APCUG Reports
January-March 2009

I have been asked to do a repeat of that program for SouthEastern Michigan Computer Organization, and Mike Bader told me SEMCO had already seen a program on LogMeIn and CrossLoop. I was not aware of CrossLoop, but I told him I would write an article on it for this issue of APCUG Reports.

Jim Evans told me that on 9/24/2008 Walt Mossberg wrote in the Personal Technology section of the Wall Street Journal “With CrossLoop, Users Can Get Help From Techie Friend”.

Using CrossLoop you can connect to a friend (or user group member) to provide one-on-one help or you can pay money to one of CrossLoop’s listed consultants.

If you go to https://crossloop.com/createaccount.htm you can register for a free account and then download an install the software. If you feel that you are an expert in Operating Systems, Networking, Security, Microsoft Office, Web Design, Programming, QuickBooks, ,Photoshop, iPhone or iTunes/Music you can create a profile to begin building your credentials, or you can get started without creating a detailed profile. CrossLoop has a Getting Started Guide or you can watch a one-minute video.

I find CrossLoop to be a very good program for doing “Virtual House Calls”, i.e. helping a fellow user group member remotely.

When you start CrossLoop you will see a screen with a green Access Tab, and a box for you to fill in the Access Code,

and when you click the Share Tab, you will see your Access Code

You need to be in voice contact with the other party, either over the Phone or using Skype. You read him your Access Code, and he fills it in on his Access Tab, and he reads you his Access Code from his Share Tab, and you fill it in on your Access Tab.

If you press Connect on your Share Tab, and if he presses Connect on his Access Tab, then after you say it is OK for him to access your computer

he will see your desktop, and everything on your computer, and both of you will have control of your mouse and your keyboard.

You can minimize your CrossLoop screen, and it will remain active in your taskbar, and you can bring it up at any time you want.

Notice the four icons on it. The gear icon opens a menu with some options you can change. The folder icon allows you to send a file to the other party. The keyboard and mouse icon allows you to restrict the other party from having access to your keyboard and mouse, and the red and green arrow icon allows you to switch Access/Share mode, i.e. rather than the other party having access to your computer, you get access to his computer (once he clicks ok that he is willing to share access to his computer.

If you want a further endorsement of CrossLoop, see http://tinyurl.com/5pswpg to see what Rick Broida said in PC World.