Apple Releases Remote Desktop 3.1 Update

By | November 17th, 2006 comments icon (0) Comments


apple remote desktop 3 screenshot

Apple has released a universal binary updater application for users of Remote Desktop 3.0 on Intel and PowerPC-based computers. The new point update includes “numerous” improvements, specifically in the areas of: Sofware Distribution, Asset Management, Remote Control, Remote Assistance, Automation, and other network detection (i.e. Bonjour) and communication technologies. The only downside to this useful product is that it still costs $299 per license (10 managed systems). Maybe Apple should consider a lite version ($49 non-commercial / 5 managed systems) for its tech-savvy general user base?

Improvements

Apple Remote Desktop 3.1 offers numerous improvements, including:

Software distribution

  • Install Package task now supports installing Apple Installer packages that have packages outside the .mpkg
  • Addresses issues when copying files to root (“/”) on PowerPC clients
  • Copy Items task now correctly supports copying of files with aliases

Asset management

  • PCI Reports now called Expansion Card Reports
  • Software reports now also report architecture type of applications
  • System Information Report can now report on Lights Out Management configuration and settings
  • Administration Settings Report can now report on Lights Out Management settings
  • Application Usage Reports no longer allows for a start date to be later than the end date
  • You can now drag computer lists and computers into the the Remote Spotlight Search window

Remote control

  • You can now power on an Xserve with Lights Out Management
  • Send UNIX panel now correctly focuses cursor in the script field
  • Enter key now invokes the Send button in Send UNIX panel
  • The Lock Screen and Curtain Mode tasks can now display custom lock screen images
  • Send UNIX task no longer has limits on length of commands/scripts being sent to client computers

Remote assistance

  • Improved support for using right mouse buttons to invoke contextual menus
  • When performing a drag-and-drop copy, Apple Remote Desktop will now prompt you if a same-named item already exists in the location
  • Improved compatibility with third-party VNC viewers and servers
  • Addresses an issue that could cause video to be displayed improperly when sharing screens
  • Control/observe toolbars now retain their settings correctly

Automation

  • Copy Items action now also works with computer lists
  • AppleScript dictionary now includes support for Power On task for Xserves with Lights Out Management
  • Workflows that include Choose Remote Computer and Choose Computer List actions now properly retain their settings when they are re-opened
  • Using the “copy to me” task in AppleScript no longer cause the application to unexpectedly quit
  • Execute AppleScript action now correctly handles quotes in the input
  • AppleScript no longer sends extra quotes in the results of a Send UNIX task
  • AppleScript now correctly interprets Install Package tasks that use a Task Server

Other

  • Network scanners now support Bonjour-only discovery of Apple Remote Desktop and VNC-enabled client computers
  • Get Info panel now supports setting username and password for the Xserves Lights Out Management
  • Computer lists can now display the Lights Out Management status of Xserves
  • Addresses issue of Smart Computer Lists occasionally clearing out entries in other computer lists
  • Apple Remote Desktop now correctly recognizes users that login using Active Directory account with machine administration rights
  • kickstart can now correctly configure clients for VNC access
  • Resolves an issue when the client idle time in computer lists reported thousands of hours
  • Computers that have multiple network interfaces can now be used as Task Servers
  • Addresses issues in which IP addresses could occasionally be displayed inverted
  • Resolves the issue of not being able to include individual icons for the Sleep/Wake/Restart/Shutdown on your toolbar
  • Addresses an issue with computers disappearing form smart computer lists after quitting the Apple Remote Desktop application
  • If System Preferences has been restricted from opening, the Remote Desktop menu extra will now not allow launching of System Preferences
  • Addressees an issue in which task items could occasinally be dimmed (“grayed out”)
  • Support for administrators that are in more than 14 groups
  • The Installed RAM column of computer lists no longer rounds up values
  • Authenticating using directory services based accounts no longer conflicts with mobile accounts in
  • Active Directory
  • Authenticating using directory services can now be throttled to minimize load on directory servers

For more support information, visit the Apple Remote Desktop support page.





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