View Full Version : Remoting with Smartphone
Is there a smart phone out there that allows you to remote/vnc into your machine when not connected on the same network, a la wifi? Also, must have desktop support.
JayVe
12-22-2008, 10:12 PM
Is there a smart phone out there that allows you to remote/vnc into your machine when not connected on the same network, a la wifi? Also, must have desktop support.
I know there are a number of desktop control solutions, such as PalmVNC (http://palmvnc2.free.fr/productinfo.php), for the Palm OS phones, such as a Centro (http://www.palm.com/us/products/smartphones/centro/)or Treo.
KingGorilla
12-22-2008, 10:14 PM
Over WiFi? Not that I know of, over blue tooth, sure. Your phone make and model would be nice.
JayVe
12-22-2008, 10:17 PM
Over WiFi? Not that I know of, over blue tooth, sure. Your phone make and model would be nice.
My bad. I used it years ago over my Treo, but over the 3G network... not WiFi. Never tried with Bluetooth. PalmVNC will work on Palm devices that DO have WiFi, but I don't think their Centro's have WiFi in them.
I don't have the device yet. I am looking at purchasing one, but I require a decent remote desktop application when NOT on my local wifi. I am looking at a Crackberry, iPhone, and G1.
DangerousDaze
12-23-2008, 07:07 AM
There are lots of them on Windows Mobile (see here (http://www.smartphonemag.com/cms/blogs/3/1571)). My HTC Touch Diamond came with a mobile version of the "Remote Desktop Connection" terminal services client that's built into XP and it works well (see here (http://www.mobileviews.com/blog/2007/07/02/windows-mobile-remote-desktop-connection/) for a screeny).
I see WinMo isn't in your list of possibles but I thought I'd mention it in any case, especially since (imo) WinMo is a more powerful mobile OS than any of the ones you mentioned - it just doesn't have the same "street cred". ;)
JayVe
12-23-2008, 07:53 AM
I'm gonna side with DD here and say that for controlling PCs, a Windows Mobile device will probably be your best bet. I believe there are official Microsoft RDP apps for WinMo/WinCE devices.
Android holds a LOT of possibility, since it is a free and completely open platform, but I don't know of any apps that do what you are looking for offhand.
Slack3r78
12-23-2008, 09:26 AM
Over WiFi? Not that I know of, over blue tooth, sure. Your phone make and model would be nice.
Are you talking about VNC/RDP or just remote control type apps? Fairly sure bluetooth lacks the bandwidth you'd really need to run a remote desktop type app.
I'm gonna side with DD here and say that for controlling PCs, a Windows Mobile device will probably be your best bet. I believe there are official Microsoft RDP apps for WinMo/WinCE devices.
Android holds a LOT of possibility, since it is a free and completely open platform, but I don't know of any apps that do what you are looking for offhand.
No VNC apps for Android on the market right now. There are a few SSH terminals, but that's not going to help somebody in the Windows world very much. :)
JayVe
12-23-2008, 09:30 AM
Are you talking about VNC/RDP or just remote control type apps? Fairly sure bluetooth lacks the bandwidth you'd really need to run a remote desktop type app.
Isn't Bluetooth throughput higher than that of a data cellphone connection? I've quite successfully run PalmVNC over the phone. I'm sure Bluetooth would do just fine.
Slack3r78
12-23-2008, 09:36 AM
Isn't Bluetooth throughput higher than that of a data cellphone connection? I've quite successfully run PalmVNC over the phone. I'm sure Bluetooth would do just fine.
Interesting. Just read up on it and they've upped the bandwidth available over Bluetooth quite a bit since the last time I'd looked at it. The big issue then becomes routing IP over Bluetooth, which is apparently possible on some devices. Seems kind of hackish, but appears to work with the right configuration.
There's a VNC app for the iPhone. Not sure how well it works though.
JayVe
12-23-2008, 09:40 AM
Interesting. Just read up on it and they've upped the bandwidth available over Bluetooth quite a bit since the last time I'd looked at it. The big issue then becomes routing IP over Bluetooth, which is apparently possible on some devices. Seems kind of hackish, but appears to work with the right configuration.
I routinely use my Centro for dial-up networking. From my laptop (http://www.oqo.com), I tell it 'connect to the Internet over the phone'. The phone, in my pocket, makes the connection . It is faster than dial-up, but not as fast as DSL. The advantages are tremendous though, as I can get online anywhere.
I've also done the reverse. From my home computer (equipped with bluetooth), you can tell the Centro to 'go online using the Bluetooth network'. For some reason it is MUCH faster than surfing on the Centro using the cell phone network. I always suspected the Bluetooth was faster than the cell phone network for this reason.
I bet you could bluetooth directly to the machine you wish to control via VNC without an issue, but that would considerably limit your range to somewhere within 100 meters. :D
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