LogMeIn Ignition from LogMeIn Solutions for iPad (and iPhone) allows you to remotely control your PC or MAC from your mobile device. You control the remote computer via a virtual keyboard/mouse and the app supports multiple monitors. The application allows you to do much more than control your computer as if you were sitting in front of it. LogMeIn Ignition allows you to transfer, view, and save files and folders between your iPad and your computer. With the app installed on your mobile device, you can also remotely run programs from your computer. LogMeIn Ignition is also a great solution if you need to access a flash website on your iPad. You can browse the web on your remote computer and the image will be transferred to your iPad. Note that this solution is best used to view flash-enabled content on a website, as flash videos will be choppy and flash audio is non-existent.

Setting up LogMeIn is easy. To use the service, I created a free LogMeIn.com account, purchased the iPad app, and downloaded the free desktop version (available for MAC and PC) for all the computers I wanted to access. There is no limit to the number of remote computers you can access, allowing you to download the desktop software to all the computers at your school, work, or home.

While many of our readers are devoted Apple users who only buy Apple products, there are people like me who have a PC or Android phone. One of the selling points for me is that LogMeIn has an Android version. I carry an Android for work and I have an iPhone for personal use. With a single application that is cross-platform compatible, I don’t have to install multiple types of software to remotely access my iMAC at home or Dell workstation at the office. LogMeIn is also secure, proven, and was the first remote access service designed with the consumer in mind. It’s been around much longer than the iPad first as a computer-to-computer remote access program.

remote printing

LogMeIn Ignition supports AirPrint-compatible printers.

iPad limitations apply

LogMeIn Ignition can do many wonderful things, but the limitations of the iPad still apply. You have to be connected to the internet via 3G or WIFI for the App to work. Slow speeds of Internet connections will make your job difficult. For example, LogMeIn Ignition will allow you to play a large amount of video that is not supported by the iPad, but depending on your connection speeds, the video may appear on your iPad at very few frames per second. The iPad’s screen resolution of 1024 by 600 pixels is much smaller than the vast majority of desktop computers. You will have to zoom in on some screens to see the text.