2X Blog

What’s New in the Latest Release of the 2X Client for Android?

Paul Gafa', Chief Technology Officer — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:06:37 +0000

2X Software recently released a new update to the popular 2X Client for RDP/Remote Desktop. The 2X Client for Android v10.1.1247 includes some new features and improvements to the previous version which we will discuss in this article.

Google Play has the following information but we will describe each item in more detail:

Added support for custom resolution sizes
Added support for 3rd party applications to use the 2X Client
Improved support for Asus Transformer
Improved mouse right click functionality
Improved external mouse and mouse pad interactions
Fixed sending correct Unicode characters in username and password when logging on to a Terminal Server

Added support for custom resolution sizes

In this version, the user now has the ability to configure the desired server side resolution not only from a set of pre-set values but also custom sizes.

Added support for 3rd party applications to use the 2X Client

The new client can now be integrated with other applications that need to connect to remote desktops. A very simple API is available which makes it possible to deploy specific connections. For more information please check this manual link.

Improved support for Asus Transformer
The Asus Transformer running Android v3.2.1 supports mouse hardware and can send input events for left and right clicks. These events are now supported like the events of other devices running Android OS v4 or higher.

Improved mouse right click functionality
If the action bar is visible on screen, the right mouse clicks were sent with the wrong coordinates to the server. This is now corrected.

Improved external mouse and mouse pad interactions
Since we can now distinguish between left and right click, the dragging action we normally use when using standard desktops is also now available in this version. This will however need an OS version that can send right clicks.

Fixed sending correct Unicode characters in username and password when logging on Terminal Server
In the previous versions if you configured a username which has non latin characters, these were not sent correctly to the server resulting in an invalid username so you had to type it again in the remote session. This is now corrected.

Next Generation of 2X Client for Windows Connects Hosted Applications Seamlessly to Your Local Files and Documents

Paul Gafa', Chief Technology Officer — Tue, 01 May 2012 09:49:25 +0000

New 2X Client for Windows 11 makes application hosting seamless…..

2X ApplicationServer XG makes it possible to read and edit documents on the client machine from any application which is deployed remotely. You can even automatically register document file extensions so that the remote application is deployed automatically to launch the document.

For both of the above actions to work the “Drive Redirection” feature must be enabled from both client and server, however in version 10.1 the user only has the ability to either turn all drives on or all drives off.

As from v11 of 2X ApplicationServer XG the Windows Client will have more options to manage this feature. The user can now do the following:

Enable or disable drive redirection completely
Enable all drives or select specific drives to redirect
Redirect drives which are plugged into the system after the session has started

The new features allows end users who want to redirect some data to the remote servers to keep private data completely private without the fear that the remote system might access this data.

The 2X Client for Android is Deployed on the New Panasonic Smartphone

Caroline Stokes, Marketing Communications Manager — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:13:26 +0000

Dallas, TX, Apr. 26, 2012 — 2X Software, a global leader in desktop and application delivery, remote access and cloud computing solutions, today announced that Panasonic will bundle the 2X Client for Android on the new Smartphone “Softbank 102P” for the Japanese Market.

The 2X Client is an integral part of Panasonic’s original PC-Link feature which comes pre- installed on the Softbank 102P; a new fully waterproof Smartphone with an ultra-slim design. The 2X Client will also be available to download from GooglePlay for the new Smartphone “NTT Docomo P-04D” for the Japanese market model on first time use.

The 2X Client for Android allows users to stay connected to their home or office wherever they are with Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). Additionally, by connecting to 2X Software’s flagship product, 2X ApplicationServer XG, the 2X Client for RDP/Remote Desktop seamlessly runs published Windows applications and desktops from Windows Terminal Server and all major VDI Hypervisors including Microsoft Hyper-V, VMware and Citrix Xen.

“We wanted to use a third party RDP product so we could concentrate on developing new features and keep costs low,” said Panasonic Mobile Communications, Japan, “We researched some of the RDP clients available and the 2X Client is not only free, it also had the best quality, usability and support. 2X worked with us to completely modify the Japanese keyboard, we gratefully appreciate their cooperation and will continue to work with them in future.”

To download the 2X Client for Android please visit Google Play.

About Panasonic Mobile Communications

Panasonic Mobile Communications aims to link together the hearts of the people of the world and contribute to the realization of a secure, safe, comfortable, and convenient ubiquitous network society, through cutting‐edge technology in mobile communications devices.

For more information, please visit http://panasonic.net/corporate/segments/pmc/.

About 2X Software

2X Software is a global leader in desktop and application delivery, remote access and cloud computing solutions. Thousands of enterprises worldwide trust in the reliability and scalability of 2X products. 2X offers a range of solutions to make every company’s leap to cloud computing simple and affordable, backed by the engineering excellence and expertise of the 2X development team.

