Luna Display Introduces Mac-to-Mac Mode Allowing Nearly Any Mac to Be Used as Secondary Display

[MacRumors]

Luna Display today introduced a new Mac-to-Mac mode that allows any Mac released within the last decade to be used as a second display for another Mac. This includes any combination of Macs, ranging from a MacBook Pro and an iMac to a MacBook Air being used as the primary display for a Mac mini.

To use Mac-to-Mac mode, users must purchase a Luna Display dongle that plugs in to the second Mac. USB-C and DisplayPort options are available for $69.99 each, and Luna is offering 25 percent off through Friday.

The primary Mac must be running OS X El Capitan or later, while the secondary Mac requires OS X Mountain Lion or later. In addition, both Macs must be connected to the same network via Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and each require the free Luna Display app available to download on the Luna Display website.

Luna Display is pushing forward despite Apple adding Sidecar in macOS Catalina, a native solution for using an iPad as a second display for a Mac.

"With all of the hype around Sidecar, one of the biggest gripes we've heard is that it only works with a limited range of Mac models," wrote Luna Display co-founder Giovanni Donelli in an email. "That got us thinking about how we can push Luna Display to bring even more value to our Mac devices."

Apple also has a feature called Target Display Mode that allows late 2009 to mid 2014 iMacs to be used as as external display for another Mac.

Luna Display's solution includes full keyboard, trackpad, and mouse support on both Macs. The company has shared complete step-by-step instructions on how to set up Mac-to-Mac mode on its website.

Article Link: Luna Display Introduces Mac-to-Mac Mode Allowing Nearly Any Mac to Be Used as Secondary Display

 

[StellarVixen]

I admire that they didn't throw in the towel when Apple announced the Sidecar (which was originally their idea).


I currently do not have use for this, but there are people who might find this useful.

 

[zed1291]

Article states Late 2009 or new iMacs support Target Display mode. Only the 27” supported it and any iMac with a 4K or 5K display does not support it.

 

[Sciencenerd]

Article states Late 2009 or new iMacs support Target Display mode. Only the 27” supported it and any iMac with a 4K or 5K display does not support it.

Will this work with the 2015 5K iMac?

 

[Joe Rossignol]

Article states Late 2009 or new iMacs support Target Display mode. Only the 27” supported it and any iMac with a 4K or 5K display does not support it.

Fixed, thanks!

 

[sprihoda]

I think I can guess the answer, but it would be awesome if you got boot screens/recovery mode abilities. Finally allow me to ditch the second display for my 2012 Mac Pro.

 

[zed1291]

Will this work with the 2015 5K iMac?

no, 2014 was the last year iMacs supported TDM

 

[TrulsZK]

Miss Target

Apple also has a feature called Target Display Mode that allows late 2009 to mid 2014 iMacs to be used as as external display for another Mac.

Miss the Target Display Mode for newer iMacs. Nice to see an option for using another iMac as a secondary display for an iMac

 

[subjonas]

Edit- oops I missed the answer to my first question in the article.

Second question- If using a macbook as a mirrored display for a mac mini, how would this be different than using Remote Desktop software? Less lag?

 

[zorinlynx]

I admire that they didn't throw in the towel when Apple announced the Sidecar (which was originally their idea).


I currently do not have use for this, but there are people who might find this useful.

Sidecar was artificially limited to newer Macs and iPads. It's clear that Apple is about selling new Macs and iPads to people who want the feature.

 

[klatox]

Will this work with the 2015 5K iMac?

I’m curious about this as well. The site says “any” Mac...

 

[Kinotto]

When Sidecar was announced I thought it’ll be the death of Astropad, but Apple’s lack of insight on what some Sidecar users will need played in favour of the little company.

Amongst the most notably lacking features there are:

-Pencil pressure sensitivity settings
-Customisable shortcuts
-Full on-screen keyboard
-Full touch support

All of those are fundamental features for a digital artist working on iPads, and them missing on Sidecar is a clear indication that Apple made this app not with artists in mind, as I was hoping ( which would have been an earthquake in the world of digital art).
Again Apple demonstrates there’s no visionary at the steering wheel, just a sad bean counter...

 

[justperry]

Synergy - Share one mouse & keyboard across computers

Synergy is an app that shares one mouse and one keyboard across multiple computers and monitors. Instant download, easy to setup in minutes.

symless.com

Works across all OS's and screens without a dongle, and has been around for years.

Huh, this has nothing to do with the article, it's about a second display, not mouse/keyboard sharing between computers.

 

[tmn5044]

When Sidecar was announced I thought it’ll be the death of Astropad, but Apple’s lack of insight on what some Sidecar users will need played in favour of the little company.

