OS X's Screen Sharing. All recent versions of OS X come with a suite of built-in screen sharing features. The easiest way to use them is through the Back to My Mac feature enabled under System Preferences > iCloud. Screen sharing is one of the most important features of the Mac desktops. It is an essential business tool that helps you share remote screen of the Mac to colleagues, clients remotely. GoToMeeting is a screen-sharing solution for Mac (and many more devices) that makes it easy to collaborate with anyone remotely. In seconds, you can connect over the Internet and share your screen in real time. Apple is directing customers to a support document that outlines the changes coming to Back to My Mac, instructing them on how to transition to iCloud Drive, screen sharing, and Apple Remote Desktop.
Tips
By William Gallagher Apple's long-standing macOS's long-standing remote access feature is officially dying on July 1. It's no loss, as long as you're prepared. AppleInsider details the alternatives you can use right now.Tuesday, August 21, 2018, 12:52 pm PT (03:52 pm ET) Editor's note: This piece first ran just before macOS Mojave was released to the public. Now that we know that Apple is killing the feature for good on July 1, it's time to consider your options. Wherever you are in the world, you can see the screen of any Mac you own and you can control them too. For 11 years you were able to use Apple's own tool for this, Back to My Mac, and that's going to be over very soon. From the launch of macOS Mojave next month, this feature is removed and we won't miss it —because we've switched to better alternatives. Back to My Mac had Apple's typical advantage of being easy to set up and straightforward to use but it also had severe limitations. Chief among them was that you had to run it on another Mac, and only another Mac. That's fine if you're taking your MacBook with you around the world and need to occasionally connect to your iMac in the office. It's not at all useful if you're only carrying an iPad. Plus the feature was only ever meant to be a convenience in a pinch, it wasn't intended to be used all the time. Back to My Mac wasn't a true solution if you needed to control many Macs, either, and you easily might need to. Being able to remote view and control a Mac meant you could buy Mac minis and deploy them as servers without the expense of a monitor. This is so useful that multiple companies have been producing robust and powerful alternatives. That's perhaps why Apple has pulled out —this could be the software equivalent of how it's recently stopped selling Airport Express hardware. If you're working in an enterprise company then you have a range of options such as Citrix and LogMeIn plus an IT department to run them for you. For pro Mac users and consumers, we've got three alternatives to Back to My Mac for you. Mac Screen Sharing For WindowsCall it twoWe must mention that Apple itself is not entirely abandoning the concept. In a support document that it quietly slipped out this month, the company recommends that Back to My Mac users switch to its own Apple Remote Desktop application. Don't do it. It doesn't add enough over Screen Sharing from a Mac on the local network to justify it there. Plus, configuring its use over the Internet is fiddly and requires far too much in the way of manual router configuration for most users. Just to put the nail in that coffin, Apple Remote Desktop has also has been buggy for about five years, and Apple doesn't seem that interested in fixing frequent 'Failed to Authenticate' errors. Don't take our word for it —look at the user reviews for yourself, if you must. It does work, as long as you're comfortable setting up port forwarding on your routers manually. And as long as you're comfortable with older software, given that the last update was in February of 2017. This could change, now that Apple's mentioned it as a solution. But, we're not hopeful. I'll work if you own it already. If you don't, save $79.99 and go straight to two far better options. Google steps inChrome Remote Desktop is Google's free remote access tool that works between a user's devices. The tool is free, but as a web-app it requires the use of Chrome in order to set it up, as well as the installation of a browser extension on all Macs or PCs to use it. ![]() Google has also produced an iOS app that allows access from an iPhone or iPad to a computer with Chrome Remote Desktop set up. The system has been set up to make it as easy to use as possible, with no need to remember individual IP addresses for specific machines. Instead, all installations are linked to the user's Google account, with the app showing a list of all devices, as well as which are on and can accept a connection using a security PIN you define. Chrome Remote Desktop isn't limited to just one network, as the feed from the desktop can be streamed out to a device on another network, so long as both sides are able to access the Internet. Once connected, the remote user has free control of the keyboard and mouse, with the desktop displaying a message advising remote access is in progress and a button for the local user to disconnect the stream. While it is a free tool and is useful for emergencies or very quick sessions, the fact that it runs through Chrome means it can potentially hog resources on the desktop, especially memory, while it is being used. There is also the question of trust, as some users may not want to allow their remote stream to pass through Google's servers, though they are secured using Chrome's built-in encryption. ScreensFrankly, this is the one we use. Edovia's Screens 4.7.2 usually costs $30, but if you buy it from the developer, it is now being offered for 20 percent off if you quote RIPBTMM at checkout. It's also available as part of Setapp. Screens chiefly acts like Screen Sharing but from anywhere and both iOS or macOS. It's particularly good at handling the conflicting concerns of needing high security and wanting ease of use. As well as the Screens app itself, you install a companion called Screens Connect on your Mac. That's a free service that you register with and sign in to on both of your devices. Once you've done that, remote controlling your Mac is as simple as launching the app. Here's how easy it is: until we went to check, we entirely forgot that there was a Mac version of the Screens app. We simply turn to our iPads or iPhones to use it from there. Once we're connected, Screens lets you pass the clipboard back and forth so we can copy logins from 1Password on our iPad and paste it into an app on the Mac. If we're doing anything sensitive or we simply don't want our Mac lighting up the office at night, Screens provides a Curtain Mode. Not only does it blank the screen but it also locks out anyone actually sitting at it so they can't just wiggle the mouse to get back in. Screens does have the disadvantage that it's silent: you can't hear the audio from your remote Mac over it. In practice that's hardly a concern because you're never going to play a movie over a remote connection. However, it does mean that you also fail to hear any bleeps or warning notifications. If those are essential or even just helpful to you, it's time to start looking at more corporate answers. Corporate and EnterpriseMac Screen Sharing For Educators 2018 Easy HalloweenIt's a blurry line between the needs of a pro user, a consumer or a corporate worker because any one remote control session is going to be the same for each of them. They all need to see the screen of the remote Mac, they all need to pass documents back and forth.Plus every corporate-standard remote control app has a basic version that can be used as either a trial or an entry-level system. TeamViewer, for instance, comes with a free edition for personal use before going on to subscription starting at just $40 per machine per year. Similarly, LogMeIn starts at $349 per year, though that's for two machines. None of these alternatives to Back to My Mac are new, and all of them are better than Back to My Mac was. Maybe the only real reason to lament the loss of Apple's version was that if you had just the right use case, and the ideal hardware, it was perfect. And, it doubtlessly introduced many people to the whole idea of remote control.
