App Review: iTap Mobile

Being able to connect remotely to servers and computers on a daily basis is what many network admins out there do all day long.  Finding a good app to accomplish that job from a mobile device is not as simple as it sounds.  There are several apps that will remotely connect to servers and PC's but the ease of use and functionality of those apps can vary greatly. One that is full featured and more than capable is iTap Mobile by HLW Software Development.

Create a New RDP Connection

This unfortunately named app is one of the most robust remote desktop client apps on the market.  As you can guess by the name it came from the IOS world and was ported over to Android.  It features many of the options you would expect from a RDP app like automatic connections, the ability to store credentials and change port addresses. But it offers so many more features.  This is one of the few apps (if not the only one) to offer support for Terminal Server (TS) Gateway or RDP from Anywhere.  That is the feature where you connect to a Remote Desktop Gateway server and RDP to servers behind the firewall using https ports instead of just the RDP protocol on port 3389. For many admins this makes opening up RDP secure and easier since many companies already allow https traffic through their firewall.  Even though there is not a huge demand for this, it does support the feature and it works very well.

In addition, the app allows you to connect to large screen resolutions (up to 4096x2048) and pinch to zoom in and out for readability.  Navigation is made easy by offering three different mouse modes. There is scope mode, pointer mode and draw mode.  Each has their own way of controlling the pointer but combined, they offer a complete solution to navigating around a desktop.  Scope mode lets you jump around the screen. You tap the screen for left clicks and panning of the screen is done by dragging your finger around.  Pointer mode shows the pointer constantly and lets you tap the screen for clicks. Draw mode is a left click only mode. This mode gives you more manual control of windows and the screen.  Right clicking is done by pressing the screen then tapping anywhere on the screen with a second finger. The keyboard input can be set to automatic or manual modes. Using a three finger swipe you can also pull up a keyboard.

Connection Properties

Speaking of the swipe controls, iTap Mobile has several options that can be initiated just by using two or three fingered gestures.  Learning these gestures does take some time but remembering a few key ones can make using the app very simple.  Their website has a great manual online which shows all of the information you will ever need to use iTap.  There are a few key gestures that they have listed you should learn. After you master the controls the navigation is quick and easy.

The app does not lack options or controls. You can setup a connection to a Windows server or desktop computer and control many aspects of the experience.  In the setup screen there are name and port fields for setting up the connection. You have the gateway options for using the TS Gateway feature. There are system credentials for logging into the system. Screen settings allow you to configure the screen to fit your devices specific settings.

However, under Advanced is where this app shines.  You can connect directly to the console or mount your SD Card for allowing you to copy files to or from the card. Sound, performance, keyboard and mouse modes are also configured here. Varying security levels can be set in this area.  iTap offers NLA or Network Level Authentication as well as TLS security authentication.  There are 3G specific options to help optimize the experience while on a 3G connection.

You can specify normal RDP options on startup like a program to launch or specific working directory.  There are the previously mentioned mouse and keyboard modes in Advanced.  The final feature is a connection test. This will show an indicator if the remote connection is available.  If you use TS Gateway connections this feature does not work but normal RDP connections available from the web will work fine.  If you connect your device to a VPN before using a RDP client the testing feature works once you establish the VPN.  This makes finding desktops that are powered on and running much easier.

Setting up connections, or bookmarks as they are called in the app, has been made easier in recent versions with the cloning option.  Setup a few bookmarks manually then long press them to get the clone option.  Adding new connections is made faster once you have a few to copy.  There is a search feature on the main screen to help you find servers and desktops.

iTap Mobile is $14.99 in the Play Store.  This may seem expensive but most of the higher end remote desktop apps are similarly priced.  The functionality and features that iTap offers makes it well worth the price.  They offer a free trial version so that you can test it before you buy.  Nevertheless, If you are a network admin or support professional, you will find this tool indispensable.