Email article
Android has over 450,000 apps. With so many apps out there, app discovery (aka finding new and useful apps) is extremely difficult. With our Android Apps of the Day initiative, dotTech aims to change that. Everyday we post three apps, allowing our readers to discover new apps, daily. Enjoy! [Subscribe to our Android section to never miss an article: RSS Feed | E-mail]
Developers: Click here to get your apps featured here!
dotTechies: Want to see an app on here? Send us a tip!
Apps for April 4, 2012
Remote Web Desktop
Yesterday dotTech introduced AirDroid, an app that gives remote access to Android devices from computers. Remote Web Desktop is a similar type of app — except with more features (and, admittedly, a slightly less well designed interface). Like AirDroid, Remote Web Desktop allows users to remotely access and manage Android devices from their computers. All you have to do is run Remote Web Desktop, point your Internet browser on your computer towards the URL/IP address Remote Web Desktop gives you (password protection is optional), and you can start working with your Android from the comfort of your computer.
What exactly does Remote Web Desktop allow you to do from your computer? With Remote Web Desktop users can do all of the following from their computers: send, receive, read, and delete SMS messages; access and manage files stored on the internal storage/SD card of your Android; transfer files between Android and computer; view images on Android on your computer via a built-in gallery; play media files on your Android with a click of a button from your computer (the media files must already on the Android); take screenshots of your Android device (root required); view your front of back cameras and capture images from the cameras (this feature is a little buggy as per my tests); use your computer’s keyboard as a keyboard for your Android (i.e. type on your Android from your computer); manage contacts; remotely control (this feature is in Beta right now and required root access); access terminal (root required); share clipboard between computer and Android; and more.
The cool thing about Remote Web Desktop is you need not have your Android and computer on the same WiFi network for Remote Web Desktop to work. Remote Web Desktop has a “bridge” feature which connects through the developer’s server, allowing Remote Web Desktop to work on 2G, 3G, and 4G connections.
Remote Web Desktop comes in free and paid versions. Remote Web Desktop’s free version is ad-supported and has all the features mentioned above. Remote Web Desktop’s paid version is ad-free, allows secure connections between Android and computer, removes file upload limits (the developer does not mention exactly what are the upload limits for the free version), has enhance contacts management features; and allows full screen view for the Gallery Viewer.
Price: Free, $4.99
Version discovered: v5.8.3
Requires: Android 1.5 and up
Download size: 2.4 MB
Remote Web Desktop on Play Store | Remote Web Desktop Full on Play Store
WiFi by Timer
WiFi by Timer is a small app that allows users to set WiFi to automatically turn on every X minutes (you can pick the interval starting from 15 minutes to 2 days) and then turn off automatically after X minutes once it has been turned on (you pick how many minutes to wait until WiFi is turned off, starting from 1 minute to 6 hours); WiFi is switched on/off even if your device’s screen is closed. WiFi by Timer has an option to always have WiFi enabled when your Android is charging and/or always have WiFi enabled once your Android is unlocked. WiFi by Timer respects Airplane mode, so if you are on Airplane mode WiFi by Timer won’t mess with WiFi.
Price: Free
Version discovered: v1.7
Requires: Android 2.1 and up
Download size: 39 KB
WiFinder
WiFinder scans your surrounding and lists all the available WiFi networks. For all WiFi networks it finds, it tells the SSID (network/access point name), the channel it is being broadcasted over, the signal strength (viewable in bars, percentage, or dBm), and the type of encryption/password protection there is. There is a feature that shows all “known networks” (i.e. networks you have connected to in the past and your device remembers), a feature that allows you to see non-secured WiFi connections, and a feature that can automatically scan for WiFi connections every X seconds (5-60 seconds intervals are available).
Price: Free
Version discovered: v1.6.2
Requires: Android 2.1 and up
Download size: 97 KB
dotTechies: We have tested all the apps listed above. However, Android Apps of the Day articles are not intended as “reviews” but rather as “heads-up” to help you discover new apps. Always use your best judgement when downloading apps, such as trying trial/free versions before purchasing paid apps, if applicable.
[Thanks tejas for the tip on Remote Web Desktop.]
