Wormhole Remote to Offer Seamless Desktop Access From iPhone/iPad

[bluedog3401]

Wait, so you are saying that you cannot even use it via wifi from a different location? That COMPLETELY destroys the benefit of the product, unless I plan on doing my presentations from my couch and INSIST on not lugging my laptop to the couch with me. Over the internet access is the MOST important aspect of your product as it allows for a quasi-multitasking experience by using the iPad as a projector of material, rather than a computing device that creates the material.

If you can figure out the configuration of your router at home, you can use a service like DYNDNS.ORG to allow for 'finding' your home network wherever you are on the internet. Its possible, but the only clients that allow that type of find-your-home connection are acting like a dynamic service for locating your home machine. MobileMe is doing it through their servers, logmein uses their own servers to keep track of where your home machine is.

Perhaps that's a project for someone to assemble a how-to on using the Apple Wifi and screenshots to walk you through how to configure it for such remote access anywhere. The difficulty is the settings are going to be someone specific to your router (hence just using Apple's wifi router as a standard), and your dyndns-type service will have its own special way to configure its settings.

 

[Icaras]

Lol! I was thinking the same - where did they get the "Jony Ives" actor?

Glad they put those last few seconds at the end of the commercial as a reminder it's an intentional joke.

Looks likes a neat product, though.

P.

Wow... the video was cheezy. I understand they are making fun of apple's ipad video... but that was awful. It took away from what Nate has been working on.

Also, that overly calm tone from Nate is just a tad bit disturbing...

LOL, wormhole....

 

[MickdyMickdyMAC]

I thought the video was hilarious with some basic app info thrown in, in case I was actually paying attention between laughs. I mean what more do you need to know other than it accesses your desktop from ipad/iphone? And for $5, if it doesn't work out, then your down a couple grande sumthin sumthin's at the coffee shop. Big deal, or maybe not?

 

[Kid A]

Why would they demo apps that are natively available on the iPad (keynote, pages)

Because you may already be in the middle of a project in Keynote or Pages or anything on your desktop. And suddenly you get pulled away from your desk. Or you just think, eh screw it, I'm gonna go sit outside under a tree. Or sit on the couch.

The idea is, you grab your iPad, open Wormhole, and continue as if you were at your desk. No saving, syncing, blah blah. Seems pretty obvious to me.

(not to mention this app will be less than the cost of either of the native iPad apps you mentioned, if one is trying to pinch pennies for some reason; or just doesn't feel they'd get much use from the native iPad versions).

 

[Small White Car]

And everyone criticizing the video, you either:
A. have NO sense of humor.
B. take 's own advertising way too seriously/treat it way too preciously.
or C. both A. & B.

Or:

D. It was so cheesy it really, really made me think it was a joke video made about a fake product.

But hey, making your customers think you're not real has got to be a great plan, right?

I mean, one of them is even labeled on screen as a "fictional character." That sure makes me want to get out my credit card!

 

[SkippyThorson]

For $5 that's a deal compared to logmein for $29!!

I was thinking the same thing.

- and personally, I loved the video. It was totally spot-on to the mellow-Jack-Johnson-John-Mayer-esque Apple testimonials. Loved it.

Never really realized how much the people in Apple's ads always overstated how excited and enthusiastic they were. Yet they looked totally bored in almost every video. I thought I saw some happier people in the iMac G4 video, but that was about it.

 

[2contagious]

seems like it could become a great app, but they are in a serious need for a new graphic designer

 

[Kid A]

Or:

D. It was so cheesy it really, really made me think it was a joke video made about a fake product.

But hey, making your customers think you're not real has got to be a great plan, right?

I mean, one of them is even labeled on screen as a "fictional character." That sure makes me want to get out my credit card!

Nope. Sorry. D. is redundant. I think the choice you were looking for is "A. you have no sense of humor".

Cheesy, yes. So cheesy that the product seems "fake". Not really. Arguably, the "I'm a Mac/I'm a PC" ads are quite cheesy at times. But I'm pretty sure MACS ARE REAL.

 

[kevinkt]

Really? lol.

Anyway, good App, terrible video parody.

do you even know what i mean? I mean transmit sound over WIFI. my current remote desktop app does not do that.

 

[Small White Car]

Nope. Sorry. D. is redundant. I think the choice you were looking for is "A. you have no sense of humor".

