The Download Blog

Whether you're looking for an easy solution to fix a relatives' computer half the world away, or you need to collaborate with a colleague for your latest project, there are several strong screen-sharing programs that can meet your needs.

Skype 4.1 beta offers screen-sharing.

(Credit: Skype)

First off is a familiar name: Skype. The latest beta of the world-famous VoIP app supports screen-sharing, and if you've ever been in a Internet cafe, you know that this could be a big deal. Skype is already heavily used in a multitude of countries to connect friends, family, and business partners via voice and text. Screen-sharing would simply be another excellent feature to add to the list that already includes file-sharing. It's sharing-only, somewhat laggy, and currently limited to one contact at a time. Early adopters should be aware that Skype does have a native option out there, but it's not the only one if you don't mind third-party software.

Oneeko reinterprets screen-sharing as a shared, collaborative space that lacks polish and grace, but is robust nonetheless. Pronounced "one echo," Oneeko shares can be initiated only from PCs, but Mac and Linux users can share their screens, too. You can initiate a share via Skype, e-mail, or through the Oneeko Web site. The sharing process sends out a link, and from there the user can see your computer.

Oneeko emphasizes the collaborative nature of screen-sharing.

(Credit: Oneeko)

Oneeko's most striking feature is its interface, which is based on a looking-glass concept. The interface is topped by a horizontal control panel, with the remainder of the window dedicated to a transparent pane. When you're not connected, it shows quick-start instructions. During a share, the pane disappears and the windows beneath the pane show through. Anything below that pane is shared--the rest of your monitor remains hidden. Moving the window around determines what you're sharing. Paid upgrade features include useful tools like annotations, group support, file transfer, and Webcam support. Without them, Oneeko requires a fair bit of effort to get started but professionals might appreciate the slick melding with Skype.

Yuuguu's approach to screen-sharing goes straight through your instant messaging clients, although they're not required to run the program. It's a multiprotocol messaging program that supports the biggest IM services--Yahoo, MSN, Google, AIM, ICQ, and Skype--in the hopes that rolling the services into one communications package will appeal to resource-conscience users.

Yuuguu's screen-sharing integrates with Skype and manages instant messaging.

(Credit: Yuuguu)

When you want to initiate a sharing session, you click on the users' name and share the provided code. As with its competitors, both sides must agree to the share before it can begin. Unfortunately, Yuuguu doesn't support file-sharing, although you can transfer files via IM. Yuuguu users can share with as many as 29 other people, but only the host needs to have the software installed. Participants can watch and contribute to the chat, making this an effective tool for small-scale presentations. It supports voice chat, too. Of the various screen-sharing apps out there, Yuuguu's instant-messaging support makes it among the most Web 2.0-esque of the bunch.

TeamViewer strikes a good balance between features and speed. You can share securely, send files with a minimum of hassle, control access rights, and even flip which user has control. The options available while you're in control work smoothly. A big X from a drop-down toolbar in the center of the remote window lets you close the connection, while the Actions button lets you switch whose in control, disable remote input, and reboot remotely. The View menu hides options to adjust the screen resolution, the optimization toward speed or quality, and control multiple-monitor displays. Sharing here is similar to its competitors, with unique computer identifiers and passwords required to share.

TeamViewer's log-in screen.

(Credit: TeamViewer)

When you log in, you're given an access code and a password. Sharing those allows your computer to be controlled by the level you set it to: remote support, presentation, file transfer, or VPN. The TeamViewer servers remember which computers you've connected to, so reconnecting to previously shared computers happens faster. TeamViewer also has a Web-based version, for remote connecting to home from public computer. Even the installation process is impressive. Users can toggle admin rights, can opt out of running at start-up, and can opt into installing the TeamViewer VPN driver for more secure screen-sharing. Overall, TeamViewer makes screens-haring and file-sharing as fluid and unobtrusive as it should be.

When you run CrossLoop, it assigns a new 12-digit access code to your PC each time you start the program. You then give that number to another user to share virtually your desktop. Once connected, that user will have full access to your machine.

CrossLoop's client is small but effective.

(Credit: CrossLoop)

It doesn't support multiple users, so it's not ideal for presentation; however, the complete system access and 128-bit encrypted connection combine to create a great solution for zero-budget, long-distance tech support. Guests can use any app and save files on your computer, as if they were sitting in front of the machine. No router configuration is required--a big plus. File transfers are supported, but the purpose here remains collaboration: CrossLoop doesn't work without explicit permission from the host. Since simplicity is a key attraction, it lacks more advanced features, and the connection must be made in two minutes or it times out. While the interface and the features are simple, CrossLoop offers a secure and fast method for two users to collaborate on one PC.

