PC Remote Controller

For many decades, most forms of activities required dedicated devices for a proper usage experience, such as music players, GPS trackers and landline phones. However, the increase in processing power for both mobile and desktop computers turned them into the quintessential multitasking all-in-one hubs that replaced the need for such hardware.

As a result, many prefer to connect their PC directly into their large TVs when leaning back on the couch for movie watching or playing video games in lieu of streaming boxes or consoles. While a wireless keyboard and mouse are recommended for a fully functional experience, intuitive programs such as PC Remote Controller can also fill that need.

Once downloaded, the Python-based utility requires creating and activating its virtual environment, installing the dependencies listed within the appropriately named document inside its directory and then running the app script manually, all through the user’s terminal of choice. While this type of setup can be cumbersome, the advantage is that those with programming experience can make adjustments to the source code more easily to alter the interface or core structure in a way that fits their preferences, without having to compile an executable after each modification.

When running the script, a web server is generated locally, while users are met with multiple IP addresses that can be accessed quickly through their smartphones and tablets by scanning the automatically generated QR codes to avoid manually inputting the digits in their browser’s address bar. In this way, instead of dealing with data-collecting clients requiring constant internet access, the host PC acts as the server itself, thus removing the need for a separate, third device and safeguarding their privacy at the same time.

Opening any of the available addresses in mobile or tablet mode brings up a clean and minimalist tabbed interface that scales according to the screen size of the device it runs on, providing users with a traditional touchpad area alongside the left, middle and right clicks for selecting UI elements with ease. The media tab lets you pause, mute or alter the volume of currently playing content through the global media controls. Finally, while the keyboard tab does contain useful copy and pasting shortcuts, the ability to bring up the phone’s on-screen keyboard when clicking a text box would be a very useful addition.

If you want to avoid data-hungry clients that compromise your privacy, and adding another peripheral in the form of a wireless remote to your setup feels unnecessary, then PC Remote Controller’s ability of turning your existing smartphone into a keyboard and mouse for your computer may be the right solution.