Today's issue of TL NewsWire covers an iPad app with a new approach to remote desktop (control) (see article below), a file viewer for discovery document review and other scenarios in which you need to view a document you cannot open, a new iPad note-taking app, and a service that helps you protect the articles on your blog and/or web site from unauthorized republication. Don't miss the next issue.
IPAD REMOTE DESKTOP WITHOUT THE MOUSE TRAP
When lawyers first learn that they can control their Mac or PC from their iPad they get excited. These remote desktop apps theoretically enable you to travel with just your iPad, knowing that you can run Microsoft Word if necessary. But then lawyers try these apps after which the excitement wanes. Trying to control a mouse cursor on an iPad is like trying to tie your shoelaces while wearing ski mittens. A new remote access app takes a different approach.
Parallels Access … in One Sentence
Launched yesterday, Parallels Access enables you to control one or more Macs and PCs via your iPad.
The Killer Feature
Parallels Access doesn't show you your computer's desktop or mouse cursor. Instead, its App Launcher displays your computer's desktop applications as iPad-style app icons. You can rearrange your applications and remove those you don't use. Nothing changes on your computer. Instead, this transformation of your desktop programs into touch-friendly apps occurs only in the Parallels Access iPad app.
"With Parallels Access, you can tap, swipe and pinch your way around Mac and Windows applications to ultimately be more productive at work and lead a more connected life," said CEO of Parallels Birger Steen.
Other Notable Features
Along the right side of Parallels Access you'll find the App Switcher, which enables you to switch among different documents within the same application (e.g., multiple Word documents), and also switch among all the open applications on the computer you're controlling.
As noted above, Parallels Access eschews the mouse emulation that makes other remote control apps so frustrating. Instead, you select, cut, copy, and paste text in Word and other desktop programs just as you would in a native iPad app.
When you need to use a menu or a toolbar, Parallels Access' SmartTap technology magnifies the area your finger touches to make it more foolproof to tap the correct command. Similarly, scrolling works as you would expect on an iPad with no need to use the scrollbar in desktop windows.
You can summon the iPad's keyboard when you want to work in a document. Parallels Access adds special function keys in a row above the regular keyboard that varies depending on the desktop operating system you're controlling (e.g., the Command key versus the Windows key). Alternatively, you can use an external Bluetooth keyboard instead of the iPad's software keyboard.
What Else Should You Know?
Parallels Access requires the iPad 2 or later. In addition to the iPad app, you must install the Parallels Access Mac Agent or PC Agent respectively on the computers you want to control. Parallels Access works both over your local WiFi network and also over the Internet. Like all remote access solutions, the computer you want to control needs to be running. Parallels Access costs $79.99 per computer per year. You can try Parallels Access free for 14 days. Learn more about Parallels Access.
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