iPad App Highlights: Air Display, CoPilot Live HD, and BeejiveIM

[MattInOz]

Man, I wish I had an iPad. I would buy Air Display in a heartbeat.
Anyone know if touchscreen can be used on the iPad to control the computer?

Yep, My first reaction was this might be enough to get me to buy an iPad.
I have a 13inch laptop great for portability not so great when using CAD.
Then again no laptop screen is really big enough.

But put all the tools and palettes on the iPad screen so you can just touch the controls would be amazing even if i had a massive screen it would still really useful and more natural for say Model and Drawing navigation.

Edit:
Meant to ask does it work in both Landscape and portrait?

 

[ThunderSkunk]

Once again, a potentially awesome product, cut off at the knees by Apples inexplicable refusal to allow anyone access to the usb bus. This would make the connection perfect, and infinitely more convenient, making the iPad about the most valuable device in their lineup, if we could plug it in over USB, or even a mini-displayport cable, if they want to be like that. But wifi? Come on already.

MOBILE DEVICES.... MOOOOOBILLLLLE. OUT AND ABOUT. PROBABLY NOT ON A WIFI NETWORK EVERYWHERE YOU GO. Step out of the compound once in a while, Jobs, $%^&!

 

[rowanmwilliams]

I look at this list and I see two apps that can/have already been executed on the iPhone, and one that can be done much more cheaply with dedicated hardware. I have yet to see an app for the iPad that does something an iPhone or a cheaper device cannot. It's for this reason that I see the iPad as pointless-- not only isn't there an app that absolutely needs the larger display, but there won't be an app that absolutely needs the larger display, unless it's a game that has many controls that it needs to display all at once.

Just off the top of my head, what about the iWork apps?

But wifi? Come on already.

MOBILE DEVICES.... MOOOOOBILLLLLE. OUT AND ABOUT. PROBABLY NOT ON A WIFI NETWORK EVERYWHERE YOU GO. Step out of the compound once in a while, Jobs, $%^&!

Well to use Air Display you wold need the computer to begin with so just make the computer itself the WiFi point? pr would this not work with Air Display currently?

 

[Zaqfalcon]

It would be great to use this with brushes in Aperture.

 

[angevil]

6$ is introductory price for Beejive?? It should cost 3$ max if you ask me. Much more people would buy it then.

Can′t wait for iChat. I hope it will be there in OS 4.0. I don′t want to pay so much for a simple IM app.

 

[teknikal90]

so why is the airscreen app allowed on the store and the wireless sync one wasnt?
sigh

 

[dav]

so why is the airscreen app allowed on the store and the wireless sync one wasnt?
sigh

wireless sync deals with private APIs on the phone end. this one is more under-the-hood action on the mac end.

 

[mjsanders5uk]

I bought Air Display as soon as it was released the other day and must say that it's great. Maybe even the best $10 I've spent on my iPad since launch day. However, I'm hoping that Avatron will make a few updates:

Macduke - do you own Final Cut Pro by any chance - I'd love to know if this set up is usable - its exactly what I want for location editing.

 

[matticus008]

It's going to be a while before wireless networks will have the proper bandwidth to run streaming video. This has nothing to do with the quality of the app or the iPad; it's a limitation of the networking technology.

Actually, it has everything to do with the application. Network bandwidth is simply not the constraining issue with VNC-based video, contrary to popular belief.

You could run it over ten gigabit ethernet connections wired in parallel and it would still be unsuitable for video. The VNC protocol just wasn't designed for it.

Once again, a potentially awesome product, cut off at the knees by Apples inexplicable refusal to allow anyone access to the usb bus. This would make the connection perfect, and infinitely more convenient, making the iPad about the most valuable device in their lineup, if we could plug it in over USB, or even a mini-displayport cable, if they want to be like that. But wifi? Come on already.

USB displays are only marginally better in terms of performance; the biggest improvement is CPU utilization.

