Announcing TightVNC Java Viewer 2.6
September 25, 2012 — GlavSoft company releases TightVNC Java Viewer version 2.6, the “Run-Anywhere” remote control client.
TightVNC Java Viewer is a fully-functional remote control client written entirely in Java. It can work on any computer where Java is installed. That can be Windows or Mac OS, Linux or Solaris — it does not make any difference. And it can work in your browser as well.
What's New, The Summary
TightVNC Java Viewer is becoming better with each new release! This time, let us introduce two big features:
- maintaining connection history, to save you from typing anything twice,
- built-in SSH tunneling to secure your TightVNC connections.
These two features raise TightVNC Java Viewer to a new level. Originally, the viewer was only good in the Web applet mode. Now it has grown into a fully-functional desktop application.
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Connection History and Usability Improvements
To make things clear, connection history is not just remembering where you connected to. It's rather about usability. New viewer allows you to select hosts you connected to, and automatically saves connection options per each host.
This feature is not applicable to the Web applet mode, because the applet does not ask where to connect to. Typically, it connects straight to the machine it was downloaded from.
However, it makes a difference in the application mode. When run as an application, the viewer first prompts the user to enter the host name, port number and optionally edit connection parameters. This is where previous versions of TightVNC Java Viewer did not work quite well. They forced users to fill in the form every time, even when connecting to the same machines repeatedly.
New version saves your connection history. Then, when you are prompted for connection details, you can select previously visited hosts from the history list. Not only the host name will be loaded, all its connection options will be restored. And the most recent connection will be pre-loaded into the form automatically. Thus, to restore the previous connection, you only have to launch the application and press Enter.
Built-in SSH Tunneling
Although TightVNC encrypts VNC passwords sent over the network, the rest of the traffic is sent as is, unencrypted. So using TightVNC over the Internet might be a security risk. This problem can be solved with SSH tunneling.
SSH tunneling, also known as SSH port forwarding, enables secure communication over insecure networks. It lets you create an encrypted virtual channel to a remote SSH server, and allows your application to pass its data through that channel.
To make SSH tunneling work, you should have access to an SSH server installed in the destination network. Then, start TightVNC Java Viewer, check “Use SSH tunneling” and specify the SSH server to connect to. The SSH tunnel will be created automatically.
Download Now! Yes, It's FREE!
More Details on Licensing: Free and Commercial
TightVNC Java Viewer is available either as free software (GNU GPL license) or commercially. Commercial license is required if you would like to use the viewer or its components in your proprietary programs or scripts. Also, it may be a reasonable option if the GNU GPL license is not acceptable for some other reasons.
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What's Next?
Using TightVNC Java Viewer should be easier and more convenient for its users. So we plan to introduce a number of usability improvements:
- a way to clear or edit connection history,
- new “view-only” button on the toolbar,
- configurable local cursor shape (small dot instead of an arrow by default),
- making all windows of the viewer accessible from the system task bar.
And the next big thing is support for file transfers. As in the native TightVNC Viewer, it will allow to copy files between the machines.
Thank you for your interest in TightVNC!