StarNet brings fast, secure Linux desktops to iPad

SUNNYVALE, USA: StarNet Communications, a leading developer of X11 connectivity solutions, has announced iLIVEx, a fast, secure and fault-tolerant X11 client that turns the Apple iPad into an X terminal for powerful Linux and Unix mainframe and supercomputers.

iLIVEx is available from the App Store for $14.99. It allows iPad users to connect to Unix and Linux desktops and applications hosted on remote Unix and Linux servers. iLIVEx features an ultra-thin data transfer protocol allowing for LAN-like performance, even over 3G connections.

iLIVEx connections also run over securely encrypted SSH tunnels. Built-in session persistency allows users to reconnect to their remote desktops should the iPad get disconnected, turned off or the user temporarily switches to another iPad app.

iLIVEx is designed for the millions of Windows users who run applications like Hummingbird Exceed, X-Win32, ReflectionX, VNC, Cygwin and others to access applications on powerful Unix and Linux hosts. For the first time they can redisplay those applications from their desktop onto an iPad and continue to work at LAN-like performance levels.

“Engineers, technicians, system and network administrators can now access their remote Linux desktops and applications from outside their office, whether in a conference room or on a commuter bus or train. This takes remote X11 desktop access to a new level of mobility and significantly enhances end-user productivity,” said Steven Schoch, StarNet co-founder and CEO.

iLIVEx is also designed to provide non-Linux users the ability to run a remote desktop. With their purchase of iLIVEx, StarNet provides a free Linux desktop account on a StarNet-hosted Linux server. On their remote desktop users gain a number of capabilities not currently available on iPads. These include:

Viewing Flash – By way of Firefox on their remote Linux desktop, iLIVEx enables iPad users to work with flash-based web sites and applications.

True Multi-Tasking – iLIVEx users can work on multiple office applications (wordprocessor, email, spreadsheet, etc.) simultaneously, even copy and paste data between them.

Persistency – Users can reconnect to their remote Linux/Unix desktop at any time, even after the iPad has disconnected from the network. No work is lost due to a disconnect.

Desktop Switching – Users can seamlessly switch their remote desktops between iPads, Windows, Linux and Macintosh PCs.