Microsoft has today released a Remote Desktop app for Apple's iOS devices, allowing iPad and iPhone users to control their PC when away from the screen.
The free app, which comes on the same day Microsoft went public with its heavily-touted Windows 8.1 update, can be used to access a PC by manually inserting the machine's IP address.
iOS owners can access the multi-touch Windows 8 experience in much the same way they would on the native device (to a certain extent, obviously, it's not a virtual OS) and enjoy a secure connection to their documents and applications from their smartphone or tablet device.
Users will also be able to stream video and audio files directly to their iPhone or iPad (or iPod touch for that matter) thanks to the improved compression tech. It'll also allow users to connect up to an external monitor to display presentations from their home PC while at the office.
Naturally the experience will be more at home on the larger tablet displays rather than the 4-inch iPhone handsets, but it'll be a great option for those needing to access important files while on the move.
The launch of Remote Desktop is Microsoft's latest iOS launch, following the arrival of Office 365 this summer. iPhone and iPad users are still waiting, however, for Microsoft to pull the trigger on a full version of the Microsoft Office suite for iOS.
The app is also available for Android devices, but strangely, Microsoft hasn't bothered to roll it out for Windows Phone yet.
You can download the iOS and Android apps from the respective stores. If you've given them a try, let us know your first impressions in the comments section below.
Via The Verge
