Yesterday, we told you how OnLive is breaking away from its gaming roots to deliver a Windows 7 thin client from the cloud. Today, we've got video of Windows 7 on an iPad, streaming a desktop complete with Word, Excel, PowerPoint and mulititouch apps, far smoother than your average remote desktop solution. See it action below, and / or try it for yourself free on iPad when the app launches this Thursday!
Update: OnLive says the app is actually coming Friday, due to an additional deployment of servers to handle the estimated load.
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i liked their gaming system though
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 11:58 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I hate their gaming system. The compression artifacts are just too annoying for my eyes. The lower framerate/compression quality required for a desktop makes it sound like a good idea.
…and presuming all their servers are US based, would probably make a good region-restriction and/or lack of Flash bypass if you load up Hulu or whatever in the browser.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:05 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
The general idea was good.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:23 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Not really. the Physical laws the internet has to obey make timing based interaction a bad idea.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 3:00 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Have you tried it? On a decent connection, after a few minutes you completely forget that none of it is local.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 4:37 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Yes… and no..
Your brain does compensate somewhat by anticipating and reacting to what it anticipates WILL happen, but it is a poor compensation for performance.
The lag is worse than Kinect.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 6:15 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I already do this with splashtop remote and my home pc.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:08 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
“far smoother than your average remote desktop solution”
I have splashtop too and it definitely isn’t the best for watching TV shows or movies on. Frame rates drop drastically.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:11 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Wow! If the price is right and we can install our own apps on their server, this could be a real game changer! The power of Windows without the battery drain. Despite what every tech pundit and mimicker out there, Windows 7 can be optizmized for touch devices!
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:11 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
Or turn any tablet into a windows tablet. “Very nice!”
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:12 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Now can I play Minecraft on my iPad??
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:12 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Minecraft is already out for iOS.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 5:09 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Yeah but the app is far inferior to the desktop version.
Posted on Jan 17, 2012 | 7:48 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
What is the deal with videos? I can’t get any of them to play…
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:14 PM EST reply Recommend (14) Flag actions
Do you have Ad Block on? I disabled Ad Block for The Verge because video wouldn’t play with it on. Now they all work fine.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 2:26 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
They’re running them through OnLive’s virtual desktop client.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 3:04 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
This video will not play.. it runs the ad then plays one second of the video, then stops. Been having many issues with verge videos lately. I’m Running the latest version of Firefox on lion.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:14 PM EST reply Recommend (15) Flag actions
Same thing in Chrome… IE9 worked fine though.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 1:28 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Been a while since I’ve heard someone say that about IE.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 3:05 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Where is your cave?
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 6:16 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I can tell you don’t develop websites for a living.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 10:52 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Don’t get me wrong, ie9 is a substantial improvement when it comes to standards compatibility, but even still there is the occasional bug that requires ie specific coding. And almost never is it that my code works in ie, but not any other browser.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 1:29 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
same in safari
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 1:29 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Same in Safari on Lion. Videos work but show in a tiny frame inside the video box and after it starts playing no video controls work, it just keeps looping.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 1:55 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
The Verge videos have never worked for me in Chromium (not Chrome!) in Ubuntu.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 1:57 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Try disabling adblock if you have it. That got it to work for me
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 2:02 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Same here on 10.6.8 on Safari (5.1.2) and Chrome (16.0.9). Watched 3 ads (which you can’t mute the sound btw) before being able to see the video which wasn’t in HD. Clicking the HD button, boom, video stopped. Please fix this… (I registered just so you could improve The Verge because it’s good and I’d like to help you make it awesome).
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 2:18 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
this one doesnt work for me either.
Jamie
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:15 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Ive tweeted the verge support team about it (@vergesupport)
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:16 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Verge Product Team @VergeSupport 13s Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
@MoccoLFC Try reloading the video. We’re working with our partners to resolve this issue. Thanks.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:20 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Video isn’t working in Firefox 9.0.1 on Windows 7.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:21 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
That’s probably because you have AdBlock enabled. This video has an advertisement for the first twenty seconds.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:24 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Yup, it was AdBlock. Disabled for The Verge in Chrome and it plays.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:35 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Ive tried turning adblock off and it doesnt fix the issue.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:36 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I thought it was fixed, but when I tried to turn HD on it killed the video again. Bummer.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:37 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Here’s the video on The Verge youtube account. If you have any trouble viewing any of the videos you should be able to find them all there
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:39 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
thanks, worked fine.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 1:01 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Verge videos with ads die when you turn HD on. They don’t if you leave it SD.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:56 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I don’t even have AdBlock and it doesn’t work.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 1:41 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
This is great and all, but where is OnLives gaming app for iOS? I have it on my GN but would love to have it on my iPad.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:22 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Exactly!
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 1:00 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Its stuck in approval process.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 5:10 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I Can’t get any video in my Chrome on Win7
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:27 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
How is this possibly smoother than a terminal server?
