Citrix is developing a "thin client" iPhone app that allows users to connect to networked workstations via WiFi, and control their desktops. Basically, it's like VNC or Microsoft's Remote Desktop client. This isn't huge news, I understand, but after seeing ZDNet Australia's headline, I was thinking something completely different.
On stage, Citrix reps showed the iPhone connecting to (and controlling) a Windows desktop, which ZDNet took to mean that someone actually installed Windows XP on an iPhone. Yeah, no.
The demo was part of a presentation titled Directions in Virtualisation & Application Delivery in the Dynamic Datacentre.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-18-2008 @ 2:25PM
Dave said...
LOL. Citirx is probably demonstrating their GoToMyPC service, which is web based. The "host" product, which I think is Java based, only runs on PCs, not on Macs, so they wouldn't have a Mac they could log in to to remote control.
I used the service for years when I had a PC to control, but when I finally replaced my PC with a Mac Desktop, I cancelled, as they won't commit to any timeframe for actually implementing GoToMyMac (a web domain they've grabbed on to).
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6-18-2008 @ 2:39PM
chris said...
Actually, they are demonstrating an ICA client for the iPhone. This is especially important to enterprise users, as many large companies use Citrix ICA/XenDesktop to allow for terminal connections into their servers.
6-18-2008 @ 2:29PM
Lars Gronseth said...
who wants to trade away the beautiful iphone GUI for a Vista one ? :-o
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6-18-2008 @ 2:42PM
Steven said...
You mean the beautifull interface of Windoze Mobile ;-)
6-18-2008 @ 2:37PM
Steven said...
Now how would I right-click or ctrl-click on an iPhone to take control of a Windows machine? ;-)
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6-18-2008 @ 4:24PM
Amani77 said...
2 finger tap just like on a MacBook/Pro or TouchPadPro...
6-18-2008 @ 2:50PM
saycheese said...
TUAW = Fail!
Do some research on the product you are yapping about, forkrissakes!
Citrix applications are nothing like VNC or Remote Desktop! They are more akin to VPN connecting a virtualized desktop, if anything.
Using the Citrix ICA client (which runs on Windows or OS X), you log into a Citrix Server that virtualizes Windows applications and presents each Citrix ICA client with its dedicated Windows Environment (complete with desktop and applications.) I use a Citrix ICA client to remotely log into my corporate network using my Mac, and I can work on my Windows applications and access corporate Windows-based assets just as if I were in my office working on a Windows desktop.
Since Citrix already has an ICA client for OS X, it would be trivial to port the client to the iPhone. I am excited !!
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6-18-2008 @ 3:14PM
jg said...
saycheese your close.. but you also fail sorry.
Im a Citrix and Vmware admin.
The citrix ica protocol actually sits on top of windows terminal service which is aka remote desktop. It also does not present the client with their own dedicated desktop. It logs you into a server where you get your on profile on a shared server. Just like having two or more people using remote desktop.
Citrix likes to use the term virtualize for this because they like to say that they have been in the visualization industry for years. However that isn't true
Now if your talking about citrix xenapp or vmwares thinapp you can then log into a Virtual desktop and get your own complete windows desktop. But you are logging into a citrix server which is just like tuaw describes it.
6-18-2008 @ 3:09PM
Brad said...
Now, I can understand another website correcting a mistake, but you guys don't need to get rude about it. I can count many mistakes TUAW has made over the past few years.
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6-18-2008 @ 4:06PM
chippydip said...
Particularly since ZDNet didn't really screw up. The actual article states: "Citrix used its thin client technology to demonstrate an Apple iPhone running Windows XP".
Clearly they mean "running" in the same sense as how I can "run" gmail on my computer using a web browser, etc. Anyone who is confused by the ZDNet article is either really stupid or just trying to pick a fight.
In any case, its still an interesting story, TUAW just reported it in a very infantile/sensationalistic way that wasn't really called for.
6-18-2008 @ 3:18PM
jg said...
Oh and by the way this is about 20 times more then you guys thinking this is a gotomypc offering or something. This is true corporate support
Another great feather in my cap to get iphones on our network.
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6-18-2008 @ 3:51PM
Amerist said...
If Citrix does release an ICA client for iPhone I will be among the first to start using it immediately at work. I'll find ways to use it even if I don't have to, because it's just that cool!
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6-18-2008 @ 4:18PM
Just_a_guy said...
um. this is old news... if you jailbroke your device then you might have downloaded a program which already does this...
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6-18-2008 @ 4:31PM
Amani77 said...
what's the name of the program that you speak of? My iPhone is jailbroken and I have so far only found vnc clients and nothing for rdp/ts/citrix
6-19-2008 @ 1:11AM
Just_a_guy said...
well, I think it's called touchpro or something like that. I don't have my ipod in my hand at the moment.
6-19-2008 @ 8:40AM
puhsitch said...
Are you thinking of VNSea and TouchPad Pro? They're both just VNC clients.
6-20-2008 @ 6:18AM
Just_a_guy said...
touchpad pro can allow you to remotely controll your computer AND allow you to use remote desktop interfaces. so this means that you are doing what this program says it's doing already.
6-18-2008 @ 10:10PM
Dustin Schriffert said...
Awesome, next step will be Vista, hopefully.
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6-19-2008 @ 12:20AM
Scott said...
JG - you're partially right, but the demo is showing an ICA Client connecting to XenDesktop which _is_ a virtualized machine just for the user. XenApp is the new name for Presentation Server which is the applicatoin delivery.
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6-20-2008 @ 3:11PM
Justin said...
If that photo is accurate, it must be damn hard to get around a desktop interface with a giant finger.
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