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Release notes

VNC SDK 1.10.0

Released
June 2023

New and changed features

  • This is a maintenance release.

VNC SDK 1.10.0

Released
February 2023

New and changed features

  • NEW: Viewer-side pointer API allows Viewers access to the Server (where supported) pointer image and position via callbacks vnc_Viewer_ServerPointerCallback::serverPointerPos and vnc_Viewer_ServerPointerCallback::serverPointerImageChanged.
  • FIXED: System-level error messages now correctly provided via vnc_Viewer_getDisconnectReason().
  • FIXED: Android SDK missing symbol.
  • FIXED: Java SDK JNI interface for desktop platforms now reinstated.

VNC SDK 1.9.2

Released
November 2022

New and changed features

  • FIXED: DisplayManager API now reports display count correctly from initialisation.
  • FIXED: Annotation Windows may become visible when certain Window sharing tools were used whilst active.

VNC SDK 1.9.1

Released
June 2022

New and changed features

  • This is a maintenance release.

VNC SDK 1.9.1

Released
December 2021

New and changed features

  • NEW: Support for SDK Server connections from third party VNC Viewers.

VNC SDK 1.9.0

Released
January 2021

New and changed features

  • NEW: Audio streaming support - SDK Servers and Viewers now support audio streaming from RFB6 Servers to Viewers. Note that HTML5 viewers do not yet support RFB6 streaming. Windows 7 and newer only.
  • NEW: Support for Android 10 and Android arm64 architecture.
  • FIXED: Orientation change and resize screen on Android platforms no longer results in a potential race condition bug.

VNC SDK 1.8.1

Released
September 2020

New and changed features

  • NEW: Support for SDK Viewer connections to third party VNC Servers
  • NEW: RFB6 streaming support
    Improved performance, particularly over high latency links using RFB6’s UDP streaming technology and new encodings. Note that HTML5 viewers do not yet support RFB6 streaming.
  • NEW: DirectUdp API - allows the creation of UDP connections in situations where RealVNC Cloud is not accessible.
  • NEW: Server-side Input API - now pointer and keyboard input can be intercepted and redirected in the Server app.
  • NEW: Support for macOS 10.14 Mojave, iOS 12 and Android 9.
  • NEW: DisplayManager API allowing the local or remote selection of a display on Windows desktops.
  • Maximum supported screen size of SDK viewers is now larger

VNC SDK 1.7.1

Released
August 2019

New and changed features

  • This is a maintenance release.

VNC SDK 1.7.0

Released
August 2018

New and changed features

  • NEW: Bindings for the .NET Framework
    Create a Viewer and/or a Server app in a .NET language such as C#, and deploy to platforms supporting .NET Framework 4+.
  • NEW: A <vnc-sdk>/samples/basicViewerCSharpWpf sample Viewer app demonstrates how to create a Viewer app using C# and WPF, and exercises the .NET bindings. In addition, it showcases annotations.
  • NEW: Support for Ubuntu 18.04. Supported platforms.
  • NEW: Call vnc_EventLoop_shouldStop() to detect whether vnc_EventLoop_stop has been called. Note you should only need to do this if you are implementing your own event loop using the functions in EventLoopFd.h and EventLoopWin.h.

VNC SDK 1.6.0

Released
April 2018

New and changed features


VNC SDK 1.5.1

Released
1 August 2017

New and changed features

  • Messages, data or files over 10KB in size can now be sent over the custom data channel.

VNC SDK 1.5.0

Released
11 July 2017

New and changed features

  • NEW: Custom data channel
    Send your own messages, data or files over the same secure communication channel as the current screen sharing session. Augment screen sharing with text chat, send alerts, display system data, provide a file transfer facility, transmit patches or software updates, and more.
  • NEW: Support for iOS 10, Android 7 and macOS 10.12 Sierra. Supported platforms.
  • NEW: Fine-tune the picture quality mid-session using vnc_Viewer_setPictureQuality().
  • NEW: Monitor management capability
    Choose a particular monitor attached to the Server computer to remote to connected Viewer app users, and use the functions in Displays.h to detect monitor changes while sessions are in progress.
  • NEW: A vnc-sdk/samples/richServerPython sample app that, when running on Windows only in this release, demonstrates both the custom data channel (top) and monitor management capability (above) by sending the current list of monitors to connected Viewer apps and enabling users to choose.
  • The vnc-sdk/samples/richViewerPython sample app now enables a Viewer user to choose which monitor to remote in conjunction with the new richServerPython sample app, above.

VNC SDK 1.4.1

Released
31 May 2017
  • This is a maintenance release.

