TIP: Screen Sharing with MobileMe
We have been using MobileMe, and its previous incarnations since .Mac and the early days of iTools (remember that?). The main reason is our personal email address- we would hate to change it at this stage; the idea of giving up MobileMe and losing our @mac.com address is more than one could bear!
However over the years, the internet services from Apple have evolved. Three of the best examples are the iDisk (which we use all of the time to host previews for clients' websites), Galleries for photos (called "homepage" in the .Mac days), and MobileMe screen sharing. This last item is a gem. We have used it to retrieve files, start processing tasks before we return to the office and generally it keeps us in touch with our office Mac.
For those who haven't tried this service, it allows you to see and control your remote Mac, such as a Mac in your office or home. The Mac needs to be running and connected to your broadband, and your Mobile me settings need to be configured in System Preferences, but once this is the case, you can connect to it as if you were in the building and on the same network.
You see an icon for your Mac in the Finder window's sidebar, and you can choose to file share (to pick up or drop off files), or you can click on the "share screen" button. This opens the Screen Sharing application, and allows you to move the mouse around and control your Mac at a distance. We have used this to open a Final Cut or iDVD project and start the processing task, which could take an hour, and by the time we return the work is ready for us, saving time and hassle. We also use it when in our building, when we need to adjust a setting on the other Mac. One example is if we want music streamed to our Apple TV. iTunes needs to be running on our Mac Pro, and instead of having to walk to the end of the building to open it, a laptop can be used to do this remotely. OK this isn't the end of the world, but hey it is a great remote gadget and we love it.
Any application finds its level if you realise that it has become part of your routine, and Screen Sharing is one of these. We have used it from other parts of the country and when abroad, and as long as your hotel's broadband doesn't block this type of broadband connection, you are in touch with your desktop Mac. Simple and powerful.
However over the years, the internet services from Apple have evolved. Three of the best examples are the iDisk (which we use all of the time to host previews for clients' websites), Galleries for photos (called "homepage" in the .Mac days), and MobileMe screen sharing. This last item is a gem. We have used it to retrieve files, start processing tasks before we return to the office and generally it keeps us in touch with our office Mac.
For those who haven't tried this service, it allows you to see and control your remote Mac, such as a Mac in your office or home. The Mac needs to be running and connected to your broadband, and your Mobile me settings need to be configured in System Preferences, but once this is the case, you can connect to it as if you were in the building and on the same network.
You see an icon for your Mac in the Finder window's sidebar, and you can choose to file share (to pick up or drop off files), or you can click on the "share screen" button. This opens the Screen Sharing application, and allows you to move the mouse around and control your Mac at a distance. We have used this to open a Final Cut or iDVD project and start the processing task, which could take an hour, and by the time we return the work is ready for us, saving time and hassle. We also use it when in our building, when we need to adjust a setting on the other Mac. One example is if we want music streamed to our Apple TV. iTunes needs to be running on our Mac Pro, and instead of having to walk to the end of the building to open it, a laptop can be used to do this remotely. OK this isn't the end of the world, but hey it is a great remote gadget and we love it.
Any application finds its level if you realise that it has become part of your routine, and Screen Sharing is one of these. We have used it from other parts of the country and when abroad, and as long as your hotel's broadband doesn't block this type of broadband connection, you are in touch with your desktop Mac. Simple and powerful.
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