Slideshow: iPad Does Remote Control--3 Apps Tested
We tested three apps that provide a variety of remote control capabilities: one from Array Networks, one called LogMeln, and finally AirDisplay from Avatron, which turns your iPad into a second monitor.
July 19, 2010
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The Avatron Air Display application icon sits in the Mac menu bar, where you can quickly start it up in its various modes.
Simply turning Air Display on lets you start sharing items from your desktop screen with your iPad.
The opening screen of Air Display on the iPad gives the user instructions about how to get the application working, and connected.
This is the same Air Display window from the desktop, moved over to the iPad as if it were another monitor.
The InformationWeek home page in FireFox, moved into the iPad window from the desktop.
The InformationWeek video lounge, in landscape mode on the iPad using Air Display.
The LogMeIn app runs in the background in the Mac menu bar (it also can run on a PC).
In setting preferences for Remote Control in LogMeIn, the host administrator can ensure that he must approve any incoming remote sessions.
In LogMeIn, you can create users and set their permissions across several categories.
Host machine administrators can restrict incoming hosts based on IP address.
Host administrators can restrict the number of log in attempts by remote users, and by http requests.
For most remote sessions (NOT the iPad) users can share files and desktops, and allow remote control. With the iPad, there's only remote control.
In LogMeln Ignition for the iPad, users can change a variety of settings, including network speed and the remote system's screen resolution. The network speed compensates for slower bandwidth. Panning mode lets you choose whether you move the mouse cursor or move the desktop underneath the cursor.
The initial LogMeIn screen on the iPad simply wants a user name and password.
Launching a remote control session is as simple as selecting a host, providing any credentials that host has required, and then getting to work!
Using LogMeIn requires a little re-learning in the area of screen and window control. The opening hints screen is useful, but until you play around with it, it's hard to get the hang of.
Logging into Array require a simple user name/password combination, however the security really is in the system behind the scenes at the remote host site.
When you see the desktop, it may not be on -- using wake on LAN, you can start up a machine that has been turned off to conserve power or to be more secure.
Once you've logged into the host machine, it looks just like a normal desktop PC on your iPad.
Running apps is easy and they run very fast, however I had trouble with some of the mouse movements -- such as shutting down a session, or bringing up a keyboard.
Running apps is easy and they run very fast, however I had trouble with some of the mouse movements -- such as shutting down a session, or bringing up a keyboard.
The Avatron Air Display application icon sits in the Mac menu bar, where you can quickly start it up in its various modes.
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