Timbuktu (software)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Timbuktu | |
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| Developer: | Motorola |
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| Latest release: | 8.6 / March, 2006 |
| OS: | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows |
| Use: | Remote control software |
| License: | Proprietary |
| Website: | http://www.netopia.com/software/products/tb2/ |
Timbuktu is a remote control software product developed by Motorola. (The original developer, Netopia, was recently acquired by Motorola). Remote control software allows a user to control another computer across the local network or the Internet, viewing its screen and using its keyboard and mouse as if he or she were sitting in front of it. Timbuktu is compatible with computers running both Mac OS X and Windows.
Timbuktu was first developed in the late 1980s as a Macintosh product and later was developed for Windows. It is currently the only commercial non-VNC-based remote control software which has both a server and client running on both platforms (the open-source VNC also runs on both platforms). Timbuktu's primary function is remote control, and the application has support for various remote-control features such as multiple displays, screen-scaling, remote screen lockout and keyboard lockout, clipboard synchronization and "on the fly" color-depth reduction for enhanced speed.
In addition to the remote control features (screen-sharing), Timbuktu also allows for file transfers, system profiling, voice and text chat, and remote activity notifications. Timbuktu communicates over TCP port 407, and has integrated support for ssh tunneling for those who require additional security. Both the Mac and Windows versions can use a standalone user database or integrate with the respective platform's "standard" user database (OpenDirectory on the Mac, and Active Directory or NT Users on Windows). The 8.6 version, released in March of 2006, added an optional integration with Skype to enable a user to remote-control any of their Skype contacts who have Timbuktu installed. The 8.6 Mac version is also a Universal Binary supporting both Intel and PowerPC-based Macs.
