Android tablets are wonderful devices and they can do just about anything. They are pretty close to a full computing devices able to play games, browse the internet, watch movies, and much more. The only limitation is that you needs apps to do anything that is not web-based. There are a lot of apps in the Google Play Store but certainly many businesses and school software are not compatible. It would be nice if you tablet could run any software that you have on your computer and thus become a laptop replacement. One option that can accomplish that task is a remote desktop app and Splashtop is one of the best. This app lets you remotely connect and run anything from your computer right on your tablet. So who needs to buy an expensive laptop anymore.
First let’s discuss how the remote desktop works for those not familiar. First you download the Splashtop program on the computer at home or laptop that you want to access. After login the app runs in the background and is ready to receive a connection. Then you open the app on your tablet and choose the computer that is listed and you are connected. Easy setup that anybody can do with no hassle.
The newly released Splashtop 2 HD comes with many improvement over the previous versions. First, you only require a simple login and password to connect. Previously the process was more complicated with IP address and configurations which is all gone now. There is also new encryption to keep your data secure if connecting away from home on the internet. The app is also very fast with very little lag supporting 1080P resolution. When connecting you can use different touch methods to replace the usual mouse keys. As depicted below, tapping the screen or holding will function the right and left mouse key. Dragging with 2 fingers lets you scroll while three fingers activates pan. Overall I found the navigation easy although sometimes it took a few tries.
One big issue with the app is that this new version is free while the previous versions cost $10. The reason it’s free is that to connect over 3G/4G or away from home you need to pay a yearly subscription of $9.99. Now that’s not a lot and probably worth it if you intend to use this frequently but it has got people pretty upset. The app has been slammed with 1 stars from previous users who had payed for the previous versions of the app and now have to pay a subscription. Even worse is that Splashtop does not charge for this service on the iPad which you can imagine doesn’t help the Android base. I think the users have a legitimate case since when you purchase an app it is expected to have updates for free. Splashtop has promised to give all those users a free year of service but this hasn’t stopped people from leaving bad 1 star reviews.
Splashtop probably did this because the trend in mobile apps is towards in-app purchases and subscriptions. The days of paying a one-time fee for an app is coming to a close and who knows if it ever comes back. For previous users of Splashtop this is definitely a big hit and I sympathize with them. But if you are a new user this shouldn’t affect you as much unless you feel like supporting the community. Regardless of what you think about the situation the app works really well and definitely worth the price in my opinion. This app lets you turn your Android into a full-fledged laptop which is very powerful. The app is currently free so give it a try and let us know what you think about the app or the subscription model.
Download Splashtop 2 HD
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