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Mac Virtual Display + audio questions

basehead617

basehead617

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 5, 2017
220
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Two main things I want to know:

1. All the videos of 'Mac Virtual Display' feature have someone sitting in front of their MacBook, and it turning into the virtual display as they sit there. What is the deal with sitting in front of it? Isn't it just wifi connected to the same network as the Mac Pro? What does seeing the Mac have to do with anything? Can you just do it from a different room? I have a Mac Pro 7,1 - can it still work? I'm really interested in how the hell that whole thing works.

2. Can you use AirPods with the Vision Pro so the audio goes to them instead of the mini speakers on the headset? (I have to assume yes, but this is a very 1.0 product)
 
basehead617 said:
Two main things I want to know:

1. All the videos of 'Mac Virtual Display' feature have someone sitting in front of their MacBook, and it turning into the virtual display as they sit there. What is the deal with sitting in front of it? Isn't it just wifi connected to the same network as the Mac Pro? What does seeing the Mac have to do with anything? Can you just do it from a different room? I have a Mac Pro 7,1 - can it still work? I'm really interested in how the hell that whole thing works.

2. Can you use AirPods with the Vision Pro so the audio goes to them instead of the mini speakers on the headset? (I have to assume yes, but this is a very 1.0 product)
Click to expand...
You can do all your Mac things while viewing from the VP.

You can also see, view, edit your iPad apps at the same time.

It's like a marriage of iPhone, iPad and Mac OS - all in one view.

Watch Brian Tong's video on how the Mac OS marries with his iOS & iPadOS apps.

 
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4sallypat said:
You can do all your Mac things while viewing from the VP.

You can also see, view, edit your iPad apps at the same time.

It's like a marriage of iPhone, iPad and Mac OS - all in one view.

Watch Brian Tong's video on how the Mac OS marries with his iOS & iPadOS apps.

Click to expand...

I'm missing the spot in this video you're referring to.

I'm seeing him sit in front of the MacBook and a 'connect' appears. What if you have a Mac Studio or Mac Pro and using some random monitor? Does it just take any screen it sees and a 'connect' appears because it assumes it's your computer?

I guess I'm asking all this because I have a Mac Pro (tower) in one room and I'm wondering if I can be in a different room and just say I want to start using the VP as a virtual display of the Mac Pro I'm nowhere near. And if I am near it, how does it work..
 
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basehead617 said:
I'm missing the spot in this video you're referring to.

I'm seeing him sit in front of the MacBook and a 'connect' appears. What if you have a Mac Studio or Mac Pro and using some random monitor? Does it just take any screen it sees and a 'connect' appears because it assumes it's your computer?

I guess I'm asking all this because I have a Mac Pro (tower) in one room an I'm wondering if I can be in a different room and just say I want to start using the VP as a virtual display of the Mac Pro I'm nowhere near. And if I am near it, how does it work..
Click to expand...

I believe it needs Apple Silicon, not confirmed though. And probably needs your Apple ID to match on both devices to connect. Don't know how it will work with desktop like Mac Studio.
 
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basehead617 said:
I'm missing the spot in this video you're referring to.

I'm seeing him sit in front of the MacBook and a 'connect' appears. What if you have a Mac Studio or Mac Pro and using some random monitor? Does it just take any screen it sees and a 'connect' appears because it assumes it's your computer?

I guess I'm asking all this because I have a Mac Pro (tower) in one room an I'm wondering if I can be in a different room and just say I want to start using the VP as a virtual display of the Mac Pro I'm nowhere near. And if I am near it, how does it work..
Click to expand...
Yes, I am planning on using my Mac Studio with the AVP.

As @Lobwedgephil said - confirmed AVP Apple Silicon.

And Sonoma Mac OS is needed to take advantage of the 3D video virtual.

The big question will be for me: can it show 2 displays I use with my Mac Studio or only one ?
IMG_8807.jpg
 
basehead617 said:
I'm missing the spot in this video you're referring to.

I'm seeing him sit in front of the MacBook and a 'connect' appears. What if you have a Mac Studio or Mac Pro and using some random monitor? Does it just take any screen it sees and a 'connect' appears because it assumes it's your computer?

I guess I'm asking all this because I have a Mac Pro (tower) in one room an I'm wondering if I can be in a different room and just say I want to start using the VP as a virtual display of the Mac Pro I'm nowhere near. And if I am near it, how does it work..
Click to expand...
Good question.

I was asking myself if I could connect multiple Macs at the same time too? I guess I will get my answer tomorrow.
 
You can activate the screen share through the control panel in the Vision Pro. It’s not necessary to be front of a laptop. All that does is overlay a “connect” button next to the laptop in your display to make it easier to access the feature. I don’t know for sure but I don’t see why you wouldn’t be able to connect to a desktop remotely using the control center.
 
