Zooniverse connects your phone or tablet to a variety of research projects ranging from wild beluga whale identification to breast cancer tumor mapping.It's all part of a series of programs that use your device's computing power to conduct scientific research. Here's something: Your clunky old Android device could actually help scientists search for extraterrestrial life, detect earthquakes, or improve cancer treatments. (The Plex media server software is free a premium subscription with added features runs $5 per month, $40 per year, or $120 for a lifetime license.) Set up a full-fledged media server using Plex, then use your old device as a dedicated remote to stream your own local content to a TV.The Play Store also has a variety manufacturer-made apps for controlling specific components, including those by Comcast Xfinity, AT&T U-verse, and Roku. If the device is running an Android version from 2012 or later, you can give yourself a ready-to-roll Google TV remote that'll work with any compatible streaming products by installing and then signing into the official Google TV app. Use your device as a dedicated remote for your home or office entertainment setup.You can then keep the old Android device on your desk or coffee table and use it as a hub for wirelessly casting content - everything from Netflix and YouTube to TED Talks, CNBC, and Google Slides - to your TV. Pair the phone or tablet with one of Google's ultra-affordable Chromecast streaming sticks.There are a few ways you can make that work: Next, think about adding some tools that'll let the device handle any audio and video systems in your area. That can be a helpful way for you and anyone else around to control your various smart devices and multimedia components without needing any special access (or your own current personal phone in hand).įirst, the easy part: Load up your old phone or tablet with all the relevant apps for your smart-device setup - things like Nest, Hue, and anything else appropriate for controlling your home or office tech. Use it as a universal smart remoteĮven the junkiest old Android device has ample power to serve as a smart remote for your home or office. If you're using it in a commercial context, plans start at $35 a month for a year-long business license. TeamViewer is free for personal use (so be sure to select the "personal/non-commercial use" option during the program's initial setup, provided that classification makes sense for you). You can also pinch to zoom on any particular area. You can pull up a virtual keyboard by tapping the keyboard icon in that same area, meanwhile, and if you need to use the computer's mouse, you can tap once to click, tap and hold to right-click, double-tap to drag and drop, and drag with two fingers to scroll. You'll find commands for advanced forms of interaction (including locking or rebooting the remote system) in a toolbar at the bottom of the screen. All that's left is to install the companion app on your Android device, tap in those same credentials - and within a matter of seconds, you should be staring at your desktop computer from your Android device's screen. Once the program is in place, open it, and you should see an access code and password for remote sign-ins. Windows, Mac, Linux, and ChromeOS are all supported. To get started with it, download and install the appropriate app for your desktop computer. The newer version of Google's Chrome Remote Desktop program doesn't support Android, oddly enough, but a third-party app called TeamViewer handily fills the void. Want easy access to your home computer from the office - or vice-versa? Your old Android phone or tablet can be a splendid stationary screen for keeping a remote system at arm's reach. Grab whichever version you prefer and download the server-side software for your computer - then toss your old device into a desk drawer or computer bag and rest easy knowing it'll be ready and waiting the next time you need to go wireless. Unified Remote provides basic mouse and keyboard control along with a variety of specialized remotes. The free version of the app gives you basic mouse and keyboard control along with specialized remotes for media playback and power-related commands, while the full $5 version adds in program-specific remotes for presentation control along with other advanced features. With the right software and a couple minutes of configuration, your old Android device can act as an on-demand controller for your Windows, Mac, or Linux computer.Īn app called Unified Remote and a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection are all you need to make the magic happen. Use it as a wireless trackpad and controller for your computer
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