Splashtop Pumps Windows 8 Metro to iPad for Testing

By Kevin Parrish
published

Here's a way for developers to test their Windows 8 applications with an iPad they already own.

Splashtop Inc said on Thursday that it has released Win8 Metro Testbed, a remote desktop app for Apple's iPad that will stream a Windows 8 environment straight to the tablet. Now developers can test native Metro UI touch gestures on an iPad as they code and compile new apps on their Windows PC. The idea is for developers with an iPad to develop for the new Windows platform without having to actually purchase a separate Windows 8 tablet, thus saving money.

"Since Apple’s App Store generates over 80% of all tablet app revenue, nearly every software developer that writes apps for tablets has an iPad," noted Mark Lee, Splashtop CEO and co-founder. "With Windows 8 Metro expected to ship on over 400 million new PCs and tablets annually, these developers have high expectations for an enormous new market. Splashtop lets them turn their iPad into a development testbed to evaluate touch gestures and functionality of their app in a Windows 8 environment."

To get a streaming Windows 8 environment up and running on an iPad, users/developers will need to purchase Splashtop's $25 remote desktop client app from the iOS App Store (opens in new tab). Also needed is Splashtop's streamer program that's installed on a PC (1.6 GHz or better dual-core CPU, 1 GB of RAM) running Microsoft's Windows 8 Consumer Preview. The $25 price tag is a special promotion -- Win8 Metro Testbed will eventually be cranked back up to its original $50 fee.

According to the developer, the Win8 Metro Testbed enables native Windows 8 Metro touch gestures, including the ability to:

* Swipe from the right to view the Charms menu
* Swipe from the left to switch apps
* Swipe left/right in Internet Explorer to move between pages
* Swipe down to bring up additional menus
* Swipe down on an item to select it
* Pull down from the top to close an app
* Swipe slowly from the left to run two apps side-by-side ("snapping")
* Swipe from left-and-back to show running apps
* Pinch to navigate files, folders, apps and data with Semantic Zoom
* And more!

Win8 Metro Testbed joins the company's popular Splashtop Remote Desktop service which allows users to stream their PC or Mac on a smartphone or tablet. Users can load up and stream movies and music stored on the hard drive, or stream installed games that would otherwise be unavailable on a small device. Users can even work on their files by remote without ever having to access their desk. Remote Desktop is currently available in iOS, Android, Windows Phone and other tasty flavors.

Kevin Parrish
13 Comments Comment from the forums
  • DroKing
    I have to admit that is a pretty clever idea out of all this ugliness surrounding window 8.
    Reply
  • joytech22
    EDIT: Oops.. Missed the part about it being designed specifically for Windows 8 (Thus their "test bed" name)
    And that it supports gestures..

    Why is this a story?
    I've done this with my Iconia Tab A500 and my HTPC since the Windows 8 developers preview or whatever it's called.

    Not only that, but on the Android Market, Splashtop for tablets is considerably less costly at only $5 compared to the $25.

    So where's the story for Android?
    Reply
  • beayn
    I'm surprised Apple approve this app.
    Reply
  • trumpeter1994
    john_4Why on earth would you want to put a pile of sh!t onto a perfectly good iPad. It's like replacing OS X with Vista.I'd run Vista over OS X any day, yes vista was bad, it was a resource hog and slightly annoying to transition to from XP. But so long as your not running on a stone age processor with 1GB of ram it's tolerable. As for OS X though, I'd probably end up running a VM with Windows on it just so that half my programs would operate.
    Reply
  • ap3x
    joytech22EDIT: Oops.. Missed the part about it being designed specifically for Windows 8 (Thus their "test bed" name)And that it supports gestures..Why is this a story?I've done this with my Iconia Tab A500 and my HTPC since the Windows 8 developers preview or whatever it's called.Not only that, but on the Android Market, Splashtop for tablets is considerably less costly at only $5 compared to the $25.So where's the story for Android?
    So I thought the same thing on my iPad. I have their Remote Desktop app and I got it for about $5. It does do a few things on Windows 8 but the touch does not seem to work. You still control the mouse pointer.

    The Metro Testbed app is not available on Android based on what I am seeing on their website and I think it is a different app designed to pass different commands back to Windows 8. It seems to allow touch mode and not just control the mouse. I am sure there are other features as well but that is just what I can see from their site.
    Reply
  • jackbling
    i could see $5.00, maybe $10.00, but it would be nice to hear the justification of this $25.00 rdp app.
    Reply
  • lp
    http://brobot175.co.uk/

    Believe this works on Android HC and ICS
    Reply
  • dreadlokz
    I think windows 8 will fail in desktops, and I rly don't think ppl will pay $100 for an OS to their mobile devices! So im rly sry, I love Win7, but Windows8 will be a HUGE FAIL!!!
    Reply
  • ap3x
    jackblingi could see $5.00, maybe $10.00, but it would be nice to hear the justification of this $25.00 rdp app.
    It is not a RDP app. Does not use port 3389.
    Reply
  • tokencode
    ap3xIt is not a RDP app. Does not use port 3389.
    RDP is a protocol, it can run on an port.
    Reply