Microsoft to bring new Remote Desktop apps to iOS, OS X
Microsoft will soon make it easier for iOS and OS X device owners to interface remotely with Windows Servers and Windows machines, as the software giant has announced that a new Microsoft Remote Desktop app will see release later this month.
The announcement was understated, taking up just one sentence in the course of a larger Microsoft press release on enterprise cloud solutions. Still, Thincomputing noted that it is "a pretty big deal," as it signals Redmond's seriousness about the bring-your-own-device trend.
The release states that Microsoft Remote Desktop will see release on iOS, OS X, Android, Windows, and Windows RT. The software giant will push the app to the necessary app stores later in October.
Reportedly, the apps will be feature rich and quite advanced. The iOS Remote Desktop app will reportedly support both iOS 6 and iOS 7, and the Android version is said to support versions of Android all the way back to 2.2 Gingerbread.
The OS X version will reportedly give all of the functionality that a user would expect from a desktop app, with "seamless windows" interaction and "application portals."
The Remote Desktop app is the latest in a trend that has seen Microsoft going against tradition in adapting to the post-PC computing landscape. While its Windows platform has struggled to gain market share in the mobile segment, Android and iOS have taken that segment over, and Microsoft has been under considerable pressure to port its Office productivity suite to those platforms.
Outgoing Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer revealed on Tuesday that a touch-optimized version of Office is in the works for Apple's iPad, but such a version will not appear on Apple's platform until it has seen release on Microsoft's own mobile offerings.
The announcement was understated, taking up just one sentence in the course of a larger Microsoft press release on enterprise cloud solutions. Still, Thincomputing noted that it is "a pretty big deal," as it signals Redmond's seriousness about the bring-your-own-device trend.
The release states that Microsoft Remote Desktop will see release on iOS, OS X, Android, Windows, and Windows RT. The software giant will push the app to the necessary app stores later in October.
Reportedly, the apps will be feature rich and quite advanced. The iOS Remote Desktop app will reportedly support both iOS 6 and iOS 7, and the Android version is said to support versions of Android all the way back to 2.2 Gingerbread.
The OS X version will reportedly give all of the functionality that a user would expect from a desktop app, with "seamless windows" interaction and "application portals."
The Remote Desktop app is the latest in a trend that has seen Microsoft going against tradition in adapting to the post-PC computing landscape. While its Windows platform has struggled to gain market share in the mobile segment, Android and iOS have taken that segment over, and Microsoft has been under considerable pressure to port its Office productivity suite to those platforms.
Outgoing Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer revealed on Tuesday that a touch-optimized version of Office is in the works for Apple's iPad, but such a version will not appear on Apple's platform until it has seen release on Microsoft's own mobile offerings.
Comments
Actually the ability to run outlook on my iPad appeals to me.
I wish Apple ends up making Mac Remote Desktop/tablet access for Windows.
I hope this includes Terminal Services Gateway Services support...
I've had great success with CoRD on the Mac for rdp into Windows machines for a long while now. Haven't used MS RDC since I found it.
Good - now sleep thru the rest of the day.
This is a great thing for all of us business professionals that rely on windows everyday and would like access. It's a win win.
RDP. Although the protocol was actually designed by Citrix, and MS bought it. Though strangely the Wikipedia page doesn't mention this but this is what I learned when taking MSCE course.
I, personally, don't want any MS products on my iMac or iOS devices. Or in my house, for that matter.
I, personally, don't want any MS products on my iMac or iOS devices. Or in my house, for that matter.
I felt the same way, and even vowed that no "MS horse-**** would ever run in my house again".
We've been 100% Mac since '05 or '06. iBook G4 started it.
But one needs to log into work from home, which is super useful on school snow days etc, so RDC. I don't know the version # off the top of my head, but it works well. Of course there's an error-message to be ignored every single time I use it (it wouldn't be MS without those), but overall it's fine.
It actually gets out of the way and just delivers the remote screen like it should, after VPN-connection.
So when I see a "ton of new features", I just roll my eyes.
Will multiple sessions be allowed, as in CoRD?
Otherwise, sticking with CoRD.
MS have offered a Remote Desktop client for Mac for ages. I find it easier to use than the many open source solutions. I wonder if this is a rewrite or not?
If Microsoft's "SOFTWARE WAY" was indeed the right way to profitability, then they would be interested in selling as many copies of Office on as many platforms as possible: Android, iOS, Windows.
The Remote Desktop app is the latest in a trend that has seen Microsoft going against tradition in adapting to the post-PC computing landscape.
Ballmer would never have approved of this if he were still alive.
I want to hear the monkey's uncle say it.
"While its Windows platform has struggled to gain market share in the mobile segment, Android and iOS have taken that segment over, and Microsoft has been under considerable pressure to port its Office productivity suite to those platforms."
And that confirmed it. Enterprise pushed MS to do this against their will... Microsoft is no longer dictating to enterprise, it's the other way around now...
It was always the other way around. All the legacy stuff you have in Windows is because Enterprise demands it, not because MS really wants to keep it forever.
But that is why MS is Enterprise.