Citrix client on the HTC Touch Diamond
23/06/08 07:19:09 pm by Matt - 360 words
Categories: Software |
 |
In the past I have mentioned using the Citrix client on Windows Mobile devices. I've had a great deal of success using it on the HTC Advantage, both the X7500 and X7510.
The Client will install and run on most Windows Mobile devices (devices running Windows CE Smartphone Edition or Windows Mobile 6 Standard Edition are not supported) but it's not terribly useful on 320x240 screen devices as there really isn't enough screen real estate. So this got me to thinking - how well will Citrix run on the HTC Touch Diamond and is the screen big enough to be useful?
The client can be downloaded from the Citrix Website and is easily installed with activesync from your desktop PC.
I've been experimenting with the Citrix client today and managed to get connected to my Citrix farm and run several applications quite easily. The VGA display on the Diamond is just about large enough to use a few basic applications (Word, Excel some bespoke apps.) and an HSDPA connection is fast enough to be useful.
A few things that I had to do before getting it to work properly was to use Internet Explorer to connect to the application server rather than Opera. Opera wont launch the Citrix Client and attempts to use Java instead, whereas Internet Explorer launches properly. You can find Internet Explorer in the Windows folder on the Diamond and you can run it from File Explorer.
Secondly I had to install the Equifax Secure eBusiness root certificate as these are not trusted by default on WM devices.
So those few things out of the way it was easy to connect to my application server and fire up the apps I needed. I really wish that Citrix would develop the client a bit more though. I'd like to see options to run full screen and easily minimise and zoom etc. I think on of the biggest things that it's missing is the ability to rotate the screen on the client. Perhaps it'll get more attention as more people use it?!
Posted by: Matt
[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, HTC Touch Diamond, Citrix, Tracy & Matt]
Permalink12 comments
Comment from: Chris Fleck [Visitor] · http://TechInstigator.com
Thanks for the review, did you try the TV-out feature ? How did it look ?
Some Windows Mobile phones allow screen rotation from WM, it this not available ?
Some Windows Mobile phones allow screen rotation from WM, it this not available ?
06/07/08 @ 17:33
Chris,
The HTC Touch Diamond does not have video out, it's the Touch Pro that does and I cant wait to give that a go.
There is a third-party app for the Touch Diamond that allows screen rotation and this works quite well.
One other issue that I did come across was with the on screen keyboard. When the keyboard is displayed it reduces the size of the citrix window and I cant see a way to make it bigger again.
Matt
The HTC Touch Diamond does not have video out, it's the Touch Pro that does and I cant wait to give that a go.
There is a third-party app for the Touch Diamond that allows screen rotation and this works quite well.
One other issue that I did come across was with the on screen keyboard. When the keyboard is displayed it reduces the size of the citrix window and I cant see a way to make it bigger again.
Matt
07/07/08 @ 06:23
Comment from: Pedro Aleluia [Visitor] · http://www.tecnosfera.com
Chris,
Do you already see Tecnosfera MVDI ?
http://www.tecnosfera.com
Do you already see Tecnosfera MVDI ?
http://www.tecnosfera.com
17/07/08 @ 03:06
Comment from: Adam Marano [Visitor] · http://community.citrix.com/blogs/citrite/adamma
Hi Matt,
Nice writeup above. A few extra notes:
- There is a global setting in the WinMo ICA client to allow full screen. See http://community.citrix.com/blogs/citrite/adamma/2008/04/08/Full+Screen+Mode+for+your+Nirvana+Device
It is a global setting thus you "loose" the panning/scalling and Zoom functionality, but work well if you start the session at the devices native resolution
- I also get you point on screen rotation on devices like the Diamond. The ICA client does support changing the resolution of the session automatically when the devices changes from portrait to landscape. Devices that do this automatically when you pull out the qwerty keyboard help, but no help on devices like the diamond. This is functionality that natively comes from the work we did for tablet PCs
- I've also recently be working with the Touch Pro and the ICA client, and haven't seen issues with use of Opera launching the ICA client, should be getting a Diamon soon to try as well?
