Control PC using Smartphone

        In the last year itself Microsoft has given app for Android, iOS users to control desktop PCs using there smartphones. At that time Windows phone users were eagerly waiting for it. But now Microsoft has now launched a new app for them named ‘Microsoft Remote Desktop’. This app is now available for free from the Windows Phone Store.

Basic requirements:

• Windows Phone – Windows 8.1

• Android – Android 2.2 or later

• iOS – iOS 6.0 or later

• Mac – OS X 10.6.0 or later

Once you download and install Remote Desktop in your Windows Phone 8.1 then, Windows store will recognize you as the owner of this app. This allows you to install the same app in another device. So that this can be called as a Universal app.

Remote Desktop has many user interface features, such as the ability to pin desktop connections to Windows Phone 8.1’s start screen, Use the predictive text capability of the operating system to specify a remote connection. It also has an option to disable thumbnails on the Windows Phone 8.1 screen and could show the background image through the application tiles.

The Remote Desktop live tile features transparency support which allows users to change home screen backgrounds. The app uses RDP 8.1 and RemoteFX to provide high audio fidelity and graphics.

The app can be connected with the Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7 and Windows Vista OS. To access the PC you have to first know about the PC name, your username and password. When you are connecting it with Windows 8.1 or Windows 8 OS, then the system defaults to touch mode allowing you to touch, swipe and to use gestures. But if you are connecting to a Windows 7 OS, default mode will interrupt your finger as mouse input. The connection will get disconnect quicker when sessions are terminated.

Connect with Windows 8.1 Phone

By default, Windows PC’s have Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) disabled. So you have to enable it first. For that,

• Right click Computer of the PC then select Properties.

• Click on Remote settings tab given at the top left corner (for Windows 8.1 PC)

• Click on Change settings then select Remote tab (for Windows 8 PC)

• Click the box to Allow remote connection to this computer.

• Windows 8.1 OS is also recommend to click the box to allow connection from computers with Network level Authentication for an additional level of security. Accepting remote desktop connection feature will not be included in Home version of Windows 8, Windows 8 and Windows Vista.

1. First install the setup on your Windows 8.1 Phone. Then you can find out it from the app or from the start screen (if it is pinned).
2. After the app get loads click on the plus (+) symbol which will be showed below the current screen. In order to connect a new PC.
3. Enter the Host name or IP address of PC which you are connecting to. Then select save if you would like to connect again in future. Then the connection checks for a valid, trusted certificate. After that select don’t ask again option.
4. When the connection is made then your phone will be changed to landscape view allows you to see the desktop of PC.
5. Navigate with your finger with the on-screen mouse cursor. Single and double click can be done by single tap and double tap on your Windows 8.1 phone.
6. Tap on the keyboard icon on the header bar to access on-screen keyboard. This allows you to use keys such as Alt, Ctrl, Esc and others.
7. To disconnect tap twice on your Windows 8.1 phone’s back key.

The Remote Desktop app for Windows phone 8.1 has avoided some important features such as Remote Desktop Gateway, RD Connection Broker and pinch and zoom option. Hope it will come up with the next update but the app will be currently suitable for persons other than IT pros.

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