Third party apps to remotely control a computer from an Android device already exist, but Google is working its own. The software will work with devices running the Google Chrome browser, tying the two platforms together even more.Google is developing a new application for the Chrome Remote Desktop but for the Android platform this time. Google Chrome web browser offers an extension that allows accessing the host computer remotely through Chrome web browser or Chromebook (Chrome OS running laptop). The Next Web spotted a note by Google open-source Chromium developer that clearly stated the Chromoting Android app.
As per the Chromium Code Review listing, the Chromoting app can be used to authenticate the device using a Google account on the phone. Users can use the app to connect and communicate with the host machine. Establish peer to peer channels for communicating the host service.
Chromoting app is currently under development and two of the most crucial features missing in it are - capability to display the host desktop and handle any kind of input. Basically, Google is trying to create an app that will let you access your computer from anywhere over an Android phone with the help of a Google Account.
The reason is likely because the app currently has very few capabilities; so far it can only:
- Authenticate using a Google account on the phone.
- Query and display the host list from the Chromoting directory server.
- Connect to and communicate with the host service over XMPP/ICE.
- Establish peer-to-peer channels for communicating with the host service.
The developers behind it note the app still can’t display the host’s desktop or handle any kind of input. In other words, this is very much in the prototype or alpha stage.
For those who don’t know, the original Chrome Remote Desktop is an extension for Google’s browser. It was first released as a beta in October 2011 and could be used to control another one of your own computers as well as a friend’s or family member’s (usually to help with IT issues).
When it came out of beta a year later, our own Paul Sawers explained how it worked:
To authorize the connection between the machines, the app generates a code which you must share with the other person. So, for example, if you wish to share your desktop with a tech-savvy friend to fix an on-going issue, you’d send them a 12-digit code that looks roughly like this:
We presume Chromoting for Android will be similar, although there will definitely be some limitations due to the mobile platform. You’ll probably enjoy using the app more on a tablet than a phone, although Google will surely try to make it work well with both. We’ll keep you posted as Chromoting’s development continues.
Several such remote desktop services driving apps such as LogMeIn and Citrix GoToMeeting are available in the Google Play Store. With this Chromoting app, we can see yet another feather in Google's Hat for its Android as well as Chrome based ecosystem.
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