Remote access apps have been out for the iPhone for a while now, but this is really my first experience using them. My job requires that I have access to the various servers that I manage 24/7. In the past when I went on vacation, I've taken my trusty MacBook Pro so that I could always get to my servers through either remote access or via the terminal.
A year ago, during a short jaunt to Maui, I had a problem show up on one of my servers. I was notified via my iPhone that one of the servers was having difficulty, so I fired up my terminal app on my iPhone and was able to gain access. While the terminal app was really helpful and saved the day, it got me thinking that perhaps I should start looking into a remote access/VNC type app for the iPhone.
The good folks at RealVNC allowed me to test drive their VNC Viewer app for the iPhone/iPod Touch over the last month, so I'll give you the run down on how this app works. I tested VNC Viewer with my Macintosh Servers. With the new version of VNC Viewer, you can now view and control any Mac easily using OS X's built in Remote Management setting. The previous version required the use of their Enterprise Edition software, which is currently the only edition that supports Mac. Prices are available on their website. If you are using it control a PC (Windows NT 4, 2000, XP, Server 2003), you can use the Free or Personal versions. There are many extra capabilities that the Enterprise Edition software gives you, but we won't cover that here. See this handy comparison chart.
Once you've downloaded VNC Viewer from the iTunes app store, you'll need to set up your mac to allow VNC connections via the Sharing control panel (System Preferences > Sharing > Remote Management) or you'll have to get the proper RealVNC Server software for the computer you want to control and install it. Set up is fairly easy. Once set up, connecting via VNC Viewer is as easy as putting in the IP of the system you want to control and you're instantly transported to that computer.
VNC Viewer supports landscape and portrait modes. You can also zoom in with the standard iPhone gestures to get a closer look at the computer you are controlling. I was most curious about how to move objects via the cursor on the screen as well as how easy it would be to navigate the controlled computer. VNC Viewer "follows" the cursor and moves the screen view to follow, basically keeping the cursor in the center of the screen until it reaches an edge. To drag anything, hover the cursor over it then touch it, then tap it twice again, then drag to a desired location. Screen redraw is fairly fast over a wi-fi connection and actually decent on 3G. I haven't tested it in Edge though.
Command keys and other functions are available by pressing a special icon on the bottom left side of the screen. Overall, I was able to write parts of this review via my iPhone while controlling my laptop via VNC Viewer. It is a bit tricky to get used to, but once you do, it's not a bad experience at all, especially when you have no other means of access.
While navigating on the iPhone isn't really ideal because of the tiny screen size, but when you absolutely need to do control a computer and a laptop isn't nearby, VNC Viewer does the trick. It not only does the trick, but it does it quite well I might add.
VNC Viewer isn't perfect. You'll still need to do a lot of set up to gain access to your computers if you are behind a firewall. But if you absolutely need to access your computers when you're out and about, VNC Viewermight be just what you need.
Remote access apps have been out for the iPhone for a while now, but this is really my first experience using them. My job requires that I have access to the various servers that I manage 24/7. In the past when I went on vacation, I've taken my trusty MacBook Pro so that I could always get to my servers through either remote access or via the terminal. 
