{
  "id": 2054688,
  "title": "Astropad Workbench 1.3 adds faster streaming, privacy curtain, and more",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/astropad-workbench-1-3-adds-faster-streaming-privacy-curtain-and-more",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-20T01:19:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "9to5Mac",
    "slug": "9to5mac",
    "url": "https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/19/astropad-workbench-1-3-adds-faster-streaming-privacy-curtain-and-more/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Astropad has unveiled Workbench 1.3, its most substantial update to the remote desktop app since its launch earlier this year. The latest release introduces a host of enhancements, from accelerated streaming capabilities to a privacy curtain feature, designed to bolster performance and reliability.\n\nWorkbench, initially introduced in April, enables remote access to Mac devices from an iPhone or iPad. Astropad has placed a strong emphasis on managing AI agents and managing headless Mac mini setups. With version 1.3, the company has revamped the video streaming system specifically tailored for Apple silicon. Astropad reports that streaming speeds have increased by 30%, thanks to content-aware encoding which optimizes how text and images are processed, leading to clearer text and higher refresh rates.\n\nA noteworthy addition is the privacy curtain, which can obscure the Mac’s display during a remote session. Users can select from three curtain styles, dim the physical display, and even block local keyboard or mouse input. This feature aims to enhance privacy during remote access sessions.\n\nAnother notable feature, Watchdog, operates in the background to monitor Workbench. In the event of a crash, disconnection, or failure to respond, Watchdog automatically relaunches the app, ensuring uninterrupted service for the user.\n\nThe update also introduces picture-in-picture support, allowing users to keep the remote Mac visible while they continue working in another application on their iPad. On iPad models, shortcut mapping enables users to redirect commands typically controlled by iPadOS to the connected Mac.\n\nIn addition to these features, Workbench 1.3 incorporates 71 bug fixes. These improvements span various aspects of the app, including keyboard input, clipboard syncing, sign-in processes, and more. Since its debut, Workbench has seen incremental enhancements such as improved external mouse support, smoother zooming, smarter sleep handling, the visibility of macOS cursors, and the ability to input the Command-Space command from an iPad.\n\nPrior updates have also expanded Workbench's functionality with non-English speech-to-text capabilities, extended background connections, faster connection times, enhanced encryption, more reliable clipboard syncing, Japanese Kana keyboard support, and compatibility fixes for Wispr Flow and Apple Pencil Scribble. For further details on the latest version of Workbench, interested parties can visit the provided link.",
  "summary": "Astropad has released Workbench 1.3, its largest update to the remote desktop app since the launch earlier this year. The release adds several tools for accessing unattended Macs, along with changes to performance and reliability.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}