The speculation about the feature set of Chrome Remoting ends as Google has released the software as a beta extension for Chrome. Think GoToMyPC: Remoting is available as the Chrome Remote Desktop that enables a user to remote control another PC that runs Chrome. Microsoft and Mozilla, this is a killer feature that should not be underestimated.
Google released the extension last Friday and says that it is experimental at this time and it is offered to collect user feedback. We first noticed “host remoting” in Chrome more than a year ago in Chromium 7 versions. Last May, Google decided to remove remoting as a core feature from Chrome and offer it as a plug-in and later as an extension. Compared to GoToMyPC, the feature is not quite as convenient, but it is free and can be used on any computer and OS that runs Chrome.
To use remoting, a user simply needs to install the extension on all PCs that should have access to remote control. When the software is engaged, it will provide a 12-number code on the computer that will be remote controlled. The code then needs to be confirmed on the system that will get access. Besides Chrome, a user will also need a Google/Gmail account. Due to the cross-platform compatibility, the feature works across Windows, Chrome OS, Linux and Mac systems.
There are not many details we know about the remoting, feature. However, what we do know is that Google is leveraging a basic P2P connection via libjingle and PseudoTCP to establish connectivity between two systems. Google uses SSL to encrypt the data transmitted between two PCs and V8 for graphics rendering on the remote system. We tested the software briefly on a Cr-48 Chromebook that remote-controlled a Windows 7 PC. While the feature worked well and (we learned how painful it is to use Photoshop via the Cr-48′s trackpad) the Windows 7 system warned me that our system performance suddenly dropped and reverted the desktop settings to the original, basic Windows 7 theme as a result.
Besides this little hiccup, the feature worked flawlessly. The current usage scenario, however seems to be mainly support activities as there need to be two people available on two PCs to confirm a connection. If Google finds a way to enable secure remoting without requiring a user to confirm security codes on both ends, then this may an enticing option for GoToMyPC users. However, with some compromises, Chrome Remote Desktop bridges the gap between different platforms already and I ended up using Skype as well as sending myself files from a Windows 7 PC via email.
It isn’t quite finished yet and Google has some work left to do, but Remoting could be a killer feature that will propel Chrome’s market share even higher – especially if Google’s upcoming Chrome for Android supports this feature as well and you could use your phone to access your PC. On Sunday, Chrome broke 26% market share for the first time, according to StatCounter and was within 0.7 points of market share of Firefox. Microsoft IE dropped below 39% of market share on Sunday again.
Wolfgang Gruener in Products on October 10
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