Link Safe

Android app and Chrome add-on, displays notifications from your smartphone on your computer and lets you type text-message responses faster for only 50p. It’s even better than the AirDroid app  because it works over the internet, so your PC and phone don’t have to be on the same network.

Once you’ve installed the app (which costs 50p) and add-on, click the Chrome Launcher, then Chrome on your PC (you’ll need Chrome 28 or higher installed).Then open the Chrome app on your phone. You’ll need to grant a number of permissions at this point. Tap Open Accessibility Settings and enable the Chrome service. Return to the Chrome app.Tap Next twice and type the code shown in the Chrome window on your computer. Once the code has been entered the screen on the Android device will update automatically.The first time the Chrome app starts on your phone, it may suggest blocking ‘spamming’ apps. Check the apps it’s offering to block carefully. These are usually based on how many updates an app makes, so it may accidentally suggest blocking Messages or Google Play updates. Tap Cancel on this screen. Tap Installed Apps to adjust which app notifications are shown by Chrome. Chrome sends information over the internet, so it’s a good idea to encrypt the information. Tap Open Chrome Settings, then tap ‘Encrypt Data (beta)’. Enter a password this will be used to scramble your information. Click the cog icon in the Chrome window on the Desktop, type the password, and click Save. Remove this password if the text in SMS messages doesn’t look right.

Whenever a message arrives a pop-up notification will appear on your Desktop. Click Reply to type a return message on your computer. If you don’t manage to read the message before it disappears,

the Chrome icon in the Notification Area will turn blue to show there are unread messages waiting.

Right-click this icon to disable notifications for an hour or a day if you don’t want to be disturbed.