Apple wraps up development of Apple Remote Desktop 3

The major update, which was reported on last year, is expected to deliver about a dozen prime features such as an AutoInstall function, network copy and paste, and remote Spotlight search capabilities.

While the feature set of ADR 3.0 has changed only slightly over the past year, usually reliable sources are reporting that the software package has adopted at least one new gizmo: a Dashboard widget.

The new widget will reportedly allow administrators to select a client machine from a list and observe it in the Dashboard environment.

Other expected features of ARD 3.0 include a privacy or "curtain mode," improved file copy support, and detailed user and application usage reports.

Sources have suggested Apple could release the software soon. Alternatively, the company may decide to withhold the release until it unveils its next-generation operating system, Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard — similar to a move it made with Apple Remote Desktop 2.2 and Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger.