remote desktop

How to control your Android via PC

AirDroid is an Android app that allows you to control your device remotely from your computer. If your device is charging in another room or otherwise out of reach, or you're really busy and can't be bothered to constantly pick up your device to respond to alerts, this is a great way to stay connected while not hurting your productivity (as much). Follow these three easy steps to set it up:

Begin by installing the AirDroid app from the Android Market.

Step 1: Open AirDroid and hit the Start button to launch the server.… Read more

How to control a Mac from your PC using Chrome Remote Desktop

Need to connect to and control a Mac from your PC? One quick and easy solution can be found in Google's Chrome Remote Desktop feature.

Released as a beta early last month, the Chrome Remote Desktop extension lets you connect to one computer from another directly through the browser. From there, you can control the other computer using your mouse and keyboard.

Of course, remote desktop software is nothing new. Microsoft includes its Remote Desktop Connection in Windows. It also offers a Mac version of the software, but that one only lets you connect to a PC from your … Read more

Chrome extension enables remote computer control

Months of work on "chromoting" have reached fruition with Google's release on Friday of a new Chrome extension to let a person on one computer remotely control another across the network.

The Chrome Remote Desktop beta version, which arrived Friday, is a browser-based equivalent of remote desktop software for conventional operating systems. Such software is handy for IT administrators managing employees' machines, people taking care of their relatives' computers, or individuals getting access to their own machines from afar.

"Chrome Remote Desktop BETA is the first installment on a capability allowing users to remotely access another … Read more

Tackling stubborn system settings when using Remote Desktop

While Apple includes a screen-sharing service in OS X to provide a remote desktop option, there are several other options available for implementing this in OS X, including TeamViewer, Timbuktu Pro, and chat programs like iChat and Skype. While these tools should allow you to control a Mac remotely, some may interfere with various system settings and prevent you from customizing aspects of your Mac.

Recently MacFixIt reader "Ed" wrote in asking us about a problem with using Timbuktu Pro to access a remote Mac, in which the system would revert any changed screensaver timing settings:

A friend … Read more

Q&A: MacFixIt Answers

MacFixIt Answers is a feature in which we answer e-mailed questions from our readers. This week we have questions on remote access to a Windows PC using an iPad, whether to migrate data or start fresh on a new hard drive, addressing a MacBook that will not start up, whether AutoCAD will work in Parallels, and maintenance program recommendations. We continually answer e-mail questions, and though we present a few answers here, we certainly welcome alternative approaches and views from readers and encourage you to post your suggestions in the comments.

Question: Remote desktop with an iPad

MacFixIt reader "… Read more

Mac remote desktop solutions expand with Citrix "Gotomypc"

Years ago, the collaboration and remote desktop solution "Timbuktu" was one of a few remote desktop solutions out there for the Mac, and it had an interesting name. Even the "VNC" label as a generic technology worked for various names (ie, RealVNC, FastVNC), but also spurred people to create amusing and interesting names such as "Chicken of the VNC". These days, companies including Apple are breaking from creativity in names and are resorting to rather mundane labels for remote access services. Apple has "Back to My Mac," and recently Citrix systems recently announced their "GotomyPC" software for Mac. While it is great to see new products and services out for the Mac, it seems the need to come up with a unique name for remote desktop products has diminished.… Read more

Apple releases update for Remote Desktop (3.3.2)

Apple has released an update for its client management software, Remote Desktop, advancing the program to version 3.3.2. The release contains many fixes to improve overall stability and performance of Remote Desktop. The update contains two packages--one for ARD Clients and one for ARD Admin.… Read more

Fast fixes for two common copy-and-paste failures

Like many people who work for a company that's located hundreds of miles from their home, I rely on remote-access programs, specifically the Remote Desktop Connection utility built into Windows. I recently encountered a relatively common bug in the program: in the midst of a remote session, I lost the ability to copy and paste.

Closing and restarting the remote connection fixed the problem temporarily. A more permanent solution is described by Pinal Dave on the SQL Authority blog. Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete and click Start Task Manager. Choose the Processes tab, select rdpclip.exe, click End Process, and close Task … Read more

LogMeIn IPO: Is it financially sound?

LogMeIn, the company behind a recent Webware 100-selected remote-desktop application that lets users access files and data on different computers, plans to go public.

According to documents LogMeIn filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday, the company plans to offer 6.6 million shares. It hopes to price those shares between $14 and $16.

Assuming that LogMeIn completes its filings and is eventually listed on the Nasdaq stock market, it will be faced with enhanced scrutiny. Not only will it be confronted with more, costly regulations at the hands of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, it will also have a slew of new stakeholders that will require the company to operate at a high level. It's a tall order.

Regardless, LogMeIn ostensibly believes that it's up to the challenge. So now the question is whether its finances can match its desire. Is LogMeIn financially sound, now performing better than it has in the past? Let's take a look.… Read more