VNC SDK 1.4.0

Released
01 June 2016

New and changed features

  • NEW: Both Viewer and Server app users can annotate (that is, draw lines on top of) a Server device screen, perhaps in order to share information, give feedback or instruct novice users. These annotations can be color-coded for different users and persist or fade as desired. More information.
  • NEW: A <vnc-sdk>/samples/richPythonViewer sample app showcases annotations on any desktop platform in conjunction with a Server sample app.
  • NEW: Raspberry Pi 3 is a supported device, and Ubuntu 16.04 LTS a supported platform.
  • NEW: A Server app can change permissions for a connected Viewer app mid-session using vnc_Server_setPermissions().
  • NEW: A Viewer or Server app can override the default system proxy server settings in order to establish a VNC Cloud connection using vnc_setCloudProxySettings(). A different proxy server can be specified, or no proxy server at all.
  • NEW: Introducing vnc_uint31_t, an int-compatible type for non-negative numbers. Note that vnc_unicodeToKeysym() and vnc_Viewer_sendKeyDown() now take this type as an argument, and the macros for common X11 keysyms in Keyboard.h are now of this type instead of long.
  • Bitcode is now disabled by default in <vnc-sdk>/samples/basicVieweriOS. Note your custom iOS Viewer app must not include bitcode.
  • Failure to implement a mandatory callback in the HTML 5 SDK now causes a set...Callback method to throw a VncException with an InvalidArgument error.
  • Binaries are now signed with SHA-2 as well as SHA-1 certificates for compatibility with all supported Microsoft platforms.
  • <vnc-sdk>/tools/vnccloudaddresstool is now simpler to set up and run.

VNC SDK 1.3.1

Released
16 March 2016

New and changed features

  • NEW: A script that simplifies the process of submitting a custom iOS Viewer app to the Apple App Store by removing simulator slices.

Known issues

Sample apps

  • serviceServerWin
    If you attempt to stop the sample app while a Viewer app user is authenticating, the service does not stop. Further requests to stop elicit a ‘Service cannot accept control messages at this time’ message.

VNC SDK 1.3.0

Released
22 February 2016

New and changed features

  • NEW: Support for a view-only Server app on Android
    Use the vncsdk.jar Java binding file to create a Server app for Android 5+ devices that allows a connected Viewer app user to see the device screen but not control it. More information.
  • NEW: Use vncsdk.DirectTcp.DEFAULT_PORT from the vncsdk.py Python binding file to quickly access the default listening port for VNC, 5900.
  • NEW: The VNC Cloud Address Tool now supports Python 2.7.11.
  • NEW: Generating RSA encryption keys for a HTML 5 Viewer app running in Safari 9 is now quicker.
  • NEW: VNC Cloud connections between devices located in regions other than the US West Coast are now just as responsive.
  • NEW: The SDK now logs expiry on start up; that is, the date after which apps will cease to run unless built against a newer version of the SDK.
  • NEW: The basicServerPython and basicViewerPython sample apps now demonstrate listening for and establishing direct TCP connections respectively.
  • vnc_Server_create() now correctly returns either FileError or AgentError if the vncagent path is invalid under Windows.
  • Library.VNC_DIRECT_TCP_DEFAULT_PORT in the vncsdk.jar Java binding file is now deprecated. Use DirectTcp.DEFAULT_PORT instead.

Known issues

SDK libraries

  • vncsdk.js HTML 5 binding file running in Chrome on Mac OS X
    If many screen updates are received in quick succession (for example, a Viewer app users scrolls a window on a connected computer rapidly), a connection may close with an ‘OutStream full’ error in the log.

Sample apps

  • serviceServerWin
    If you attempt to stop the sample app while a Viewer app user is authenticating, the service does not stop. Further requests to stop elicit a ‘Service cannot accept control messages at this time’ message.

VNC SDK 1.2.0

Released
15 December 2015

New and changed features

Known issues

Custom apps

  • Persistent Server app and Windows XP
    If a connected Viewer user fast switches to a new user account and then logs off that user, vncagent stops capturing the screen. The connected user can fast switch back to the login screen, just not log off. See <vnc-sdk>/samples/serviceServerWin for a demonstration.

Sample apps

  • <vnc-sdk>/samples/basicViewerHTML5 and IE 11/MS Edge
    You may not be able to open the sample app directly from the file system. Either host the sample app on a web server, or right-click each of vncsdk.js, viewer.html, viewer.css, and viewer.js and select Properties > General > Unblock.
  • <vnc-sdk>/samples/basicViewerHTML5 and IE 11
    A web browser user may see an ‘Access is denied’ error when navigating to the sample app hosted by a web server in the local domain. Ask the user to configure their browser settings as follows:
    • Enable Tools > Internet options > Security > Local intranet > Custom level > Miscellaneous > Access data sources across domains
    • Add vnc.com and the local web server address using Tools > Internet options > Security > Local intranet > Sites > Advanced > Add
  • <vnc-sdk>/samples/basicViewerPython and Mac
    If you encounter problems installing Qt and PySide on Mac OS X, email developer-support@realvnc.com.

