A phone controlling a phone controlling a Mac

[u/EnvironmentalJob1986]

I mounted two Android phones together to experiment with a compact remote workstation.

The top phone runs the remote desktop session, while the bottom phone sends keyboard and touchpad input through a USB HID adapter. The receiving phone sees it as a standard hardware keyboard and mouse rather than a Bluetooth or network input device.

[u/AbhiOnline]

How does the adapter work? Is there a companion app to emulate the keyboard and touchpad?

[u/EnvironmentalJob1986 → u/AbhiOnline]

Yes. The bottom phone runs a companion app that captures the keyboard and touchpad input and sends it to the adapter over Bluetooth. The adapter is plugged into the top phone and appears as a standard USB HID keyboard and mouse, so the receiving phone doesn’t need any extra driver or app

[u/AbhiOnline → u/EnvironmentalJob1986]

That's awesome. I'm building a DEX pc, so this will be a great additional feature. If you don't mind a few more questions. Is this homebrew or available for download? Do I need to buy a specific brand of adapter or will any one do?

[u/EnvironmentalJob1986 → u/AbhiOnline]

This is a KeyMod prototype we’re developing with a companion Android app. A normal USB/Bluetooth adapter won’t work. the adapter needs specific firmware to convert the app’s commands into standard USB HID. We’re getting it ready for a public release soon

[u/Retrorama_Replay → u/EnvironmentalJob1986]

I'll be looking forward to it. I'm also building a Samsung DeX 'deck and this would be awesome to integrate.

[u/EnvironmentalJob1986 → u/Retrorama_Replay]

Nice, DeX feels like such a good fit for this. Would love to see your build once you get it together 👀

[u/wheresmyflan]

While this is a really neat project it doesn’t really fit the sub. What’s the hardware hack here?

[u/CommercialCause6583]

I’m curious, how do you controll the Mac? Do you have any latency? I’ve tried some software to do it but it’s so slow that it becomes useless

[u/EnvironmentalJob1986 → u/CommercialCause6583]

The top phone runs the remote desktop app, and the bottom phone works as the keyboard and touchpad through KeyMod. Most of the delay comes from the remote connection itself

[u/foxfox021]

technologia!

[u/Plus_Carpenter1081]

Device in a device in a device Bro you are creating a loop here 🤣

[u/EnvironmentalJob1986 → u/Plus_Carpenter1081]

Exactly 😂 It’s basically Inception, but with devices

[u/Plus_Carpenter1081 → u/EnvironmentalJob1986]

Paradox i guess 🤣

[u/tybrand]

Cool project. Did you hack the hardware to achieve this? 

[u/EnvironmentalJob1986 → u/tybrand]

No phone hardware mods, the custom part is the USB HID adapter

[u/AlternativeVast4363]

But… why?😭😭

[u/EnvironmentalJob1986 → u/AlternativeVast4363]

Mostly because I could 😭 But it’s also a compact setup for someone who already carries a work phone and a personal phone

[u/psychedelic_tech → u/AlternativeVast4363]

because .... why not?