Browsing Google Play Store can often be overwhelming – you’re presented with hundreds of Android apps, many of which have similar offerings. It’s hard to make a final decision or know what is best for you and your needs. That’s why every month we go behind the scenes to do the research for you, and give you an insight into the best apps.From Tep, to Clash of Clans and Periscope – we give you the low-down on apps designed to enhance your efficiency, provide light hearted entertainment or just make your daily routine that bit easier.
However, this month we thought we’d shake things up a little, as it wasn’t an Android app that caught our eye. It was Vysor, a Google Chrome extension that mirrors your Android screen to your desktop. Whilst many may never have had the need to bring their mobile device display to a larger screen, it’s surprisingly useful and something we’d suggest you take a look at.
The extension is still in beta, but it’s definitely one to watch out for and we’re excited to see what the future holds….
Created by Koushik Dutta, the same developer behind a whole host of other Android apps including ClockworkMod and Allcast, Vysor works by remotely controlling your phone via ADB and recreates a fully functioning copy of your Android screen on your desktop. To get started, you simply launch the app in Chrome, turn on USB debugging on your phone and connect to your computer. Once ADB connects to your machine, Vysor is installed and your mobile screen shows up on your desktop.
When testing Vysor, there were two immediate, significant benefits. Whether you’re an avid gamer, or just enjoy the occasional game of Clash of Clans, it’s a whole new experience being able to play your favourite Android games on a larger screen. We tried Vysor in conjunction with Sketch and it opened up a whole new dynamic for the app.
The app also came in handy when typing out long text messages on your phone. You can type up to 100 words per minute, which saved a significant amount of time. Being able to use a desktop keyboard for your phone opens up a lot of potential in regards to personal efficiency as it allows you to answer text messages and other notifications from your smartphone without interrupting your work flow.
Time saving really is a big part of Vysor’s offering, having your phone on screen while working lets you flick back and forth between it like any other programme on your PC. Consolidating what you’re working on like this can massively improve your efficiency.
Vysor was originally envisioned as a developer tool and when testing out the app, it’s clear to see that there are significant benefits for developers. ‘Vysor share’ in particular seemed like a great feature that would come in useful.Vysor lets you share your Android device’s connection session with virtually anyone else in the world through an easily shareable link, meaning you can hook up a number of devices to one single PC. All you have to do is click the share button and the URL is copied to your clipboard, ready to email or IM.
An early beta of the app is available in the Chrome web store, so be sure to take a look.
If you have any questions or suggestions for our next app of the month, get in touch on Twitter.
by Sony Mobile PR Team via Blog Portal
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