Android lovers, especially those of you who use Google Chrome for Android, this one’s for you! Then rejoice, as I’ve found an App that’s for you first with the Apple iSheep having to wait!
Remember Google Chrome Remote Desktop that launched back in 2011 that allows you to remotely access and control any computer running Google Chrome, be it Mac or PC? Well, at long last, Google, a bit late to the Remote Desktop scene, has launched an Android App that works with the Browser Extension in your Computer, Laptop or Mac OS Computer.
This is an extension of the Google Chrome Remote Desktop that gives the Remote access functionality to a Google Android device via the Chrome Remote Desktop for Android. This Chrome App also gives Apple Mac users of Google Chrome similar control over their Mac or MacBook Pro from afar .
Once you have Google Chrome for Android App installed and you install the Chrome Remote Desktop for Android on your smartphone, it’ll give your Android smartphone the ability to control your Computer. Made exclusively for Google Android smartphones, support will eventually be coming for Apple iOS. Even Google Chromebooks and Chromebox can get in on this as stated in Google releases revamped Chromebooks and ChromeBox empowering Mobile Computing in the Clouds.
If you used ShowMyPC to help people with computer problems, then this will ring a bell and in fact would be a great tool for the Android toting Technician to have to give assistance whenever wherever. The payment part for your customers you’ll have to figure out though!
Pretty cool, albeit a smattering of Apps already exist that give you this capability. Good to note that this Chrome Remote Desktop for Android has it’s limitation; it works only on one Direction, that being from the smartphone to the Computer and not the other way around.
Google Chrome Remote Desktop and Chrome Remote Desktop for Android uses its built-in SSL encryption, which uses AES (Advanced Encryption Standard). But no matter how strong the encryption, nothing protects your Data like a Good password, preferably a mix of Capital and common letters and numbers.
So how does it work?
Before we begin, make sure you have Google Chrome installed on your computer, Laptop or Desktop via a Google Chrome Standalone Installer as well as both on your smartphone via the Google Chrome for Android available in the Google Play Store. Also, it would be great to have some Chocolate Chip Cookies handy to munch on, as this one a bit tricky yet very easy to implement.
To start this DIY (Do It Yourself), you’ll need the following items:
- Google Android Smartphone
- Laptop, Desktop Computer, Chromebook or Apple Macbook or Desktop
- Wi-Fi Internet or Wireless Broadband Internet Access
- Customer at a far away location with a Laptop, Desktop Computer, Chromebook or Apple Macbook or Desktop connected via the Internet
- Access to the Google Play Store
- Google Chrome for Android
- Google Chrome Standalone Installer
- Chrome Remote Desktop for Android
- Google Chrome Remote Desktop
Here’s the 411 on Google Chrome Remote Desktop and Chrome Remote Desktop for Android installation:
- Search for, download and install Google Chrome Standalone Installer on your Laptop, Desktop Computer, Chromebook or Apple Macbook or Desktop
- Search for, download and install Google Chrome Remote Desktop on your Laptop, Desktop Computer, Chromebook or Apple Macbook or Desktop
- Access to the Google Play Store on you smartphone
- Search for Google Chrome for Android and install
- Search for Chrome Remote Desktop for Android and install
- Click on the Allow Access button to grant the necessary permissions for the extension to run.
- Click on the Share this Computer button to share the computer
- Write down an access code that must be entered on the other PC in order to control your Laptop, Desktop Computer, Chromebook or Apple Macbook or Desktop. It the person is remote, be in contact with them over the phone so they can call out or text you the code.
- Click on the New Tab button in Google Chrome
- Click on the icon for the Google Chrome Remote Desktop giving permission for the extension to run.
- Launch Google Chrome on the other PC that you wish to use to Remotely access the other PC by telling the customer to launch it over the phone
- Click on the link to access a shared computer on the Google Chrome Remote Desktop
- Type in the access code generated on your Laptop, Desktop Computer, Chromebook or Apple Macbook or Desktop
- Click the Connect button
You should now see the other computer’s desktop in the Chrome browser on your PC. Just like ShowMyPC, you can:
- Use the person’s mouse and keyboard to move the other computer’s mouse and keyboard
- Open applications
- Create documents
- Assist the persons with minor computer Repair
BE VERY careful however; minimize the Google Chrome Browser, but don’t shut it off, otherwise you’ll lose the connection and you’ll have to go through the entire process again. To disconnect click on the button that says Disconnect to end the Session!
The same instructions go for the Chrome Remote Desktop for Android save for the fact that it’s a Laptop, Desktop Computer, Chromebook or Apple Macbook or Desktop being controlled by a Google Android smartphone.
So there you have it! Just install and go and you can Grab your Chocolate Chip Cookies remotely in one hand while twiddling with your Google Android smartphone in the other!
Here’s the link:
Google Chrome Standalone Installer
Chrome Remote Desktop for Android