View Client for iPad is Here
2011 is shaping up to be an exciting year for VMware View. About 2 weeks back we came out with the 4.6 release which delivered PCoIP support in our Security Server. We’re getting some great feedback from that release and we’re seeing this open the door to new use cases for remote users.
Today we keep the excitement coming with the launch of the View Client for iPad. This release is one small step for VMware and one giant leap for personal devices in the enterprise. Now all of us iPad aficionados can use our iPads to access our desktops and get an awesome user experience without giving IT a heart attack about security. It’s the best of both worlds.
Our focus with this release is really around simplicity and we set out to make sure that the user experience from the iPad is seamless. This means that access is a snap and interaction with the desktop is easy and efficient.
The iPad client is fully supported over WiFi or 3G connections and with PCoIP at the core you’ll be sure to get a great user experience. Tight integration with View 4.6 means that logging into your View desktop from the iPad is easy and reconnection to the desktop is also simple with the ability to select from a list of previously connected desktops.
iPad users will feel right at home interacting with their View desktop using the gestures we’ve implemented making it easy to do things like click, select, drag and invoke the soft keyboard. We’ve also included support for Bluetooth or dock connected keyboards for those prefer to type on a physical keyboard. In addition to keyboards we’ve also added support for the iPad VGA connector which will let you connect your View desktop to an external monitor or projector. If you wanted to, you could realistically go iPad full time!
This release is just the start of our support for the iPad and you’ll be seeing a lot more from us in the months to come as we continue to make improvements and add capabilities.
To quote our Product Manager, Tedd Fox (@teddfox), we hope you think this client is as #awesome as we do. It’s available as a free download today from the Apple App Store so download your copy and connect to your View desktop. We look forward to your thoughts and feedback in the comments below and be sure to follow @vmwareview on Twitter to keep up on all of the latest product news.
Links and Resources
- Download the View Client for iPad
- View Client for iPad Documentation
- View Client for iPad Support
- View Client for iPad Community Forum
- CTO Steve Herrod’s blog - VMware Product Moves both Big and Small
- Video tour of the VMware View Client for iPad
- Children’s Hospital Central California is using VMware View Client for iPad to improve patient care
- View Client for iPad screen shots
- Learn more about VMware View
- Follow VMware View on Twitter or Facebook
Very cool - I'll let some of our iPad users know so they can try it out. Any chance we'll see an iPhone version too?
Posted by: Dave Britten | 03/09/2011 at 05:51 AM
Hi!
I too would want an Iphone version, even if the screen is small, it is so much easier to carry around for us IT people that have on-call duty 24/7
Posted by: Michael | 03/09/2011 at 08:32 AM
Is there a anroid tablet app in development?
Posted by: Matt Lindsay | 03/09/2011 at 09:05 AM
Bringing millions of new apps to the iPad with extreme simplicity... There is an app for that!
Thanks VMware!
Now that you reached the Apple afionados, please do not forget the Android ones! ;)
Posted by: Jonathan | 03/09/2011 at 11:49 AM
Hi VMware!
I have tested the app with security server 4.6 and it works like a charm!!!
Absolutely great, whoow!!! Thank you!
Posted by: Reto Giezendanner | 03/09/2011 at 12:29 PM
Any word on an Android version... We've got a 50/50 mix of Android Tablets and iPads.
Posted by: Mike S | 03/09/2011 at 12:37 PM
There's a good iPhone app to do basically the same and some other protocols too. Check it out...PocketCloud by Wyse.
Posted by: Edgar Sanchez | 03/09/2011 at 01:47 PM
Thanks to all for the comments and feedback. We're always looking to develop new solutions and expand device support where it makes sense and customer feedback helps us to focus and prioritize our efforts. Moving forward, VMware will add additional client support for VMware View, including Android devices via PCoIP. As for the iOS devices, we're currently focused on the iPad since that has been the priority of the customers that we have been talking to. Keep the feedback and use cases coming. We appreciate the comments.
Posted by: Chris Westphal | 03/09/2011 at 02:23 PM
I don't think working on a 9.7" display is the most productive. Think about using video-out so it can be used as a thin client.
How about this use case...
A company deploys virtual desktops to employees in the hopes of saving time and money on deploying new desktops. As desktop hardware ages it is replaced with low cost ($250-$500) and more environmentally friendly (fewer materials and consuming less power) thin clients. Thanks to the consumerization of IT, demand for iPhones and iPads grow. Employees now carry thin client capable devices every where they go. For further cost savings, the company replaces thin clients with a $230 iPod Touch (or let's the employee purchase their own). Offices are equipped with monitor, keyboard and mouse connected to an iPod Touch docking stating (or using bluetooth). Employees have the ultimate in mobility and productivity. They can now take the iPod Touch with them for calendars, address books, email, ibooks and other mobile applications. I'm not even discussing how Facetime can revolutionize office communication. No additional hardware required (aside from the wifi infrastructure in the office). Maybe even use software VoIP clients on the iPod touch. The company now has hoteling stations in other offices and dock connectors in meeting rooms. Apple TVs are used to display meeting material. Eventually some enterprising developer creates a collaborative app to share content on other iOS devices and solicit feedback via surveys, voting or comments. The iOS device of choice could be an iPhone or iPad, it's not important because when used as a thin client since the user experience is just as it was before with a monitor, full sized keyboard and mouse.
Where's the problem? VMWare on iPad does not support a mouse. What is VMware doing about bluetooth mouse support?
