[Touch Pro CDMA] TheTruth:
wow, i thought this thread was dead!!

the simple answer is no, you have to be connected to the same network as the pc you want to control... however, this was only my case because my ISP issues a dynamic IP address and there would just be no [easy] way of connecting to the desktop remotely if the computers are not on the same network.

before anyone (if anyone still reads this thread) says what about port forwarding, that will not work for dynamic IP addresses either... the "main" IP that comes into your cable modem is assigned by your ISP - and for non-business users, that IP is dynamic (in order to prevent you from using your connection to run a web server or the like).

all this being said, my slingbox sits behind my dynamic IP address but any mobile device or remote connection can connect to it... but that is because slingbox uses a "master" list consisting of the slingbox finder ID which is updated the minute a new IP address is assigned by the ISP.

without doing any googling (i just love how that's a verb now) i can tell you that it would not be that difficult to decompile the remote desktop programs and repackage them with a feature similar to how sling works... alternatively, you can use the software from no-ip.com – it monitors your IP address and provides a “friendly” domain name to point your remote desktop client to (ex, www.thetruth.com).... However, I do not know how reliable or safe this company is – I just know of them… there are also free alternatives out there as well for dynamic dns… maybe there is a better, more trusted solution. But it would still be fun to make something that is all our own – open sauce, free to the community to utilize (well, there is no such thing as a free lunch, but you get the point).

perhaps call it the windows finder ID - then create a database that contains some really unique and long ID that will be associated with the desktop PC, the current IP address, and the desired port. the web server could be updated by the remote computer just like the slingbox updates the finderID list in real-time... that way, when someone would load the remote connect program on whatever PDA, it would first log into the master list (automatically) and use the current IP address found therein.... this would allow users to get around having a dynamic IP address... this is a plus since it is not utilizing 3rd party dynamic dns services…

keep in mind, there is probably some way to do this that is A MILLION times easier - but it is how slingbox does it, and it works very well for them.

i have yet to try remote desktop with windows 7 - except for all my media streaming via the internet to another PC... but the OS (and i think Vista has it now too) is able to stream anything your heart desires via the internet... just enable internet sharing and then link the PC via a windows live ID.... so a simple e-mail address and password are all i need right now to stream the 6 TB of TV shows and movies i have recorded on my HTPC (from anywhere that has access to the internet). So dynamic dns is built into win7 (and added on to vista?) but I have no real clue how win7 does its internet streaming when behind a dynamic ip address – well, obviously it is dynamic dns, but the exact details are better left to the experts.

if someone has knowledge of this or develops for the win7 platform, perhaps you could confirm/deny if developers can utilize the internet streaming feature in win7 to do other things (such as remote desktop connections).

as i am typing this, i thought of another idea...

the solution could also be a simple windows-based utility that monitors the IP address; and, when the ISP changes it, the program will then send an e-mail or text message with the new IP address... that would also be an easy fix – but not so seamless..

well, sorry for the long-winded post here... i really meant to be terse but i have been verbose ever since grad school (25 pages was the smallest minimum requirement). it helps though, professionally i have found that "when in doubt, bury them in paperwork;" which has played out quite nicely in my favor a number of times.