Intel quietly launched a free Android app over the weekend, that lets you use your phone as a keyboard and trackpad for your PC.
Intel Remote Keyboard was designed for use with mini PCs that are about the size of a flash drive and don’t ship with peripherals — but you can use it on any system running Windows 7 or 8.
Grab the Android app and install the companion desktop software, and you’re all set. When your devices are on the same Wi-Fi network, Intel Remote Keyboard will detect your PC automatically.
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The app includes an on-screen keyboard and a trackpad with a scroll bar, and supports both portrait and landscape modes. You can move your finger along the empty space to control your cursor, tap to left-click and tap with two fingers to right-click. To scroll, swipe your finger on the scroll bar.
There are many other remote input apps for phones, including Unified Remote and my aging favorite, Goldworm Remote Control. Intel’s offering works better than the other free apps I’ve tried, with hassle-free setup and quick connectivity.
Whether you just bought a PC-on-a-stick or want to control your laptop from your couch, this is a neat app to have on hand.
➤ Intel Remote Keyboard [Android]
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