Streaming Ubuntu on tablets and smartphones

Small Screen Performance

Splashtop considers its product the fastest current remote desktop solution, although the actual performance depends heavily on the technical prerequisites. These include the connection speed to the Internet. On smartphones and tablets, this speed is notably higher in the wireless net than in the mobile net in that desktop computers transmit files fastest over cable to the streaming server.

Hardware also plays a role. In my test, I could work on a dusty ThinkPad X31 with a Pentium M processor with no problem, but larger files (e.g., videos, graphic-intense games, etc.) didn't provide fluid image transmission on the tablet – and the audio often dropped out. With more current hardware and a good network connection, Splashtop can conjure up even HD videos with little delay on the mobile device screen and allows for fluid gaming. The usual rule applies to such data-intensive applications: the faster the better.

Conclusion

Using Splashtop on a tablet is fun – you can use your favorite programs, stream videos and DVDs, and enjoy games not usually available on the mobile platform.

The easy installation and configuration are convincing enough by themselves. All the provider needs to do is put some more work into the configuration window and it would evolve into a viable – perhaps even the best – platform for the remote desktop (see also the "Alternatives to Splashtop" box).