Apple ships Remote Desktop 3
updated 08:45 am EDT, Tue April 11, 2006
Apple Remote Desktop 3
Apple today announced Apple Remote Desktop 3, the third generation of Apple's desktop management software. Building on Mac OS X version 10.4 "Tiger" innovations such as Spotlight, Dashboard and Automator, Apple Remote Desktop 3 is a Universal application optimized for Intel-based Macs and delivers more than 50 new features that deliver improvements in software distribution, asset management and remote assistance, including Spotlight searches across multiple Tiger systems; over 30 Automator actions for automating repetitive system administration tasks; a Dashboard Widget that provides quick and convenient observation of remote systems; and AutoInstall for installing software automatically on mobile systems when they return online. It is available immediately from the Apple Store (Canada) for $300 for managing up to 10 systems and $500 for managing an unlimited number of systems.
"With Apple Remote Desktop 3, we've delivered powerful innovations that make it even easier and more affordable to manage Macs," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "Great new features such as remote Spotlight searching and customized Automator actions take advantage of innovations in Tiger and make Apple Remote Desktop 3 a valuable tool for anyone managing more than one Mac."
Apple Remote Desktop 3 also includes system Status Indicators that let administrators quickly check the overall health of multiple systems at a glance and a new "Power Copy" feature that copies files up to 11 times faster than with Apple Remote Desktop 2. It also features remote Drag & Drop functionality between local and remote computers, remote Copy & Paste for simple transfer of text and images, persistent Task History and Task Templates, a new Curtain Mode to hide the desktop of a system while it is being controlled remotely, and more.
Version 3 also features Application Usage and User History Reports to track software compliance and monitor the use of unauthorized applications and can also generate Smart Computer Lists for dynamically managing systems based on specified criteria. Apple also said that it supports AES 128-bit encryption for secure communications between Apple Remote Desktop 3 and clients.
