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Free remote PC access for iPhone and iPod Touch

By Tim Conneally, BetaNews

December 14, 2007, 2:39 PM

Remote PC access software company Orb has announced support for iPhone and iPod touch, allowing users to stream their music, movies, and TV without being locked into iTunes.

To start, users must install Orb on their "always on" Windows machine, and then allow Orb to bypass any firewalls and anti-virus software. It then displays the media in the Windows default folders: My Documents, My Music, My Videos and My Photos. Other folders can be added at will by the user.

These directories can then be accessed through Safari on the iPhone and iPod Touch, and with an appropriate media player, any music and video files can be played. Conceivably, any connected device -- other desktops, laptops, properly-equipped handsets and PDAs, and video game consoles -- can access the content.

Yes, Orb is only for Windows, it supports Vista, XP SP2, or XP Media Center ('04 or '05), and requires 512MB of RAM, 100MB of available disk space, and a processor equivalent to the AMD Atholon 3200+ or 2.4 Ghz Intel Pentium IV.

While the remote PC access market has many options, affording the user control of their connected home computer anywhere, most require a monthly fee. Orb is also designed to be used in a social fashion, unlike the more straightforward style of others like Gotomypc.com.

Orb offers a free solution that, in effect, eliminates the drive size limitations of handhelds, and may alter the syncing demands of Apple's devices.

Add a Comment (13 Comments)

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By almatteri

edited Jan 7, 2008 - 1:25 AM

Score: 0

By xyzcb1

posted Dec 16, 2007 - 11:50 PM

If I am not mistaken, AT&T unlimited data prohibit user from streaming. So good luck those who try.

Score: 0

By mrow

edited Dec 17, 2007 - 3:16 PM

AT&T themselves offer streaming video on their MediaNet website...

And while YouTube isn't exactly streaming, it's very similar.

Score: 0

By Zdm321

posted Dec 15, 2007 - 8:44 PM

How come Orb is mentioned when it works for the iPhone, and not when it works for any other phones (such as the LG Voyager, HTC Touch, countless PDAs, ect)

Score: 0

By horsecharles

posted Dec 15, 2007 - 3:40 PM

Boy, this teaches Verizon a lesson re their Bluetooth = Internet $urfing brouhaha.

Score: 0

By Zdm321

posted Dec 15, 2007 - 8:43 PM

what does that mean?

Score: 0

By horsecharles

edited Dec 17, 2007 - 3:16 PM

Years ago they blocked free bluetooth access cell to pc(as in syncing contacts wirelessly)... and threatened those who hacked around that. They claimed bluetooth was akin to internet service & therefore subject to their browsing rates, which to boot were usurious as heck.

Score: 0

By xyzcb1

posted Dec 15, 2007 - 9:11 AM

Wtf does Orb has anything to do with remote PC access? Orb used to stream video and audio to PDA for a long time. So it's new wonder to iPhone?

Score: 0

By setzek

posted Dec 14, 2007 - 5:54 PM

I think this is a great way to have unlimited media storage on an iPhone since the data is streamed from the PC.

However, the iPhone apparently tapped..., according to these articles

iPhone a Trojan Horse For Government Surveillance?
http://www.prisonplanet....7iphonesurveillance.htm

FBI records audio from cell phone even when battery is out
http://www.prisonplanet....006/071206batteries.htm