Astropad's Luna Display for Turning an iPad Into a Second Screen for Mac is Now Available

[Jeaz]

Really have to mention Spacedesk here. It's currently free while in beta and offers a few interesting a features.

A big con first: it can only use a Windows PC as a "host". So if you have a pure Mac setup, then it's not for you.
A second con: it currently only has support for wireless transmission, but corded support is coming.

But the biggest pro for me, is that it can also use a desktop computer as target display. So if you like me, have an iMac and a PC laptop (from work), I can use my iMac as a 2nd display to my work PC, and it works quite well.
It even extends my iMac mouse to the target PC, acting almost as a wireless dock.

It of course also has an iPad app. There's a noticeable lag, so it's not for everyone. But I find it great since I can put up text documents etc on my big screen and keep mail etc on the small laptop screen.

 

[ikir]

Doesn't solve any problem that Duet Display hasn't already done.

Duet Display by Duet, Inc.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/duet-display/id935754064?mt=8

have you read about GPU acceleration & no lag?

 

[Sunday Ironfoot]

Seems like a great alternative to software based solutions like Duet Display which need to use a virtualised display driver which effects performance on your Mac (especially with 3D applications like games). So because this plugs into your Mac, the Mac just thinks it's an external display?

 

[mrboult]

I wonder if their ios app is compatible with out of date ipad like my original ipad? Not even sure if that is possible these days. Would really make use of that perfect condition 64gb+wifi paperweight

 

[masteroflondon]

Duet became incredibly unreliable before it quit working a while back when an OSX update broke it. Is it working again?

It is working again. But the appalling attitude they (Duet) showed means I want to move to Luna instead. Their website made no mention that the product it promoted absolutely was not working at the time. Not on the front page, the sales page or the FAQ's. If you directly asked them they would point you at an update that helped a bit, but you had to ask. I wonder how users on the subscription model faired? They also blamed Apple for breaking it, when it was they who were using a hack. It looks like Apple may have begun some sort of support for this, so maybe it won't happen again. But Duet showed their colors here. Mostly brown.

 

[jlc1978]

I have Duet and Luna. Overall, I find Luna to be a better solution. It works fine wirelessly, hasn't had disconnect issues I've had with Duet, and can be connected via a lightening cable although the adapter must be plugged in to use it. I suspect the app checks to avoid people d/l the free app and using a cheap HDMI plug to run the software.

 

[Petetastic]

Overall, I find Duet to be a better solution. It works fine wirelessly, hasn't had disconnect issues I've had with Duet, and can be connected via a lightening cable although the adapter must be plugged in to use it.

So...Do you mean you find Luna to be a better solution? Or do you mean you’ve had connection issues with Luna?

 

[subjonas]

I have Duet and Luna. Overall, I find Duet to be a better solution. It works fine wirelessly, hasn't had disconnect issues I've had with Duet, and can be connected via a lightening cable although the adapter must be plugged in to use it. I suspect the app checks to avoid people d/l the free app and using a cheap HDMI plug to run the software.

So...Do you mean you find Luna to be a better solution? Or do you mean you’ve had connection issues with Luna?

Yeah I think there are some conflicting statements in there. Typo?

 

[G5isAlive]

My Luna arrived a few days ago. I’ve used it once in ‘anger’ and it was marvellous. I’ve not tried pencil support yet, but as a high resolution extra display for my MacBook Pro when on the move, it is as good as could be hoped for. Very slick.

Any updates? Have you compared it to Duet?

 

[jlc1978]

So...Do you mean you find Luna to be a better solution? Or do you mean you’ve had connection issues with Luna?

Typo, meant I found Luna a better solution - I have had no connection issues with it. Corrected my post, thanks.

[doublepost=1539289215][/doublepost]

Yeah I think there are some conflicting statements in there. Typo?

Yup. Typo. Meant Luna...

 

[srdunn]

I backed this on Kickstarter. For everyone who’s saying it’s just like duet or other software based systems all I can say is, it’s not. It’s not even close. Not even in the same league.

It’s so good it makes the 15” MBPtb and 12” iPad Pro a travel match made in heaven. Seriously powerful, smooth, reliable, configurable.

While I currently don’t own a iPad Pro I used a buddies to see if we could drive it (you can) and I will now be buying the next gen iPad Pro when it is released to replace my iPad Air which I really haven’t been using. This is really great stuff; it’s something I would expect to see from Apple natively in the future.

 

[BaccaBossMC]

I have the latest version of Duet Display, and it works wirelessly now, too. It doesn't even need an adaptor for the laptop.

Looks like the wireless one (Duet Air) requires the Pro subscription, which is $3.99/month, which is unfortunate.