Controlling the home from the PC rather than phone or tablet?

[ericmark]

I have a load of apps which can be used with Bluestacks with PC but not direct, so take an age to boot up, and tend to crash, most functions can be transferred to google Home app, so on phone I tend to use that as all the smart devices can be controlled by the one app, only the first set up needs the special app for that device.

So I sit at my laptop most evenings, but only Mihome works on PC, would like to use TP-Link stuff (Tapo and Kasa) on PC, and also Smart Life, but as Google home allows all to work with one app on phone, is there an app or program to do same with the PC?

 

[fourtytwo]

I have a similar problem with CCTV software, although there is a PC based version the mobile apps are more fully featured.
It's on my extensive TTD list but a quick look took me to anbox an Android emulator for Linux.

I have Linux on all my machines but still run windows apps using an adaptation layer (Wine) that works very well so I would certainly consider a similar solution for mobile apps although not at present tested.

 

[opps]

I guess you could use the Windows "phone link" programme, and display your phone's screen on your PC.

When sitting in the pub with my laptop, I seldom take my phone out of my pocket, I just use the Phone Link programme.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I have a load of apps which can be used with Bluestacks with PC but not direct,

Bluestacks used to allow Alexa to be loaded and run, but not any longer - it now refuses to work with it, maybe since Win11?

I have Phonelink on my laptop, working for texts and calls, but how would I connecting it to show and control the Iphone?

 

[opps]

Bluestacks used to allow Alexa to be loaded and run, but not any longer - it now refuses to work with it, maybe since Win11?

I have Phonelink on my laptop, working for texts and calls, but how would I connecting it to show and control the Iphone?

No luck iphone wise- sorry.

After bowing out of the mobile phone market- MS was pursuing Samsung for a shed load of money in compensation for IP infringements. Like grown ups, they came to an agreement whereby Samsung would make their phones compatible with the windows phone link app. Apple's business model doesn't need them to play nicely with MS. (Ignoring the fact that they are now using Microsoft's Chat GPT).

 

[ericmark]

My hunt seemed to show there is a google Home which works on ones browser, but attempts to use it just takes me around in circles. Tried using Bluestacks, after 20 minutes still waiting for it to log in.

 

[ericmark]

What is Virtualization?

 

[RandomGrinch]

View attachment 346521 What is Virtualization?

Virtualization is a way of allowing your PC to emulate other operating systems.
It is usually urned off by default, but can be enabled in the BIOS.
The settings are labelled differently, depending on whether you have an AMD, or Intel CPU.

https://support.bluestacks.com/hc/en-us/articles/360058102252-How-to-enable-Virtualization-VT-on-Windows-10-for-BlueStacks-5

 

[mattylad]

Try Home Assistant.

Getting started

Getting started with Home Assistant

www.home-assistant.io

As far as I can tell, it's free and it has many different platforms in Windows & Android/IOS.

 

[mattylad]

Actually, you can also use google home on the PC.