Onlive Desktop is a neat new app from the developers of the OnLive gaming network for PC and Mac that gives you all of the functionality and basic software available from Windows 7 on your iPad. While the free version is limited in functionality, the current paid version gives you access to Flash video and web browsing. But why would you pay for this when you can already do it with your Mac? And heck, why would you pay for Windows to do it for you, a Mac user? Use Splashtop instead, which costs less and gives you all the functionality of your Mac straight on your iPad. Best of all, it’s easy to set up. Read on and we’ll show you how.
1. Download Splashtop to iPad or iPhone
The first step in the process is to download Splashtop Remote Desktop to your iPad or iPhone. This is a paid application that costs $4.99 for iPad [iTunes link], or $1.99 for iPhone [iTunes link].
2. Download Splashtop Streamer to Mac or Windows computer
Next, we need to download and install the Splashtop Streamer application on your Mac or Windows computer. This piece of software talks to the iOS application in order to connect and display your Mac or Windows machine. You can download this application by clicking here.
After downloading, run the installer included with the download.
3. Configure Splashtop Streamer
After installing the Splashtop Streamer application, launch it from the Applications folder on your Mac. The preferences should automatically be displayed, prompting you for a security code. Create a password (which will become your security code) by entering between 8 and 20 characters in the fields.
After you have created a security code, you will be ready to connect to your Mac via the Splashtop client on your local network. If you wish connect to your Mac when you’re not on the local network, click on the Network tab.
On the network tab, enter your a Google user account and password, and then click the Sign In button. This will allow the Splashtop Streamer and Splashtop Remote Desktop apps to talk with each other across the Internet.
4. Configure Splashtop for iPad and iPhone
Open the Splashtop Remote Desktop application on your iPad or iPhone, and then tap on the Settings gear in the top, right-hand corner of the screen. Once there, tap on Internet Discovery, and enter your Google account username and password.
5. Connect and Use
After configuring both the Splashtop Streamer app and the Splashtop Remote Desktop application, when you launch Splashtop on your iOS device, you should see a listing of all the computers currently set up with Splashtop Streamer on your account. Tap any of the devices to connect.
After connecting, you can tap anywhere on the screen to move the mouse around and click items.
To bring up the toolbar, tap 3 fingers on the screen at once. The toolbar has button items to let you disconnect from your current session, get help, lock the device orientation, choose either crisp or smooth display, choose between mouse and trackpad, show the arrow keys, or display the keyboard.
Cory Bohon is a freelance technology writer, indie Mac and iOS developer, and amateur photographer. Follow this article’s author, Cory Bohon on Twitter.
Article source: http://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/how_use_your_mac_ipad_splashtop
