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Controlling Linux Using an Android Phone As Mouse, Keyboard, and Gamepad

beefsack writes "Miniand have demonstrated how to control Linux using a Samsung Galaxy S2. Using an MK802 with the ARM build of Droidmote server bundled into an MK802 Lubuntu image with uinput enabled, Miniand demonstrates (video) using an Android phone as a keyboard, mouse, and gamepad over Wi-Fi to the device." Update: 07/10 00:07 GMT by U L : reader ancienthart pointed toward Premotedroid, an (possibly, I could find no license in the code but the code is there) open source alternative.

93 comments

  1. Rube-goldberg by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    802.11? Rube-goldberg much? Why not over bluetooth as a HID?

    1. Re:Rube-goldberg by hvm2hvm · · Score: 1

      I'm guessing because not all desktops have bluetooth capability.

      --
      ics
    2. Re:Rube-goldberg by mwvdlee · · Score: 1

      No, but they are probably connected to the internet.

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    3. Re:Rube-goldberg by ChunderDownunder · · Score: 1

      All desktops have wifi? Those that bother to have wifi on the motherboard will probably have Bluetooth too.

      A bluetooth dongle for usb will cost you a few dollars on ebay.

    4. Re:Rube-goldberg by NerdyLove · · Score: 2

      Wireless bridge, duh?

    5. Re:Rube-goldberg by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      From my cursory glance, it appears to connect to a receiver like any other wireless device would, meaning anyone with a wifi router would be able to use this.

      I would say this is far more available than through Bluetooth, yes.

    6. Re:Rube-goldberg by History's+Coming+To · · Score: 1

      Bluetooth is short range, so you'll be within reach of the real keyboard and mouse 99% of the time.

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    7. Re:Rube-goldberg by cynyr · · Score: 1

      why would my stationary desktop need wifi (mine has it but I ran a cable to it anyways) when there is gigabit available? it's not like my desktop moves all that much, and by the time i unplug all the other cords, how much work is an Ethernet cord?

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    8. Re:Rube-goldberg by thePowerOfGrayskull · · Score: 3, Informative

      Um, it would work on a desktop with wired ethernet too... It's only the phone which would need to use wifi...

    9. Re:Rube-goldberg by GuldKalle · · Score: 2

      Are you deliberately being stupid?
      Not all desktops have wireless, but I'd wager most of them are connected to a wireless router. Especially if the owner has a smartphone. So they don't need wireless.

      --
      What?
    10. Re:Rube-goldberg by paulatz · · Score: 2

      There is one Android app which makes your phone work as a HID over bluetooth, both as mouse and keyboard. However it needs the phone to be rooted in order to work, and I found it to be quite unstable, and severly unpolished.

      But it works.

      --
      this post contain no useful information, no need to mod it down
    11. Re:Rube-goldberg by KClaisse · · Score: 3, Informative

      Its not the desktop that needs the wifi its the android device. The android phone connects to the local network through wifi, presumably the same network that the desktop PC is located on.

    12. Re:Rube-goldberg by Locutus · · Score: 1

      if it had them. Did you see the video and notice the solution shown did not remote the display and therefore required the user be close enough to see the computer display?

      It could be handy for managing things like kiosks, picture frames, etc where you have a little GNU/Linux box driving a display without touch, kbd or mouse.

      Getting it to work over Bluetooth shouldn't be too difficult for those wanting to do that instead of wifi or ethernet.

      LoB

      --
      "Anyone who stands out in the middle of a road looks like roadkill to me." --Linus
    13. Re:Rube-goldberg by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      I'm guessing because not all desktops have bluetooth capability.

      no no no. it's just MUCH MUCH MUCH easier to code an app to do it over the wifi than to build an app for android(and accompanying app for desktop) that would make it act as a proper bluetooth mouse, bluetooth gamepad and as a bluetooth keyboard.

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      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    14. Re:Rube-goldberg by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      Bluetooth is short range, so you'll be within reach of the real keyboard and mouse 99% of the time.

      same room is usually enough.

      it's just a lot more straightforward to do it over wifi(easier to find resources on how to do it).

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    15. Re:Rube-goldberg by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      You can buy a bluetooth dongle about the size of a dime at WalMart for $20 and it will work with any OS. With kubuntu you don't even have to install any software for it to work. Not all desktops have wifi, and a router is a little more expensive.