You may want to check out my blog at http://community.citrix.com/blogs/citrite/adamma that has a number of tips, tricks and review of other devices being used with Citirx
And you are correct, we are monitoring the uptake in use of the mobile Citrix ICA clients to determine when and what changes to make :)
Nice writeup above. A few extra notes:
- There is a global setting in the WinMo ICA client to allow full screen. See http://community.citrix.com/blogs/citrite/adamma/2008/04/08/Full+Screen+Mode+for+your+Nirvana+Device
It is a global setting thus you "loose" the panning/scalling and Zoom functionality, but work well if you start the session at the devices native resolution
- I also get you point on screen rotation on devices like the Diamond. The ICA client does support changing the resolution of the session automatically when the devices changes from portrait to landscape. Devices that do this automatically when you pull out the qwerty keyboard help, but no help on devices like the diamond. This is functionality that natively comes from the work we did for tablet PCs
- I've also recently be working with the Touch Pro and the ICA client, and haven't seen issues with use of Opera launching the ICA client, should be getting a Diamon soon to try as well?
You may want to check out my blog at http://community.citrix.com/blogs/citrite/adamma that has a number of tips, tricks and review of other devices being used with Citirx
And you are correct, we are monitoring the uptake in use of the mobile Citrix ICA clients to determine when and what changes to make :)
10/09/08 @ 15:28
Comment from: Adam Marano [Visitor] · http://community.citrix.com/blogs/citrite/adamma
Hi All,
In my previous post, I mentioned the full screen mode setting for the WinMo ICA client. Note that wen you do this, you will not be able to access the onscreen keyboard, this this is only recommended for devices with a qwerty keyboard if you plan on being able to type!
In my previous post, I mentioned the full screen mode setting for the WinMo ICA client. Note that wen you do this, you will not be able to access the onscreen keyboard, this this is only recommended for devices with a qwerty keyboard if you plan on being able to type!
10/09/08 @ 15:44
Comment from: kftgr [Visitor]
After installing the client via activesync, the ica files opened directly from Opera mobile without any additional configuration. This is on the HTC Touch Diamond (Sprint).
23/09/08 @ 06:39
Comment from: Patricia [Visitor]
We' re using citrix in our hospital, I would like to use it on a cellphone to be able to see the x-rays out of the hospital. If i have a cell phone with WM 6.1 and a mac computer, how do I get started ???
09/10/08 @ 15:11
HI Patricia,
Note my blog site at the top of this link for a number of posts we've done on mobility. Search the citrix blogs for mobility, or "nirvana".
In general to get started, you would want to download the client from the Citrix download site to get started. Use ARM Processor, version 10.0 .cab file from http://www.citrix.com/English/ss/downloads/details.asp?downloadId=3607&productId=186
Our MAC clients are located at
http://www.citrix.com/English/SS/downloads/details.asp?downloadID=3247&productID=-1
Once you've installed the clients you may need to work with the hospitals IT dept to determine which SSL/VPN solutions they use to get these devices access to the internal network where the data is located. Sometimes easier to start by getting you device on the hospitals 802.11 network to start with to get an idea of the usability, and then work to get the SSL/VPN support figured out to get access from the internet when outside of the hospital.
Note that I use both a Macbook Pro and an HTC Touch Pro with Mobile 6.1. I actually just finished doing an invite only 5 city launch event with Sprint and HTC to show Citrix running on the HTC Touch Pro.
If you beleive you have a larger opportunity for this use case in your hospital, you can email me.
Note my blog site at the top of this link for a number of posts we've done on mobility. Search the citrix blogs for mobility, or "nirvana".
In general to get started, you would want to download the client from the Citrix download site to get started. Use ARM Processor, version 10.0 .cab file from http://www.citrix.com/English/ss/downloads/details.asp?downloadId=3607&productId=186
Our MAC clients are located at
http://www.citrix.com/English/SS/downloads/details.asp?downloadID=3247&productID=-1
Once you've installed the clients you may need to work with the hospitals IT dept to determine which SSL/VPN solutions they use to get these devices access to the internal network where the data is located. Sometimes easier to start by getting you device on the hospitals 802.11 network to start with to get an idea of the usability, and then work to get the SSL/VPN support figured out to get access from the internet when outside of the hospital.
Note that I use both a Macbook Pro and an HTC Touch Pro with Mobile 6.1. I actually just finished doing an invite only 5 city launch event with Sprint and HTC to show Citrix running on the HTC Touch Pro.
If you beleive you have a larger opportunity for this use case in your hospital, you can email me.
