Instant Housecall unveils app for Windows 8.1 + New Free Tier

[Instant Housecall - Corey]

Hey Technibble!

I wanted to let you know about the newest addition to the Instant Housecall family: The Instant Housecall app for Windows 8.1 is now available in the Windows Store. This is the app Martin Brinkmann of Beta News/Ghacks named in his list of Best Windows 8 apps, and Lenovo chose as a Lenovo Pick.

Best of all, the modern version of Instant Housecall includes a new Free Tier!

Windows Store Download
http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-us/app/instant-housecall-remote-support/1dfc2db9-9a52-4cff-b71f-a19c846fcd28

Supported OS:

• Modern app (Specialist): Windows 8.1
• Classic desktop (Specialist & Customer): XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, Macintosh

With the modern app, you can remote support any PC or Mac on-demand and unattended from your Windows 8.1 PC. It works great with mouse on the desktop, and great with touch on a tablet. You can even transfer sessions between the two.

With the new Free Tier, you get unlimited on-demand sessions for 1 year. File transfer, reboot, integrated Remote d7 from Foolish IT and more are available with affordable upgrades.

If you've been unsure about Windows Apps until now, this is the app that will change your mind.

Screenshots:
http://www.instanthousecall.com/media/

Details:
http://www.instanthousecall.com

We want your feedback! If you love it, write a review in the Windows Store. See room for improvement? E-mail me at corey@instanthousecall.com.

Windows 7 Desktop vs. Modern app comparison: http://www.instanthousecall.com/download/

Some folks have been saying they prefer to run apps on the desktop instead of full screen. Great news on that front: You can download Modern Mix to run modern apps in a window on your desktop.

Any questions, reach out to me directly any time.

 

[cstech]

I will say I am testing this out with my typical Guinea pigs (parents, family) and so far it is rather nice. I am using the free trial aspect of it and seriously considering both this and the desktop version to be my go-to remote support program. Having the D7 built-in is something I am looking forward to trialling as I use this with my everyday repairs. I do MSP and would like something for the extra residential customers. But all your normal features are there. Look forward to seeing what apps like this open up for the actual metro side of win 8. It may convince me to get a win 8 tablet when my iPad kills over.

Is there any plans on doing similar for the iOS? Instant Housecall would hands down be where I would go if this were the case as well. Right now I am using the builtin TeamViewer in GFI MAX for MSP clients and don't really have a system for the one-offs. But the GFI client integrates into the iPad TeamViewer as well so I can do the quick fixes while I am out on the road as well as in the shop.

Thanks for all your hard work in bringing something like this to 8.1.

 

[carrcomp]

I'll say that IHC is one of the best things that's happened to my business.

I highly recommend the service to anyone that does remote support on a regular basis.

 

[Instant Housecall - Corey]

I will say I am testing this out with my typical Guinea pigs (parents, family) and so far it is rather nice.

Thanks @carrcomp & cstech!

Glad you're enjoying it, and nice to hear the positive feedback. I hope you'll consider writing a review in the Windows Store.

Any suggestions, or anything else you'd like to see, just shout.

It may convince me to get a win 8 tablet when my iPad kills over.

Windows 8 is changing very quickly these days. It's no secret that I really like Windows 8 -- it's also no secret that I'm in the minority here . If you're looking to buy a Win8 device, I wrote a post in the User Voice community with Windows 8 buying tips.

Is there any plans on doing similar for the iOS?

I can't speak directly to roadmap. You can see in the forums that this is something we're asked a lot. Add your vote for iOS or Android.

integrates into the iPad TeamViewer

Not to be a jerk to a competitor, but honestly, if you compare our Windows 8 app with anyone's iPad or Android app, I think there's simply no comparison. Try the new Instant Housecall from a tablet side-by-side with anyone's mobile or desktop app.

 

[nibblesandbits]

Thanks @carrcomp & cstech!

Glad you're enjoying it, and nice to hear the positive feedback. I hope you'll consider writing a review in the Windows Store.

Any suggestions, or anything else you'd like to see, just shout.

Windows 8 is changing very quickly these days. It's no secret that I really like Windows 8 -- it's also no secret that I'm in the minority here . If you're looking to buy a Win8 device, I wrote a post in the User Voice community with Windows 8 buying tips.