Screen sharing tools are incredibly important for teaching, presenting, troubleshooting, and collaborating online with othersHow to Easily Collaborate on Google Drive with Online AnnotationHow to Easily Collaborate on Google Drive with Online AnnotationThere are specialized annotation web apps available that integrate with Google Drive and make communicating with others about your document easier. We look at the best annotation tools for Google Drive.Read More. Unfortunately, trying to successfully share your screen with someone can be a huge headache – each party may have different programs installed, be using different devices, or have different levels of technological knowledge.
The programs we’ve included in this article are intended to be used when you just need to share your screen as quickly as possible, with as little coordination as possible. They may not be the most powerful programs, the most secure programs, or the most beautiful programs, but they are quick and easy to use, and don’t require a substantial download – factors that sometimes trump all other qualities!
The next time you find yourself desperate to show off some vacation photos, teaching someone a new Photoshop technique5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Photoshop Skills5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Photoshop SkillsThere are lots of easy ways you can improve your Photoshop skills. Here's a closer look at five simple tips.Read More, or struggling to describe a problem that you’re having with your computer, consider using one of the programs below to quickly and easily share your screen.
The World’s Easiest Screen Sharing Tools
For each program I’ve included any required download’s file size, the number of participants that can view a screen at one time, and how long it took me to begin screen sharing with the program (starting from the program’s homepage)
1. Screenleap — Fastest and Easiest to Set Up
When it comes to easy-to-use screen sharing software, Screenleap is definitely one of your best options. Screenleap can share your screen to any device with a browser, and requires only a small download on the host’s device to work. A screen-share code is provided to the host, and is entered by participants on the screenleap.com homepage, after which they are immediately able to view the host’s screen.
If you really like Screenleap’s functionality, paid subscriptions are available that can increase your time limits, number of participants, and security.
2. Join.me — Best for Long Meetings with Multiple Participants
Join.me is a platform dedicated to re-defining the workplace through tools that allow for easy and immediate communication. Given this, it’s no surprise that they have a fantastic free screen sharing resource.
With an initial download (for the host only), up to ten participants have access not only to screen sharing, but also to video and audio features (if they have joined using Chrome as their browser). Other meeting features become available with the use of the desktop/mobile apps, or with the purchase of a Pro account, but there is no sliding time limit scale like there is for Screenleap.
While it is very easy to begin sharing your screen, I found that it took me a few moments to find the share code – once your session has started, press the person icon (second from the left) and then the plus button in the bottom right of that screen to retrieve either an e-mail link or code for adding participants. The 9-digit code is also visible at the top of your floating Join.me menu.
3. Show My PC — Best for Remote Support
Despite the name, Show My PC offers easy screen sharing options for both PC and Mac computers. What sets Show My PC apart from the other screen sharing options on this list is that it also allows for easy remote access – allowing the other user to navigate your computer on your behalf. This makes Show My PC an ideal option for accessing your own computer while away or helping someone out with troubleshooting/solving a technological issue.
With that being said, the free version of Show My PC does not allow for any more than two people to participate in a screen sharing session at one time, so if you’re looking for a meeting solution, you’re likely better off with another choice.
4. Mikogo — Best for Cross-Platform
Out of the four options mentioned so far, Mikogo is one of the most complicated to begin using – the host must set up an account before they can download the software, the installation file is larger than the other programs, and the installation process isn’t quite as intuitive. However, Mikogo’s screen sharing software works wellMikogo: Screen Sharing App for Skype and WindowsMikogo: Screen Sharing App for Skype and WindowsRead More, and there are full-function apps available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux.
Premium accounts on Mikogo allow for improved meeting features and an increased number of participants.
Other Screen Sharing Options
The four screen sharing programs mentioned above are not household names, and it’s unlikely that the people you will be using them with will have used them before. Before introducing a new program, it might be worth checking to see if your other participants regularly use free platforms like Skype, iMessage, FaceTime, or Google Hangouts.
Using one of these options below may be a great idea if hosts are hesitant to download new/unknown software, if participants are familiar with the programs, and if everyone involved in screen sharing already has an account. Otherwise, even though these programs are more popular, going through the registration and installation process for these programs will take significantly longer than the options above.
Mac Screen Sharing For Educators 2018 Easy Hairstyles
If you are interested in using one of these more mainstream options, Make Use Of has several resources available for learning how to do so:
Mac Screen Sharing For Educators 2018 Easy Rider
Mac Screen Sharing For Educators 2018 Easy Go Golf
What do you use screen sharing for? And what program do you prefer to use for screen sharing? I’d love to hear about any programs I missed in the comments!
Explore more about: Collaboration Tools, Screen Capture, Screencast.
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