Unified Remote Control Logo I don’t know about you, but since I have a smartphone I am used to check my email or browse the Internet, right from the comfort of my bed. I am sure that this habit is not particularly to me and soon will develop into a trend that will replace the way we use our computers at home: the new touch sensitive gadgets will act as primary “connect to Internet” devices for us.

So what about our desktop computers will they be toss away now or will they find a new purpose in our technology driven life?

One possible solution is to transform them into living-room media centers for playing music, movies or/and running a slideshow of pictures. A good idea except that they come with not so cool input devices like mouses or big keyboards to place next to our big screen TVs, not such a great move after all… except that… what if we could somehow replace all of that with something nicer?

As you might already guessed, there is an Android app which could help and it is called Unified Remote.

Unified Remote Control Main View

There are three ways to make a connection between your Android device and your computer(s), all wireless of course:

  • via Bluetooth (your computer must have a Bluetooth adaptor switched on)
  • via your Wireless Router (to which your Android device is already connected)
  • or via Internet (your Android device must be then connected to Internet via your Mobile Operator Internet service).

There are detailed tutorials to help you configure and run the connection here, but keep in mind that, at least for now, there is only a Windows program.

So, after you have established the connection between your Windows computer and your Android device is time to lean-back and relax.

There are several remotes to use (more on the paid version), as seen in the “Remotes” view below.

Unified Remote Control Remotes View

In my opinion the most useful remotes are these for controlling the media player and the Basic Input Remote. The last one in particular is the coolest one because it allows you to control the mouse cursor by just dragging your finger on the touch sensitive screen of your Android device.

Unified Remote Control Basic Input View

There is even a custom remote for Google Chrome browser, to help surfing the web with ease.

Unified Remote Control Google Chrome Remote

Required information:

  • Price: Free or 3 $ (paid version)
  • Developer: Unified Intents
  • OS version: Android 1.5 and up
  • Computer OS: Windows
  • Size: 0.3 Mb

Download it from here or just search for Unified Remote in your Android Market app.

Photos from Android Market.