09/10/08 @ 23:01
Comment from: Den [Visitor]
THANKS, I recently bought an HTC Touch Pro and loaded Citrix. Originally I could log into Citrix and even use some of the apps however the only app in there that I NEED is Remote desktop however I can't it crashes I.E. If I could just get past that I wouldn't need a laptop, I would be all set. Well thanks to this article I installed the certificate mentioned above and it worked! I have searched and searched and lots of people talk about Ctrix on the PPC's but I can't seem to find anyone talking good or bad about remote desktop through Citrix. So I thought I would add this, after logging into Citrix I click on remote desktop and add the computer name at this point it is necessary to click on options and enter any other information such as the password so that it logs into the P.C. automatically if you don't then when the remote desktop gives you the prompt for user name and password you are instantly (at least I was) hosed. The ONLY input method I found to work was the Transcriber and that just doesn't seem to be reliable enough for me. I may need to work with it more but by logging in on the first remote desktop prompt I was able to roll right into the P.C. and see the desktop. Once there I found that I still had to rely on the transcriber or the touch screen for anything I needed to do. I guess my next step is looking for the WinXP tools that may help me so I can use the touch screen to touch keys on an XP software based keyboard (I think there is one If not I am quite sure I can design one fairly easily). It looks like I still need to play with this a bit. I am also waiting on a cable so I can see it on a TV and check to see what it looks like on there. If anyone has any tips tricks or other info it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Thanks
05/01/09 @ 19:53
Comment from: Adam Marano [Visitor] · http://community.citrix.com/blogs/citrite/adamma
Den,
Check out the Sprint HTC Touch Pro Keyboard TIP!!!!! section of my blog at http://community.citrix.com/blogs/citrite/adamma/2008/11/24/Sprint+HTC+Touch+Pro%2C+Ready+Today. This is below the videos. This shows how to get the qwerty keyboard on the touch pro working with Citrix.
Adam
Check out the Sprint HTC Touch Pro Keyboard TIP!!!!! section of my blog at http://community.citrix.com/blogs/citrite/adamma/2008/11/24/Sprint+HTC+Touch+Pro%2C+Ready+Today. This is below the videos. This shows how to get the qwerty keyboard on the touch pro working with Citrix.
Adam
09/01/09 @ 18:50
Comment from: Den [Visitor]
I thank you for your tip and wanted to let you know that I did try those changes with not much luck.
First I might let you know my carrier is Alltel, I don't think that should matter much it seems the Sprint and Alltel versions are extremely similar.
When I went in to make the changes I noticed your screen shot showed the Opera symbol yet I could not go into the options screen with Opera it just went blank (maybe it's me I can be impatient). So I used I.E. and the changes took.
The best I was able to achieve was the compact qwerty spitting out random keys and or opening the find box, lots of interesting results. There are still several possibilities I would like to explore, so I will post back if I find anything. One thing I am curious to check on is if a blue tooth keyboard would work but who knows?
The main reason I use remote desktop is to log in run an automated script or two, usually using VB Scripting or exporting data from a database here or there. Most of this can be accomplished with simple clicks yet there may be a rare occasion where I need to change a parameter or two so a keyboard would be nice.
I will keep working on it and if anyone has any advice I am willing to listen, thanks.
First I might let you know my carrier is Alltel, I don't think that should matter much it seems the Sprint and Alltel versions are extremely similar.
When I went in to make the changes I noticed your screen shot showed the Opera symbol yet I could not go into the options screen with Opera it just went blank (maybe it's me I can be impatient). So I used I.E. and the changes took.
The best I was able to achieve was the compact qwerty spitting out random keys and or opening the find box, lots of interesting results. There are still several possibilities I would like to explore, so I will post back if I find anything. One thing I am curious to check on is if a blue tooth keyboard would work but who knows?
The main reason I use remote desktop is to log in run an automated script or two, usually using VB Scripting or exporting data from a database here or there. Most of this can be accomplished with simple clicks yet there may be a rare occasion where I need to change a parameter or two so a keyboard would be nice.
I will keep working on it and if anyone has any advice I am willing to listen, thanks.
13/01/09 @ 15:45
Comment from: Eskild [Visitor]
noticed you had to install: Equifax Secure eBusiness root certificat, but which one did you install? this prevents my exploration of citrix on my diamond. please help, you've allready helped alot!
21/05/09 @ 01:23
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