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Uniquely Android is a series we started last month to shine the spotlight on those apps that take advantage of the unique capabilities of the platform and provide an experience that you wouldn’t find in most other phones. So far, we have featured Plug In Launcher, AirDroid, Shush, Llama, Swiftkey 3, SwipePad and Widgetsoid2.x.
Full disclosure: I haven’t actually used Unified Remote for a little over a year since I’ve been on a Mac since last April and the app is for PC users only. However, browsing through the previous posts in the series looking for suggestions, I found Siddharth Motwani’s tip for this little beauty of an app and I knew I just had to write about it.
So, what does Unified Remote do? Short version, it allows your phone or tablet to act as an input device for your PC, while also acting as a remote for various programs. But there’s a great deal of customizability possible especially with the pro version with which you also unlock additional features such as voice control and NFC.
I personally used the app a lot when I hooked up my laptop to the TV or while giving presentations at college. For those kind of use cases, this is certainly the app to get. I’ve embedded the developer’s video walkthrough below, and you can download the app via Google Play from here.
Awesome! thanks for this!
I would love to have an app like this for Android-Mac that isn’t just a remote desktop app like TeamViewer or something else equally awkward on a mobile device.
So you write for Phandroid but own a mac. You sad, sad man.
Pssh. Mac books are the best laptops.
Pssh, says you. Replacing batteries each year and memory every 2 years was not my idea of fun. That was my first/last mac pro. Since then I’ve had nothing but an awesome time with my HP laptop, which was half the price and I was about to max out on everything.
A fruity logo does not a great laptop make. They’re trendy is all and people want to feel wanted.
I’ve had 2 HP laptops and 1 Acer. The Acer keyboard stopped working, and my higher end HP get to about 60 to 70 degrees celcius. Replaced my dad’s Acer with a A200 tablet, he loves it. One of the HP’s hasn’t had a problem ever, but my mother uses it for email, Web and solitaire almost exclusively so it really shouldn’t have issues at all haha. Now all I’m saying is a Macbook probably doesn’t have half the power, but the reliability is what I would get one for, if I had to use it for work or something. I don’t like Apple but for a normal consumer I would probably recommend one.
Ha, my Dell gets to 90*C when Im gaming. Its pretty epic. I got no complaints about it though, its a great computer, and I rarely actually use it on my lap, as it’s more of a desktop with no wires to me, so the heat isnt a problem.
Pssssh 90 degrees… amateur. :)
For the price of a macbook, i could buy a brand new windows laptop every year! lol
I dunno… I do like the Ultrabooks. I just wouldn’t drop a grand for one.
That’s fine with me. What happened to valuing unbiased journalism?
I can see this having a bright future as a remote for my entertainment center machine.
“jack of all trades, master of none” pretty much sum this app up. It is good if you want an app with a lot of remotes, it just don’t do anything the best.
If you own a Linux box there is anyRemote: http://anyremote.sourceforge.net/index.html
about 3 people who browse this site use LInux on a daily basis. Not really a recommendation.
There’s way more than 3 of us, Mr. Herd-Follower.
Only windows? Bad choice to show android’s unique openness and compatibility. Android should be a standard for a more open future, not just ios for people who use windows.
I mainly use it to switch songs on Spotify when I’m lying down, or play the next show/movie on Netflix so I don’t have to get up.
I stinking love Unified Remote. Great for lazy Netflix viewing, impressing friends, and adjusting volume while I’m on the crapper.
This remote app isn’t uniquely anything.
He mentioned he had a mac…. thread derailed…
I will say I have a MacBook pro but I will be going Asus when I replace it. and the awesome news it I can sell this mac for what a new lappytop costs cause of sheep :)
So, for the rest of us that also use Macs but with an android phone, what is (are?) good remote apps?
DroidMote is the only one in the Google Play that simulate real devices in the OS.
Is the only one that add a real multitouch futures to your OS without having a touch screen.
Is the only one that control windows,linux and android simultaneous.
If you not have a touch screen, you can play all apps and games that support only touch actions.
DroidMote work at kernel level, other tool at application level. The difference is abysmal.