WP App, Unify Remote Control updates to support Windows 8 Commands, Multitouch Scrolling and more
Unify Remote Control App for Windows Phone is one of the best apps if you want to use your Windows PC from your phone, specially at the time of presentation. We did a detailed review of the app here and now it has been updated to support even Windows 8, starting with Windows 8 Commands.
Here is the list of updates which came in version 1.3 and features that will be rolling out soon in the upcoming version of the app.
- Touch Pad is optimized and is much accurate than the previous version , which was the major bug pointed by users.
- Supports Windows 8 shortcuts which you can find in the command list. You will need to reconnect your Windows 8 PC again to enable this after you have enabled this from the settings page. This is still in beta, but works smoothly.
- Haptic Feedback is enabled as you can feel the real keyboard.
- Multi-touch scroll support using two fingers to swipe up / down and sideways for vertical and horizontal scrolling.
- Windows 8 touchpad edge gestures: Swipe from the left to switch applications, swipe from the right to display the charms menu. Swipe from the top to display the application bar.
- Now you can set password on the windows client. This way not everybody with the same app can access your machine.
- Pointer Sensitivity can be controlled from the PC Client.
- Encryption: Securely control your PC, with the ability to only encrypt keystrokes and commands to optimise performance.
The only odd thing which I see here, is the way password authentication is implemented. I am able to connect to the machine but can onlu use it when I set the password in the settings menu in the app. It should have been reverse i.e. The app should ask for the password as soon as one tries to connect. Also since the password is stored as clear text in the app settings and it remains same with all the computers you use. This should be per computer settings.
The Client which you need to install on Windows PC, installs on Windows 8 PC like regular app and its still not a metro app. Hopefully in the near future, when Windows 8 Rolls out to consumer preview, we might see more of it.
Here is the list of updates which came in version 1.4
- Improved Pointer Functions which includes, Acceleration Control, Touchpad sensitivity, Pointer Acceleration, Pointer coasting and Invert scrolling direction.
- Gesture Scrolling is improved, supports only scroll either vertically or horizontally at a time.
- You can now lock screen orientation. This is important, as when you use it for presentation, touch pad changed its orientation and you scroll left-right instead of up and down.
- Disable Phone standby. This makes sure you don’t have to reconnect every time.
- More commands will be included such as monitor power and manual Wake on Lan.
- Settings page updated with ability to disable phone standby and adjustments to touchpad sensitivity.
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The app costs 0.99 USD but there is a trial mode of 48 hours available right from when you start using it. This gives you enough time to test the app out and decide if you want to buy it. Also You will need to download the client from Unify Remote Website