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basehead617 said:
Two main things I want to know:

1. All the videos of 'Mac Virtual Display' feature have someone sitting in front of their MacBook, and it turning into the virtual display as they sit there. What is the deal with sitting in front of it? Isn't it just wifi connected to the same network as the Mac Pro? What does seeing the Mac have to do with anything? Can you just do it from a different room? I have a Mac Pro 7,1 - can it still work? I'm really interested in how the hell that whole thing works.

2. Can you use AirPods with the Vision Pro so the audio goes to them instead of the mini speakers on the headset? (I have to assume yes, but this is a very 1.0 product)
Click to expand...

1. IIRC, I read looking at your Mac display with display a prompt to connect

2. Absolutely, one of the advertised features is using the latest AirPods pros for "lossless" audio.
 
basehead617 said:
Two main things I want to know:

1. All the videos of 'Mac Virtual Display' feature have someone sitting in front of their MacBook, and it turning into the virtual display as they sit there. What is the deal with sitting in front of it? Isn't it just wifi connected to the same network as the Mac Pro? What does seeing the Mac have to do with anything? Can you just do it from a different room? I have a Mac Pro 7,1 - can it still work? I'm really interested in how the hell that whole thing works.
Click to expand...
You can't operate the mirrored Mac with eye tracking and the pinching gestures. You have to use a keyboard and pointing device. While there is a virtual keyboard provided by the AVP, it isn't very practical. In practice you will be using the physical keyboard and pointing device for the Mac as before. The AVP in that scenario is really just a display for the Mac (plus audio, plus the AVP apps).
 
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klasma said:
You can't operate the mirrored Mac with eye tracking and the pinching gestures. You have to use a keyboard and pointing device. While there is a virtual keyboard provided by the AVP, it isn't very practical. In practice you will be using the physical keyboard and pointing device for the Mac as before. The AVP in that scenario is really just a display for the Mac (plus audio).
Click to expand...

Interestingly, MKB said it was easier to type on the virtual keyboard by just looking at the letters and doing the pinch gesture vs actually trying to press the letters.
 
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1. They are usually in front of a laptop - but this isn't really specified. The reviews mention low latency, so I'd imagine it could be using Wifi direct, which means you might want to be in the same room at least.

But I think the main reason is because that is where your keyboard and mouse are located...

2. Interesting question - I'd presume the audio stream is routed from your laptop to the vision pro speakers by default, which I then think would stream to airpods connected to the Vision Pro. Audio handoff with Vision Pro/Mac/iPad/iPhone all in your office is going to be fun...
 
Can you close the MacBook pro while using Mac Virtual Display?

Can you connect to Mac Virtual Display when your MacBook is closed?
 
When MacBook is closed it's usually sleeping so I doubt it,
Interesting what happens when you try to connect to a Mac that is connected to other displays
 
4sallypat said:
Yes, I am planning on using my Mac Studio with the AVP.

As @Lobwedgephil said - confirmed AVP Apple Silicon.

And Sonoma Mac OS is needed to take advantage of the 3D video virtual.

The big question will be for me: can it show 2 displays I use with my Mac Studio or only one ?
View attachment 2343735
Click to expand...

Where did you see that Silicon is needed for the virtual display?

Now that the launch happened I went to the user guide - it says you need a Mac with macOS Sonoma, but there's nothing about silicon. Someone mentioned Sidecar -- sidecar works fine with my intel Mac Pro 7,1, if that matters.

Use Mac Virtual Display on Apple Vision Pro

With Mac Virtual Display, you can use your Apple Vision Pro as a display that mirrors your Mac display.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
 
basehead617 said:
Where did you see that Silicon is needed for the virtual display?

Now that the launch happened I went to the user guide - it says you need a Mac with macOS Sonoma, but there's nothing about silicon. Someone mentioned Sidecar -- sidecar works fine with my intel Mac Pro 7,1, if that matters.

Use Mac Virtual Display on Apple Vision Pro

With Mac Virtual Display, you can use your Apple Vision Pro as a display that mirrors your Mac display.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
Click to expand...
Worked for me on an Intel 2019 Mac Pro.
 
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Is it possible to game on it? Like world of Warcraft or some native game? Or is it laggy and without the 90fps?


Tried it on the oculus 3 and was very disappointed.
 
iToph said:
Is it possible to game on it? Like world of Warcraft or some native game? Or is it laggy and without the 90fps?


Tried it on the oculus 3 and was very disappointed.
Click to expand...
I used WoW on mine and it's fine but the display clarity is much worse than a MacBook display or any other decent monitor that you would normally play on. The only real advantage is that you can make it larger.
 
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