Astropad releases Workbench v1.3 with faster streaming

Astropad has released version 1.3 of its Astropad Workbench remote desktop application, marking its largest update since its initial launch. The update is designed to improve remote access to Macs from iPhone and iPad devices, with a specific focus on managing headless Mac mini setups and monitoring AI agents.

Key technical improvements include a rebuilt video streaming system optimized for Apple Silicon, which reportedly increases streaming speeds by up to 30% while improving text clarity through content-aware encoding. New features include a ‘Privacy Curtain’ to hide the remote Mac’s screen, a ‘Watchdog’ function that automatically relaunches the app if it crashes or becomes unresponsive, and Picture-in-Picture support for multitasking. Additionally, the update allows iPad users to remap system shortcuts, such as Cmd+Tab, to be sent directly to the remote Mac.