For more information, please visit: http://www.2x.com or contact Caroline Stokes on +44 (0)845 222 0425, email cs@2x.com.

2X Software in the Benelux: ‘Out of the Box into the Cloud’ at Portland Europe 22 May 2012

Caroline Stokes, Marketing Communications Manager — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:09:10 +0000

We are pleased to announce that 2X Software will be sponsoring “Out of the Box in to the Cloud” an event with Portland Europe, our distributor in the Benelux region on 22 May 2012.

Cloud Services is a fast growing market worldwide. This event will be open to 2X Partners and Service Providers who want to learn more about setting up Cloud Services. Paul Robinson, Managing Director of 2X Software Northern Europe, will be leading several sessions on how to build your own Cloud Services with 2X ApplicationServer XG.

Don’t miss you’re step in to the cloud and get left behind! Book your place here: http://www.portlandevents.nl.

Benelux 2Xpert Training and Certification 7 June 2012

Following on from this event 2X and Portland Europe will be holding 2Xpert certification training on the 7 June 2012 for those partners who need more than visionary advice and want to start building cloud services for their customers.

2X Training and Certification provides the foundation necessary to effectively deploy and administer 2X ApplicationServer XG and its components for Windows Server 2008 R2 environments. Specific functionality discussed includes the 2X Web Access Portal, application and desktop delivery, universal printing and scanning, resource-based load balancing and deployment of gateways and publishing agents.

The course provides attendees with valuable cloud computing experience, covering the configuration of all relevant components of 2X ApplicationServer XG deployment. Upon completion of the course, candidates will take the 2Xpert Certification test.

For more information and to register click here.

Partner Webinar: Securing and Load Balancing 2X Secure Client Gateways

Caroline Stokes, Marketing Communications Manager — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 09:02:27 +0000

May 30, 2012 at 2PM CST

2X Software will be hosting a webinar to demonstrate securing and load balancing 2X Secure Client Gateways. Learn how to scale 2X ApplicationServer XG from a small installation to thousands of users and secure it using SSL.

The webinar is open to partners only and will cover the following:

How to create a Self Sign Certificate
How to add a Third Party SSL Certificate to the 2X Client Gateway
Additional Security Features
When you need to load balance 2X Client Gateways and selecting a product to do the load balancing

You can register for the webinar here.

2X Presenters:

Scott Sims, General Manager 2X Americas

Seth Luther, 2X Support

Favorable Review from the German Publication LANline for 2X ApplicationServer XG

Caroline Stokes, Marketing Communications Manager — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:53:43 +0000

The German publication LANline has recently tested and reviewed 2XApplicationServer XG with very favorable results! Except for a few features that are already part of our roadmap for version 11, the testing they conducted was overall very positive.

2X ApplicationServer XG combines the best in application delivery and virtual desktop (VDI) management by allowing administrators to publish applications and virtual desktops from an all-in-one platform.

You can read the review in German here.

The LANline supplies competently researched information for network professionals, Managers and telecommunications specialists. Technically detailed application examples, professional tests and comprehensive market overviews help IT professionals in their daily work. 94,000 professional ITC-decision makers are readers of LANLine.

For more information please visit www.lanline.de

Webinar: Virtual Desktop & Application Delivery Made Easy with 2X ApplicationServer XG and eG Innovations

Caroline Stokes, Marketing Communications Manager — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:49:36 +0000

How to Ensure User Productivity and Management Flexibility without Breaking the Bank

Desktop virtualization and remote application delivery promise increased flexibility, scalability and cost savings. The reality is that many virtualization platforms are complex, inflexible and expensive in terms of both licensing and administration. When your virtual desktop users call and complain about performance and slow applications, are you often left on your own to diagnose the root cause and restore service availability?

If this sounds familiar then make sure to join the webinar “Virtual Desktop & Application Delivery Made Easy,” on April 18 to find out how to make virtual desktops & application delivery simple & cost effective.

Desktop virtualization experts Scott Sims from 2X Software and Bala Vaidhinathan from eG Innovations will discuss how to:

Virtualize your desktops and deliver applications for a fraction of the cost,
Reduce management cost while promoting employee mobility,
Ensure user satisfaction and productivity through built-in performance assurance.

WEBINAR DETAILS

DATE & TIME: Wednesday, April 18, 2012 @ 9:00 am PT (San Francisco) | 12:00 pm ET (New York) | 5:00 pm UK (London) | 6:00 pm CET (Berlin)

PRESENTERS: Scott Sims (2X Software) | Bala Vaidhinathan (eG Innovations)

REGISTRATION: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/274561136

Symphony Housing Moves from Citrix to 2X ApplicationServer XG

Caroline Stokes, Marketing Communications Manager — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:45:36 +0000

Merger drives new direction in desktop and application publishing

Symphony Housing, the largest registered social landlord in the North-West of the UK, has replaced Citrix with 2X ApplicationServer XG to build a cost effective ‘roaming desktops’ solution as part of its post-merger IT environment.

