After writing an article last week on Controlling your Computer from your Windows Mobile Phone, I was looking for fun things I could do with my computer from my phone.  I went out of town over the weekend and while gone I realized I could turn on my computer’s webcam and view it from my phone!

Here’s what you’ll need:

1. A Windows Mobile Phone
2. Computer with webcam (Vista, XP, Mac, or Linux)
3. A second computer with webcam (Optional)
4. Read: Controlling your Computer from your Windows Mobile Phone

Check out the results!

After connecting to my computer I first opened the Logitech software that came with my webcam:

Next I zoomed-out to view the webcam:

Here I zoomed-in on the webcam:

(Oh no!!  Someone must have broken in to mess up my bed!  )

The last thing I did was kind of cool.  I opened up Remote Desktop to connect my computer to the family’s computer in the living room.  Then I turned on that webcam as well.  This gave me two cameras:

(The family room camera was pointed down at the chair, not up at the room.)

Over all I’d say this is a great solution to check-up on your home when you’re away!

Here’s what you need:

1. A Windows Mobile Phone
2. A VNC Server on your computer.  I use Ultra VNC.
3. Hamachi on your computer
4. Hamachi on your phone
5. RealVNC Viewer on your phone

Here’s how to set it up:

1.  Download and Install all of the programs.

2.  Start Hamachi on your computer.

3.  Either join an existing network or create a new one.

4.  Start Ultra VNC Server on your computer. (Choose a password.)

5.  Start Hamachi on your phone.

6.  Join the network your computer is on.

7.  Copy the IP address of the computer you are trying to connect to.

8.  Start RealVNC Viewer on your phone.

9.  Paste the IP address of the computer you are trying to connect to.

10.  Enter your password.

11.  Enjoy!

Check out the results!

I thought I’d try a real world test.  Imagine you are out when you get a call from your boss requesting a pdf file saved on your computer.  Or say you’re at a friends house and want to show off a picture you took that’s saved on your computer at home.  I’m going to attempt to connect to my home computer from my phone and send an email with an attachment.

Once connected using the steps above, I could see my computer screen from my phone:

Next I activated my Virtual Desktop (DeskSpace) to switch to an empty desktop:

I chose my Grand Canyon Desktop:

Next I zoomed-in to get a better view of the start menu:

Here I clicked on the Start Button:

After first opening Firefox, I opened Google Chrome.  (FireFox opened on another monitor.  There seems to be no multi-monitor support.)

I zoomed-in to sign in:

Here I zoomed all the way in.  It has great picture quality zoomed-in.  Now I’m adding an attachment to the email:

Lastly I’m sending the email:

I’m pretty impressed with this!  There are many good uses for this type of software.  It’s great for tech support on the go, or for getting to files when you’re away.  One thing to think about is that it was pretty slow using the edge network.  With Wi-Fi it worked at a reasonable pace and I’m assuming 3G would work fine as well.  Cool stuff!