Photos: iPhone running Windows XP

By David Braue and Alex Serpo, ZDNet.com.au

18 June 2008 11:24 AM

Tags: iphone, windows, xendesktop, virtualisation, apple, citrix, vista, thin client

in brief Citrix used its thin client technology to demonstrate an Apple iPhone running Windows XP, at the recent Citrix Application Delivery Conference in Melbourne.

Windows XP, seen below running on the iPhone, was loaded using Citrix's thin client desktop software XenDesktop. Using the Citrix ICA client — a UNIX application that allows devices to access Windows sessions on a Citrix server — the presenter was able to run Windows on the iPhone via Wi-Fi.

Windows XP running on an iPhone
(Credit: David Braue)

The iPhone's "pinch" controls also work, which
makes it relatively easy to zoom in and out of the desktop.
(Credit: David Braue)

The iPhone demo was part of the opening keynote titled Directions in Virtualisation & Application Delivery in the Dynamic Datacentre.

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Windows was not running on the iPhone Anonymous -- 18/06/08

According to the self-contradicting article, Windows XP wasn't actually running on the iPhone itself, it was running on the remote Citrix server. the iPhone was just doing a remote display.

Remote displays have been around for 20+ years, and displaying the screen of one OS on another is no new trick. (X11, VNC, RDP, Citrix, etc.)

Windows was not running on the iPhone?!? Anonymous -- 18/06/08 (in reply to #320104464)

Well guess you could say that of xp on any pc - think bios. In the end the experience will be the same, a common desktop environment with a known set of apps.
Great move by Citrix to use the Apple press wagon. Why rewrite apps for a restricted iPhone market.

Windows was not running on the iPhone Anonymous -- 18/06/08 (in reply to #320104473)

I don't understand what you mean by 'think bios'

I know I'm arguing semantics here,but I'd like to think that the media (IT media, no less) would at least get things right. Speaking from a career in PC and embedded software development, the mistakes in this article are basic.

XP is running on the remote system. The remote processor is executing the computer code that is Windows XP. Any user-interface parts are sent to the remote display - in this case, an iPhone.

The iPhone is displaying XP. Not running it. No Windows XP code is transferred to, or executed on the iPhone. The only thing running on the iPhone is the Citrix application. It could be just as easily talking to a Sun Solaris box. Oh my! The IPhone is now "running" Sun Solaris!!

Definitely a clever move by Citrix to get a "XP on iPhone" headline, and free publicity with it.

We are talking about David Braue here Anonymous -- 18/06/08 (in reply to #320104499)

Do you actually expect anything accurate from this guy? We are lucky he was even able to make is seem factual.

Windows was not running on the iPhone?!? Anonymous -- 19/06/08 (in reply to #320104473)

What do you mean by "think bios"?

Think about this.

Imagine that you've hooked a computer running xp to a KVM, now the citrix client running on the iphone has the same effect as connecting the iphone to the KVM (without the wires and through the internet/LAN of course)

That's all it is.

Think remote desktop on iPhone.

Think BIOS? Anonymous -- 19/06/08 (in reply to #320104538)

I am not sure if you are trolling or are a complete moron. I am guessing moron.

Internets book? wat? Sonuku -- 19/06/08 (in reply to #320104559)

What is this internets thing? is it like hooking hands up to a book?

Please explain?!

And Why Not? Joe Vreeland -- 19/06/08 (in reply to #320104464)

So...let me get this straight....if I send the image of my desktop (XP-Pro) thru my video card to a television screen, am I then running XP on my Sony?

UNIX? Joe Muir -- 18/06/08

Do you know anything about Citrix?

"Using the Citrix ICA client â�� a UNIX application that allows devices to access Windows sessions on a Citrix server"

You really need to do your home work before posting stuff like this.... Citrix actually has an ICA Client for the Mac OS X that seems like they have ported over to the iPhone.

