The Daily App: PocketCloud for Android

If you're among the people who judge the state of technological advancement in terms how much data center work can get done from the golf course, today's daily app is for you.

Here in the CRN Test Center (and elsewhere), we have been using Wyse's PocketCloud for Android for more than a year now. During that time it has proven to be a useful and stable tool for controlling compute assets near and far.

Within minutes of downloading the free app to our Nexus S smartphone, we were able to attach to systems running Linux, Mac OS X (10.6) and Windows (7, XP, Vista). With that brings the ability to view files, launch apps and access any resource available to the host machine over WiFi and 3G/4G mobile networks.

The client is compatible with tablets too (Honeycomb and higher), and there are also versions for iPhone and iPad. Computers to be controlled must have the Pocket Cloud Companion agent (also free), and will appear in a list when logging into PocketCloud on a remote device. PocketCloud also can connect to machines running RDP or VNC remote protocols using their IP address or hostname.

In addition to the normal interface of the system being controlled, PocketCloud automatically activates the soft keyboard when needed and employs a circular multi-function touch pointer for quick access to host OS functions. See the tool in action in this short PocketCloud video. For IT workers, once you begin using PocketCloud you'll wonder how you got along without it.