Filed under: Software, Productivity
Apple introduces Remote Desktop 3
Well I guess we know why the Apple Store was down earlier. Today, Apple introduced Remote Desktop 3, which is now a Universal Binary and includes over 50 new features that deliver better software distribution, asset management and remote assistance. Over 30 Automator actions, remote Spotlight searching of multiple Tiger machines, a Dashboard observation widget and automatically installing software on remote machines when they return online are at the top of the new feature buzz list, which includes:
- Remote Drag and Drop files and folders between local and remote computers
- Remote Copy and Paste for simple transfer of text and images between local and remote computers
- Persistent Task History and Task Templates to make it easy to save and replicate repetitive task
- Curtain Mode to hide the desktop of a system while it is being controlled remotely
- Application Usage and User History Reports to track software compliance and monitor the use of unauthorized applications
- Smart Computer Lists for dynamically managing systems based on specified criteria
- AES 128-bit encryption for secure communications between Apple Remote Desktop 3 and clients
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Stefan Constantinescu said 9:09AM on 4-11-2006
Sorry but as a Windows user can I get some info as to how this compares to Windows Remote Desktop? Which is built in to the OS first of all, and doesn't cost $299 lol.
Yet another thorn in the side to a switcher waiting to see what 10.5 has to offer.
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Dave Caolo said 9:09AM on 4-11-2006
"Remote Drag and Drop files and folders between local and remote computers"
This alone is reason to buy this. I've been waiting and waiting.
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Stefan Constantinescu said 9:12AM on 4-11-2006
You know after reading this, it isn't worth 300 dollars, and it's free in Windows so I'm wondering what Apple is trying to pull here. This software should be built in to 10.5 if anyone wants my opinion.
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Phil Jackson said 9:14AM on 4-11-2006
Really frustrated they don't seem to be offering a universal binary upgrade to v2. That's bull----.
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Tom Stukel said 9:15AM on 4-11-2006
I want to know how good it works across the internet and not just on a local network. I want to know if it can compete with Timbuktu
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Smutt said 9:18AM on 4-11-2006
The price is for ARD Server. The ARD Client is installed/downloadable.
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Damien said 9:21AM on 4-11-2006
Stefan, your mistake is in thinking that ARD is just another VNC-like desktop-to-desktop controller. It does that, but it's quite a lot more. For instance, the ARD Remote Admin software also allows for detailed inventory reporting and monitoring. And it also allows a user (for example, a teacher) to share one screen to a group of many...so the teacher could push his/her computer screen to an entire classroom. No more overhead profectors! As a computer lab admin, ARD makes my life very easy, allowing me to manage many hundreds of computers from a single location and application. It also allows me to install Installer packages on remote computers in a batch groups. I can AppleScript or schedule updates for middle-of-the-night updates. And because it also understands VNC, I can even use it to control Windows and Linux computers (but only control).
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Smutt said 9:22AM on 4-11-2006
Unless i'm not mistaken, that's the price for the server app. client app should be installed/downloadable/already on your system. Adn there are plenty o' third party apps that do the samefor free. Personally, I've had good experiences with ARD.
Re: universal Binary.. have you tried selecting the app named Installer within applications/utilities, engadge the Get Info and select Emulate with Rosetta (or whatever) and tried to install ARD that way? Worked with my friend's macbook pro with the flip4mac wmv plugin.
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wmoritz said 9:24AM on 4-11-2006
I will take the bait Stefan.
These abilities are not in fact builtin to Windows as you claim. What is builtin to Windows is the ability to remote into another Windows machine and control it.
What Apple Remote Desktop does is considerably more than mere remote control. You have software distribution, System reporting and management, and the ability to create tasks.
Apple Remote Desktop is more along the lines of MicroSoft SMS and MOM which are not built-in or free. Check the pricing on them.
The equivalant of the remote desktop built in to Windows would be VNC and VNC server is built in to the Mac OS. You would merely need to download a free VNC viewer to remote into a properly configure Mac.
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Joe L. said 9:47AM on 4-11-2006
ARD sounds like MS System Management Server
http://www.microsoft.com/smserver/evaluation/overview/default.mspx
ARD is just a dumb name in my opinion. Maybe they should call it iDoItFromHer, or iDIFHr Just kidding but a better more descriptive name would make more sense to me. But then again if you are a Lab manager as in the case above you already know this stuff and changing the name would just be a waste of time. Not to mention you'd have to learn/unlearn an new acronym.
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andyinindy said 9:47AM on 4-11-2006
No upgrade option for users of 2.x? WTF!? We just paid $299 a pop for version 2 last year! Arrrgh!
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KSB said 9:48AM on 4-11-2006
argh, we just bought the version 2 !!!! and now this version is launched >:|
damn you! and no upgrade option
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AndyB said 9:52AM on 4-11-2006
ARD is actually more like a MS System Management and Net Support School (www.netsupportschool.com). ANd for EDU buyers, the unlimited is only $299.
I already ordered ours.
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Lee said 10:03AM on 4-11-2006
Stefan - I'm not quite sure I understand you. Could you please post a third whiny handwringing post detailing how Remote Desktop is free in XP and that Apple is trying to screw you? It would help more if you completly didn't understand how the products compare.
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pheen said 10:52AM on 4-11-2006
No upgrade pricing?
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Andy said 11:26AM on 4-11-2006
To our dear Stefan, and to anyone else who wants to know.
You can turn on the Remote Desktop in preferences on without this, and you can connect to it with any VNC client (I use Chicken of the VNC, strange name I know). That is the functionality you get with Windows* for free, well you don't since you have to by professional for this functionality which quite a few people who didn't pirate windows don't have.
This does more; most of which you probably don't want unless your an admin.
*(I admit though the RDPv5 is a lot nicer than VNC in some respects but that's not relevant here I feel)
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Morgan Aldridge said 12:19PM on 4-11-2006
These look like great new features. "Drag & Drop"... finally! Although I prefer ARD over Timbuktu, Timbuktu has had _that_ feature for an extremely long time.
My copy will likely be in today. Although 2.2 does work fine on my MacBook Pro, I'd like to get my hands on some of those new features (and a performance boost wouldn't hurt).
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john jensen said 1:41PM on 4-11-2006
damn, received 2.2 yesterday, already installed it, i hope Apple sales is helpfull
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Stefan Constantinescu said 1:45PM on 4-11-2006
Thank you Damien for clearing that up.
How easy is it to enable and configure VNC in Mac OSX? Someone told me that VNC Server is built in so I would assume there is a contorl panel? Or would I have to use the CLI?
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Damien said 2:38PM on 4-11-2006
VNC Server isn't built into Mac OS X 10.4. What is built-in is ARD 2.2 client software, which operates using some VNC technologies. This means that you can ues a VNC admin program to control any Mac OS X box that has the ARD 2.x client installed. However, the VNC compatibility only really allows for the desktop-to-desktop screensharing and does not let you use the many other capabilities that the ARD 2.x software provides.
There are some free VNC client/server packages out there that can give you more features than a VNC/ARD combo. Chicken of the VNC is a very good one. However, in my opinion, none of them are as good as the full ARD 2.x software suite.
What Apples has done for us tho is offered the ARD 2.x client for free, which allows us all to have a nice free, robust VNC-compatible client installed. It's part of the OS (installed with typical Tiger installation), so it's already everywhere. Admins just need now to pick which Admin tool is best for them to manage their workstations. I prefer the ARD 2.x Admin tools (it's the ARD Admin tool(s) that cost the money, not the client).
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