RemoteTap

RemoteTap [Appstore link] is, similar to Remote Jr., a native iPhone App and falls somewhere between categories b) and c) as defined above. A free desktop based server program must be installed and running in order to pair with the iPhone counterpart. The server is a preferences prefpane which I find nice. Establishing a connection may, if configured such, require to enter a password, which is quite useful. Remote Tap can not only connect via WIFI but also over 3G, though I did not manage to get this working because the available desktops where behind a DSL router with dynamic IP.

It shares a lot of similarities with Remote Jr.:

It runs in portrait and landscape mode - however the functionality is the same in both orientations. It shows a live screen from the paired desktop, however more fluently but also mire blurry compared to Remote Jr. In mouse mode it is possible to switch between two different behaviours: move around and zoom the screen, or move the mouse and click. I found it difficult to click at the right position because the mouse pointer remains under the clicking finger. This is much better solved in Jaadu.

RemoteTap can also display a full keyboard, a red "laser pointer" in presentations, additional special buttons, a spotlight search bar, several button sets with special buttons such as a numerical keypad, navigation keys, window manipulation keys etc. The app can also list all running programs, all programs in the dock and all installed programs, and does this, in contrast to Remote Jr., correctly.

I tested RemoteTap with two Apple computers and had problems with one which is configured for Apple Remote Access, which excludes VNC. Compared to Remote Jr. it appears a lot more mature and powerful. However, it can not compete with Jaadu when VNC features are considered, and for a simple remote control of Powerpoint or a media-centered application there are other specialised apps which do the job better (however with less eye candy). If Jaadu is too expensive or if you are looking for a one-app-does-it-all, you might want to go for RemoteTap.