Amongst the most notably lacking features there are:

-Pencil pressure sensitivity settings
-Customisable shortcuts
-Full on-screen keyboard
-Full touch support

All of those are fundamental features for a digital artist working on iPads, and them missing on Sidecar is a clear indication that Apple made this app not with artists in mind, as I was hoping ( which would have been an earthquake in the world of digital art).
Again Apple demonstrates there’s no visionary at the steering wheel, just a sad bean counter...

It is just their first run at it, it is obviously a popular feature. I can see they will improve on it and eventually replaced Astropad, Duet, etc

 

[ignatius345]

I admire that they didn't throw in the towel when Apple announced the Sidecar (which was originally their idea).


I currently do not have use for this, but there are people who might find this useful.

Same -- and I especially appreciate the support for older hardware. Apple tends to take a no-compromises approach that only includes their latest and greatest machines.

 

[palev]

It's literally the same features.

No, it isn't. That is only mouse & keyboard sharing. Nothing about screen sharing.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

Will this work with the 2015 5K iMac?

My question as well, if it works well that makes iMac 5Ks potential monitors.

edit to add: since they're stating it has to be on the same network this seems like it would be sort of a VNC type of affair and probably really laggy. Not a direct cabled solution. That's too bad.

 

[fhall1]

It's literally the same features.

Better go check some Youtube videos - Synergy is not the same thing at all.

 

[badatusernames]

I’m curious about the performance over the network.

 

[subjonas]

My question as well, if it works well that makes iMac 5Ks potential monitors.

edit to add: since they're stating it has to be on the same network this seems like it would be sort of a VNC type of affair and probably really laggy. Not a direct cabled solution. That's too bad.

Yeah I don’t see how it could drive a 5k display over WiFi. Only some newer Macs can even drive 5k wired, right? Maybe if they bring it down to 1080p or something.

 

[judas731]

I bought the iMac5k 2018 thinking I could use it for my MBP second screen and learned the hard way I should've researched it a little more than impulsively buying it. Am I missing something or do they not plug and play with each other as a second screen and Luna could help fix that? Before sidecar I was just using Duet for my MBP and iPad.

 

[reden]

Not any Mac. *The Secondary Mac requires macOS 10.8 Mountain Lion or later.

 

[Kinotto]

It is just their first run at it, it is obviously a popular feature. I can see they will improve on it and eventually replaced Astropad, Duet, etc

EDIT: 4 years ago I would have agreed, but I don’t believe anymore Apple’s will is to deliver the best.
The Apple we all knew would never have released a software inferior at launch compared to alternatives developed by software houses with 1/1000 of the resources Apple have.

And the same applies to hardware: as I stated in another thread, besides the iPhones the rest of the product lineups are full of “premium” devices with stupid trade-offs and limitations, with the only logical reason behind being a will to keep customers in a neverending upgrade cycle which benefits no one but Apple itself.

You want a MacBook? Get ready for awful keyboards, graphics and thermals. Want an iPad Pro ? Sure, we give you the best, but don’t put it in your backpack or it will bend. Want a Pro desktop? Sure, but you can’t upgrade it, got to buy a whole new one.

 

[sirozha]

Will this work with the 2015 5K iMac?

That's a huge question.
[automerge]1571338904[/automerge]

I bought the iMac5k 2018 thinking I could use it for my MBP second screen and learned the hard way I should've researched it a little more than impulsively buying it. Am I missing something or do they not plug and play with each other as a second screen and Luna could help fix that? Before sidecar I was just using Duet for my MBP and iPad.

You could be the one who tells us if this will work. Go for it and let us know.

 

[justperry]

10 years ago I would have agreed, but I don’t believe anymore Apple’s will is to deliver the best.
The Apple we all knew would never have released a software inferior at launch compared to alternatives developed by software houses with 1/1000 of the resources Apple have.

And the same applies to hardware: as I stated in another thread, besides the iPhones the rest of the product lineups are full of “premium” devices with stupid trade-offs and limitations, with the only logical reason behind being a will to keep customers in a neverending upgrade cycle which benefits no one but Apple itself.

You want a MacBook? Get ready for awful keyboards, graphics and thermals. Want an iPad Pro ? Sure, we give you the best, but don’t put it in your backpack or it will bend. Want a Pro desktop? Sure, but you can’t upgrade it, got to buy a whole new one.

You forgot...pricing.

MacOs is still by far the best OS though, it's a shame though they removed Target Display Mode.
I agree to some extent, thing is, Macs do seem to get better lately, maybe Apple was preoccupied with the spaceship.
Shame prices went up substantially in the last few years.
There's no better phone than the iPhone, you won't find the integration with other Apple devices with other brands.
Concerning hardware, try to find a trackpad on other OS's that work half as good as Apple trackpads, it's the gold standard, no-one ever came close to it.