Mocha VNC Lite: Browse your desktop remotely

Suppose you are away on a trip and you want to access your desktop computer back at home remotely.  What if you had the ability of accessing all your files on your Mac directly from your iPhone or iPod Touch?  You can do this with Mocha VNC Lite.  This iPhone/iPod Touch application provides you with flawless access to your computer as long as your device is connected to the Internet; literally, you can browse your computer in the palms of your hands.

Mocha VNC Lite may seem like a complicated app to use.  However, if you follow the following steps to make this application work, your satisfaction will be evidence of how effective this app truly is.  Before going further, it’s important to note that Mocha VNC Lite if compatible with both Windows and Mac OS platforms.  However, the following steps are geared specifically for iPhone/iPod Touch users who own a Mac.

First, you must start by going to your System Preferences and click on the Sharing option.  Here, you will make sure that the Screen Sharing option is check-marked.  Once this step is completed, in the same window, click on the Computer Settings option.  Make sure that you have the second option check-marked; this option basically says that you have made a password that VNC viewers must use to control a screen.  A box is provided where you will proceed to type in a password of your choice.  It’s important to remember this password, as it will come in handy later in this tutorial.  Once this step is completed, go to your Network Preferences in Airport and look for the IP address that your computer is using to connect to the Internet.  At this point, you have completed the portion of the tutorial that involves your Mac.

Moving on to your iPhone or iPod Touch, make sure that you have downloaded Mocha VNC Lite.  When it’s fully installed on your device, select the app and go to the menu, where you will tap on the Edit Connections option.  Tap on the first spot and the rest is straight forward.  Type in the IP address that you found in your Network Preferences and type in the VNC Password that you created in the very beginning.  Leave all the other options as is.  Once that’s done, tap on Connect, and Mocha VNC Lite will negotiate the connection and you will be connected to your computer straight from your device.

My overall thoughts on the app are fairly positive.  I can open my applications, type e-mails, and conduct any other ordinary action that I would if I was sitting in front of my comp.  My only criticism is that at times, the loading process lags, so it will take a while for the connection to kick into gear.  Nevertheless, it’s a very useful application, especially when you’re not within reach of your computer and you need access to a file.

Mocha VNC Lite is a free application that you can download from the iTunes Apple Store.  In addition, there is a regular Mocha VNC app that you can purchase for $5.99.  It has some additional features like emor scrolling capabilities, but still, Mocha VNC Lite still does a great job without spending the money.  Therefore, if you’re looking for the ideal remote desktop software on your iPhone or iPod Touch, try Mocha VNC Lite today!