I'm not really sure how plugging in a cable and configuring the display is more convenient than connecting wirelessly from a simple client app, especially after figuring in the flexibility of positioning over wireless. Performance wouldn't improve enough to make a difference, so what exactly do you find inconvenient?

You need a MacBook and an iPad and that's it. No cable to remember, no other hardware required.

Macduke - do you own Final Cut Pro by any chance - I'd love to know if this set up is usable - its exactly what I want for location editing.

It is not suitable for live video, as disclosed in the article. You can expect 10-12fps in most real world situations from anything based on VNC. If you keep the video window on your main display, it can make a convenient place for tools, timelines, inspectors, and the like.

 

[YoGramMamma]

Once again, a potentially awesome product, cut off at the knees by Apples inexplicable refusal to allow anyone access to the usb bus. This would make the connection perfect, and infinitely more convenient, making the iPad about the most valuable device in their lineup, if we could plug it in over USB, or even a mini-displayport cable, if they want to be like that. But wifi? Come on already.

MOBILE DEVICES.... MOOOOOBILLLLLE. OUT AND ABOUT. PROBABLY NOT ON A WIFI NETWORK EVERYWHERE YOU GO. Step out of the compound once in a while, Jobs, $%^&!

First off, I'm sure its not quite as simple as simply allowing people to access the USB bus... and I'd imagine doing that would open up as many security vulnerabilities. I'm just guessing though.

and secondly, you could very easily create an ad-hoc wifi network, basically turning the internal airport card into a router itself and connecting the iPad to it. I've done this with many programs like this in the past and it works perfectly.

This app really has me more seriously considering an iPad. I have a 15"MBP and I enjoy doing some FCP and Photoshop/AE work away from home from time to time, this could give me a nice extra palette of tools to choose from and compliment mt 15" laptop screen quite nicely. Sure I wouldn't buy an iPad for this one purpose, but I'm compiling a list of Pro's (killer apps i'd use) and soon as i get to 5, I'm pulling the trigger. This Air Display app is really useful looking for when i want to work but not at my main desk.

 

[cryingrobot]

Air Display would be cool.

Wonder if you can use it as a primary display for your Mini. Take the iPad on the go and use it as a display for your Mini at home - truly a minimal/mobile system like the Duo system back in the day...

Sounds very doable. You could get around the video lag by running air express app which require exiting the primary screen and just running the video but even this might be addressed in the 4.0 multitasking OS.

Seriously though..I dont understand how AirVideo streams so well over wifi but the Air Display cannot.

Maybe Apple will eventually come out with a doc that lets you do this as a plug in and let you switch back and forth from ipad to mini with a click. The simplicity of that kind of set up would be so elegant.

 

[The Samurai]

Video Review

Air Display works amazingly well. I was actually surprised how nifty it worked.

Heres the review.

 

[lifeinhd]

Just off the top of my head, what about the iWork apps?

Why can't those be implemented on the iPhone? I'm not saying every iPad app is or will be implemented on the iPhone, merely that every app can. Hell, I've got a PocketPC from 2002 with a screen even smaller than that of the iPhone which has an app called Pocket Word and one called Pocket Excel. They function just like their desktop counterparts. Dunno why anybody can't do the same on the iPhone.

I'm not really sure how plugging in a cable and configuring the display is more convenient than connecting wirelessly from a simple client app, especially after figuring in the flexibility of positioning over wireless. Performance wouldn't improve enough to make a difference, so what exactly do you find inconvenient?

You need a MacBook and an iPad and that's it. No cable to remember, no other hardware required.

That's not what he's saying. He's saying that if he's floating in the middle of the Pacific, he wants to be able to connect his iPad as a display. Can't do that if you need wifi.

 

[kevingaffney]

Has anyone used air display to house palettes from photoshop and if so, how well did it work. I'm a designer using a mbp and it would be invaluable if I could dump the palettes onto an ipad

 

[iOrlando]

it was released a month ago, not two.

