In a very recent announcement today, Microsoft have stated the imminent release of System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008.

The application will provide control and integration much more in common with desktop IT equipment. The software, also, with the use of the new version of Windows Mobile will allow the remote worker to access more of their information over the mobile networks. For instance, data normally only available via VPN on a laptop will be able to be accessed. This of course will be dependant on the apps on the mobile phone in the first place, but it means greater access to things like spreadsheets and documents from the company intranet whilst on the go. Also I do remember the mention of a “kill pill” for windows mobile devices in a fairly recent seminar - that would allow the administrator to send a kill command to the mobile device if it’s stolen, encrypting and/or destroying the data on the phone. Pretty neat I think you’ll agree!

Obviously to back this, certain services will need to be available through the mobile operators. It is believed that in the second quarter of 2008, this will become a reality with many of the biggest names supporting the new Mobile Device Manager. Read the full press release here.

You know the problem - you have people you would like to help out and perhaps even remotely connect to their PCs via the internet to show them how to do things. The problem is that these types of people are invariably IT novices. They are having problems because they aren’t “geeks” and because of this, getting them to install and configure remote control software you know would be a nightmare. And then if that person also has a router, you have to talk them through port-forwarding and things. And after hours on the phone, it probably still wouldn’t work. Invariably we just wouldn’t even start would we? And we would have to make a visit, which would mean the person’s PC might be out of commission until you can make time to get there and fix it. Well now things have changed…

Enter “Crossloop”. A free public beta download. The software is in a tiny download, measuring a byte-sized 2Mb. Once you’ve downloaded and installed it you have the ability to connect, or be connected to. To connect to someone it is easy with nice (almost pre-school) graphics & simple to follow buttons and boxes. If you want to connect to someone else’s PC to help them out, get them to download the Crossloop software - talk them through the install & get them to run it. When they’ve got that far, just get them to click on the Share tab at the top of the box and get them to read out the Access Code that appears in the box. Type this number into your own copy of CrossLoop, from the Access tab at the top of your box and hit Connect. Get them to also hit their Connect button, in the share tab. After a few system messages the person sharing their desktop will be asked if the person trying to remotely access should be allowed to do so. Simply get them to hit Yes and away you go.

The really cool thing with this software is it makes it a lot easier for the not so tech-savvy individual to share their desktop. Also, in the background it uses open-source VNC without any of the normal configuration required. And because both the Access and Share sessions connect centrally to talk to each other, there is no need to open any ports. Finally, for the security paranoid, the Access Code randomly changes on every launch of the CrossLoop software. Simplicity itself. [SHOW ME]

Quite a quick post this one (which is testament to how easy it is) to show you how to share your iTunes library over the internet, without any complicated SSH tunnels, or port forwarding or anything - but still have it secure. Also, this method allows multiple remote connections with ease (as long as the computer hosting the iTunes library has enough upload bandwidth, of course.) How?

First things first, share your iTunes library on the host machine. Edit preferences, Sharing, Share My Library Over My Local Network (ticked.) Secondly - obviously - make sure you have iTunes installed on your work PC, or any other PC you want access to your iTunes library. And the second to last step - install Hamachi (google it) on both computers. Turn on Hamachi on both machines - create a new network on the host machine & connect to it using the client machine. Start iTunes on both PCs and bingo! You can even play protected content, just by authorising your works PC. Simplicity itself!