Maybe Unix... Anonymous -- 19/06/08 (in reply to #320104506)

I don't think you can assume from the information here that they're using the Mac client. You may be right, but I wouldn't be surprised if they really did work with the Unix version instead. Either one would have required a little hacking of the iPhone and the Unix client may have been the better choice. The Mac ICA client has always been kind of neglected by Citrix and its functionality and stability have been lacking for years.

VNC for the iPhone does the same thing Anonymous -- 19/06/08

There is a VNC client for the iPhone called vnSea. Same thing, not news.

really? Anonymous -- 20/06/08 (in reply to #320104516)

Same thing? really? have you read anything about Xen Desktop at all? can your VNC setup immediately provision another 50 brand new XP desktops, and automatically boot them and pool them for use by any user in a corporate environment? Can your VNC setup allow you to connect remotely from almost any network via the web without setting up a VPN in advance? Does your VNC authenticate with your corporate Active Directory via a web interface which allows you to choose your desktop with no technical knowlege at all? does your VNC provide you with full multimedia streaming, zero latency desktop, full XP integration allowing local access to be blocked while you work?

no?

maybe you should concentrate on reading for a while before you next write comments, eh?

really. Anonymous -- 20/06/08 (in reply to #320104622)

Yep, and VNC is free, open source, can be made to do ll of that easily. How much does Citrix cost again? And, oh yes, I work for Cisco, where do you work?

ok Anonymous -- 20/06/08 (in reply to #320104674)

how does VNC do zero latency and media streaming then?

I'm a consultant, so I work for a variety of multinationals based here in the UK. Mainly in and around London.

It's open source Anonymous -- 21/06/08 (in reply to #320104675)

Grab the source, and do what you will, make it free and everyone will be happy.
VNC can be found online everywhere.
Have your it department work you up your own branded VNC, everyone can do it. As far as latency, that's network dependent. My home network is fairly quick with VnSea but keep in mind, it's going to be slower with faster refreshes no matter what you do for ANY system. Even on Cisco lines, there isn't such a thing as zero latency.

lol Anonymous -- 21/06/08 (in reply to #320104697)

so it doesn't do any zero latency stuff then! please read at least some of the Citrix documentation. They have provided a full featured VDI solution which can deliver virtual desktops to thousands of concurrent users with minimal management. These can be delivered to almost any device with very little apparent latency despite the line having latency. VNC is designed for local connections over ethernet, and for individual desktops rather than many. The two products are not comparable in any way, apart from that with both you can remotely see XP.

The two products are not comparable in any way? Anonymous -- 22/06/08 (in reply to #320104724)

As you said, they BOTH do the same thing. Zero latency does not work, you still have to send information down a pipe and retrieve the info sent to you. With out that basic communication, you have nothing. Learn how the net works, then come back and talk. At this point, you are just buying the hype.

I never said they do the same thing Anonymous -- 22/06/08 (in reply to #320104740)

I said they do one thing which is similar. Obviously the latency reduction doesn't get rid of latency on the line, but it removes perceived latency so that users don't hate using the system. Besides which, you still have not fully explained how to set up full featured VDI with VNC without essentially writing the rest of the product yourself. I mentioned several points earlier, and would be glad to read your proposal for:
-Provisioning
-Active directory integration
-remote connection without a separate VPN
-Virtualising the desktops
-Reducing required SAN storage

Please give a well thought out proposal, I'm genuinely interested in an alternative solution to Xen Desktop or VMWare VDM/VDI, preferably one I can recommend to clients.
Thanks

Windows not running on my iPhone Anonymous -- 19/06/08

I've been doing this on my iPhone for months using a VNC server on my phone. It's really pretty easy.

Missing the point? Carlos -- 19/06/08

Gentlemen, I don't think that Citrix or the author was trying to say that Windows would be running on an iPhone. For those in the industry that know of Citrix, they are aware that their technology offering is that of remote display. And although there are many methods and may be other tools that already do this (vnSea for example). This article was commenting on the fact that Citrix has ported their client to the iPhone.
You can't really argue that this isn't news.

Bingo Anonymous -- 19/06/08 (in reply to #320104519)

You hit the nail on the head, Carlos. An ICA client with any kind of standard functionality for the iPhone would be big deal.

