Android: ShareKeyboard links your computer keyboard and your Android phone via Wi-Fi for easy cross-device typing and text sharing using nothing more than the Android app and the host computer’s web browser.
Windows/Mac: Join.Me is a free tool from the creators of LogMeIn. Download the app, run it, share the URL with a friend and you’ve got nearly instant screen sharing with text chat, voice conferencing, mouse sharing and more.
Android: Previously mentioned remote desktop tool LogMeIn released a free beta version of their new Android client today, allowing you to access your PC right from your mobile device in just a few taps of your finger.
Windows/Mac/Linux: TeamViewer, the remote desktop tool that makes for easy tech support or desktop viewing across systems, has released a Linux client, making it really helpful tool for Linux fans looking to provide a little cross-OS support for their friends.
Windows: If you need to work on machines on your local network without wandering through your house or office to go find them Remote Desktop can help. You can use Windows’ built-in tools and this tutorial will show you how.
Reader Bryan uses remote desktop to bypass network blocks at his work sites to get to Gmail and write his blog. Bryan writes:
Whether you want quick access to your home computer from anywhere in the world or you’re the go-to IT person for your friends and family, remote desktop applications are a godsend. Even better: They’re easier than ever to set up. With the right remote desktop tool, you can access your home computer as though you’re sitting right in front of it— no matter where you are, no matter what you’re doing.
Mac OS 10.5 only: With VNC built right into Leopard, you can remote control your Mac from any other Mac via iChat or the Screen Sharing client—OR any PC using the right VNC client. Apple doesn’t advertise this, but since Screen Sharing is just regular old VNC (albeit with a much more grokable name), our favourite Windows VNC client, TightVNC, works with it just dandy—with one small catch.
Windows only: Need to grab files from your home computer or quickly set up a friend’s computer for file sharing? Leaf, a peer-to-peer application, creates quick and simple VPN connections between machines. Install and run the software, create a user account and click the “Share” tab to get started. As with most networking products that aren’t SSH or similarly encrypted, one shouldn’t share sensitive information over something like Leaf, but it could make for an easy way to share files, printers and even network drives. Leaf is a free download for Windows XP and Vista and requires Microsoft .NET framework.
Leaf Networks [via Digital Inspiration]CyberNet News posts a shortcut one editor uses to shave seconds off connecting to other computers through Remote Desktop. Rather than clicking through the Remote Desktop Connection browser, he created desktop shortcuts for the computers he frequently connects to by customising the following shortcut code: mstsc.exe /v:[computer's Ip address here]/w:[remote computer's screen width]/h:[remote computer's screen height]
The tip comes from Microsoft documentation for Windows XP, but should work in Vista as well. Those who keep multiple remote connections open can also use mRemote to manage remote desktop, SSH or VNC connections from one window.
Create a Remote Desktop Shortcut [CyberNet News]
