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Could the iPad have native remote desktop feature?

G

Gerri Shin

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 24, 2008
56
0
I know the title is a little confusing, but I was just thinking about how awesome it would be if I could use an iPad to log into and control my Mac bac at home. I know that you can do this via services like LogMeIn or VPN or whatever, but I'm not too keen on having to be a network guru to be able to do this. I'm really hoping that someone creates a simple app where I can input the IP address of my home mac which would lead me to my mac's log in screen where I can input my details and use my mac at home while I'm out.

I can think of some great applications for this such as setting up things (like TV shows or movies) to download while you're out and then once you get home you can just sit down and watch them instead of having to wait while they download in front of you. Say you forgot something at home for a presentation, all you have to do is log in via this app and send the file to you're work email and Viola you have things ready to go. This could also be useful to network admins who are traveling to help troubleshoot a mac back at the office similar to the screen sharing feature.

So what do you think, would this be too far-fetched of an idea? or would some of you agree that an app like this would undoubtedly be a money well on the app store? (also if there already is an App like this, please refer me to it, because I can't find one)
 
LogMeIn is possibly the easiest remote solution. You don't even need to know the IP of the machines you want to control. Install the software on the target machines and the iPod Touch/iPad/iPhone and enter your user name and password.
 
Gerri Shin said:
I know the title is a little confusing, but I was just thinking about how awesome it would be if I could use an iPad to log into and control my Mac bac at home.
Click to expand...

Why even have a Mac back home to run desktop OS X?

As long as you're viewing Mac OS X desktops remotely from your iPad using VNC/RDP/X/ocli, how about be able to rent virtual Mac instances from one of, say, Apple's or Parallel's server farms, with the data already on your virtual iDisk? Rent an 8-core when you need to do some 3D rendering, or 50% of a mini for remotely viewing Flash web sites. No need for that big aluminum blob under the desk that gets behind state-of-the-art every couple years.

You can already do this for running Windows apps by renting a VPC from Amazon's EC2 cloud and using one of from over a dozen iPhone RDP apps. No ugly PC needed.

maybe
 
i'm just hoping that there'll be a LogMeIn app for the ipad.

could come in really handy methinks
 
Technically it's possible, but even if you could, how are you going to control OS X without a mouse? OS X wasn't designed for a touchscreen — how is it going to recognize when you want to scroll around or when you want to drag a bounding box? How about double clicking?

I think it would be more likely we'll see an App that can stream music and movies over iTunes from your main computer / home server.
 
wouldn't u do all of those things the same way u do them now on a macbook touchpad?
it differentiates between things by using different number of fingers etc
 
EssentialParado said:
Technically it's possible, but even if you could, how are you going to control OS X without a mouse? OS X wasn't designed for a touchscreen — how is it going to recognize when you want to scroll around or when you want to drag a bounding box? How about double clicking?

I think it would be more likely we'll see an App that can stream music and movies over iTunes from your main computer / home server.
Click to expand...

The same way that current VNC apps for the phone do it. I use LogMeIn and its input method works very well. I'm sure it would be even better on the iPad.
 
chriszzz said:
The same way that current VNC apps for the phone do it. I use LogMeIn and its input method works very well. I'm sure it would be even better on the iPad.
Click to expand...

Really? I'm surprised. I've never seen LogMeIn, but if it really allows you to control a desktop OS on the iPhone "very well", then it probably could work on the iPad too.
 
EssentialParado said:
Really? I'm surprised. I've never seen LogMeIn, but if it really allows you to control a desktop OS on the iPhone "very well", then it probably could work on the iPad too.
Click to expand...

I use JaaduVNC and it works really well. It falls down when you need the keyboard on screen, due to the size of the ipod touch, but that shouldn't be an issue for the iPad.

It takes advantage of the fact that desktop OSX isn't touch, so it translates all touches into mouse actions. tap and drag moves the mouse pointer around. double tap is a click. Double tap and hold is a drag. Two fingers to scroll around the desktop, pinch to zoom in/out. works really well.

VNC is an app that would really benefit from 'just a bigger ipod touch'
 
JonHimself said:
If they're looking to add more value to MobileMe, it'd be great to add Back To My Mac as a feature.
Click to expand...


Back to my mac is flawed in concept.
I've never managed to get it to work behind any firewall or NAT.
On the other hand, Logmein always works, no matter what NAT/firewall/whatever set up you could think of.

I said it a while ago, Apple should buy Logmein off and re-write Back to my mac from scratch using LMI technologies.
 
jmmo20 said:
Back to my mac is flawed in concept.
I've never managed to get it to work behind any firewall or NAT.
On the other hand, Logmein always works, no matter what NAT/firewall/whatever set up you could think of.

I said it a while ago, Apple should buy Logmein off and re-write Back to my mac from scratch using LMI technologies.
Click to expand...

sorry but you clearly dont know what you are doing then. i can remote into my virtual server from anywhere using both apples ARD and a VNC server that i have setup.
 
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