  2. Congratulations by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    You've just discovered something that many of us have been able to with Android and Windows for years.

    1. Re:Congratulations by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Apparently, the more complicated you can make things, the more geek cred you get.

    2. Re:Congratulations by Anonymous+Freak · · Score: 2

      Yup, I've used similar on my phone (and before that, my Palm device,) to control my HTPC for a decade now.

      While it's nice to have something truly built-in on both sides, rather than my current solution, a kb/mouse VNC client on the phone and a VNC server on the HTPC, it's still rather unnecessary to make a big deal.

      --
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      The purpose of that site was not known.
    3. Re:Congratulations by pinkushun · · Score: 1

      Its less about making a big deal, and more about sharing cool news with others. I use /. for this as I dislike popup-driven buzzword riddled news sites like zdnet

    4. Re:Congratulations by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      Yes, but this isn't really that cool. Logitech had an app out for years that does a lot of the features for Mac and Windoes. I think I saw Linux code for Linux. The article makes it sound like new technology.

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      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    5. Re:Congratulations by Max+Littlemore · · Score: 1

      This comment by AC is mis modded as flamebait. I've used my phone to control my loungeroom Linux box for ages. This story isn't news at all.

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      I don't therefore I'm not.
  3. Old trick... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I used to use my resistive touch screen winmo device as a mouse literally 10 years ago. Nothing like zero haptic feedback for a controller.

  4. Backward progress... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    This is the kind of backward progress that is touted as the all-new cool thing... Sorry iOS/Android you both suck! Dumb feature phones from 2006 had bluetooth tethering, bluetooth file exchange, bluetooth mouse input, audio streaming... ALL WITHOUT carrier intervention, some special rom, jail-breaking or the need to install any special app.

    Thanks for destroying bluetooth.

    CAPTCHA: grapes... sour!

    1. Re:Backward progress... by TuringCheck · · Score: 5, Insightful

      All my recent phones and tables (Nokia, Apple, Samsung) have Bluetooth, WiFi, mobile data. Only one of my computers (a laptop whose LCD died some years ago) had Blutooth on-board.

      There's also the very complex way of understanding and negotiating Bluetooth profiles. Each and every feature that is defined over Bluetooth has multiple variations and quirks and can (and do) fail in mysterious ways and are pretty hard to debug. Not to mention that some of them need specific support in the hardware.

      OTOH WiFi and IP networks in general just move packets. And they're pretty standard and interoperable.

  5. Congratulations-Geek currency. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Apparently, the more complicated you can make things, the more geek cred you get.

    That's why getting a date (with a woman) scores so high.

    1. Re:Congratulations-Geek currency. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Only if you can make things as complicated as possible.
      But yeah, geeks tend to do that anyway.

  6. Geek points for the unique interface solution by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    But then we have to take away geek cred for using a Linux box at run level 5.

    However if you answer the question "emacs or vim?" correctly, you can earn those points pack. Please note, though, that a response of "xemacs" will result in further penalties.

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    #DeleteChrome
    1. Re:Geek points for the unique interface solution by GNious · · Score: 1

      Kate

    2. Re:Geek points for the unique interface solution by repvik · · Score: 1

      The correct answer is "vi".

    3. Re:Geek points for the unique interface solution by CronoCloud · · Score: 1

      no, vim. Sure in the old days vi was guaranteed and vim wasn't, especially on the more obscure 'nixes. And yes, maybe using vi instead of vim was more important when 'nix boxes had 8MB of RAM or less and when every speck of HD space mattered. But for modern Linux, you can almost guarantee vim, unless the user actually went to the trouble of uninstalling it.

      In fact, on Fedora, vi is provided by the vim-minimal package.

    4. Re:Geek points for the unique interface solution by shakezula · · Score: 1

      Are you sure? I thought the correct answer was "ed."

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      I know what you're thinking. Did I forward 65,535 packets or 65,536 packets?
  7. Amazing by Osgeld · · Score: 4, Insightful

    using the latest in technology to emulate a handful of switches and a simple microcontroller, or a pair of rotary encoders and a simple micro, or some switches and a shift register

    Today, we have overcome all limits!

    sorry whats the point other than gee whiz factor? Its 20(fuckin)12, with a trip to radio shack a child could whip up a fart chair to signal keyboard input to any OS they choose for under 40 bucks.

