to everyone on the go. See how (and see it in action) right after the break.
- You've got a phone running Android 2.2, right? Good. Use it to download the Google Chrome to Phone Extension application here. Make sure Settings > Applications > Unknown Sources is checked if you're installing over USB, or use Barcode Reader (highly recommended!) to scan that QR code.
- Download the latest version of the Chrome to Phone extension from the same page, or get the Firefox version here.
- In your web browser of choice, log into your Google Account.
- On your phone, start the Chrome to Phone application
- In the app, add the Google Account you'd like to share with.
- Click on "Register Device" to link your account to the Google Chrome to Phone service.
Finally, open up that web browser, find something you'd like to share, then click the new icon in the toolbar to beam it to your phone. Now you're cooking with fi--we mean, now you can continue your browsing sessions, share YouTube videos and get those Google Maps into a form factor where they can do some good. It's not like you were going to memorize those directions, right?
posted May 31st 2010 8:02PM
Am I the only one who's a little bit disappointed with Android 2.2? I mean, JIT, wifi hotspots and apps2sd are great, but there are a million other things they could have done that I was looking forward to:
* Bluetooth input support
* Low-latency audio API
* Call control API (e.g. for blacklists, etc.)
* Call audio API (call record, local voicemail, etc.)
* The ability to reply to comments in the market.
@Timmmmmm
Looking back at what WAS announced and what you listed as the things you would have liked to be announced, I'm thinking no one would have really cared if the features you listed were announced in place of what FroYo introduced. Despite it being a developers conference the buzz has been built around things the general public could use and would notice.
@Timmmmmm They do have Bluetooth input support, it just wasn't one of the big things they announced.
Pretty cool - for Android camp :). But I'm afraid it's just a not so good copycat.
There's an application myPhoneDesktop for iPhone (http://www.myphonedesktop.com) that perform muuuuuuch more and better and it's available for months. With this app it's possible to dial phone number, simplify sms sending, open driving directions, copy text to clipboard, assign image to contact etc. There's a desktop client for all major OSes, bookmarklet and Web client that works in any web browser. myPhoneDesktop integrates with bunch of iPhone apps as well as with Desktop ones like LaunchBar.
My favorite killer feature is global keyboard shortcuts. Find something (phone number, text, url or image)? Select it and press Cmd+C+C. And see your iPhone performing default action associated with this data. That's it!
Poor Android :(.
see review on Gizmodo: http://bit.ly/cdxXAJ
Am I the only one having problems using this to push Maps content to my phone? Youtube works fine, but when I push something like a Maps directions, it will open Maps on my phone but it just shows my current position. It doesn't do anything else. What am I doing wrong here?