The switch has reduced Symphony’s application publishing budgets by over 80% while creating a secure, easy to manage desktop and application streaming approach, using 2X ApplicationServer XG.

“Scaling Citrix for application and desktop publishing across the organisation just wasn’t financially viable,” said Alan Hughes, Infrastructure Project Manager, Symphony Housing Group. “We also anticipated future cost increases due to the level of management required.”

2X software offers a highly cost effective, platform independent and robust desktop and application virtualisation solution compared to leading market vendors including Citrix and Microsoft. This helps organisations to realise benefits quickly rather than be constricted by expensive licensing models, user complexity and proprietary virtualisation restrictions.

Formed to collectively manage 40,000 homes across the North West, Symphony needed to control desktop access and application profiles for hundreds of users across many different sites and chose a server based computing and thin client approach. Using 2X ApplicationServer XG desktops and a wide range of specialist applications such as CAD and project management tools are streamed across a large number of sites.

Hughes continued, “While most corporate IT purchases turn out to have been oversold and the implementation hassle underestimated, 2X is the one that bucks that trend. It is so simple to install and manage that we had the system implemented within a week and we’re continually finding it can help us in new ways as we develop our merged IT structure.

“Previous system complexity meant that implementation challenges often required more external help than we would have preferred. With 2X we have been able to put our IT consultancy budget to better use, to ensure the entire IT project runs smoothly rather than deal with software implementation headaches.”

Full implementation and transfer to the 2X managed environment was completed over summer 2011.

Paul Robinson, UK Managing Director, 2X Software, said, “Medium sized organisations find that the complexities of desktop virtualisation and application publishing platforms aimed at large enterprises are way beyond their needs, cannot be serviced by leaner IT resources and create complexity rather than reducing it. We’re changing that by offering these organisations simpler tools with a cost effective server based licensing model.”

About Symphony Housing Group

Symphony Housing Group brings together Merseyside-based Vicinity Housing Group and Contour Housing Group in Salford to form the largest registered social landlord based solely in the North West. The Group has been providing low cost housing since 1965, operating across 30 local authorities from Liverpool to Oldham and Lancaster to Crewe, and is a regional housing provider owning and managing almost 40,000 homes. It employs over 1,000 staff with a projected £140m turnover and a substantial investment programme in existing and new properties.

About 2X Software

Contact Caroline Stokes on +44 (0)845 222 0425, email cs@2x.com, or for more information, please visit: http://www.2x.com.

New Feature for 2X ApplicationServer XG v11: URL Redirection Blacklist

Paul Gafa', Chief Technology Officer — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:26:25 +0000

One of the new features in 2X ApplicationServer XG v11 is the URL Redirection Blacklist. In this article we will look at what it is and why it is necessary for some organizations.

We will start by briefly describing what URL redirection is. Applications which are deployed from a remote server might open URLs (Web sites) or eMail links, which will result in opening a browser or an eMail client on the server. If we are deploying applications from multiple servers we might end up with multiple eMail clients or multiple browsers which might be different software. Users might also want to use their locally installed browser or eMail client. When URL/Mail redirection is enabled (please note that both client and server have options to configure this) the server will send the request to the client instead of opening the URL or eMail link and the client will open the link on the client side.

What’s the need for a black list?

With URL/Mail redirection we consolidated all the eMails and URL links to open on the client, but this might not be always correct. Imagine having a company with an Intranet. In this case if the user opens a URL which points to the Intranet, this is redirected to the client, the URL will not work unless the client has direct network access to the Intranet as well. If I am teleworking and my connection does not have a full VPN then I will not be able to access the Intranet; but wait my applications are running on the same network, if I switch off the URL redirection then will I be able to access the Intranet? The URL Redirection Blacklist make it possible to have the best of both worlds… just blacklist the URLs which are on the Intranet.

Coming Soon in 2X ApplicationServer XG v.11 – 2nd Level Authentication using a Radius Server

Paul Gafa', Chief Technology Officer — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:38:56 +0000

Up to version 10.1 2X ApplicationServer XG supported 2nd Level Authentication with either Deepnet Authentication Server or Safenet Server. Both providers were implemented using the APIs provided by the authentication server. This gave better integration where features like Zero Managment Software tokens were possible to implement, however there was the need to integrate with a generic 2nd Level authentication server.

This will be available in version 11 where 2X ApplicationServer XG will support 2nd Level Authentication via any Radius server.

The Radius server can support multiple levels of authentication and also offer challenges. By using challenges it is possible to configure more than two levels of authentication making the system more secure.

When 2nd Level authentication was introduced in 2X ApplicationServer XG, the system was designed to support different 2nd level authentication providers. This made it possible to add support for radius by changing only the Publishing Agent. No changes were necessary on the clients.