So you really can't see the difference between a funny video that sells the product like this:

http://birdhouseapp.com/

...and the Wormhole video which does not do the job it's supposed to?

You think that 'being funny' is the only goal? Its effectiveness as an ad isn't important?

 

[Avicdar]

Wait, so you are saying that you cannot even use it via wifi from a different location? That COMPLETELY destroys the benefit of the product, unless I plan on doing my presentations from my couch and INSIST on not lugging my laptop to the couch with me. Over the internet access is the MOST important aspect of your product as it allows for a quasi-multitasking experience by using the iPad as a projector of material, rather than a computing device that creates the material.

Totally agree.

The video is very misleading. You are allowed to think that this app gives you freedom of mobility. It doesn't, really.

Cheeze actor number one repeats that you can just get up and GO! (what he means is, get up and go to your couch). That's not exactly revealed in the video so you're led to believe that you can use Wi-Fi from anywhere.

Very nice idea, but missing an essential feature.

To the developer: please make sure this limitation is clearly and boldly spelled out in the store.

 

[louiek]

Looks like a fantastic app, and it's great that there'll be an iPhone version too. I won't be tied to my desk waiting for long running jobs to finish and I won't have to lug my mbp around the office to troublshoot user issues. Great work.

As for the video, loved it. At first I thought all the hate was due to a lack of humor, but I think a previous poster was right, some people just sanctify all that is Apple.

 

[Kid A]

Or:

D. It was so cheesy it really, really made me think it was a joke video made about a fake product.

But hey, making your customers think you're not real has got to be a great plan, right?

I mean, one of them is even labeled on screen as a "fictional character." That sure makes me want to get out my credit card!

So you really can't see the difference between a funny video that sells the product like this:

http://birdhouseapp.com/

...and the Wormhole video which does not do the job it's supposed to?

You think that 'being funny' is the only goal? Its effectiveness as an ad isn't important?

I thought the ad was quite effective, or I would not have been moved to comment on it. (I rarely comment on macrumors). I doubt I'm the only one. But obviously, the effectiveness of an ad will vary depending on the viewer or else everyone in a given income bracket would have the same buying patterns.

Also, your "fictional character" comment from a previous post fails. I noticed that too, and thought it was quite funny. You've never seen an ad with a fictional character??? Ever see a car insurance ad? Newsflash: Flo, that Progressive insurance woman, as well as the esurance cartoon girl, as well as Geico's gekko, cavemen, etc. ALL fictional characters. Or for that matter, "Mac" and "PC".

To your point about it seeming potentially fake. Obviously, it COULD be a very well-produced hoax. (But why?) Anything could be. But I personally didn't get any sense from the ad that it was a hoax. Maybe the iPad is fake too! I've yet to see one with my own eyes. You got me good, !


....one more thing. Just watched the Birdhouse ad you linked to. I guess I don't see the difference that you see. Is that ad effective??? For ME, no. Right off the bat: "You care about your Twitter, don't you?" Personally, no, I don't care about my Twitter in the slightest. At this point in my life, I wouldn't even consider using such an app. However, lots of people care a great deal about their Twitter. This I know. So I guess I'd need to poll those folks to assess the ad's effectiveness.

Now, is the Bridhouse ad funny? I didn't think it was nearly as funny as the Wormhole ad, but that's just my sense of humor. Quirky? Yes, quite so. But "ha-ha" funny? Not for a second. Well-produced? Yes. Perhaps even more-so than the Wormhole ad, though I thought both were fine for what they are, in terms of production. If you pointed me to the Birdhouse ad b/c it parodies something, well, I have no idea what it may be parodying. If I was familiar with the source of the parody, maybe I'd find it hilarious. But to my eyes and ears, it was simply a nicely-done, quirky advert, for an app I can't imagine having a use for, personally.

 

[Ironduke]

And this is one of the reasons i will be getting an iPad (3g) I use iteleport alot on my iphone, I just know these apps will be so much better on an iPad, without the bulk and clunkyness of using your macbook.

 

[nagromme]

I love iTeleport (formerly Jaadu VNC)—it’s the single best app I have ever bought, well worth the price! I have high hopes for it on iPad. And I kind of wish that this new app hadn’t used the same wormhole theme as Jaadu has always had, but that’s likely coincidence.