Not missing the point Anonymous -- 19/06/08 (in reply to #320104519)

This is newsworthy, BUT...

The headline suggests a much more shocking accomplishment than what was actually achieved.

Unless the iPhone is actually executing Windows XP binary, it is not "running" it.

The author clearly chose a misleading headline that would garner more page views over a less intriguing, but accurate, headline.

Yes..you are missing the point... Anonymous -- 17/09/08 (in reply to #320104535)

Who cares whether the title of the article is miss-leading, why are so many people focusing on that? Nothing better to do!? The fact that they have ported the ICA Client to an iPhone would be big news.

Windows was not running Me -- 19/06/08

Only a terminal session to the Citrix server, where windows was running was executed.

Author = Fail Anonymous -- 19/06/08

OK lets break this down...

XP is not "running" on the iPhone

ICA is not a UNIX application it is a protocol developed by Citrix.

This is not new! There have been RDP, VNC, ICA clients for BB, WM and other mobile devices for a very long time but I guess because Apple does it now it is big news.

Yes, author an idiot... Anonymous -- 19/06/08

...and remote display is as old as the first serial terminals.

But to the users of remoted and virtualized systems, the display is the application. It's not unreasonable to say windows is 'running' on the iphone, just as windows is 'running' on the video controller in the PC.

All well-designed systems attempt to isolate data, process, and UI. This is the classic 3 legged stool of 'model-view-controller'. If only Microsoft hadn't botched their OSes so badly, all applications would already look like this.

David and Alex - Do your homework. Anonymous -- 19/06/08

This article is completely inaccurate. Get your facts straight . The iPhone was running a client showing a Windows XP desktop, not actually running Windows XP. Citrix ICA Client is a client which can run on multiple platforms to connect to a host server, and is not specifically a Unix application. How long have you been in this industry? Perhaps you should stick with your day job at the restaurant.

Lost in translation David Braue -- 27/06/08 (in reply to #320104533)

What a firestorm! Apologies to those who were misled - the headline should probably have been "iPhone, with Windows XP running" but the nuances got lost in production.

I have been writing on thin client technology for over a decade and certainly knew how this was being done; I simply took the photo because it was an interesting juxtaposition, and to point out to people that this was possible.

The value of this is not that XP is running on the iPhone -- for goodness' sake, not even Microsoft is using XP as its mobile operating system. Apple has given us a great handheld computing device; what would be the point in loading a PC operating system onto it?

The point was that this form of accessing applications allows even the most unlikely combinations of operating systems -- and could very well support the case for iPhones to be introduced into the corporate world.

Businesses are showing great reluctance to embrace the whole iPhone ecosystem as it introduces greater complexity and management issues. If IT managers remember that thin-client technology allows their iPhone-wielding employees to run all their corporate XP-based applications, while keeping sensitive data and corporate applications on the server where they belong, well, that strengthens the case to let iPhone users eat their cake, so to speak. Thin-client tech lets iPhones be introduced with very little real impact on existing application models.

Especially with the 3G model coming, we are talking about basically instantaneous access over well-established thin-client protocols through a standard Web browser. And the iPhone is the only mobile device out there with a big enough, useful enough screen to pull this off in something resembling a useful way.

The potential of this technology for mobile delivery of corporate applications is significant.

That was the point, nothing more, nothing less.

A complete joke Anonymous -- 19/06/08

You can see the toolbox at the bottom that shows that it's using Safari. It wasn't ported to the iPhone even, it was ported to the web! So not only is it not windows xp running on an iphone(which would be possible after hacking the firmware and using an xp version compiled for arm), it isn't even running a virtual desktop natively on the iPhone. It's running a virtual desktop in a web browser, and just dealing with the quirks of user interface.

Wrong Anonymous -- 19/06/08 (in reply to #320104536)

Well if you knew anything about citrix you would know that remotely you would need to use a CAG(citrix access Gateway) which is accessed over the web, the only thing is that they are not using a seamless window which is why you can see the browser they used to connect to the CAG. You can connect with out a CAG but you must be on the companies LAN.