I can't speak directly to roadmap. You can see in the forums that this is something we're asked a lot. Add your vote for iOS or Android.

Not to be a jerk to a competitor, but honestly, if you compare our Windows 8 app with anyone's iPad or Android app, I think there's simply no comparison. Try the new Instant Housecall from a tablet side-by-side with anyone's mobile or desktop app.

Hey Corey! I've noticed when using the app, I usually don't see the bottom 1/4 of the screen no matter how much I pinch and zoom. Any suggestions?

 

[Instant Housecall - Corey]

Hey NibbleAndBits (great name, btw).

It's a bug.

Not sure exactly what's happening yet -- it only happens with two devices that I know of: Surface 2 and Lumia 2520 (RT).

We've opened a ticket with Microsoft to figure out what's going on. Their support to date has been excellent and I expect we'll get an answer soon.

On specific devices, notably the Lumia 2520 and Surface 2 the there's an issue that breaks screen scaling and pinch-to-zoom. It works fine on all other devices, including Surface 1. The issue is listed on our site under Known Issues

If you're not using one of those devices, please let me know so we can add it to the list .

There are a couple of workarounds: If you're using a Surface 2 Pro (or any Windows Pro device), you can download our Win32 app.

Alternatively, you can use the modern app from any desktop PC and you should be good to go.

 

[OneHandClapping]

Just posted a review in the Windows Store. As far as I'm concerned IHC is top dog, and I look forward to using it for years to come. I've just upgraded my desktop to Win 8.1 from Win 7, so I'm only using the modern app now. Next step will be a Windows tablet (I have the Windows 8.1 Pro on my lappy, but it's not touch).

 

[nibblesandbits]

Hey NibbleAndBits (great name, btw).

It's a bug.

Not sure exactly what's happening yet -- it only happens with two devices that I know of: Surface 2 and Lumia 2520 (RT).

We've opened a ticket with Microsoft to figure out what's going on. Their support to date has been excellent and I expect we'll get an answer soon.

On specific devices, notably the Lumia 2520 and Surface 2 the there's an issue that breaks screen scaling and pinch-to-zoom. It works fine on all other devices, including Surface 1. The issue is listed on our site under Known Issues

If you're not using one of those devices, please let me know so we can add it to the list .

There are a couple of workarounds: If you're using a Surface 2 Pro (or any Windows Pro device), you can download our Win32 app.

Alternatively, you can use the modern app from any desktop PC and you should be good to go.

Thanks for the prompt reply! Good to know that it's a known bug and I don't have any real problem using the WIN32 version, as I said before. Just would LOVE to have the metro app when I'm on the go. Getting into a WIN32 app and navigating into unnatended clients and such while having to use a fat finger, is really annoying, not to mention, no touch support in the WIN32 version, so I have to flip my keyboard back down to even mouse around and get things done. Real inconvenience, glad MS is working well with you to resolve it.

I have a Surface 1 128GB, actually, not a Surface 2. I do, however have 8.1 and pretty well every update out to date.

 

[Instant Housecall - Corey]

I have a Surface 1 128GB, actually, not a Surface 2. I do, however have 8.1 and pretty well every update out to date.

Interesting. Try this: knock your resolution back to 1366x768, then reboot.

Does that fix it?

 

[nibblesandbits]

Interesting. Try this: knock your resolution back to 1366x768, then reboot.

Does that fix it?

Pixelated everything a tab because it's using multiple pixels to render the same age, but it does work when I'm not in 1920x1080. And also, it's 1360 instead of 1366, in case you need to know that.

 

[Instant Housecall - Corey]

it does work when I'm not in 1920x1080. And also, it's 1360 instead of 1366, in case you need to know that.

Good info, thanks. Since it works for you at the lower resolution, the issue is pixel density -- I can run it 1920x1080 on a desktop without issue.

Short term workaround is to lower the resolution on your tablet.

I'll share this with Microsoft and update this post once we hear back. Thanks for the info.

 

[Instant Housecall - Corey]

All fixed. Your app will automatically update. To manually update the app, open Windows Store, Settings charm, App Updates.

You want to be on 6.0.0.3916.