Dell Wyse Cloud Connect Introduces User-Contributed Updates

Last week, Dell released the first user-contributed updates to its Dell Wyse Cloud Connect solution, marking the introduction of several new features for its new enterprise cloud access device. Dell announced the updates to Wyse Cloud Connect earlier this month at a press event in New York, where the company showed off the new capabilities developed directly from customer and analyst feedback since it was first introduced in January.

“Since January we’ve kept our eyes and ears open to ensure that the device’s evolution keeps up with our customers’ needs and demands,” said Jeff McNaught, the executive director of Marketing and chief strategy officer for Cloud Client-Computing at Dell, in a blog post. “Our goal is to continuously make people’s jobs easier by enhancing convenience and usability for end users, while simultaneously improving and facilitating IT control and security.”

The Dell Wyse Cloud Connect is a small, USB flash drive-like device that allows users to connect their virtual desktops and personal cloud services to any HDMI or MHL-enabled display. Similar to a wireless hotspot for a laptop, Wyse Cloud Connect is useful for getting access to remote cloud files when a user is away from his or her regular place of work.

McNaught said the improvements center around enhancing the user experience, expanding desktop virtualization options, enhancing IT management and control and offering users an end-to-end solution for digital signage. The new Cloud Connect Controller App allows Wyse Cloud Connect to utilize any Android device as a keyboard or mouse via a Bluetooth connection, eliminating the need to carry additional accessories, according to Dell. Basic Android gestures such as pinching and swiping can be used with the app.

Dell also expanded Cloud Connect’s functionality as a digital signage engine by allowing users to install and update signage through a secure digital (SD) card, according to the blog post. Users also can configure their own lock screen for signage and other options, such as disabling notifications and setting stay-awake settings.

As a way of improving the user experience, Dell is now allowing system admins to bypass Cloud Client Manager (CCM) login and boot directly into the main interface and digital signage apps. Dynamic touch functionality automatically recognizes when a touch screen is in use with Cloud Connect, and a pre-installed version of Dell Wyse vWorkspace now comes standard on Cloud Connect in addition to clients for Citrix XenDesktop and VMware Horizon View.

All of its new updates are available now for current and new Wyse Cloud Connect users. And if these improvements garner the popular feedback that Dell is hoping, you can bet on seeing many more user-suggested updates in the future.