Today’s keynotes @Citrix Synergy remind me why I got into the Technical Industry in the first place. It’s not about knowing how things work or how to make things work. It’s all about understanding market trends and business trends and understanding how that fits into today’s business and of course my professional life. Here are some key Topics to todays Keynotes
- Citrix Acquires App-DNA – Mark T didn’t go too far into how they plan to market or sell the product. IMHO, App-DNA has so much Intellectual Property and this is a great move which allows Citrix to help organizations perform Desktop transformations faster and more efficient.
- Citrix Acquires ShareFile – ShareFile allows Data to Integrate into “ALL” Citrix products so finally - the Term and Strategy of Follow-Me Data is now revealed. Sharefile is an Enterprise Cloud Storage platform with many Enterprise Features such as a robust Outlook Plugin that allows a user to send a link to files automatically based on User or Admin Driven Policy. Sync with all devices everywhere, Sync with Receiver Plugins, Online and Offline Data, Remote Wipe of Data (See all devices that you have logged into and remote wipe). I would like to see Citrix integrate this into Policy Driven Enterprise Storage with Storage API’s and maybe Integration into a Personal vDisk.
- Speaking of Personal vDisks - Ringcube Strategy Revealed - Personal vDisks gives a place for users to store Data, Install Apps, Personality, etc. My 2 Cents… Integrate with other Management products like SCCM or provide a space for App-V or XENAPP Streamed apps cached space to be persistent. Use AppSense or other 3rd party products to authorize the installation of 1 off apps or Plugins that system administrators can’t or have not published. I’m not a fan of giving users admin rights, so I’ll talk about this a little later…
- GoToMeeting Workspaces – Collaborate with Documents online with HD-Faces and GoToMeeting all in one virtual room. GTM Workspaces integrates with ShareFile Cloud Storage. Mark up documents and collaborate as if you were in the same room.
- Citrix Cloud Gateway Express – Used with XENAPP and XENDesktop. IMHO - Basically Access Gateway Integration with StoreFront.
- Citrix Cloud Gateway Enterprise – Combine Citrix XENAPP, XENDESKTOP with Follow-Me Data and Follow-Me SaaS Apps. IMHO -> I envision this being similar to the Universal Licenses or maybe even a replacement. This seems to be the NEW BIG 3 that Citrix will be offering.
- Web Interface is dead in 2015. Welcome the new StoreFront! StoreFront brings Follow-Me Apps, Desktops, Follow-Me Data, and SaaS apps delivered from a unified platform (Citrix Receiver). More info to come on this, although it is a radical step, I believe it to be the right direction to drive the adoption of Follow-Me theme.
- HDX System on a Chip – Texas Instruments creates the first HDX enabled Chip that allows for updates to keep up with HDX technologies. The plan is to drive the cost of a thin client down below $100. Enable Desktop Transformation to move faster. NComputing making first devices. Demo of Metro Receiver for Windows 8 – Great Metro Feel of Receiver apps, Allows Citrix to use Virtual Desktops as a True Touch Screen Desktop.
- Netscaler Cloud Connectors – API’s to drive single management of Private and Public Clouds from a single interface.
- Cloud Stack and Cloud Portal Announced today. Great customizable platform for the Clouds (supports all Hypervisors).
- Receiver for Facebook – This was the last announcement. More of an attention getter than a major innovation, and I believe they got some heads to turn. Basically Receiver for Facebook allows you to connect to your Apps and Data using HTML 5 embedded into the Facebook application.
