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Real-time PC access on your PDA

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the well-isn't-that-nice dept.

Brooks P. writes "As seen in this story on The Register, Sproqit Technologies creates software that allows you to access your desktop apps in real time over the Internet. No more synchronization. This is accomplished with a Desktop Agent that runs on your (Windows for now) PC, and a 200k Companion running on the PDA. The Desktop Agent uses plug-ins to connect to the apps running on the PC, and the SDK used to develop plug-ins is free. Oh, and the whole thing uses 128-bit SSL for security and works over any connection method: 802.11, modem, cell phone, etc."

9 of 145 comments (clear)

  1. Reminds me of something.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    VNC, anyone?

  2. That's great but.... by caffeinex36 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    1. RIM/Blackberry already does this (in a practical way...nothing fancy)

    2. How many people have internet access on thier PDA's. Lets work on this first as I would love to have an easy (small) device thats efficient for PDA/Mobile web use that isn't a million$$

    -Rob

  3. Hey, I *actually* got FP! by numbski · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Woohoo.

    Actually, got thinking about how cool a remote control Kazzaa client might be...

    Think of something you want to download away from home (Linux Distro?)

    Begin the download from your Palm-type device.

    Have the file waiting for you when you return, presuming of course you have a broadband connection at home.

    You'd be that much more of a geek, but then, what are you doing here if you *didn't* want that? :)

    --

    Karma: Chameleon (mostly due to the fact that you come and go).

  4. Totally superfluous! Sheesh! by alexburke · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This is totally and completely unnecessary for PDAs running Pocket PC connecting to Windows 2000 Server/Advanced Server, Windows XP Professional, and Windows Server 2003 systems. Microsoft has a version of their Terminal Services Client for Pocket PC, and here is some Microsoft-funded cheerleading about how easy it is and how well it works.

    There's no need for any proprietary desktop server application to serve the data to you like the one mentioned in this Slashdot story. In fact, the Remote Desktop Protocol is superior in many ways to applications like VNC and this new geegaw because, as far as I know, it doesn't send everything as bitmaps -- it sends GDI commands and the like, so area fills and most window drawing is actually done at the client, saving incredible amounts of bandwidth in the process. It's actually decently usable over dialup, even though it obviously smokes over broadband. RDP 5.2 is the latest, complete with clipboard, audio, and drive letter redirection. (Yes, copy and paste files between machines and they're all sent encrypted over the same port connection.)

    I'm typing this message on my home desktop PC even though I'm at my girlfriend's house at the moment (with a 1Mbit DSL connection), some 5km from home (with a 3Mbit DSL connection), and everything is pretty snappy. It's not quite as quick as sitting at the console, but it isn't much different. I'm quite impressed by just how well it's integrated into the host OS and how well it works.

    Even better yet, you can connect to any PC using the RDP 5.2 client in the form of an ActiveX control from any web browser. I have such a beast on my own website, and it's come in really handy from time to time, such as when I'm trying to connect from my home PC from older Win95/98 machines that don't have the client software installed. Check it out here.

    Okay, so what about PalmOS, you say? As far as I know, no RDP client exists for PalmOS. But this is Slashdot, people. Write one!

    Okay, I'm done raving now. Thanks for listening.

    1. Re:Totally superfluous! Sheesh! by GigsVT · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I think citrix also works on a lower level than bitmaps, I know it's very fast even on a slowish link.

      --
      I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
  5. Clients already available by charnov · · Score: 5, Interesting

    There are Java, Linux, and Citrix/Terminal Server clients available for many hand held devices already (even the Nokia Communicator phone has Citrix available for it).

    The tail end of the article mentions 18-24 month timeline for "bundled" products and a lot about the desire to license the tech. Sounds like a VC hunt to me.

    Still, I hope they get it to work. The world needs competitors to Citrix/Term Server (could Citrix BE any more expensive???)

    --
    [RIAA] says its concern is artists. That's true, in just the sense that a cattle rancher is concerned about its cattle.
  6. One word... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Zaurus.
    Does everything you want, cheaply (well, somewhat cheaply). It's wild running WinConnectZ (rdesktop) on it :-)

  7. remote control by BenTheDewpendent · · Score: 2, Interesting

    id rather have an app that ran on my plam while its in the cradle with popular apps and other info so i can reach over tap IE, or my e-mail client on my palm screen and have it launch it on my system. or have it display the photoshop tools and tap to select them.

  8. Re:There's VNC for the Palm, too by drunk_as_in_beer · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Because X makes such efficient use of network resources, right?

    No, because remote X allows you to open up only the particular application you want to run. This could be advantageous on a PDA, where it may have a chance of fitting on the screen, whereas, with something like VNC you get the whole desktop which may be difficult to manage on a PDA, even if the desktop is only 640x480.

    --
    --Drunk as in Beer