Thanks. Sounds like teamviewer is the way to gp.

I can attest Teamviewer cannot access an android device or iPad remotely, but it does work well the other way around.

I do wish for a mouse when using it from a phone, though. Lots and lots of scrolling.

Speaking of which, has anyone come across something that will remotely share an android or iPad desktop?

Last time I looked, the Google-fu was not with me.

For android, vnc works both directions. You can install clients or servers on android devices. The difficulties you encounter are interface related: there is no real way to simulate multitouch gestures with a mouse and keyboard, so some fairly crucial actions are impossible from the desktop. Like pinch to zoom for example.

TeamViewer does have an option for controlling android, called TeamViewer quicksupport. It doesn't run all the time though - you have to turn it on manually - so it doesn't really work for many use cases. It is designed for giving somebody else remote access to your device while you are with it, for support purposes. I had my mother in law install it and it let me control her phone remotely to fix an issue, for example.

I have no idea about iThings. It seems likely that the more locked down nature of it would make it harder for third part programs to so this but maybe I am wrong. Try VNC as your first look.

Needing some help. This convo started last night in natter. I am attempting to update my os to Yosemite. My internal hd showing some issues, so it will not install.

I have a MacBook pro. My info says " your Mac contains 2 memory slots each of which accepts a 1333 MHz ddr3 memory module. All memory slots are currently in use".

I do have back ups on an external hd and am Connected to that now about to do a control r restart.

From the safe restart it does not give me the option to repair the HD. I can type out what issues it shows if that would help anyone to help me fix it.

As for starting from a backup, I have no idea what to do after I click on rebuild.

And I meant command r restart. When I just did it I am getting a completely different screen from what I saw last night. It is walking me through restoring from a back up, just like what I expect from a Mac. Fingers crossed.

Good luck! That does sound very similar to my experience so I hope it works out, since I managed to muddle through (I can tell because i have Yosemite running now, so something must have worked)

Restore is down, I am back up and running 10.7.5. I just ran a verify disk on the HD and now it shows no issues, so I guess I can try again.

Oh oh oh, the install bar is actually showing progress this time.

done done done success!