Just got my Shadow set up today; very cool! I'm going to do some experimenting myself, but was wondering if anyone has tested whether there is a difference in streaming performance between an iPhone 11 Pro and a regular iPad [newest non-Pro version]?
- Microsoft Remote Desktop received several new features in a new update.
- The update brings support for Windows Virtual Desktop.
- This is the first update for the app in over a year.
Microsoft rolled out an update for Microsoft Remote Desktop recently. It's the first update for the app in over a year, but it brings several significant features to the app [via OnMSFT]. Perhaps most importantly, the app now supports Windows Virtual Desktop.
The complete changelog lists every new feature that's supported. Here's a quick breakdown:
- Support for the Windows Virtual Desktop [WVD] service.
- Brand new Connection Center UI.
- Brand new in-session UI for switching between connected PCs and apps.
- New layout for the auxiliary on-screen keyboard.
- Improved external keyboard support.
- Support for SwiftPoint Bluetooth mice.
- Support for microphone redirection.
- Support for local storage redirection.
- Support for camera redirection [Windows 10 1809 or later required].
- Support for new iPhone and iPad devices.
- Dark and light theme support.
- Control whether your phone can lock when connected to a remote PC or app.
- Collapse the in-session connection bar with a long-press on the Remote Desktop logo.
Windows Virtual Desktop allows people to "deploy and scale" Windows desktop and apps on Azure. Microsoft's page explaining the service states that it is "the only virtual desktop infrastructure [VDI] that delivers simplified management, multi-session Windows 10, optimizations for Office 365 ProPlus, and support for Remote Desktop Services [RDS] environments. Deploy and scale your Windows desktops and apps on Azure in minutes, and get built-in security and compliance features."
The rest of the newly supported features increase the range of devices that you can use, including newer iPhones and iPads.
This app allows you to access your PC or virtualized apps from just about anywhere using your iOS device.
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The iPad received its own iPad operating system [iPadOS] based on iOS 13 in September 2019. Almost simultaneously, the long-awaited Microsoft’s Windows Virtual Desktop [WVD] became available. Why the ezeep team is especially happy about two iPadOS innovations and what they have to do with Windows Virtual Desktop can be found in our video and blog post.
ThinPrint’s Henning Volkmer shows how easy it is to access and print in Windows Virtual Desktop from an iPad.
The new iPadOS 13 offers many interesting business features, such as slide over and split view, which optimize working with multiple apps on the iPad. The newly designed home screen, where widget pins can now be added for a better overview, or the improved file app are further examples. However, here at ThinPrint we’re particularly excited about two iPad features that will make working productively and accessing Windows Virtual Desktop so much easier.
With iPadOS 13, Safari becomes a desktop browser
Apple has updated its Safari web browser. From iPadOS 13, the iPad will act as a macOS computer for web servers. For users, this means that Safari will no longer display the mobile versions of web pages but will allow them to access the desktop versions of websites. This allows them to conveniently use web applications like Google Docs and WordPress on their iPad, easily download files with the new download manager, and better collaborate with colleagues.
And that’s not all – Safari’s “desktop-class” version makes it easy for users to access Windows Virtual Desktop. Using desktop-class browsing, users can then simply access a Microsoft hosted website that runs on the Azure platform along with the virtual desktops.
iPadOS 13 supports a mouse
With iPadOS 13, the iPad can be connected to a mouse via USB or Bluetooth and fully operated this way. A mouse cursor is then displayed that simulates a finger. The mouse connection makes it much easier for iPad users to work on a Windows Virtual Desktop with apps such as Excel.
The Windows Virtual Desktop App for iPad[iOS]
In addition to accessing a Windows Virtual Desktop via Safari browser, the Remote Desktop iPadOS app is also available in the Apple Store. This is more convenient and also offers the possibility to save login credentials. By default, a mouse can also be used as input device. An especially useful advantage is that the screen resolution can be adjusted to the user’s requirements.
Windows Virtual Desktop and printing from iPads
With iPadOS 13, the iPad is moving further in the direction of desktop computers and will be able to be used even more productively in the corporate context. To enable users to not only edit but also print files on virtual desktops, ThinPrint, selected by Microsoft as an integration partner, offers ezeep, its cloud printing solution for the upcoming Windows Virtual Desktop. ezeep takes on all print management tasks and saves IT departments the hassle of printer drivers and printer assignments.
What about iPad users? They open Windows Virtual Desktop in their desktop-class Safari browser or the Remote Desktop app, open the desired file on their iPad, with or without the mouse, and hit the print button. ezeep ensures that they can immediately take their printout from the printer.
- Article
- 06/29/2021
- 2 minutes to read
Applies to: iOS 13.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Important
This content applies to Azure Virtual Desktop [classic], which doesn't support Azure Resource Manager Azure Virtual Desktop objects. If you're trying to manage Azure Resource Manager Azure Virtual Desktop objects, see this article.
You can access Azure Virtual Desktop resources from your iOS device with our downloadable client. This guide will tell you how to set up the iOS client.
Install the iOS client
To get started, download and install the client on your iOS device.
Subscribe to the feed provided by your admin to get the list of managed resources you can access on your iOS device.
To subscribe to a feed:
- In the Connection Center, tap +, and then tap Add Workspace.
- Enter the feed URL into the Feed URL field. The feed URL can be either a URL or an email address.
- If you use a URL, use the one your admin gave you. Normally, the URL is //rdweb.wvd.microsoft.com.
- To use email, enter your email address. This tells the client to search for a URL associated with your email address if your admin configured the server that way.
- Tap Next.
- Provide your credentials when prompted.
- For User name, give the user name with permission to access resources.
- For Password, give the password associated with the user name.
- You may also be prompted to provide additional factors if your admin configured authentication that way.
- Tap Save.
After this, the Connection Center should display the remote resources.
Once subscribed to a feed, the feed's content will update automatically on a regular basis. Resources may be added, changed, or removed based on changes made by your administrator.
Next steps
To learn more about how to use the iOS client, check out the Get started with the iOS client documentation.