Airdroid: Connect Your Android Phone to A Linux Computer

I’ll start with the cliché that Android smart phones are currently the most popular and widely used smartphones. Built on the top of Linux kernel, Android operating system gives the user a freedom in the same sense as a Linux operating system. One of the first problem a new (or experienced as well) Android user faces is connecting the smartphone to the computer. With Windows, the connectivity is still fine. But with Linux, mostly, it is a nightmare.

In this post, we will see the best way to connect your Android smartphone to your computer rergardless of your computer’s operating system. Yes, you heard it right, not just Linux, but any operating system. How that may be possible if Linux is so neglected by all the hot-shots manufacturers? Well, it is made possible by a free Android application “AirDroid” which lets you connect your Android device to your computer using WiFi in your web browser. Sounds interesting, doesn’t it?

How to use it?

First of all, get the AirDroid app from the Android market. You do not need to install anything on your computer. Once you have installed it on your phone, go to the app. On the main screen of the app, you will have few options, namely, a web address (with port number), a password and a start/stop button.

All you have to do is open any web browser (like Firefox, Chrome or Internet Explorer) and type the displayed web address (192.168.40.54:8888) in your browser’s address bar and press enter. You will find yourself with a welcome screen asking for password like this:

Type the password which is shown on your smartphone and you are connected to your phone. Your phone notifies you when you connect to the computer. It will show you the memory used, the files you have on your Android, messages, contacts, battery status, installed apps, basically everything. You will see a screen like this:

What are the things I can do with AirDroid?

This awesome apps frees you from the likes of a dedicated suite application. All you need is your Android phone and a computer with a web browser in it. You can then do all the stuff you want to. Here are a lists of thing which you can do with it:

• Import/Export pictures
• Import/Export music
• Import/Export all types of files
• See Messages and Call logs
• Send new messages by using your computer keyboard (my favorite)
• Check memory status of your device
• See Installed apps, delete them
• See and edit contacts

Conclusion:

Despite using the WiFi interface, it is not noticeably slow. It works flawlessly with any operating system and with all the major web browsers. It gives options enough to make it one of the best free app available in the Android market. My verdict, you won’t regret downloading this app.

What are your views on AirDroid? Do you use some other app/suite to manage and transfer data between your Android phone and computer? Do share your ideas with us. Cheers.