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:29 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I am trying to figure out the problems that this is the answer to as none immediately come to mind. I suppose if you don’t own a computer, and don’t mind the lag, this is a useful alternative. I imagine gaming, and the other useful things a computer does that a tablet cannot yet are not solved with this. Such as, printing, burning CD’s or DVD’s, editing video, DLNA streaming with your home theater, sharing, group networking. I am sure it will evolve into something useful along the path, until then its more of a tech showcase.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:29 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Two words: business users. This is perfect for on-the-go Office.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:57 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I think businesses are the last place that will want to use this. Connecting this to a domain for secure access? VPNs? Proper encryption between VM’s? Controlled patching and updates for Enterprise compliance? Does it meet the regulatory compliance for data protection? Backups of local files? Are there management tools to update 500 users at once?
It very quickly becomes easier to use a Terminal Server and or Citrix for management and ROI purposes. There are already RDP apps that allow for this on tablet devices, or phones etc. I think this is clearly targeted at home use for now, unless they are ready to tackle Microsoft/Citrix/VMWare in the remote desktop arena.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 1:11 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Business users have their own, safe, controlled cloud for on the go office.
or laptops.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 3:02 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
The iPad can already do half of those things without OnLive.
Printing – AirPrint, 3rd Party Apps.
Editing Video – Photos App, iMovie, 3rd Party Apps.
DLNA Streaming – AirPlay, 3rd Party Apps.
Group Networking – 3rd Party Contacting Apps.
And why the hell would you want to, let alone need to, burn CD’s and DVD’s, check that actually, if your advanced enough to be using an iPad, you shouldn’t even be using CD’s or DVD’s.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 5:15 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I love this. I suppose it could do the same with Ubuntu as well.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:31 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Amazing. OnLive managed to crank out a better Windows tablet than Microsoft…on an iPad.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:39 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
The HORROR!!! :-O :P
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 12:42 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Wow this is really really amazing. Video of it looked crazy smooth, wonder how they have managed it! This will be a real game changer if the pricing is reasonable. Would love to see them do this to mac os x as well!
For those struggling with playing the video, mine worked after I signed in and reloaded. Im running safari on lion.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 1:00 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Why smooth. OnLive’s goal was to solve the issue with on-demand, remote gaming first. While it is not 100% successful, it works way better than most people actually imagined. Now, while that part may not be perfected 100% yet, it solves the problem with basic desk-top computing, where there is less animation per frame. Solve it for for the hard-case (gaming) and the the not-so-hard case (not-gaming, productivity) is solved readily.
At least, that was the idea.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 1:35 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
News Flash: Nothing is Perfect. But Everything, is Perfectible.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 5:17 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
News Flash: Nothing is Perfect. But Everything, is Perfectible.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 5:18 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
all that to see something I can already do with remote desktop
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 1:02 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Remote Desktop doesn’t even come close to that.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 5:18 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
bad time to have videos crashing now isn’t it? what was wrong with html5 videos? besides no ads I mean?
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 1:14 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Windows 8 will rule the iPad…
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 1:30 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
It wont rule it, but it’ll be cool to run on it.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 5:19 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Will this have at least Internet explorer? It would lead to more possibilities.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 1:50 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
OnLive is supposed to have their own Browser, not sure if its within OnLive desktop, or its gonna be its own app.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 5:20 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I wonder if there is an enterprise applicability to this (provided the necessary encryption and authentication controls are in place.)
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 1:58 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
That’s probably the prime consideration for something like this
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 2:10 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Smoother than RDP? I highly doubt that – especially over mobile Internet connections. I’m sitting in a bus on the way home from the gym right now and can use RDP to check on my video encodes at home without any problems… with this Cloud Desktop thing, I’d probably need a steady 2MBit/s of downstream just to move the mouse around.
Multimedia (video and audio streaming), yeah, Onlive has the upper hand… but for work? RDP is a tried and true solution that’s fast, robust and “just works”. There’s no beating it…
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 2:19 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
video still does not work for me =/
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 3:27 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
the future is actually the past now?
OnLive, Apple and other companies had brought back main frame computer and dumb terminals, how soon will we see something more classic?
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 4:24 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
WTF r u talking about.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 5:21 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Early on UNIX main frames were connected to via dumb terminals. here was a central server that pushed out the desktop/apps/what have you to the dumb terminal. Things shifted to local desktops, as they became more powerful, and now things are shifting back to centralized computing where the end user basically is pushed everything he needs.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 12:50 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
If this really is smoother than Splashtop or LogMeIn, then you can definitely count me in.
Posted on Jan 10, 2012 | 4:58 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
A thousand times faster than both of them, COMBINED!
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 5:21 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
As a graphic designer/web developer this might be a game changer to be able to load up some of the applications we use for client projects and be able to work on them using our Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablets. Splashtop works pretty good but if this is faster and it lets us open local files (Local, Dropbox, etc.) we won’t have to connect to our own pc. Will definitely be watching this unfold…
I did a little digging and found this a video from “Talk Android” showing a new HTC rumored tablet running a demo of Online Desktop on Android.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moswP0GVmM0&feature=player_embedded
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 1:08 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I downloaded it a few days ago, and was excited to try the app out…Took 3 days for activation, but then : I got the message that my 4mbps connection (one of the best speeds available here in India) wasn’t sufficient to use the app :(
Posted on Jan 16, 2012 | 3:44 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Because your latency is too high. They have no servers in India.
Posted on Jan 23, 2012 | 12:53 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
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