    1. Re:Amazing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because we don't carry all those things in our pockets everyday?

    2. Re:Amazing by ciaran.mchale · · Score: 1

      sorry whats the point other than gee whiz factor?

      I would have thought that was obvious: it's the possibility of having a Beowulf cluster of keyboards.

    3. Re:Amazing by fatphil · · Score: 1

      Here's a first step - a Beowolf cluster of keys:
      http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Chinese_typewriter.jpg

      --
      Also FatPhil on SoylentNews, id 863
    4. Re:Amazing by gman003 · · Score: 3, Informative

      with a trip to radio shack a child could whip up a fart chair to signal keyboard input to any OS they choose for under 40 bucks.

      I take it you haven't been to Radio Shack lately. The big shelf of resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors and such? Gone, along with any employees that even remember it existed.

      I don't think they even have radios anymore. Just overpriced cables and cell phones.

    5. Re:Amazing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think it's cool. I wouldn't know how to do this, or how to program fart chairs as keyboards.

    6. Re:Amazing by Osgeld · · Score: 1

      the ones near me still have a selection of basic passives, along with propeller boards and 2 arduinos + shields, and I was just there last week.

    7. Re:Amazing by pjt33 · · Score: 1

      I've thought for a while that it might make sense to use an Android phone as a HID for a Raspberry Pi for presentations through a projector. My phone doesn't output to a projector and the bulk of a keyboard is a portability problem for the RPi, but phone and RPi together take up less than half the space of a netbook.

    8. Re:Amazing by Locutus · · Score: 1

      it has implications for using small devices like the one demo'ed without a kbd and mouse. Things like a dynamic picture frame, your own media center console or even a form of kiosk and not need to put a touch interface on it.

      Just because it looks like a PC you know and love, it does not mean it can only be that way.

      LoB

      --
      "Anyone who stands out in the middle of a road looks like roadkill to me." --Linus
    9. Re:Amazing by nurb432 · · Score: 1

      Yours is quite rare, i could barely get a m-m 1/8 phono cable the other day there. Idiots tried to sell me a cell phone charger cable. "oh, audio...did you mean bluetooth.. " . *sigh* After i drew it out 'oh, we have a bin back there of old stuff'.

      R/S was always overpriced but at least they were a last minute option if you needed sometime NOW and the real store was closed.

      And don't get me started about them dropping the old radios and such, which were damned good.

      --
      ---- Booth was a patriot ----
    10. Re:Amazing by BitZtream · · Score: 1

      The radio shacks (all 3 within 5 minutes of driving) all carry a full set of general use components as well as Arduino and PIC microcontrollers and a shitload of basic sensors now.

      http://www.radioshack.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=2032230

      Between the 3 stores in my area I can find basically EVERYTHING they sell online with the exception of a damn strobe transformer that they don't seem to carry anymore ... ironic considering they sell the strobe tube in the component racks.

      --
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    11. Re:Amazing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They went in phases:

      80s: CB Radio
      90s: Windows PC's
      2000s: Cell Phones
      2010s: Radio Shack is cool again.

  8. Open source alternative by ancienthart · · Score: 4, Informative

    Premotedroid does this for (android) mouse and keyboard already. It's open source, works using bluetooth or wifi, and on any computer with java.

    1. Re:Open source alternative by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thanks. It's nice seeing the readers are smart at least. The editors should learn from you.

    2. Re:Open source alternative by subreality · · Score: 1

      on any computer with java

      Fail.

      No. Compared to the OP which is a closed-source, native-binary-only solution: Win.

    3. Re:Open source alternative by ArmchairGeneral · · Score: 1

      I had looked for something exactly like this sometime ago and I had considered writing my own. It needs more documentation, but it works nicely. Thank you for pointing out this app.

  9. Sounds ideal for a Raspberry Pi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    If you want a Pi media/mame server on your tv without the kbd/mouse hanging off it. Tempting

    1. Re:Sounds ideal for a Raspberry Pi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      For a Raspberry Pi, this is not the solution, the Java dependency means it will be a massive memory hog.
      The proposed VNC solutions may be a better fit.

