'Oscar' Adapter Connects Retina iPad Display Panel to Macs via Thunderbolt

MacRumors · Mar 4, 2014

Oscar, a new Kickstarter project currently seeking funding, is an Arduino-compatible adapter that's able to connect a high-resolution screen to a computer. The adapter comes attached to the same 9.7-inch display used in Apple's Retina iPads, and uses DisplayPort or Thunderbolt to connect to a computer.

When connected to a Mac, the Oscar adapter allows the high-resolution 2048 x 1536 panel to be used as a second screen.

OSCAR is an adapter that allows you to connect a super high resolution 9.7" screen, often found in tablets, to your computer. It comes pre-connected to the LCD panel ready to be attached and is compatible will all operating systems using a Thunderbolt or DisplayPort connection. The board is Arduino compatible which makes modifying the behaviour easy and all the software and hardware is open source.

The complete Oscar kit includes an LCD screen that comes with an acrylic case and a stand, allowing it to be used for a range of second-screen purposes. The adapter included with the display powers the LED backlight and controls the power supply. Because it's Arduino compatible, the adapter can be used to control variables like backlight brightness through USB.

The full Oscar kit, with display, laser cut acrylic case, power supply, stand, and DisplayPort/USB cables can be obtained through a £150 pledge, equivalent to approximately $250. The screen alone can be purchased for £110, or $183, and the panels are expected to begin shipping in July of 2014.

Update 1:09 PM PST: As MacRumors forum user rootyb has pointed out, a similar product from Adafruit is already available for purchase for $250.

Article Link: 'Oscar' Adapter Connects Retina iPad Display Panel to Macs via Thunderbolt

k1121j · Mar 4, 2014

??

whats this good for? did we just re-invent the wheel here

Goftrey · Mar 4, 2014

The only way I can see this being utilised well is hooked on to the side of an iMac/Cinema display somehow. It just seems entirely pointless hooking a 10" display up to a 13/15/17" laptop.

PBUser167 · Mar 4, 2014

Only way I see this as remotely interesting or worth while is if you can capture touch back to the computer. But, it looks like display only without a digitizer. Maybe they think people want to run an iPad display off of an Arduino? If you want a second screen on your computer, just buy one.

macaddict06 · Mar 4, 2014

Neat, I guess, but am I missing something here? Seems like this would only be important if:
1. You could plug in an iPad and use it as an external monitor or
2. There is some additional benefit of using an Arduino for some expanded purpose.

Doesn't seem like this is the case, so I guess good for them that they figured out how to make an external monitor that plugs into Thunderbolt...

GBrooks · Mar 4, 2014

I read this post a few times - I'm still not too sure I understand.
Does this differ to an additional external screen whatsoever?
Looks interesting, but is there any additional benefit to using this?

arn · Mar 4, 2014

GBrooks said:
I read this post a few times - I'm still not too sure I understand.
Does this differ to an additional external screen whatsoever?
Looks interesting, but is there any additional benefit to using this?

It's 264DPI.

arn

bluespark · Mar 4, 2014

There are apps for that. What advantage does a hard-wired solution offer?

GBrooks · Mar 4, 2014

arn said:
It's 264DPI.

arn

True, but couldn't I hook up my iPad wirelessly with Air Display and use that?
Maybe this can extend your screen, whereas Air Display only mirrors?

rootyb · Mar 4, 2014

Or you could just buy the same thing now.

https://www.adafruit.com/qualia

darkslide29 · Mar 4, 2014

bluespark said:
There are apps for that. What advantage does a hard-wired solution offer?

Probably no lag? Not that I'm going to buy this, just saying..

----------

GBrooks said:
True, but couldn't I hook up my iPad wirelessly with Air Display and use that?
Maybe this can extend your screen, whereas Air Display only mirrors?

There are iOS apps that can do both - mirror and extend. I'm assuming this will eliminate any lag, and the need of a wireless network.