This new app doesn’t seem like a replacement for iTeleport, it seems like a great new answer to the same problem, and there’s room for both on my devices! iTeleport is just “your whole Mac as is” which is very cool, especially over 3G (albeit sluggish). The mouse control, scroll wheel, gestures, text entry and screen view options are excellent. But Wormhole offers a new, more touch-friendly UI that seems really useful too. A hybrid between the Mac and iPad UI. I like it! Remote access is never going to be as good as carrying laptop, but it can be GREAT compared to having to run home to your computer! I for one don’t carry a laptop everywhere, so I can’t wait for Wormhole on my iPhone.

Re auto-detection: in defense of iTeleport, it’s one-touch simple over your local network (Bonjour). Over WAN, you’ve got to deal with security and firewalls, and there’s just no helping that, but once you get it set up once, you can forget about all that.

Hopefully iTeleport will drop in price in response to this—it’s an awesome app that too few people have, and even though it’s worth $25, I’m sure that stops people.

 

[nkawtg72]

OMG, i can't believe how much of a big deal people are making out of the video. jeez, get over it already. look up spoof and parody in the dictionary and stop taking life so seriously.

secondly, maybe some of you can't think outside the box and find any reasons why this type of app will be useful even if limited, for now, to a local network, but that doesn't mean there aren't some of us who can find a hundred reasons this app would motivate me to buy an iPad. so stop making yourselves sounds stupid by saying this app is useless because it misses remote network access.

if you'd like to have an intelligent conversation about the app, i'd be more than happy to share many uses i could find for app.

 

[distortedloop]

Hi everybody! Just want to clear a couple things up:

- The video was intentionally over the top, as kind of a spoof.
- Right now Wormhole Remote is focused on local network access only. 3G and over-the-Internet access is a feature planned for the future, and I promise that it will be easy and seamless to use with no firewall configuration necessary.

This app may actually be the one that pushes me from wait-&-see on the iPad to getting one. I VNC all the time with my iPhone and my laptop to the desktop, even while in the same building, but the single application window instead of the desktop as a whole sounds very intriguing.

 

[distortedloop]

Brilliant parody with the ad video, but it would be totally lost on anyone who doesn't watch all the Apple produced propaganda stuff.

Natetrue, how old are you? You look about 15. LOL.

 

[ImperialX]

Haha, am I one of the only people who found that video pretty funny, and is excited about this app? xD

 

[marksman]

I really like the concept as multiple windows/real time multiple use of apps is not effective on a smaller screen, so this is a good way to go.

For all the people who panned the video/didn't get it etc etc... Don't know what to tell you.

Here is something you will probably enjoy:

Q:Why did the mac cross the road?

A:Because Steve Ballmer was chasing it.

 

[BadCatOS]

I enjoyed the video making fun of Apple's ridiculous hype of the iPad. "The iPad is the best thing I've ever worked on at Apple." BS. You touch it, it responds...Its amazing!!

 

[ctrobins]

Awesome Video!!!

I may even find a reason to want to use Wormhole too!

Look: When Jonny Ives (sp?) in the iPad video gets all dreamy eyed and says "when something exceeds your ability to understand.... (long unnecessary pause - as if searching for some mystical next words that can capture the richly deep thought that is forming in his mind) ... It becomes 'magical'"

OMG!!!! Really!!! 'Magical' ... ok ... time to put down the pipe. ('cool' .. YES... 'Magical'.. NOOO)
A Leprechaun farting and a bunch of Unicorns wearing saddlebags filled with Christmas presents coming out would exceed my ability to understand... But, not a 'Jumbo-iPod Touch'.

This video captures that absurdity and appropriately smacks it down.

Make no mistake I WANT AN IPAD... I AM A FANBOY... but now I got to accept that Ives guy and his ridiculous over-the-top evangelism.

 

[jayducharme]

all i need to know if it has sound. if it does im buying it.

Well, they show someone using Garage Band with it. So I assume it sends audio as well.

BTW, those Garage Band loops in the promo video are a bit obvious and repetitive. And how about that paper iPad mock-up. Claaaasssssssy!

 

[spawn135]

Not convinced....

If you really want to take your work with you, you'll just take your LAPTOP.

You won't even have to WAIT for the iPad to sync wirelessly.

 

[supergod]

April Fools! Morons!