  10. Windows already has this, goto Google Play by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why is this a story? So what if LINUX has this, it's not new. Slashdolt strikes again.

  11. any VNC client will do by khipu · · Score: 2

    Any Android VNC client will do for remotely controlling Linux, OSX, or Windows from an Android phone; you don't need anything more complicated than that.

    1. Re:any VNC client will do by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      VNC is a remote display. This is using a phone for input. Think touchpad. In fact, you could even use this for drawing with.

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      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    2. Re:any VNC client will do by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      VNC is a remote display and control. A VNC client on a touchscreen phone can literally do each of the things you described.

    3. Re:any VNC client will do by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are you serious? Does this really need to be explained any more? Go look up x2vnc or win2vnc is display-less operation seems too hard to grasp.

    4. Re:any VNC client will do by khipu · · Score: 1

      I don't want to live on this planet anymore.

    5. Re:any VNC client will do by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      VNC is a remote display AND control.

      fixed that for you. point is that this article has no point, except to work as an advertisement for the project.

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      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    6. Re:any VNC client will do by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      Can you run it without a display?

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      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
  12. New feature for Android by BitZtream · · Score: 1, Funny

    Okay, its not new for Android, its just that this is another one of timothy's 'I live in a box and have no fucking clue what any of the topics on this site are about ... and I'm dumber than dirt' approvals.

    Why did my preference to not see timothy and kdawson go away?

    Seriously, you guys are freaking worthless

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  13. My lg tv already does this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It also has a built in plex client , browser, 3d etc

  14. You call this a nice application? by aglider · · Score: 1

    Using wifi instead of bluetooth?
    The HID part of the BT stack is already in place in your Linux/Windows/OSX/Whatever system. So, no need for extra software. Maybe a USD 10.- USB dongle.
    Then you would use the touch screen of your phone as a trackpad. Or, if possible, the rear camera to understand how the phone is being moved on the desk.
    I would call this a nice Android application, not the pesky one shown in the above article!

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    1. Re:You call this a nice application? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sadly, in the process of 'modernizing', we've gone from elegant platform agnostic solutions to messy platform specific hacks. And people gobble this up as progress...

  15. Why not act as an USB device? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What I want is connect an Android phone via USB to any PC (not necessarily a Linux box), have the Android behave like a touchpad, keyboard, camera, whatever. All using just the existing USB device profiles. So no client special software required on the PC. This would even give me a handy USB keyboard that works during booting! (I have a PC with only bluetooth keyboard, mouse, and these are typically dead until the OS is loaded).

    As these device profiles are the same for bluetooth, it should also be easy to make an Android act as bluetooth touchpad, keyboard, etc.

  16. N900 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    N900 has been able to do this for years. I didn't even realise this was something other phones *couldn't* do!

    1. Re:N900 by CronoCloud · · Score: 1

      And doesn't the N900 have an actual X server so you can use proper X11 forwarding over SSH as the goddess intended?

  17. How about pre programming with whats typed? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Imagine it typing up a batch file and then executing it, within only a second or two of typing the code having executed notepad with keys. Very easy to hack any computer that isn't locked.

  18. Slow news day by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Its a slow news day when this is a head line the n810 has been able to be a bluetooth mouse for years and there have been plenty of android apps that can do it as well

  19. This is new? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I use a VNC control app called "Hippo Lite" on my original iPhone to act as a remote trackpad for an old PowerBook G4 I have connected to my TV. That way, I don't have to get up to change what video I'm streaming over the Internet to my TV, and I didn't have to buy a fancy wireless keyboard. It runs over Wifi and the whole set up was free.

  20. progress by hackstraw · · Score: 3, Funny

    Taking the best thing from a normal computer and using the worst things about android and what do you get???? hopefully they are not using swipe and having it crash all the time.

  21. gamepad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    haha, "gamepad." no-one games on linux, silly.

  22. Distinction between article here and there by mitzampt · · Score: 1

    Actually this stuff is turning an android device into a keyboard/touchpad FOR ANOTHER ANDROID device... Also, for Linux and Windows. This is the client/server stuff we've seen since ever, it doesn't involve using native support for USB or Bluetooth peripherals, which would be the real achievement. It''s still cool because it works over the internet, but that's about it.

