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XenApp and XenDesktop provide the means for users to access their Apps and Desktops from a wide variety of platforms and devices. At Citrix our vision is to create a world where anyone can work and play from anywhere. Mobility is not new to Citrix. There are XenApp clients available today for Windows Mobile and Symbian devices, but small form factor devices have had their challenges. Slow, unreliable wireless networks, small screens and awkward user input models have relegated hand held access to small and highly specialized market segments. But that's all about to change.
The latest generation of hand held devices with their large, high definition screens and the availability of high-speed wireless networks are changing the game in a big way! A hand held device such as an iphone connected to XenApp via a high-speed 3G network yields a remarkably usable experience.
While serious content creation might have to wait for an external keyboard and monitor, consuming content like reviewing a spreadsheet or a patients records and simple tasks like approving an expense report are quite frictionless. And because you're accessing your content via XenApp and XenDesktop your access is fast and reliable and you never need to worry about your valuable data being compromised if you misplace or loose your phone.
I've been fielding quite a few inquiries lately about our strategy and plans for the iPhone. I thought it was time to let everyone know where we are and where we're going. The guys on our Mac development team in Chalfont, UK have just recently finished porting the core XenApp engine over to the iPhone platform. This was a great deal of work and the guys have done a brilliant job.
As you can see, pretty cool, but we still have quite a bit of work to do. During the next stage of the project we will be crafting a user experience that provides a natural, transparent and effortless user interface in keeping with the high standards set by our friends at Apple.
It's tough to say at this stage when we would have something that we could share with you but I promise if you watch this space we will provide regular updates on our progress and schedules as they reveal themselves.
Its the continuous and enthusiastic feedback we have collected from you all that has helped get this project off the ground. If you haven't done so already please check out Chris Fleck's iPhone blog and cast your vote.
One day, soon, you will be able to access all of your apps, desktops and data ON YOUR PHONE! That you keep in your pocket! And this time it's not just a technological curiosity. It's really useable, and fast and secure. Let's talk about how cool that is shall we? One day we'll be telling some young whipper snapper about how we used to lug around these big heavy laptops with all of our data and applications on them and they will laugh at us and our olde time ways
Looks great so far. Any word if you are going to have support for seamless apps? We run our environment as completely seamless applications and would need that functionality.
v1 will not have support for the seamless virtual channel which means you'll only be able to run one app per session at first. It's top priority for v2 which shouldn't more than 6 to 8 weeks or so behind v1.
This was just an early prototype. We are building a XenApp UI that is focused on document consumption and built specifically for the iPhone. We have no intentions of creating another remote desktop client. Delivering a desktop to the iPhone may be interesting technically but it's not the best user experience under even the most ideal conditions. If this is going to be more of a technical curiosity we need to make sure the usability of the client is our primary focus.
There's a big difference between Citrix and Remote Desktop. A lot of big business only allow remote access through Citrix, rather than allowing Remote desktop. So having a Citrix application is important for the iPhone.
we need the citrix client for iPhone as soon as possible. We use citrix for our daranase frontent that manages our sportgroups. For our outdoor groups it would be optimal that our coaches could manage all ag the place.
Please give their as chance.
We are trying to get the iPhone with XenDesktop to work. If iPhone would support Java it would work. We don't need an ICA client for this to work just Java. Also we are using RSA Two-Factor and that works fine on the iPhone as well.
How is development going on this? What kind of time frame are you looking at? Reason I'm asking is because we are looking at the iPhone and whether we'd go with it would depend on a Citrix client that enabled us to log on to work and get to remote desktop...
Development is well under way, we are targeting a v1 release to the App Store in the first half of 09. We are planning a very aggressive release cadence so once we get going you should expect regular updates as we add new features and functionality. Our initial focus will be on Apps and Documents. XenApp Desktops will work but XenDesktop wont be supported for a little while.
Albert - this is good news. Do you have a estimated release date i.e. Q1 09 - as it saves me checking back regulary and will this be announced via the iphone app installer?
Looks pretty, but functionality looks exceptionally limited, no scrolling or dragging at least in the demo. That would seem to be the hardest part as the gestures would be the same as it is for moving your view within a window.
This is fantastic news! I run Outlooksoft CPM (now SAP) and Kauffman Hall products on our citrix servers. I will no longer have to lug my laptop around to be able to check into work!
If you are looking for any real world beta testers, let me know! I would love to help out!
Albert, I wrote the piece above this one and I too would like to add that if you are going for beta testers, I would like to be on your list. If possible, I will send you my email address directly. I work in a large hospital practice and this would be a God-Send.
Thanks for the interest. Apple does not allow Beta software on the AppStore. Our plan is to introduce many smaller releases to the Store as we build the feature set over time. This will give you an opportunity to get access to the client much earlier than the traditional process usually allows so it all works out.
Albert,
Do you have a price point in mind for the iPhone Citrix client? Will you have institutional licenses? I can foresee this being a no brainer for the physicians in my hospital group to have this app as long as it is not expensive.
Posted by Anonymous
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WAY COOL! I want it now!!!