 

[zarusoba]

It would be great for checking colours of artwork and photographs, given iPad's superior IPS display... If only there was a way to calibrate it. Is there?

 

[rfrmac]

Small is beautiful - I think not

t I see the iPad as pointless-- not only isn't there an app that absolutely needs the larger display, but there won't be an app that absolutely needs the larger display, unless it's a game that has many controls that it needs to display all at once.

You just keep living in your small world. Ease of use means nothing to you, I guess. But just for fun, would you rather have your Xray read on your small screen or use something you can actually see something with and with resolutions that start to make sense since " there won't be an app that absolutely needs the larger display"? How about business presentations, people go into a presentation room and are given iPads to follow along with the presentation being given? Yes, this is being done now and a iPhone just doesn't cut it. Besides, there are AT&T fees - WiFi iPad none. I could go on but you should be getting the picture. There are a great many reasons to go big and mobile. Buy an iPad -You'll be glad to be bigger.

 

[applesupergeek]

I look at this list and I see two apps that can/have already been executed on the iPhone, and one that can be done much more cheaply with dedicated hardware. I have yet to see an app for the iPad that does something an iPhone or a cheaper device cannot. It's for this reason that I see the iPad as pointless-- not only isn't there an app that absolutely needs the larger display, but there won't be an app that absolutely needs the larger display, unless it's a game that has many controls that it needs to display all at once.

Well, you can't see it, but 10,000,000 million people this year apparently can and will. So, you might need to reconsider.

There's no comparison of an extra screen with an ipad to one with an iphone, unless of course you consider a 3 times bigger screen a similar item.

 

[lyngo]

Mirroring?

Does this do mirroring or is it just screen extension?

 

[all-in-my-head]

Air Display

Forget putting palettes and stuff on the iPad does anyone know if will work well enough as a simple graphics tablet to put the canvas on there and draw things with you finger?

I've always thought that an app that turns the ipad into a graphics tablet (like the Bamboo but with a screen) would be a no brainer - maybe this app is half way there?

 

[JakeDTS]

Air Display

I have been waiting for a killer app to make the iPad a purchase I would consider. Air display just did that for me. As someone mentioned above me for audio recording I could see using this for the transport and effects windows and using my whole screen for tracking..or using the iPad as my mixer screen. I also could see this as a great mixing tool if you were mixing with a band. You could throw your effects onto the iPad and pass it around and let the members adjust themselves(if you're into that sort of pain). I guess you could also put your transport on there and hit record from anywhere in your wi-fi network, which might come in handy for days when you feel trapped by your control room. iPad here I come!!

 

[429323]

Noticed the map

Noticed the GPS map is showing another "M*******" like myself going to the Rockingham Park Apple New Hampshire store on the border between the two states to avoid sales tax!!! Gotta Love the "Live Free Or Die" state for that one!


Chuck

 

[429323]

Noticed the GPS map is showing another "M*******" like myself going to the Rockingham Park Apple New Hampshire store on the border between the two states to avoid sales tax!!! Gotta Love the "Live Free Or Die" state for that one!


Chuck

-"Mass-Hole"- not the bad word. Looks like TUAW comment systems are tricky indeed.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

Forget putting palettes and stuff on the iPad does anyone know if will work well enough as a simple graphics tablet to put the canvas on there and draw things with you finger?

I've always thought that an app that turns the ipad into a graphics tablet (like the Bamboo but with a screen) would be a no brainer - maybe this app is half way there?

There are many, but Adobe Ideas is the finest. Even in its early stage, vector drawing, layers, easy pan & zoom, import into illus, pdf, etc, in a clean and minimal UI. The device + that app is the single most useful combination for designers conceived in the last decade, and the reason we've now bought 19 ipads for the office.

 

[skyehill]

I use Beejive as a means of texting people with cellphones. Works infinitely better than those awful text apps like Textnow. Texts all arrive in order and fast.