LogMeIn Ignition Review: Imperfect Remote Desktop With Plenty of Extras

App Name:	LogMeIn Ignition
Platforms:	Universal
Publisher(s):	LogMeIn
Version Reviewed:	2.2.380
Genre(s):	Productivity
Release Date:	November 21, 2011
Price:	$29.99
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Remote desktop access apps are becoming something of a “thing” in the App Store. One of the recent entries in the genre is LogMeIn Ignition , part of a larger LogMeIn shared access system. The LogMeIn system is a significant productivity program and for users of that system this app may just be the thing they need; but for more casual users just looking for an iOS remote access app, LogMeIn may be a pricey and complicated option.

On the one hand, LogMeIn offers an incredible depth of integration with your desktop computer or any other system you’re using a LogMeIn program with. It offers up full desktop access, of course, via the same kind of streaming all such apps use. It utilizes a number of touch-based shortcuts to mimic mouse commands just the way other remote access apps do. It lets you pinch and zoom, access the onscreen keyboard for input, play Flash-based games or movies via your PCs’ browser, and use any and all desktop programs you might want to use remotely.

In addition, LogMeIn is loaded up with cloud-esque file-sharing and storage options that allow you to port and share documents between systems, and even work with those documents on your iPad while offline. In my time reviewing the app, I only got the chance to experience these features briefly, as LogMeIn is not actually part of my daily workflow. But the potential for building an deeper workflow system around sharing through LogMeIn is obvious, and in my trials with file sharing and porting, I didn’t experience any significant issues. There’s definitely a learning curve, though, and I can’t get over the fact that, because I was not a regular user of the larger LogMeIn system, I wasn’t exploiting this app to its fullest potential.

One thing I did notice with LogMeIn is a lag time, one noticeable enough to effect the user experience. The cursor always felt like it was a half-second behind my finger. Not enough to make it unusable, but enough so that every once in awhile I needed to stop to make sure that the app was keeping up. Now, this may have something to do with the speeds on my home network, or any myriad of other issues not directly the app’s fault; but it was definitely there, and it was noticable to a degree I have not experienced it with other remote desktop apps I’ve tried. 

I’m also going to say here the same thing that I said in my review for a competing product, Splashtop: the appeal of LogMeIn, or any desktop remote app, is limited a bit by both the robust nature of the App Store and the imperfections inherent in trying to work with a desktop-based application via a touch control interface. The App Store is full great native apps nowadays, many that themselves mimic the functionality of counterpart desktop apps, but optimized for touch.  Yes, you can use a program like Adobe Photoshop over LogMeIn, but it’s not really functional; try it for 5 minutes and you’ll see what I mean. Programs that rely on keyboard shortcuts and keyboard-mouse combos just don’t translate well into these remote access apps. And that lag time doesn’t help.

LogMeIn Ignition carries a steep price tag for the App Store, but it tries to make up for it by being more than just an interface stream between your desktop and your iPad. I think that, for the regular user of LogMeIn, or for the user seeking a fuller integration option, the Ignition app is a definite option. Others will find that LogMeIn Ignition is more app than they need, though. If you’re just looking for a simple desktop remote interface, you might want to look elsewhere.

 Our Score: 3.5 out of 5

About the Author

Writer@Large Brian P. Hudson is an educator and freelance writer currently living in Dearborn, MI.

 

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