Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Web
  3. News

Remote access through Chrome enabled by new extension

By
remote-screen
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Approximately 17MB in size, the Chrome Remote Desktop beta launched on Friday of this week. It’s a separate extension for Chrome that allows users to connect to another computer remotely through the Chrome Web browser. This type of software is typically used by IT departments in large companies to access a user’s computer without having to locate the user in the building. It can also be used for helping tech-deficient relatives when they inevitably download malicious software that harms their computer. Chrome Remote Desktop works across different platforms and allows users to connect to Macs, Windows-based PCs, Linux-based PCs and Chromebooks as long as the Google Chrome browser is downloaded and installed on the machine in addition to the extension.

chrome-remote-accessOnce the extension is installed on multiple machines, the user simply clicks “Share This Computer” on one of the machines. This generates a one-time, 12-digit access code that must be entered on the remote machine in order to connect. However, if the user breaks the connection at any time, a new code must be generated to enable access again. Users on the remote computer will see a pop-up window on their machine that indicates which user is remotely connected to the computer. The extension uses Google Talk technology to send messages between the two computers as well.

Recommended Videos

Performance of the extension is highly dependent on the quality of the network connection as well as the speed of the computer. The extension doesn’t send audio over the remote connection, so users wouldn’t be able to hear a video playing on Hulu Plus through the remote computer. However, video without audio is able to be watched through the remote connection. If Google decides to build a more advanced version of this extension into the Google Chrome browser, this may encourage companies seeking lower costs on remote access applications to switch to Chrome across the company. This extension is currently free for all users of Google Chrome.  

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Mike Flacy
Mike Flacy
Contributing Editor
By day, I'm the content and social media manager for High-Def Digest, Steve's Digicams and The CheckOut on Ben's Bargains…
How to enable picture-in-picture for YouTube on your Mac
Macbook Air

If you want to have a bit of music playing in the background or want to have your favorite YouTube video running in the corner of your screen, then the picture-in-picture YouTube feature needs to be on your radar. This allows you to turn your YouTube videos into a tiny pop-up window that can be moved and repositioned around your screen.

Mac users have several ways to activate the feature, including support on both Safari and Google Chrome. There's also a nifty Chrome extension that simplifies the task to a single button press. Here's a look at how to enable picture-in-picture for YouTube on your Mac.

Read more
How to change your Gmail password
pilot testing drivers licenses internet rolls two us states password

Changing your Gmail password is incredibly important for your online security. If you're anything like the average user, your Gmail account is linked to dozens of other organizations and programs – and if your account gets hacked, there's no telling what sort of damage can be done.

Because of this, it's crucial to change your Gmail password at regular intervals. Google makes this a rather painless process, and it should take no more than a few seconds from start to finish.

Read more
Best Buy deals: Save on laptops, TVs, appliances, and more
best buy shuts down insignia line smart home products store 2 768x768

Best Buy is always a great retailer to turn to if you’re looking for some savings. There are almost always Best Buy deals taking place on TVs, appliances, and devices we use to navigate the digital world. In fact, right now at Best Buy you can find some of the best TV deals, best laptop deals, and best phone deals that can be shopped, and we haven’t even mentioned the deals on tablets and home audio equipment currently taking place at Best Buy. We’ve rounded up all of the best Best Buy deals you can shop right now and categorized them for your convenience below, so read onward for some great opportunities to save.
Best Buy TV deals

There may be no better place to purchase one of the best TVs than Best Buy. There is almost always some huge savings to find on TVs at Best Buy, and that’s certainly the case right now. You’ll find deals top TV brands like Sony, Samsung, and LG, and more budget-friendly brands like TCL and Hisense are in play, too.

Read more