----------

rootyb said:
Or you could just buy the same thing now.

https://www.adafruit.com/qualia

LOL. Same price too. ~$250.

rtr1985 · Mar 4, 2014

lolwut

TimeSquareDesi · Mar 4, 2014

k1121j said:
whats this good for? did we just re-invent the wheel here

solutions looking for problems.

skinned66 · Mar 4, 2014

For that price I'd rather have a 24" monitor and money to spare. I love high resolution - nothing but diminishing returns here IMO.

baryon · Mar 4, 2014

This is cool, but why isn't there a way to simply use an iPad as a second monitor? Also where do these guys get the iPad display from?

crenz · Mar 4, 2014

Love the idea. It's a special solution for special situations, definitely. One possible usage could be as on-stage display for musicians. The iPad is not yet running all the software I need on stage, and using this together with a Mac Mini might be a nice alternative.

lemonade-maker · Mar 4, 2014

crenz said:
Love the idea. It's a special solution for special situations, definitely. One possible usage could be as on-stage display for musicians. The iPad is not yet running all the software I need on stage, and using this together with a Mac Mini might be a nice alternative.

No way a musician in general will use it. This is a result looking for a solution.

ArtOfWarfare · Mar 4, 2014

rootyb said:
Or you could just buy the same thing now.

https://www.adafruit.com/qualia

I wonder if that was already for sale when the kickstarted group started this project six months ago.

garylapointe · Mar 4, 2014

External LCD Display

I've been looking for something similar to this for a while.

I want an LCD display so I can use my MacBook easier in the sunlight.
I don't need color but it'd be nice to have shades of grey/gray.

I don't care if it's actually LCD, just so that I can read it in the sunlight. My old XO OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) looked excellent and was VERY legible in the sunshine.

It can plug into the USB or VGA (or lightning) or some combo of them all. I'd just like to be able to get some work done while outside and be able to see my display.

Thank you for ANY suggestions.

Analog Kid · Mar 4, 2014

k1121j said:
whats this good for? did we just re-invent the wheel here

TimeSquareDesi said:
solutions looking for problems.

I've been looking to do exactly this. I've seen how-tos online, but haven't had the time to bust out the soldering iron.

For me, it would be a display I can move among headless Mac Minis. Not what I would call a huge market, but it's important to me. I'm tired of having to carry the dang things over to where I have a display so I can see what made them crash or because I misconfigured something remotely.

rootyb said:
Or you could just buy the same thing now.

https://www.adafruit.com/qualia

Excellent!

ogilloire · Mar 4, 2014

GBrooks said:
True, but couldn't I hook up my iPad wirelessly with Air Display and use that?
Maybe this can extend your screen, whereas Air Display only mirrors?

I use AirDisplay and you can create another screen, not just a mirror. I think it a more flexible solution than dedicated (non-touch?) display proposed here. But perhaps thunderbolt connection is more reliable and can show less lag.

colmaclean · Mar 5, 2014

ogilloire said:
I use AirDisplay and you can create another screen, not just a mirror. I think it a more flexible solution than dedicated (non-touch?) display proposed here. But perhaps thunderbolt connection is more reliable and can show less lag.

Other iPad/Mac screen extenders are available. I use the excellent DisplayPad myself.

The only difference between it and Air Display (apart from being dramatically cheaper) is that it only supports Mac, not Windoze.

ogilloire · Mar 5, 2014

colmaclean said:
Other iPad/Mac screen extenders are available. I use the excellent DisplayPad myself.

The only difference between it and Air Display (apart from being dramatically cheaper) is that it only supports Mac, not Windoze.

Thanks for the tip, i will try it!

toke lahti · Mar 5, 2014

crenz said:
The iPad is not yet running all the software I need on stage, and using this together with a Mac Mini might be a nice alternative.

Analog Kid said:
For me, it would be a display I can move among headless Mac Minis.

There has been displays of this size for ages. Do you both have any use of 264dpi?

garylapointe said:
I want an LCD display so I can use my MacBook easier in the sunlight.

Are you looking for macbook with matte screen (I am...) or do you need e-reader-like screen (available natural backlight)?

I'd just like to have hdmi-in dongle to my iPad (which screen should also be matte). If it also had video encoder chip inside the dongle, it would be perfect viewfinder & recorder for video camera...

thejadedmonkey · Mar 5, 2014

So basically this is a "next-gen" USB monitor?

skinned66 said:
For that price I'd rather have a 24" monitor and money to spare. I love high resolution - nothing but diminishing returns here IMO.

Shhh, don't let the Apple fanboys hear you

'Oscar' Adapter Connects Retina iPad Display Panel to Macs via Thunderbolt

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