Got a new iDevice over the holidays and need a remote desktop client for it? The time is just right to get your hands on the latest release of LogMeIn for iPhone & iPad, which is available on the App Store for free. That's right! The makers of LogMeIn have abandoned their $29.99 price tag for mobile versions and are now offering basic functionality at no cost to you. So how does this app fare amongst competitors like Splashtop Remote Desktop (which I previously reviewed here)? Quite well. Read on for more details on this excellent remote desktop app.
LogMeIn Free is as solid as its paid counterparts, LogMeIn Pro and LogMeIn Ignition, although it lacks some of the more advanced functionality that comes with the paid versions. Even so, there are many reasons why it rocks. One of the most obvious will be its user-friendliness and intuitive nature. If you've never used a remote desktop app before, you're in luck because using LogMeIn is an absolute breeze. Upon launch, you'll be greeted with a menu that teaches you all the handy shortcuts and gestures that you may use to optimize your experience. Next, you'll need a LogMeIn account and to download the desktop client, but you'll be instructed on how to do so and it's so simple that you'll be up and running in no time. Even for the savvy, efficiency is often key -- especially if you plan on using LogMeIn to conduct your business while on the go.
In addition to its simplicity and efficiency, I've been quite pleased with the app's quality. The user interface for the mobile app and the desktop clients (which I've tested on both PC and Mac platforms) are pleasing. All are optimized for a pleasant user experience. When compared with competing apps such as Splashtop, I've found the desktop app of LogMeIn to be far superior. It truly provides a more comprehensive companion to the mobile app. Furthermore, I was impressed with the overall speed of things even when running on a shared network with average speeds.
Although the iPad's screen may feel small and insufficient for displaying content from your desktop or laptop computer, the developer has done a solid job at making the content simple to navigate and zoom in and out upon (by using pinch gestures). If you require access to your keyboard, there's a quick launch button on the bottom toolbar along with a magnifying glass icon that enables you to zoom in and out, and a settings button that enables you to change the color quality, resolution, network speed, scroll mode and direction, and enable or disable hints. I was pleasantly surprised at how well content rendered with "high" color quality selected, but this was done when I was at home using a pretty solid Internet connection, so I'm hesitant to say that the experience would have been the same from the same public network I had used earlier. As a matter of fact, I doubt it would, but that’s nothing to blame the developer for -- just a fact of life when it comes to online content.
Once a session is ended, you can jump to the main screen and quickly access "My Computers" which enables you to jump between remote access to your (many) computers. For those who'd like to go Pro, there's also the added options of saving files locally on your iDevice, transferring files between remote computers, taking advantage of cloud storage (through Dropbox, Google Docs, or a WebDav Server), updating local files with changes that have been made to them on a remote computer, the ability to attach any file (including multimedia) to email messages, and view HD quality video and sound content (PC only for now). The Pro option is a powerful choice for many advanced users and those who'd like to use LogMeIn for business purposes. For the average user, LogMeIn Free should be sufficient as it enables remote desktop access and provides an awesome user experience that's easy for users of all skill levels.
While I've been a supporter of Splashtop Remote Desktop, my experience with LogMeIn has been excellent and the app is likely to replace my use of Splashtop because I prefer its design and find its companion desktop app to be more pleasant and comprehensive. Having said that, both apps are extremely powerful and worth considering if you're in the market for a remote desktop app for your iOS device. If you have any personal experiences with LogMeIn to share or would like to recommend a different remote desktop app, please let me know in the comments section. Happy remote computing!