    --
    uhm...
  23. So what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There are apps specifically for this. In a pinch, I've used my iconia tab as a drawing tablet. Big fucking whoopty do.

  24. Why spend money? by Whiney+Mac+Fanboy · · Score: 1

    sorry whats the point other than gee whiz factor? Its 20(fuckin)12, with a trip to radio shack a child could whip up a fart chair to signal keyboard input to any OS they choose for under 40 bucks.

    Why spend $40, when you can just use the general purpose computer with multiple input devices already sitting in your pocket?

    --
    There are shills on slashdot. Apparently, I'm one of them.
    1. Re:Why spend money? by BitZtream · · Score: 1

      The problem with your statement is this retarded notion that your phone is a general purpose computer.

      You may be able to use it as if it is one, but it isn't. You'll do yourself a world of good if you stop trying to act like it is.

      --
      Persistent Volume manager for Kubernetes - https://github.com/dwimsey/openshift-pvmanager
    2. Re:Why spend money? by Whiney+Mac+Fanboy · · Score: 1

      The problem with your statement is this retarded notion that your phone is a general purpose computer.

      I can attach a keyboard, full monitor & mouse to my android phone & use it to do pretty much whatever the fuck I like. I can run a full-blown-browser, ssh server, apache, transcode videos, anything in the entire debian software stack (via chroot).

      So, explain to me, exactly why the fuck my phone is not a general purpose computer? Frankly, I think you'll find the only thing that is retarded around here is your comment.

      --
      There are shills on slashdot. Apparently, I'm one of them.
  25. Use BlueputDroid instead by Praetor.Zero · · Score: 1

    I've been using using BluputDroid for a while. It acts as a bluetooth HID device. It's only requirements are that the phone be rooted, and the desktop have a bluetooth adapter and the correct stack installed. It doesn't require a questionable third-party server to be installed and running on your desktop. I've used it on my two HTPCs without issue. Considering you can get a small bluetooth dongle off of eBay for $5, it's well worth the price of admission.

  26. Already been done by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I used a NES controller app for Android that connects over WIFI or USB-ethernet, last year. It sucked because there was no tactile feel like a real controller.

    1. Re:Already been done by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I forgot to mention, the app uses ppjoydev on the client PC side.

  27. Why not HID? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    More interesting would be a way to make an Android expose standard HID device profiles via Bluetooth and USB. And while at it you could also expose still camera, video (UVC), GPS devices. What's the big problem?

  28. Great by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Let's make Linux as insecure as Android.

  29. The way of the future by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you ask me, the naysayers thus far are ignoring the future of embedded Linux-based devices and the coming "internet of things". I myself have been looking for a platform-agnostic solution to a network front-end. Websockets seem to be the current bleeding edge solution. What you'd need is a daemon that routes the system console to a websockets interface and then have a simple console HTML5 page.

  30. droidmote by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This tool is not a normal remote control. Droidmote simulate also a touch screen. It use indirect touch to simulate touch actions on device that not have touch screen. You can use apps and games that support only touch actions also in devices that not have touch screen. Look at xda to understand well.

  31. BluePutDroid? by wiresquire · · Score: 1

    BluePutDroid will do the same thing. It works by turning your android device into a bluetooth Human Inteface Device (HID). So, it will work with pretty much any device that has bluetooth. Don't have bluetooth? I'm sure you can find a cheap bluetooth USB dongle.

    I use it for my PS3. It also has mouse control and has a screen for the PS buttons. I can't handle the 'typing' using PS3 gamepads...

    I guess I could use it as a keyboard for my laptop which has bluetooth, but i dunno why, they already built one in!

    --

    So does Anonymous Coward have good karma?

  32. I'd rather by okmijnuhb · · Score: 1

    I'd rather use a full size keyboard/mouse to control my blackberry or iPhone.

  33. umm... its 2012 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My no tech house mate has this hocked up to windows... this is seriously outdated news

  34. USB KB/Mouse? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I would like to find a way to plug my Android device into a computer and have these same abilities. This would be useful since an office computer will not let you install drivers for a BTdongle, but will let you plug a USB mouse or keyboard in and use it with no problem.

    Have been looking into possibilities of how to do this for a person with a disability to gain access to university computers.