Here we are at the end of another exciting year at Stratodesk. One thing we did this year differently from previous years is that instead of following our standard schedule of releasing new updates whenever Citrix or VMware updated their protocols, we actually released updates on a rolling basis.

These updates added functionality and even changed the overall interface of our NoTouch Desktop suite. Beyond the updates and improvements we’ve made this year, we have had several even more pivotal new product releases, and we’re excited to share them with you.

Stratodesk Raspberry Pi

The new Raspberry Pi –NoTouch OS for the Raspberry Pi – is the first Raspberry Pi-based Thin Client for the enterprise market. It was released this year, together with Citrix Ready Partners, Viewsonic, and NComputing. Citrix, our partner since 2010, chose NoTouch OS to be the OS for their new Citrix HDX Ready Pi. This is exciting not only because it is the first enterprise-grade solution for VDI built using a Raspberry Pi, but also because of its high graphics ability –it can run Skype for business  –and its ability to run dual monitor displays.

The new Stratodesk Raspberry Pi includes:

• fully assembled thin client
• HDX System-on-Chip
• Citrix Receiver optimized for GPU offloading
• Citrix HDX RealTime Optimization Pack for Skype for Business
• Flash card with secure Stratodesk operating system
• Full-featured device management software
• Power supply
• Dual monitor expansion options

 

NoTouch Cloud

Second only to the announcement of the Raspberry Pi has been our release of the new NoTouch Cloud.

As a systems admin, you know that managing a mixed ecosystem can be difficult. Then add in bring your own device (BYOD) functionality and you have a whole added set of problems like security issues, and enrollment difficulties –not to mention you need software that can manage all of your mixed endpoints.

And when using DaaS, it simply doesn’t make sense for you to have a management solution in-house. You are going to want a high-performing management solution for the cloud.

NoTouch Cloud makes it easy for you to manage devices from the cloud and enables auto-enrollment, which allows end users to install their own devices, while you still maintain complete control over your VDI ecosystem.

A few more benefits of using NoTouch Cloud include:

• NoTouch Center updates are applied automatically.
• Virtual Appliance Console updates are applied automatically.
• Active appliance monitoring by Stratodesk and proactive support.
• Support for home machines and externally used Pi devices – without having to open the Partners firewall/DMZ for NTC.
• Automatic client OS download from our main cloud server. No need to get it from the portal and re-upload it to cloud VA as you would do with a firewalled on-prem VA.

These two releases are important because they are not only improvements based on the booting feature or on an improved certificate protocol between devices (both updates made this year as well), but they are effectively momentous occasions that bring Stratodesk into new markets –stretching our ability to innovate and disrupt.

A New Graphical User Interface

Another of our big projects this year has been our new Graphical User Interface (GUI).

We’ve added new features and improvements to the interface of our NoTouch Desktop suite in order to match the many advancements and improvements made to our software.

Though we loved our old interface, you will agree that the new standard is much better.

Thanks to our engineering guys for making this possible –our new interface is now universal to our product suite. That means that whether or not you are accessing the NoTouch Center, Virtual Appliance, or configuring NoTouch on an endpoint locally, the experience will be the same.

We know that our users will be excited about this one because by creating one user experience across our suite, our customers will be able to switch intuitively from product to product.

What has changed?

The new GUI lets you do your job better and more effectively. Everything that we’ve changed – every button that we’ve added –was with you in mind. This way when you are managing thousands of PCs –configuring them, managing rights and more–your experience will be as fluid as possible.

So what are the features and changes we made specifically? A few of them are…

• Drag and drop

Managing your resources has become much easier. Simply drag and drop certificates and important files from your computer and import them into our software.

• New on-off switches

Our new on and off switches are an intuitive way to manage your functions. Instead of having to select a feature from a drop list, just click the on-off button to manage and configure your devices.

• Save and announce buttons

Save and announce buttons are easier to find.

• New toolbar buttons.

Our new toolbar is also equipped with buttons that allow users to seamlessly flip through resources, security, and more.

We’re excited about all of the things going on at Stratodesk, and of course, all the features and improvements we make are with you, our customer, in mind. What makes your life easier makes us happy, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us with questions, comments, or ideas about how we can make more improvements to our software in 2018.