Posted by: Brian Erdelyi | 03/09/2011 at 05:42 PM
I don't think working on a 9.7" display is the most productive. Think about using video-out so it can be used as a thin client.
How about this use case...
A company deploys virtual desktops to employees in the hopes of saving time and money on deploying new desktops. As desktop hardware ages it is replaced with low cost ($250-$500) and more environmentally friendly (fewer materials and consuming less power) thin clients. Thanks to the consumerization of IT, demand for iPhones and iPads grow. Employees now carry thin client capable devices every where they go. For further cost savings, the company replaces thin clients with a $230 iPod Touch (or let's the employee purchase their own). Offices are equipped with monitor, keyboard and mouse connected to an iPod Touch docking stating (or using bluetooth). Employees have the ultimate in mobility and productivity. They can now take the iPod Touch with them for calendars, address books, email, ibooks and other mobile applications. I'm not even discussing how Facetime can revolutionize office communication. No additional hardware required (aside from the wifi infrastructure in the office). Maybe even use software VoIP clients on the iPod touch. The company now has hoteling stations in other offices and dock connectors in meeting rooms. Apple TVs are used to display meeting material. Eventually some enterprising developer creates a collaborative app to share content on other iOS devices and solicit feedback via surveys, voting or comments. The iOS device of choice could be an iPhone or iPad, it's not important because when used as a thin client since the user experience is just as it was before with a monitor, full sized keyboard and mouse.
Where's the problem? VMWare on iPad does not support a mouse. What is VMware doing about bluetooth mouse support?
Posted by: Brian Erdelyi | 03/09/2011 at 05:43 PM
Well, the Ipad code and the Iphone code is basically the same so it wouldn't be hard to switch, and I believe that many more would benefit from iphone pcoip than ipad (lots more iphones sold in the world than ipads)
and as the one above said, you could always connect a keyboard/monitor to the iphone as well..
And yes, pocketcloud is a viable alternative (and I am using it), although it doesn't support pcoip which enhances the experience alot!
Posted by: Michael | 03/10/2011 at 03:39 AM
I have started to tested the app with security server 4.6 It works great! Something I look forward to using more and more.
Thanks a bunch
Posted by: Computer Repair Minneapolis | 03/10/2011 at 10:04 AM
@Brian you have some good points. The main use case that we're seeing is where these mobile devices are augmenting existing thick or thin clients to enable mobility for end-users. I don't think we're at the point yet where the bulk of customers ready to replace their traditional devices with mobile ones. That doesn't mean that some early adopters aren't already doing that. I see this technology as being the tip of the iceberg to allow more customers to get comfortable with the ideas that you outlined above for smaller screen devices.
There are still some limitations in technology like bluetooth mouse support, which by the way is an Apple thing. But as these devices in our pockets become more powerful and some of the technology limitations get ironed out I see your ideas becoming a reality for the mass market.
Posted by: Chris Westphal | 03/10/2011 at 10:44 AM
klapklapklapklap...
Now, get your asses up and make us something useful, like:
vCenter Server running on something else than Windoze.
vSphere GUI client for something else than Windoze (preferably both OS X and Linux)
Posted by: John Doe | 03/10/2011 at 12:44 PM
Typo? "follow @vmwareveiw on Twitter"
Posted by: Robert Yunker | 03/10/2011 at 01:02 PM
how do i install the application? It's installed on my ipad, but I don't know how to connect my desktop.
Posted by: felix | 03/10/2011 at 04:35 PM
@Chris thanks for the response. I think an iPad or iPod Touch could replace thin client hardware. I could get a lot of work done with a full size keyboard, LCD monitor and mouse. would use mobile Safari, mail, mobile Keynote/Pages and access to a remote desktop (Rdp, VNC, Vmware or Citrix) in full screen.
I hope VMware can can be an advocate for mouse support.
Does Android support BT mouse?
Posted by: Brian Erdelyi | 03/10/2011 at 05:16 PM
I downloaded vmware for my iPad and entered the ip address of my home computer. However the vmware is not connecting. Any advice?
Posted by: Jason | 03/10/2011 at 06:43 PM
Cool!! works fine, Thanks
Posted by: Fersken | 03/11/2011 at 01:22 AM
@Robert & @Jason - Good catch. It's been fixed.
@Felix - This app needs to point back to a virtual desktop in a VMware View environment and will not allow you to connect directly to a physical desktop. For more information on requirements and setup check out the docs here: http://communities.vmware.com/community/vmtn/entdesk/view/vmware_view_for_ipad?view=documents
@Brian - BT mouse support depends on the device and I'm not aware of any that support it at this point. I agree with your use case and we'll be supporting it as soon as we can.
Posted by: Chris Westphal | 03/11/2011 at 10:56 AM
Looking forward to the Android Version.
@Fersken - BT mouses works fine on the Galaxy Tab.
Posted by: Philip | 03/11/2011 at 01:34 PM
est-ce que l'instalation est complique?
Posted by: Rene | 03/17/2011 at 10:27 AM
Only support for PCoIP? i need support for RDP. i dont use the view server on win 2008. i use view 4.6 on win 2003 so i need rdp support plz.
Posted by: Axis | 04/06/2011 at 08:32 PM
Great App! I would love the ability to have the app support AirPlay. Users can then view Desktop applications wirelessly.
Posted by: Too cool | 04/17/2011 at 11:29 PM
good news again here! what a great deal..
Posted by: anthonythor | 05/04/2011 at 06:18 PM