AlwaysOnPC

Chris J. | Sep 22, 2009 Productivity

User rating: (3 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5)
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There are more than a few remote access apps in the iTunes store. These apps let you easily control your computer via your iPhone. By creating the app AlwaysOnPC, Xform Computing has taken things one step further by creating a web desktop which you can access with your iPhone or personal computer. There are both advantages and disadvantages to this method, but I imagine for some this app may be extremely useful.

Rather than spend a lot of time explaining the terms ‘web desktop’ or explaining that AlwaysOnPC is a form of Cloud Computing and all that it entails, I am simply linking to articles that will explain these concepts for me. This will save a lot of time for me and free me to focus on the app itself. To put it simply as possible, AlwaysOnPC has created a computer online which you can access from anywhere or at anytime, even when your home computer is turned off.

Remote access is accomplished through the use of the Jaadu VNC, an already well-respected remote access app. The app is fairly stable, although I have experienced the occasional crash. Most will notice that there is a delay between actions and the results. Since there is very little delay when accessing the desktop via my home computer, I can only guess that the delay is due to the limitations of the VNC and not the web desktop itself.

The desktop itself is a Linux operating system, based off of Fedora. Most Windows users will have very little trouble adjusting, as the most commonly used functions are pretty nearly the same. The developer has a few pages set up on their website to help new users find their way around.

Open Office is a nice software suite comparable to Microsoft Office, and includes a word processor which can both open and save in the Word format. This includes a spreadsheet program and a presentation program, similar to Excel and Powerpoint. Personally, I’ve been using Open Office with Windows for years and have had no desire to go back to Word (especially since Open Office is free).

The web browser Firefox is included as well. Having a web browser in a web desktop is actually much more useful than it sounds. Since the actual processing is happening on the web desktop’s server, you can access a full web page that would send Safari into conniptions. Try accessing the iPhone App Reviews web site and compare it to the screen shot below. Of course, no one has yet developed an app that will make the iPhone screen any bigger, so you will still have to view it in pieces.

I could go for days about all the other software included on the desktop, but rather than do that I’ll just list the highlights. There is also an email program, internet messenger (works with all the major messenger networks), calendar, GIMP (a graphics editing program), and several miscellaneous games. Also included are some programming tools, Eclipse and Glade Interface Design.

Unfortunately, when viewing on your iPhone, you are limited to a few hundred colors. This makes graphics editing difficult to say the least, as well as limiting the depth of colors in web browsing.

One thing that I would recommend to the makers of AlwaysOnPC is that they make sure that all legal issues are covered. The terms and conditions were mostly the standard fare, and I’m sure the privacy policy is as well if the link to it was not broken. It would be a good idea to include some more information about what might happen to user data in the event of termination of services, whether by user or the provider.

The bottom line is that the average iPhone user probably doesn’t  need something like this, but on the other hand, there are those out there who will find an app like this to be invaluable. I imagine those who will find it most useful are those who are on the road a lot and need to access files anywhere, either by iPhone or other computers that might be available. At $29.99, it is one of the priciest apps out there, but it offers a lot in exchange.

iTunes Link
App Version: 1.1
Reviewed on: iPod Touch (2nd gen)

It's your basic desktop, at this level Linux and Windows look a lot alike. The desktop is customizable.
It's your basic desktop, at this level Linux and Windows look a lot alike. The desktop is customizable.
Again, the menu is pretty nearly the same as what Windows users are used to.
Again, the menu is pretty nearly the same as what Windows users are used to.
Here's an experiment: Try opening this page on Safari and see what you get.
Here's an experiment: Try opening this page on Safari and see what you get.

Zoom in and out to get a good view of the page.
Zoom in and out to get a good view of the page.
This is the OpenOffice Spreadsheet program, I'd tell you about it, but I don't use spreadsheet programs.
This is the OpenOffice Spreadsheet program, I'd tell you about it, but I don't use spreadsheet programs.
In my opinion, the differences between Word and OpenOffice are pretty minimal.
In my opinion, the differences between Word and OpenOffice are pretty minimal.

I can't imagine doing much typing on the iPhone screen, but if you had to...
I can't imagine doing much typing on the iPhone screen, but if you had to...
iphone_alwaysonpc_price


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  • hal

    > Unfortunately, when viewing on your iPhone, you are limited to a
    > few hundred colors. This makes graphics editing difficult to say
    > the least, as well as limiting the depth of colors in web browsing.

    Try Options->Colors and you have a range of choices between B&W to Millions.

  • http://ceo@raresh.org Ra

    Actually, when going into the options (from the log-in screen, not the options after you’ve logged in already) you can also change the refresh rate, from “Conserve Battery” to “Fast Refresh” or even “Server Decides” This is great for people that use flash a lot… Also changing to millions of colors makes it look way better…

  • http://alwaysonpc.com doctorbuck

    One of the user selectable settings for AlwaysOnPC operation from the iPhone is the Colors setting in the Options menu on the AlwaysOnPC launch screen. This configuration option permits settings from hundreds to millions. For best performance of all applications on cellular networks the default for AlwaysOnPC is set to hundreds but for visual intensive applications like image editing the user can select a high level of colors rendering such as thousands or millions of colors, for similar color intensity and depth as they would experience on their PC.

  • mandy

    can you use this app on your iphone without having home internet service? our iphones will be our only way to access the internet and we HAVE TO have firefox for our website designer site we deal with for our business?

  • mandy

    can you use this app on your iphone without having home internet service? our iphones will be our only way to access the internet and we HAVE TO have firefox for our website designer site we deal with for our business??? thanks for any and all input! :mrgreen:

  • http://leofly.org Flysh

    I wanted to install a Linux program but failed ,maybe it only use for office and surfing webs…

  • http://www.alwaysonpc.com Dave

    To answer Mandy’s question, AlwaysOnPC requires a network connection – if you are using it at your office where presumably you have Internet access, then Yes, it will solve your problem. (I assume your question about “does it require home internet” was asking if it needs to access your computer at home, like a VNC program – the answer is no).