But yes story is still Bogas i can do this on my KJAM.

Why would want to do this? jerang -- 19/06/08

This is an insult to Apple, but on the contrary shows how powerful the iPhone is? Trying running that on your samsung with windows mobile.

iPhone "AMAZINGNESSOMG!!!111!!!one!!eleven" Anonymous -- 19/06/08 (in reply to #320104539)

Anything powerful enough to run a browser can do this. The phone isn't actually running Win XP.

So a samsung or a windows mobile could do the same thing if it's equipped with a browser supported by Citrix.

VNC? warplayer -- 19/06/08

So basically, they got VNC to work on an iPhone, which was announced last week by the community on digg.

Old news.

Enough with the stupid comments Anonymous -- 19/06/08

These comments are so bad, it's insulting.

Windows XP is running on an iPhone, we know it's a remote desktop, no one cares.

Are you trying to impress the world with your knowledge of how Citrix works? GBTW!

I concur Ari Ukkonen -- 19/06/08 (in reply to #320104544)

I am sick and tired of seeing nerds arguing over semantics, grammar or spelling rather than commenting on the article itself.

Get a fricken life people.

No No No... ZDNET = FAIL Anonymous -- 19/06/08

For years...

And yet laura mac -- 19/06/08 (in reply to #320104545)

Here you still are, reading their articles, posting comments and essentially paying thier bills. good work.

Wow. Anonymous -- 19/06/08

This is pretty big news, I never thought I would see the day. Here's the big question: now that they have XP working, how long before it's running Vista?

The iPhone is already pretty popular with graphic designers and artists, but imagine if they had the "Vista Compatible" sticker on the box? Then we would start seeing those things all over the place.

You guys are ALL WRONG!!! Anonymous -- 19/06/08

This is true XP actually running on the iPhone.The truth is that the iPhone actually runs Windows XP as its base operating system - they just use a Mac-styled Windowblinds theme to keep all the Mac fanatics happy.
This is great planning on the part of Apple, as the iPhone can run all the (cheaper) XP apps, and the performance of their windows emulator is amaizing, as it doesn't really exist.

IDIOTS!1111!!!!!111!!1!! Sol Trujillo -- 19/06/08

IDIOTS!1111!!!!!111!!1!!

At least it's not as LAME as Channel 9 in Australia CamBendy -- 19/06/08

I keep seing on the local (Melbourne) 9 news down here pictures of the iPhone with a Windows Mobile interface on it.

Could they be any thtoopider!?!?

Melbourne = Fail, Sydneysiders saw this weeks ago Anonymous -- 19/06/08

This also happened at the Sydney Citrix conference about 3 weeks ago, I wonder why it only got picked up today.
Oh that's right, because Melbourne is boring...

XP On iPhone Anonymous -- 19/06/08

Citrix did this to show delivery of remote desktops or applications to handheld devices. I'm sure they only used the iPhone as it is the 'in' device at the moment and thus made their demo look that bit cooler.

This wasn't a plug for how good the iPhone or Apple is, it's how versatile Citrix clients are. Please stop jumping up and down about this, it was a 30 second slot in an entire days demos, mind you, clearly Citrix made a good move because it's got all you talking about it!

most stupid article and comments Anonymous -- 19/06/08

the article sucks.

the comments suck even more. why do people have to try to impress others with their half-knowledge of some technical subject?
half of the comments here are even worse from a tech point of view than the article itself.

any symbian, android or windows based device can do that since ages. just because it's bloody apple doesn't necessarily mean it's new and cool. they just do great marketing and you fools fall for it... i feel sorry for you, you have to learn soo much.

At last! A time machine Anonymous -- 20/06/08 (in reply to #320104601)

This is like a time machine taking iPhone users back in time by about ten years to when Windows XP was born.

