
Unified Remote
Unified Remote transforms your smartphone into a universal remote control for your computer. Access files, manage media playback, control presentations, and even power your PC on or off, all from the convenience of your mobile device. It supports a wide range of applications out of the box and offers extensive customization options.
About Unified Remote
- Extensive Remote Support: Control a vast array of applications on your computer, from media players like VLC and Windows Media Player to office suites like Microsoft Office and productivity tools like web browsers.
- File Management: Browse and open files and folders on your computer directly from your phone. This is especially useful for accessing documents or media without getting up from the couch.
- Power Management: Safely shut down, restart, sleep, or even wake up your computer remotely.
- Keyboard and Mouse Control: Emulate a full keyboard and mouse with support for gestures and multi-touch, giving you comprehensive control over your desktop environment.
- Customizable Remotes: Create your own custom remotes to control specific applications or actions not covered by the default remotes. This allows for a highly personalized control experience.
- Security Features: Protect your connection with password protection to prevent unauthorized access to your computer.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Extensive list of pre-built remotes for common applications.
- Highly customizable, allowing creation of unique remotes.
- Supports file browsing and power management.
- Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, macOS, Linux server; Android, iOS, Windows Phone client).
- Password protection for secure connections.
- Generally responsive performance.
Cons
- Remote desktop streaming quality dependent on network and potentially resource-intensive.
- Custom remote editor can be complex for beginners.
- Some advanced features locked behind a paid version.
- User interface design on the mobile app can feel a bit dated.
What Makes Unified Remote Stand Out
Extensive Application Support
Offers pre-built remotes for popular applications across various categories, minimizing setup time.
High Level of Customization
Provides tools to create and tailor remotes to specific user needs and less common applications.
Cross-Platform Compatibility
Supports major mobile and desktop operating systems, ensuring broad accessibility.
Features & Capabilities
12 featuresExpert Review
Unified Remote: A Comprehensive Mobile-to-PC Control Solution
Unified Remote presents a compelling solution for users seeking to control their computers from their mobile devices. It effectively transforms a smartphone or tablet into a versatile remote, capable of managing a wide range of PC functions and applications.The core strength of Unified Remote lies in its breadth of support. The application comes bundled with a substantial collection of pre-built remotes for popular software, spanning media players, web browsers, office suites, and system controls. This extensive out-of-the-box compatibility immediately allows users to control applications like VLC, Windows Media Player, Netflix, Spotify, Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Office, and many others without requiring complex configuration.
Beyond the default offerings, the software provides robust customization options. Users can dive into the remote editor to modify existing remotes or create entirely new ones from scratch. This level of flexibility is particularly valuable for controlling less common applications or automating specific tasks on the computer directly from the mobile interface. The editor allows for adding buttons, sliders, text fields, and other control elements, mapping them to keyboard shortcuts, mouse actions, or predefined commands.
Navigation and interaction are facilitated through various control methods. The application includes a trackpad-like interface for mouse control, supporting gestures for actions like scrolling, zooming, and right-clicking. A virtual keyboard allows for text input. For more direct control, there is a remote desktop view, although performance can vary depending on network conditions.
Installation is generally straightforward. Users need to install a server application on the computer they wish to control and the Unified Remote app on their mobile device. The auto-installer for the desktop server simplifies this process. The connection between the devices can be established over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. For security, password protection is available to prevent unauthorized access to the computer.
The user interface on the mobile app is generally clean and intuitive, although the design can feel a bit dated on some platforms. Navigating between different remotes is easy, and the controls within each remote are typically well-laid out. Performance is generally responsive, with minimal lag, which is crucial for a seamless remote control experience.
One notable feature is the ability to control power options, including shutting down, restarting, putting the computer to sleep, and even waking it up (Wake-on-LAN). This adds a significant layer of convenience, especially for users who have their computer connected to a home theater system or use it as a media server.
File browsing capabilities are also integrated, allowing users to access, open, and even transfer files from their computer to their mobile device. While not a full-fledged file manager, it's useful for quickly accessing documents or media files without needing to be directly at the computer.
While Unified Remote offers a comprehensive feature set, there are areas for potential improvement. The remote desktop streaming can be resource-intensive and may not be suitable for complex graphical tasks or fast-paced activities. The complexity of the custom remote editor, while offering power, may be daunting for novice users. Furthermore, while the free version is functional, some of the more advanced or niche remotes require a paid upgrade.
In conclusion, Unified Remote stands out as a robust and highly functional remote control application for computers. Its extensive application support, coupled with powerful customization options, makes it a valuable tool for a wide range of use cases, from media consumption and presentations to basic system control. Despite minor areas for refinement, it delivers a reliable and convenient way to interact with your computer from your mobile device.