Screen-sharing isn't an essential need for all users, but it's precisely the kind of collaborative functionality that user can demand of their high-speed connections. If you have a favorite screen-sharing app that I didn't mention, tell me about it in the comments below.

Screensharing comes to Skype

(Credit: Skype)

Skyper users, it seemed, either loved or hated the revamped Skype 4.0 for Windows. With Skype 4.1 beta (download), unveiled Wednesday, Skype hopes to earn a little more love by reinstating some beloved extras and adding one big new feature: screen sharing.

Skype's screensharing feature is a clever addition to the VoIP communications application. In our tests it was engaging, especially when paired with Skype's voice calling and chatting capabilities. The fair screen quality and few seconds of lag time won't bother most casual users, but at this point we wouldn't recommend Skype's new feature for replacing a dedicated screensharing application or service for frequent collaborators. Skype's screensharing is view-only; it is not a remote access tool like CrossLoop, which is geared for providing technical assistance. For demonstration purposes, however, Skype's screensharing is just one more way to connect with faraway contacts.

Screensharing begins by clicking the "share" drop-down on a contact screen and choosing "Share your screen." Skype then gives you the choice to record the full screen or a region. Pressing the button to initiate the screen share also launches an audio call. You can later resize by clicking and dragging the thick red borders. During a session, a button toggles you between full and partial screen modes. Because screensharing essentially broadcasts a video recording of your screen to your contact, you can't place a video call and share the screen at the same time--you'll choose one or the other.

You can share all or some of your screen.

(Credit: CNET/Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt)

It's also worth noting that Skype's screensharing feature, like many others, is unidirectional, view-only, and by invitation, which gives the host control over beginning and ending each session. With one-way viewing, your guest sees only the screen that's bounded by the recorder's borders. Because it's unidirectional, Skypers won't see each others' screens simultaneously.

Skype's screensharing addition begins to offer an inexpensive alternative for international business communications, though right now it works between two users--one host and one guest--at a time. You can switch roles easily and often. We're guessing that the screensharing capability will be expanded in the future to group calls, so a host can share their screen with multiple recipients. (It will be interesting to see if Skype will then follow that enterprise breadcrumb to compete with well-known collaboration and Web meeting software in the future--but right now this is all conjecture.)

Other changes

Skype 4.1 beta also reintroduces birthday reminder alerts and contacts-sharing, which were two features left out of Skype during its upgrade from version 3.8 to 4.0. Birthday reminders are automatic notices you receive on a contact's birthday if they've added this information to their profile. The send-a-contact feature can be found in the Conversation navigation menu under the "Send" option.

Two other notable reinclusions are the ability to import contacts from Gmail, Windows Live Hotmail, AOL, and LinkedIn in addition to Skype 4.0's support for Yahoo and Microsoft Outlook products; and a screen reader accessibility tool to help visually impaired people use Skype.

All these additions make Skype's latest a substantial beta update. But since it's in beta, there may be bugs and some stability issues--we experienced a couple crashes ourselves during testing. Frequent Skype users will want to experiment with 4.1 beta. So will those who have lamented the absence of birthday reminders, even if you don't intend to use the screensharing feature.

CrossLoop is a smooth, free, and lightweight screen- and file-sharing program, formerly available only for Windows users. Earlier this month, a Mac beta version debuted offering the same features. Besides extending the feature set to Macs, the PC and Mac versions can talk to each other and share across platforms.

For those unfamiliar with the program, which uses 128-bit encryption, you're given a unique and random 12-digit access code each time you start the program. You can then share your username and code to allow somebody else to access your computer, or input another user's info to access his computer. Guests can use any app and save files on your computer, as if they were sitting in front of the machines. No router configuration is required, either. CrossLoop bases its business model on connecting freelancing tech support with those in need of assistance. It doesn't support multiple users, so it's not a good platform for group presentations.

In testing the Mac beta with CrossLoop co-founder Mrinal Desai, I noticed a virtually identical experience to the stable PC version. There were some resolution and image quality issues, which Desai assured me had more to do with bandwidth than the program itself. Although CrossLoop defaults to autodetect your pipeline, you can force it to use faster connection speeds, resulting in lower resolution, or slower speeds for higher quality images.

Although I didn't encounter any bugs when testing the beta on my own, Desai pointed out to me one major problem: dragging and dropping files to share causes CrossLoop Mac to crash. Browsing directly to the files through the program to share them causes no problems.

If you've used CrossLoop for Mac or Windows, please share your opinions in the comments below.

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