Microsoft has rolled out an update to the Microsoft Remote Desktop app for Windows Phone. This is not just a simple bug fix update, as it adds several new features — including support for the Shift key.
With this new update, which bumps the app version to 8.1.5, Microsoft has made the mouse pointer the default input mode for all desktops. You can easily switch between Mouse Pointer and Touch mode, simply by clicking on the Connection Bar at the top which shows the display name, allowing you to enable or disable Mouse Pointer mode on the right side on the screen.
“Version 8.1.5 of the app is updating the default input mode from Touch to Mouse Pointer when connecting to systems running Windows 8 and later versions of Windows. We are making this change based on the user feedback we’ve received that on small devices like a phone, the Mouse Pointer mode really shines and makes it easier to interact with the session,” Microsoft stated in an official blog post.
Microsoft has also added the Shift key to the extended keyboard. Similar to CTRL and ALT, the SHIFT key can be pressed and will remain active until un-pressed or used in a combo (Ex: CTRL + SHIFT + ESC).
Instead of pressing the back button to disconnect, it will now return you to the Connection Center without disconnecting the session. Microsoft has added a new resume button to quickly jump back to the last active session without requiring that you find the right tile for the connection.
This latest update to the Remote Desktop app also features bug fixes and performance improvements, as Microsoft is focusing efforts towards adding support for Microsoft Azure RemoteApp, Remote resources (RemoteApp and Desktop Connections) and Gateway, along with improvements based on user feedback. You can snag the Preview app via the download link below.
