This posted started because I was going through my MobileMe settings for an unrelated reason today and discovered Back to My Mac.
It allows for remote access to your machine and apparently it can even be used to catch a thief. My rough impression is that it seems like it is a lighter version of Apple Remote Destop or VNC.
I don’t usually have a need to remote access my machine that much — it’s a laptop and so if it isn’t with me it is usually just shut off. And if it is off with the lid closed, it ain’t likely going to wake up again (though I’m assuming if it was asleep with a network cable attached, it could?).
That being said, I am starting to not take my laptop with me when I’m out of the office for meetings. It’s heavy and I’m frankly trying to save my lower back. Instead just use my iPhpone. Between Safari, Mail, MobileMe, iCal, Address book, and all the other goodies like OmniFocus on my phone I find I don’t need my laptop unless it’s for something specific (such as a presentation).
Now that I’m leaving it behind more, I now can see some limited need to leave my laptop on and be able to access it from my phone, even if just to access files or to have it as a spam filter.
Anyone have any suggestions or further thoughts?
Tags: apple remote desktop, back to my mac, MobileMe, VNC
I have an iMac at home (which is on 24/7) and can access it via my iPhone with an app called VNC Pocket office. I NEVER use it. I find it very hard to navigate and loading times are way too long.
One tool that I do find very handy is an iPhone app named Caravan. It lets you scroll through the documents stored on my iMac trhough my iPhone. It also has a reader so you can also read docs. Caravan is so much faster than vnc and much easier to navigate.
I dont really need to access my iMac for other reasons than downloading or reading doc or FTP files.
Bob
Thanks Bob!
I’ll have to check out caravan.