Use cases
What people ask Aster to do on an Android phone
Aster is an open-source Model Context Protocol server plus an Android companion app: it gives an AI client such as Claude Code, OpenClaw or MoltBot 49 tools, all named aster_*, for reading and driving a phone on Android 8.0+ (API 26) — no root, no cloud account. The 21 prompts below are real things people ask it for, each one listing the exact tools that run.
Like texting a super-powered assistant
One conversation, start to finish. Every step in it maps to real aster_* tools running on an Android phone — yours, or the AI’s own.
The prompts are real. The replies are illustrative — counts, file sizes, place names and flight numbers are written as examples, not measured, and are not product statistics. Tool names are exact.
What ran on the device
Storage measured
Walked the filesystem and grouped usage by app and file type.
- aster_analyze_storage
Duplicates identified
Indexed media metadata and compared it to pick out repeated files.
- aster_search_media
- aster_index_media_metadata
Copies removed on confirmation
Deleted only the extra copies, after the person said yes. Originals untouched.
- aster_delete_file
Call placed and spoken
Dialled the contact, turned on the speaker and read the message aloud through the phone.
- aster_search_contacts
- aster_make_call_with_voice
Things you will actually say — and things your AI will
21 prompts across 7 categories. Each one lists the real aster_* tools that run, exactly as an MCP client names them.
The replies are illustrative — counts, file sizes, place names and flight numbers are written as examples, not measured, and are not product statistics.
Filter use cases by category
Photos & media
You say: “Find the duplicate photos on my phone and show me which ones to delete”
Illustrative reply: Indexed the media library and compared metadata. There are 47 duplicate sets across 2,104 photos. I can show you each set side by side before anything is removed.
Tools used
- aster_search_media
- aster_index_media_metadata
You say: “Show me the photos I took in Goa last December”
Illustrative reply: 83 photos from December carry a location near Goa, including 12 beach shots and 6 sunset panoramas. Want them pulled onto this machine?
Tools used
- aster_search_media
You say: “Find the screenshots I took this week and bin the blurry ones”
Illustrative reply: 23 screenshots from the last seven days. Five look blurry or unreadable. Say the word and they go; the rest stay untouched.
Tools used
- aster_search_media
- aster_delete_file
Reminders & alerts
You say: “Set an alarm for 10 AM tomorrow for the standup”
Illustrative reply: Alarm set on the device for 10:00, labelled Standup. I also posted a notification so it is visible on the lock screen tonight.
Tools used
- aster_set_alarm
- aster_post_notification
You say: “Buzz my phone — I can't find it under the couch”
Illustrative reply: Turning the ringer up, playing a tone and vibrating in a strong three-pulse pattern. Follow the sound; I will keep it going until you tell me to stop.
Tools used
- aster_set_volume
- aster_play_audio
- aster_vibrate
- aster_stop_audio
You say: “Read my unread notifications and tell me if anything is urgent”
Illustrative reply: 14 waiting. Two from Slack flagged urgent, one missed call from Mum, and the rest are promotions. Want the two Slack threads summarised?
Tools used
- aster_read_notifications
Files & cleanup
You say: “Copy meeting-notes.pdf off my phone and onto this machine”
Illustrative reply: Found meeting-notes.pdf in Downloads, 2.3 MB, modified on Tuesday. Reading it off the device now so it lands in your working folder.
Tools used
- aster_list_files
- aster_read_file
You say: “I'm out of storage — find what is eating the space”
Illustrative reply: WhatsApp media 8.2 GB, cached data 3.1 GB, leftover installers 1.4 GB. The installers are the easy win. Shall I start there?
Tools used
- aster_analyze_storage
- aster_find_large_files
You say: “Delete the downloaded PDFs older than six months”
Illustrative reply: 34 PDFs in Downloads have not been opened in six months, 890 MB between them. Here is the list — confirm and I will remove exactly those.
Tools used
- aster_list_files
- aster_delete_file
Communication
You say: “Call Mum and tell her I'll be twenty minutes late”
Illustrative reply: Dialling now with the speaker on. When she picks up I will say your message out loud, then end the call and tell you how it went.
Tools used
- aster_search_contacts
- aster_make_call_with_voice
You say: “Read the last text from the delivery driver and reply that I am home”
Illustrative reply: Last message: "Package arriving between 2 and 4 PM." Reply sent: "Thanks, I will be home." Nothing else in the thread needs an answer.
Tools used
- aster_read_sms
- aster_send_sms
You say: “Put "Do not disturb, in a meeting" on my phone screen”
Illustrative reply: The notice is drawn over whatever is on screen and stays until you dismiss it. I dropped the ringer volume to match.
Tools used
- aster_show_overlay
- aster_set_volume
Daily automations
You say: “What is on my phone screen right now?”
Illustrative reply: A video app is in the foreground, playing a lo-fi mix. Battery is at 62% and Wi-Fi is connected. Screenshot attached if you want to see it.
Tools used
- aster_take_screenshot
- aster_get_screen_hierarchy
- aster_get_battery
You say: “What is my battery at? Should I charge before heading out?”
Illustrative reply: 34% and not charging. At the rate it is draining that is roughly two hours. Worth a top-up before you leave.
Tools used
- aster_get_battery
- aster_get_device_info
You say: “Open Maps and search for the nearest coffee shop”
Illustrative reply: Launched Maps, tapped the search field, typed "coffee shop near me" and submitted. Three results within a ten-minute walk.
Tools used
- aster_launch_intent
- aster_click_by_text
- aster_input_text
- aster_get_screen_hierarchy
Proactive monitoring
You say: “Dog is home alone — check on him every half hour and send me the photo”
Illustrative reply: I am holding the half-hour schedule on my side. Each time it comes round I ask the phone for a camera shot and text it to you. Aster itself runs nothing on a timer.
Tools used
- aster_take_photo
- aster_send_sms
You say: “While I am driving, tell anyone who texts that I will call back”
Illustrative reply: I will keep checking the inbox while drive mode is on. Alex asked "Are you free?" — answered with "Driving right now, will call you back in twenty minutes."
Tools used
- aster_read_sms
- aster_send_sms
You say: “When the delivery app says the rider is near, announce it out loud”
Illustrative reply: Spotted the notification — "Your rider is 1 minute away" — turned the media volume up and had the phone say it on the speaker.
Tools used
- aster_read_notifications
- aster_set_volume
- aster_speak_tts
AI-owned phone
You say: “Ring me if my flight is delayed, and tell me the new time”
Illustrative reply: I am watching the airline app on my own phone and checking in on it periodically. AI-302 has slipped 45 minutes, so I am calling your number to say so.
Tools used
- aster_read_notifications
- aster_make_call_with_voice
You say: “If the doorbell app goes off, record five seconds and send it to me”
Illustrative reply: Doorbell notification picked up on the spare phone. Recorded a five-second clip from the camera and texted it to you.
Tools used
- aster_read_notifications
- aster_record_video
- aster_send_sms
You say: “Leave the spare phone in the nursery and text me a photo check every twenty minutes”
Illustrative reply: I hold the twenty-minute schedule. Each round I ask for a still from the camera and text it over. Aster has no microphone permission and no audio-capture tool, so nothing in the room is being listened to.
Tools used
- aster_take_photo
- aster_send_sms