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OnLive's Virtual Win 7 Desktop Launch for iPad Delayed

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The iPad version of OnLive Desktop won't hit Apple's App Store until Friday, January 13.

Early Thursday morning OnLive sent over an email stating that the OnLive Desktop app, slated to launch for the iPad on Thursday, won't hit Apple's App Store until Friday the 13th (insert scary movie sound effect here). The delay is due to an overwhelming response to the upcoming virtual Windows 7 desktop.

"As you know, on Monday OnLive announced the new OnLive Desktop app, which will deliver a seamless and media-rich Windows desktop experience on iPad, and opened up our websites for signing up for the service," an OnLive rep stated in an email. "Although we had planned to go live on Thursday, Jan 12, we've had such a large influx of signups, we are taking another day to deploy more servers to handle the load, and we expect to go live on Friday, Jan 13."

"Sorry about any inconvenience and appreciate your patience," the rep added. "We want the first users to have the best experience possible."

When it does arrive, the OnLive Desktop app will stream a Windows 7 desktop and include pre-installed Office applications like Word, Excel and PowerPoint. This virtual desktop will be fine-tuned for the iPad, supporting instant-response multi-touch gestures while offering a full on-screen Windows keyboard and handwriting recognition.

"iPad users will now be able to simply and securely view and edit cloud-hosted documents with full-featured Windows desktop applications like Microsoft Office, just as if they were using a local high-performance PC," said Steve Perlman, OnLive Founder and CEO. "Multi-touch gestures respond instantly and smoothly, while HD videos, animations and PC video games—never before usable on a remote desktop—play seamlessly."

The free iPad app will also come packed with 2 GB of secure cloud storage. Later, OnLive plans to release a Pro version that comes with additional Windows-based apps and 50 GB of cloud-based storage, costing $9.99 USD per month. An Enterprise version is also in the works for businesses and organizations of all sizes.

As for other platforms, the OnLive Desktop app will be available for Android, smartphones, and the stand-alone OnLive MicroConsole (with Bluetooth and keyboard/mouse support). The Windows-based virtual desktop will also arrive on the PC and Mac clients with support for your typical desktop LCD and HDTVs. So far there's no word on when these will be available, only that they are "coming soon."

For more information and to set up a free account early, head here.

10 Comments Comment from the forums
  • ThisIsMe 13 January 2012 01:48
    So they just setup a bunch of multi-core multi-socket systems in racks in a datacenter to host several virtual Windows 7 installations and configured a front-end Microsoft Remote Desktop Gateway Server to route the connections?

    Or, maybe they just got some weird licensing agreement from Microsoft to let them use Windows MultiPoint Server to avoid the storage needs of numerous separate virtual installs of Windows 7?

    Just thinking out loud I guess. It does sound kinda' cool, just trying to figure how this could be profitable. Probably has something to do with that "As-available access to your multi-touch OnLive Desktop" note on the free version and that "Priority access to your multi-touch OnLive Desktop" note for the not free Pro version. Wonder if that only affects when you first connect or if it will actually kick you off the free account to make room for a Pro user? Anyways, I guess they're hoping people pay the money and log in no more than 25% of the time.
    Reply
  • technuttso 13 January 2012 02:10
    Finally, Jobs dream come true.
    Reply
  • cold fire 13 January 2012 03:52
    technuttsoFinally, Jobs dream come true.His dream was to kill cancer with herbs.
    Reply
  • dickcheney 13 January 2012 05:04
    Ill wait for my Windows 8 x86 tablet, thank you very much.
    Reply
  • 13 January 2012 05:06
    Why do people with ipads & imacs are so intent using on windows, are we saying that mac hardware is great but the os sucks or something else
    Reply
  • dickcheney 13 January 2012 05:09
    dunhillextraWhy do people with ipads & imacs are so intent using on windows, are we saying that mac hardware is great but the os sucks or something else
    No shit? The kiddie OS is nice for seeing content (as long as its not flash) and all but at the end of the day, its still a huge phone that cant make calls.
    Reply
  • dickcheney 13 January 2012 05:12
    ThisIsMeSo they just setup a bunch of multi-core multi-socket systems in racks in a datacenter to host several virtual Windows 7 installations and configured a front-end Microsoft Remote Desktop Gateway Server to route the connections?Or, maybe they just got some weird licensing agreement from Microsoft to let them use Windows MultiPoint Server to avoid the storage needs of numerous separate virtual installs of Windows 7?Just thinking out loud I guess. It does sound kinda' cool, just trying to figure how this could be profitable. Probably has something to do with that "As-available access to your multi-touch OnLive Desktop" note on the free version and that "Priority access to your multi-touch OnLive Desktop" note for the not free Pro version. Wonder if that only affects when you first connect or if it will actually kick you off the free account to make room for a Pro user? Anyways, I guess they're hoping people pay the money and log in no more than 25% of the time.
    Virtual desktops have been set up in many big corporations for a long time (at least as far back as XP). Its easier to maintain and its good enough for light to medium tasks.
    Reply
  • alidan 13 January 2012 05:56
    lol, its all i can say...
    you think microsoft is charging them for this, or are they paying them to do this? because the way i see it, this is a kick to the balls to apple on levels rarely seen.
    Reply
  • lordstormdragon 13 January 2012 09:15
    dunhillextraWhy do people with ipads & imacs are so intent using on windows, are we saying that mac hardware is great but the os sucks or something else
    No. Nobody is saying Apple hardware (which is all made by other companies, anyway) is great.

    alidanlol, its all i can say...you think microsoft is charging them for this, or are they paying them to do this? because the way i see it, this is a kick to the balls to apple on levels rarely seen.
    My thoughts precisely, Alidan, except chicks don't have balls, remember? (grins)
    Reply
  • virthddman 22 January 2012 03:24
    Access your home PC from your Android device by using the 2X client App from
    http://www.2x.com
    also has client for iOS. Voted 20th overall best Android App!
    Reply