Is This A Viable Option Now? Steven -- 20/06/08

I use the ICA client on my Mac all the time (to get into special Windows work apps). Can i now do this on my iPhone?

bittersweet Daniel Gara -- 24/06/08

bittersweet, isn't it? citrix - i'm a fan. iphone - ok... xp - blah!

Was not...was too...was not.....was too! Anonymous -- 26/06/08

Jesus! Geeks, get a life!

GoToMyPC Anonymous -- 01/07/08

I browsed through the postings and didn't see anything on this, though I could have missed it.

I run GoToMyPC on my desktop and used to access it from my laptop on business trips. It works great. I can run any application on my deskptop from my laptop. I get sound, I can transfer files, and I can print from my desktop using my laptop.

It turns out that there is a GoToMyPC download for Windows Mobile called PocketView. It supports Windows Mobile 5 and 6, Mobile 2000, and CE4 and above. It lacks the sound, chat, remote printing, and file transfer of the laptop version, but I can use it to send files to my phone via email or upload them to my FTP site where I can access them. I can usually find a quick work around for any of the features lacking on the laptop interface.

I use it frequently on business trips. When I need an application that isn't on my phone or I need computing power, I just log on to my desktop. If I need a file, I email it to myself download it to my phone or upload it from my desktop to my FTP site and then use my phone and download it from my FTP site.

I haven't yet found a way to print from my phone, but there should be a driver out there somewhere that will allow me to print from my phone to a WiFi, Infrared, or Bluetooth printer. I haven't had time to look into it yet.

Anyway, it looks like GoToMyPC is doing the same or something similar as the article describes, which is not surprising since GoToMyPC is a Citrix product.

Vista Anonymous -- 01/07/08 (in reply to #320105437)

I forgot to mention that my desktop runs Vista Ultimate 32 and my phones are Windows Mobile 5 and 6. I've been using GoToMyPC from my phone for over a year now.

re Anonymous -- 07/07/08 (in reply to #320105438)

it's subtle, but there are important technical differences to what this describes. if you look into VDI and Xen Desktop you should find the reasons this is not like GoToMyPC. As a user, yes it looks like the same thing. From the perspective of an IT bod with 1000 desktops to roll out, it's nothing of the kind. as an example, 1000 desktops running Vista with GoToMyPC would use something in the region of 8-15TB of storage, Xen Desktop can do this same job in 15GB. This would be a great saving for the business. Also, you probably experience a little lag between typing and seeing what you type, Citrix have dealt with this so your desktop would appear as fast as working locally.

waste of space Mark Stroud -- 23/07/08

Why bother?
windows is rubbish and the iphone software is great.
also XP takes up like 10gb so unless they've somehow added more memory its stupid

you fail Anonymous -- 06/02/09 (in reply to #320107485)

Fail miserably. XP isn't "installed" on th iPhone, nor is the iPhone "running" XP. It is displaying a remote link to a server tha is running XP.

Every Has Missed the WHOLE POINT Christopher Parsons -- 26/10/08

Think about this logically. Citrix is one of the major leaders in thinclient technology. They have made an application for the iPhone to go out to a citrix server and run as a thinclient. If you know what a dumb terminal is then you know what a thinclient is. you have a server with the operating system of your choice on it and then you have clients that go out and boot that operating system up. Each thinclient works as a separate machine even tho it's just an image of an operating system sitting on a hard drive of a citrix server. it's not vnc or any remote desktop software and no windows xp is not running on the iPhone. Take a little thought about this. By the way the guy from Cisco you are a complete and utter moron, the person described to you what a thinclient did and was and you say that vnc does that...no it doesn't, vnc does the exact samething that windows remote desktop does.

not quite Anonymous -- 06/02/09 (in reply to #320114905)

Actually the title of the article missed the whole point. If they would not have claimed that the iPhone was "running" XP this entire discussion would be moot.

Oh dear... Anonymous -- 26/10/09

As several posters have tried to point out (in vain), this is really very simple. A Citrix client like this running on a smartphone is news. A Citrix client IS NOT VNC. As for the 'Cisco' guy, assume you work in the canteen or something?