Announcing Multiplicity

Control multiple computers from a single keyboard and mouse

Published on February 9, 2005 By Stardock Central In WinCustomize News

LIVONIA, Mich.----Feb. 9, 2005--Software developer Stardock Corporation announced a brand new product today, Multiplicity, a program that allows users to control multiple computers with a single keyboard and mouse. For users, it's much like using a multiple-monitor setup - when the user moves their mouse to a monitor connected to a different PC the user is then controlling that computer. It is not a remote control solution.

A typical configuration would be 2 or 3 computers, each with its own monitor connected to that computer. The primary computer would have the keyboard and mouse hooked up to it. The secondary computers receive input via a network connection about the mouse's location. When the mouse passes onto their screen, the user is in control of that PC.

"It's totally seamless," said Brad Wardell, Product Manager of Multiplicity. "I can be playing a full screen game on one screen and have an instant messaging conversation going on the other computer. I just move my mouse over to the other monitor to type a response and then move it back to continue controlling my character in the game I'm playing."

Multiplicity also provides a universal clipboard between machines. Users can copy images or text from one machine, move their mouse over to another monitor, and paste it. The Pro version of Multiplicity allows users to also copy and paste files and directories between machines.
Stardock plans to target engineering firms, testing centers, power users, gamers, and other markets that tend to have people that may have multiple computers.

"If you've ever sent yourself an email to move a file or piece of data in the same room then you need Multiplicity," said Wardell. "If you are currently in an office where there's keyboard and mice taking over your desk or table, you need Multiplicity."

Multiplicity will come in two forms, standard and professional. Multiplicity standard version will list for $39.95 and supports controlling two computers. Multiplicity Pro will list for $69.95 which supports controlling up to any number of computers as well as supports copying files and folders between machines.

Stardock expects to release Multiplicity by the end of February. Its home page is https://www.stardock.com/products/multiplicity

Versions:
Multiplicity Standard: $39.95
Multiplicity Pro: $69.95

Requires: Windows 2000 or Windows XP. At least two computers with at least 1 monitor on each computer.

Developer:
Stardock Corp. (www.stardock.com).
17292 Farmington Rd.
Livonia MI 48152

About Stardock:
Stardock is a Midwestern Windows software development company. It is best known for creating software that extends and enhances to functionality of Microsoft Windows. Its principle product is a suite of desktop enhancements called Object Desktop (www.objectdesktop.com) which includes its popular utilities WindowBlinds, DesktopX, ObjectBar, IconPackager, SkinStudio, RightClick, Keyboard LaunchPad, and much more.

It also runs the world's most popular desktop customization website called WinCustomize.com (www.wincustomize.com) which receives over 3 million unique visitors each month.

Stardock has also developed popular PC strategy games such as the award winning Galactic Civilizations (www.galciv.com) and The Political Machine (www.politicalmachine.com). Its game software is available at retail as well as through its innovative electronic distribution network TotalGaming.net (www.totalgaming.net).

Comments (Page 1)

ejk

on Feb 09, 2005

How would this be different from the Open Source (and Free) project "Synergy"?

http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/about.html

NightTrainthedark

on Feb 09, 2005

Wow, this sounds pretty useful. One stupid question. If you have 2 pc's and they both have monitors, keyboards and mouses, will the program still work or do you need to unplug the mouse and keyboard from the other pc's?

Alternate Setting

on Feb 09, 2005

Will the trial be available for download on the 21st Feb ?

ZiUL

on Feb 09, 2005

Interesting but I'll stick with kvm solution...

The Synergy project does the same thing for free and works with other OS than windows.
http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/about.html

Uriyel

on Feb 09, 2005

OUTSTANDING!!

cakeypower

on Feb 09, 2005

yeah... I'll stick with synergy.

Liquidmantis

on Feb 09, 2005

I've heard of Synergy before, but I use Win2VNC to do the same thing (other than actual file copy/paste functions, but network shares solve that). I'm already running VNC on all systems anyway so Win2VNC just connects to that.

Black Xero

on Feb 09, 2005

A Silent Killer .... Great app.

programcsharp

on Feb 09, 2005

Will this be a part of Object Desktop, or is it another additional thing we OD subscribers will have to buy?

alphadog

on Feb 09, 2005

Not sure how big a market there is for this. How many people need to share mouse and keyboard but not monitors?

Unless I am mistaken, it's a software version of a KVM. When you think of one person running multiple systems, it looks like Multiplicity is about sharing K and M. However, what most people want is to share the V, since it is the most expensive of the three. Especially when you escalate to four- or eight-way setups.

What I really need is a four-way K((2V)MAU.

A keyboard-multimon-mouse-audio-usb switch.

programcsharp

on Feb 09, 2005

Ahh... I see... ThinkDesk

... Sign me up!!!

Essencay

on Feb 09, 2005

Will this be a part of Object Desktop, or is it another additional thing we OD subscribers will have to buy?

It's a tool for sharing input between multiple machines, not a desktop customization tool, so I would say no. Also Stardock has added two additional pieces of software to ODNT in recent months right-click and enhanced dialog....isn't that enough

Digital3000

on Feb 09, 2005

"Also Stardock has added two additional pieces of software to ODNT in recent months right-click and enhanced dialog....isn't that enough"

NO!
lol Kidding, great applications mentioned there, and this app. sounds coolbeans to.

Kobrano

on Feb 09, 2005

Alphadog I recommend re-reading what it does, you are obviously fairly confused about it. MP allows you to control multiple computers(Including their monitors) with a single keyboard and mouse. Not sure how you misread that to be that it shares mouse and keyboard.

Whoever wrote that press announcement, I recommend the following changes:

Requires: Windows XP or Windows 2000/2003. At least two computers with at least 1 monitor on each computer and networking cards.

(Note, move WindowsXP before 2000, and mention that it does need a network, or at the least, networking cards. Pretty important to mention that as it is a hardware requirement of Multiplicity)

Finally, there are some stark differences between Multiplicity and Synergy, namely the file copy features, and the ability to work in almost every game out there(which Multiplicity does). Synergy at best, has connection issues, and is flakey in games. In fact, there are several Multiplicity-Like products out there, and before they come up, let me address them.

http://www.neslosoftware.com/

(Supports pocket PC's as well, up to 32 computers in various locations. However, it is quite difficult to setup and does NOT work well in most games. Also there are no facilities for file sharing between machines.)

http://www.apteryxware.com/singlecontrol/

(Works in almost all games, but is very expensive at $179.00. Does not support clipboard or file sharing.)

Please note, I don't work for Stardock, this is merely my impressions and opinions.

Brandon Paddock

on Feb 09, 2005

I used ShareKMC in the past for this purpose, but recently started using Desktop Rover - which, while not free, also supports control of a PocketPC. So I can move my mouse/keyboard from my main desktop to my laptop on the left and my PocketPC on the right when they're here.

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