2023-12-06 21:27:04
A long time ago, we talked regarding the Screensa VNC client (Virtual Network Computing) that lets you control your Mac remotely using iPhones, iPads, or even other Macs.
Since then, it has received several updates, recently arriving at its fifth version, which includes a refreshed design and new features. It has also become universal, requiring just one purchase or subscription to work across all devices.
The app now uses SwiftUI, which makes its design in line with that of native Apple apps, in particular with Files (Files). Each screen is shown as a thumbnail with the last accessed position and there is now a list on the left side of the app with a division of connections into groups, as well as recent and upcoming ones.
With the fifth version, it is also more practical to connect to a nearby computer, and it is now possible to lock screens and unlock them using biometric authentication or the Apple Watch. You can also do this using the macOS user password.
Continues to be offered Screens Connect, which facilitates the process of connecting and remotely using devices; screens connected through the feature are shown in a group. You can also establish the connection using routers and local networks, which are also displayed in a specific group.
An interesting new feature of the fifth version of Screens is that the toolbar displayed when accessing a Mac from the iPad can now be retracted into a small pill and can be moved to the corners of the screen. On the iPhone, it is vertical and is located in the left corner of the screen or at the bottom when used in portrait mode, while on the iPad the feature is larger, initially appearing at the bottom of the interface, but can be moved to the top.
The bar gives access to several macOS features that make remote use more practical, such as the clipboard, frequently used keys, arrows and copy and paste functions, displaying only their icons. On Mac, the bar remains at the top of the screen, although the design has been renewed. There is also a file transfer function between Macs.
The old Screens Express is now called Screens Assist, offering connections to help someone remotely, with the latest sessions showing in “Recent”. The app also offers gestures to navigate macOS remotely and supports multiple displays, mice and keyboards.
Screens also offers privacy-focused features, such as SSH Tunneling and a mode called “Cortina”, which allows you to block screen sharing at certain times. There is also an option to, when trying to view the screen of a Mac that someone else is using on another account, switch sessions or share the screen.
Other new features include synchronization of screen previews on all connected devices, computer management directly from the app, improved support for the Visual Organizer (Stage Manager) and scale models for greater flexibility. There are also status indicators, the possibility of importing and exporting connections, a dark theme in the connections window and better performance.
The app costs R$15 monthly, R$130 annually or a one-time purchase of R$350. Screens, as mentioned, became universal with this version, with just one purchase required to use it on all devices. You must be running iOS/iPadOS 17 and/or macOS Sonoma 14 or newer to use the app. To this day, there is a discount of 50% for current Screens users.
via MacGeneration
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