The new Horizon Client is available for Windows, MAC, Ubuntu, iOS, and Android, to allow the connection to an entitled desktop resource. When the Horizon Client is installed on selected endpoint devices, a user can access the virtual desktop sessions from different devices such as smartphones, thin and zero clients, Windows, Macs, iOS, and Android devices. With the Unity Touch feature, the users can run Windows apps much easier on their mobile devices.
In addition to providing the functionality of being able to connect to a desktop, Horizon Client talks to View Agent to perform tasks such as USB redirection and Single Sign-On.
The View administrator can allow users to download the Horizon Client directly from the VMware download center (https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/info/slug/desktop_end_user_computing/vmware_horizon_view_clients/2_0#drivers_tools).
The administrator can also control the Horizon Client for each user by storing the client software on a local storage device using a Horizon portal.
The new release of the Horizon Client has improved several features that pertain to the end user experience, as follows:
Expanded Windows Support: Horizon Client now supports the following Microsoft Windows releases:
Windows 8/8.1 Desktop
Windows 7 Desktop
Windows Vista Desktop
Windows XP systems
Unmatched performance: The adaptive capabilities of the PCoIP display protocol are optimized and normally improved with each client release. This is designed to deliver the best user experience, even over low-bandwidth and high-latency connections. Your desktop is faster and more responsive regardless of where you are.
Very simple connectivity: Horizon Client for Windows is tightly integrated with Horizon View for simple setup and connectivity.
Secure from any location: At your desk or away from office, your data is delivered securely to you wherever you are. The SSL/TLS encryption is always used to protect user credentials, and enhanced certificate checking is performed on the client. The View Client for Windows also supports optional RADIUS and RSA SecurID authentication (RADIUS support was added with VMware View 5.1 and View Client for Windows 5.1).
Other improvements with the Horizon Client are focused on Microsoft Lync 2013 and Flash URL redirection. This requires the current version of Horizon Client, which now includes the Remote Experience options, as follows:
Microsoft Lync 2013: This supports use on a remote desktop to allow Unified Communications (UC) VoIP (Voice over IP) and video chat calls with Lync-certified USB audio and video devices. A dedicated IP phone is no longer required. The architecture design requires the installation of the Microsoft Lync 2013 client on the remote desktop, and it uses a Microsoft Lync VDI plugin on the Windows 7 or 8/8.1 client. The Microsoft Lync 2013 client can be used for presence, instant messaging, web conferencing, and Microsoft Office functionalities. When a Lync VoIP or video chat call occurs, the Lync VDI plugin offloads the media processing from the data center server to the client's endpoint, and then encodes all media into Lync-optimized audio and video codecs. This architecture is highly scalable and results in lower network bandwidth. It also provides point-to-point media delivery with support for high-quality and real-time VoIP and video.
Flash URL redirection: Streaming Flash content from Adobe Media Server directly to the client's endpoints reduces the load on the data center's ESXi host. It also removes the extra routing through the data center and reduces the overall bandwidth required to simultaneously stream live video events to multiple clients. The Flash URL redirection feature will use a JavaScript that is embedded inside the web page by a web page administrator. Whenever the virtual desktop user clicks on the selected URL link from within the web page, the JavaScript will intercept and then redirect the Shock Wave File from the virtual desktop to the client's endpoint. The endpoint will open a local VMware Flash Projector outside of the virtual desktop session and then play the media stream locally.