If you want a good remote desktop app for your iPhone or iPad today, odds are you’ll be paying at least $20 to download an app like Screens. Google, however, is currently working away on a free alternative.
Last year Google revealed that it was working on a Chromoting app for Android, which would allow users to control their computer’s desktop directly from their Android phone or tablet. While the company never said anything about an iOS version, it turns out that one is, in fact, in the works.
Google has a “Chromoting” documentation site for its developers, and within it, is reference to an iOS version of the app:
As noted, the iOS version is very unpolished at this stage. The toolbar icons are all placeholder, and the background color behind the host screen needs to be changed from blue to black. The upper toolbar for iOS (containing just the back button, so it can barely be called a toolbar), is revealed by tapping on the compass in the lower toolbar.
We anticipate the iOS client will ship after the Android client given they are different stages of implementation.
Who knows how long it will take for the app to officially hit iOS, but if you’ve been looking for a well made and free remote desktop app, just know that it’s coming.
Desktop users, on the other hand, can download Google’s Chrome Remote Desktop app today.