VNC SDK 1.1.1

Released
16 October 2015

New and changed features

  • NEW: Support for Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan, iOS 9 and Android 6. Full supported platforms list.
  • NEW: Support for Raspberry Pi. Use the new SDK library in <vnc-sdk>/lib/linux-armhf-raspi to create either a Server app to control, or a Viewer app to control from, a Raspberry Pi 1 or 2. Note the Linux/X11 sample apps can be compiled and run on a Pi without further configuration. More information.
  • NEW: Support for Python. Use the new Python binding file in <vnc-sdk>/lib/python in conjunction with the SDK library for the target platform to create either a single-shot Server app (remoting the desktop of the current user only) or a Viewer app for a Python 2.6, 2.7 or 3.x environment. See the Python API reference and the <vnc-sdk>/samples/basicServerPython and <vnc-sdk>/samples/basicViewerPython sample apps for more information.
  • NEW: Bundle the new <vnc-sdk>/lib/win-<arch>/saslib.dll helper library with your persistent Server app to inject the Ctrl-Alt-Delete key combination on Windows Vista computers.

Known issues

Sample apps

  • <vnc-sdk>/samples/serviceServerWin sample app and XP
    This will also affect your custom app. If a connected Viewer user fast user switches to a new user account and then logs off that user, vncagent stops capturing the screen. The connected user can fast user switch back to the login screen, just not log off.
  • <vnc-sdk>/samples/basicViewerHTML5 sample app and IE 11/MS Edge
    This affects the sample app only. You may not be able to open the sample app directly from the file system. Either host the sample app on a web server, or right-click each of vncsdk.js, viewer.html, viewer.css, and viewer.js and select Properties > General > Unblock.
  • <vnc-sdk>/samples/basicViewerHTML5 sample app and IE 11
    This will also affect your custom app during testing (though not a live deployment). A web browser user may see an ‘Access is denied’ error when navigating to the sample app hosted by a web server in the local domain. Ask the user to configure their browser settings as follows:
    • Enable Tools > Internet options > Security > Local intranet > Custom level > Miscellaneous > Access data sources across domains
    • Add vnc.com and the local web server address using Tools > Internet options > Security > Local intranet > Sites > Advanced > Add
  • <vnc-sdk>/samples/basicViewerPython sample app and Mac
    This affects the sample app only. If you encounter problems installing Qt and PySide on Mac OS X, email developer-support@realvnc.com.

VNC SDK 1.1.0

Released
30 July 2015

New and changed features

  • NEW: Support for Windows 10, the Microsoft Edge web browser, and Visual Studio 2015 (with an appropriate version of CMake; see the <vnc-sdk>/samples/basicViewerWin README).
  • NEW: Create a Server app that remotes the console of the computer and not just the desktop of the currently-logged in user. Such a Server app must be integrated as a system service and run as the root or SYSTEM user, but enables you to remote the (elevated) login, lock and Windows UAC screens, start the Server app on boot, and persist through switch and log outs in order to potentially remote the desktop of any user on the system. Start with this discussion.
  • NEW: Discover exactly when vncagent is ready to capture the screen and inject input events by calling vnc_Server_isAgentReady(), or subscribing to the vnc_Server_AgentCallback::agentStarted and vnc_Server_AgentCallback::agentStopped callbacks. vncagent is normally started automatically as soon as your Server app runs, but it may stop during a log out or, under Linux, if the X server shuts down. In these circumstances, vncagent is able to restart automatically, so you can choose to wait before disconnecting Viewer apps.
  • NEW: In your Server app, conveniently discover the total number of currently-connected Viewer apps by calling vnc_Server_getConnectionCount().
  • NEW: Restrict the bandwidth available for connections that are relayed end-to-end by VNC Cloud because a peer-to-peer connection cannot be established. To do this, call vnc_CloudConnector_setRelayBandwidthLimit(); note this may impact upon the user experience.
  • NEW: Access the <vnc-sdk>/samples/basicViewerHTML5 sample app from the same desktop computer by simply double-clicking viewer.html. (You need only set up and run a web server if you want to access the sample app from other computers.)
  • NEW: Send Ctrl+Alt+Del to a computer from the <vnc-sdk>/samples/basicVieweriOS, <vnc-sdk>/samples/basicViewerAndroid, or <vnc-sdk>/samples/basicViewerHTML5 sample app using a new toolbar button (and learn how to do this by examining the sample app code).
  • vnc_Server_disconnect() and vnc_Server_disconnectAll() now take an int as a final argument instead of a vnc_bool_t, so you can send a reconnection recommendation as well as a disconnection message to Viewer apps.
  • vnc_Server_setConnectionCallback() and vnc_Server_setSecurityCallback() both now return a vnc_status_t instead of void, so you can call vnc_getLastError() if required.
  • In the Java and JavaScript bindings, Viewer.sendPointerEvent and Viewer.ConnectionCallback.disconnected now take a set of flags as one of their arguments, rather than an ORing of flags.

VNC Cloud 1.1

Released
30 July 2015

New and changed features

  • NEW: List all the VNC Cloud addresses you currently have available for use. See how to do this.

VNC SDK 1.0.1

Released
22 June 2015

New and changed features

  • NEW: HTML5 is no longer ALPHA, but rather fully-fledged 1.0.1.
  • NEW: Android is no longer BETA, but rather fully-fledged 1.0.1.
  • NEW: The basic Viewer sample for iOS is now designed for iPad as well as iPhone.
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