Chrome to Phone

16.12.2010
Android phones are remarkable devices, and essentially are full-blown computers that fit in your hand. In lots of ways, they work well with your PC--but not in all ways. One of the biggest issues is Android's handling of bookmarks and browser information. Your Android browser doesn't talk to your PC browser, and vice versa. If you find a Web page on your PC that you want to save as a bookmark, it won't be saved to your Android browser. is a nifty, free workaround.

Chrome to Phone is a extension that sends any URL you're currently visiting to your Android device. First install the extension on your PC. Then on your Android device, install the free Chrome to Phone app. Then when you're browsing the Web and want to send a URL to your Android phone, simply click the Chrome to Phone link. It's immediately sendtto your Android phone, and if the phone is on, the link opens in the Android's browser. If the phone is turned off, the link will open in the Android browser the next time you turn it on.

The Chrome to Phone app also keeps a list of all links sent, so that you can later on view the links as well.

You can do more than just send links to Web pages. If you're viewing a map in Google Maps, click the Chrome to Phone icon, and that map to that location will open in your Android Browser. Select a phone number on a Web page and send it, and that phone number opens in the Android dialer app. Select text on a Web page and send it, and that text gets placed onto the Android clipboard.

Chrome to Phone is a great workaround--but it's a workaround, not the ultimate solution. A tool to synchronize bookmarks between Chrome and the Android browser would be better. Until then, though, the free Chrome to Phone is well worth the download.

Note that you'll need Android 2.2 or better on your Android device in order for the Android app to work.