Only recently I needed to access my iMac GUI whilst I was away aboard. I’ve always ssh to my iMac being a geek. But for this particular occasion I needed to demo things on my iMac.
Anyways I did a little research and here are my findings and conclusion.
Like I said I’ve always ssh in to my box via VPN, takes awhile to setup if you know what you’re doing, but very useful if you want connect to your home network whilst your in another country.
VNC Viewer
If you have VPN the best app to use is VNC viewer and this is free.
On your Mac you first need to download VNC Connect client. See step by step instructions here.
Next download VNC Viewer on you iPad/iPhone. If you sign up and add your mac details and your way!
Usability is ok, I find it a bit slow compare to the other Remote Desktops apps. I feel it’s very graphic heavy and may eat in to your data plan.
Teamviewer
Teamviewer is free for personal use only… But you if you have several machine you like to connect to, you are advice to purchase a licence, which I think is fair.
Teamviewer is very simple to install. Again it is best to sign up and user your login to your both desktop and mobile apps:
Desktop – Teamviewer client
iPad/iPhone – Teamviewer app
By far, I think the usability on the iPad/iPhone is very simple compare to all the rest for Remote Desktops apps. The app is optimise to your reduces your mobile bandwidth.
Google Chrome Remote desktop
Google is new to the game. I know Google had done similar in the past using their web browser, but this did not fly too well as it was very sluggish. Chrome Remote Desktop is the new and improve version. Works very well. You do not need VPN enable. You can access again on your iPad/iPhone.
The navigation works very similar to VNC viewer. The app is also optimised to your reduces your mobile bandwidth.
Apple Screenshare
Apple Screenshare is pretty recent with the new macOS Sierra. Screenshare is already intergated to the system. all you need to do is make use you are signed in to iMessage and thats it.
Search Screenshare by holding down Command and spacebar and type in ‘Screenshare’. put in the ip address if you have VPN and your in.
The other way is by sharing your screen or taking control of your friend/family desktop is by going to iMessage select the your user message and click on the ‘i’ icon and you will see the overlapping windows icon. Click on this and you will be presented the two options. Control or view.
Join.me
Is Join.me is simple Remote desktop app which is web based.
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