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New 'Orion' App Turns Your iPad Into an HDMI Display for a Console or Mac

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Lux, the developers behind popular camera app Halide, today announced the launch of Orion Video System, an app that is designed to turn the iPad into an external HDMI monitor that can be used with computers, gaming consoles, cameras, and other devices.

orion-app.jpg

Using the Orion app requires iOS 17, an iPad that has a USB-C port, and a USB-C Video Capture Card. USB-C Capture Cards can be purchased from websites like Amazon for around $15 to $20.

The app is able to work with any device that supports HDMI, including Macs, PCs, game consoles like the Nintendo Switch, retro consoles, and cameras. According to the developers, Orion Video System will upscale Nintendo Switch gameplay to 4K in realtime. When used with a camera, Orion allows an iPad to be used for checking framing, focus, and color for video capture and stills.

Orion is free to download, and there is a demo mode that allows users to test the app without a Capture Card. There is an optional one-time $5 upgrade purchase to unlock AI-powered 4K upscaling, CRT Emulation, and Picture Adjustment.

Article Link: New 'Orion' App Turns Your iPad Into an HDMI Display for a Console or Mac
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2023/09/20/orion-app-ipad-hdmi-display/
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Macalway

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Right. 17 now allows for video capture. There are a couple other apps in beta that I've tried. works great. Those HDMI video capture adapters are cheap.

Point is, this app isn't unique, and there will be others. Do you need this when there are apps like Sidecar, Duet, and others? Well it's HDMI, and there are differences such as not needing a computer.

I used another app like this to hook up a display for a Yamaha synth. It works for these, and probably consoles, cameras, and other stuff. Portability.
 
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Boeingfan

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Cool, something to try out.

Am I the only one on the planet that thinks that 4:3 still has plenty of merit, particularly for photos and monitors. Given that most websites, and I've noticed American ones particularly, run down the middle of a 16:9 monitor leaving most of it as blank real estate. 4:3 is beneficial in those situations, and the miles of extra width 16:9 gives is often chasing an elusive use.
 
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Macalway

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MICHAELSD said:
I’ve thought about using my iPad Pro as an external display for a Mac mini, but it seems redundant as both have M2 chips.
Click to expand...

Once again, this is a new feature for 17. It didn't exist before. Capture cards would not work. There're at least 2 other apps that (were) in beta that utilizes video capture cards (cheap little USB adapters). People had been using iPads as monitors for years, but Apple didn't develop this for that. It's for cameras and gaming consoles mostly. Lots of uses
 
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Macalway

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allenvanhellen said:
Make sure you get one that can also charge your iPad at the same time.
Click to expand...
Right. You can use a hub.

I've got a setup for My Yamaha that needs a USB-2 (USB to HDMI) adapter that outputs HDMI into one of these USB adapter cards (redundant, but wtf, shows you what can be done), that outputs it back to USB, then into the iPad. Of course, you wouldn't need to do this, or would want to, Unless you have a Yamaha MODX or PSR. Maybe other brands have this also. Note: there's a hub in there for power, both for the iPad and the devices. So it's USB-A to a USB to HDMI adapter, then into a HDMI to USB adapter. The adapters are different, and both are needed, but you are dealing with a HDMI signal now. Before it was just some kind of DisplayPort.

Sorry I'm hijacking this thread. Just thought there's going to be confusion about this.
 
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GhostRaider

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Hmm very interested in this functionality. I’ve always wanted to maybe use the PS5 in bed and remote play lags pretty bad. If the latency is almost 0 with this then definitely this is an instant purchase. Or for any portable hdmi display in general 👏
 
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subjonas

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Can I use this to cast something from my iPhone to my iPad? Namely, play streaming videos from my iPhone onto the bigger screen. (Edit- when I’m away from WiFi so iPad has no internet; also don’t want to hotspot because hotspot data is limited)
 
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neuropsychguy

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nikhsub1 said:
I guess it's cool but, you can get better portable monitors than an ipad for a display.
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True (and I have one -- only 1080p and not the most accurate colors, but it works) but that's one more thing to bring with you. If you already own an iPad and a small adapter (or buy one -- they are inexpensive), that's easier and less expensive than bringing yet one more "device" with you.
 
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Delgibbons

Delgibbons

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subjonas said:
Can I use this to cast something from my iPhone to my iPad? Namely, play streaming videos from my iPhone onto the bigger screen.
Click to expand...
You can do that pretty well using NDI hx app to send screen from iPhone and Sienna NDI Monitor to view on iPad….as long as you are on the same WiFi network (make sure to select high quality and retina)
 
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subjonas

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Delgibbons said:
You can do that pretty well using NDI hx app to send screen from iPhone and Sienna NDI Monitor to view on iPad….as long as you are on the same WiFi network (make sure to select high quality and retina)
Click to expand...
Oh thanks but I meant just via a cable, when I’m away from WiFi and my phone is my only internet (iPad has no cellular). If I need WiFi for this app, I presumably would have internet, so I could just access the streaming video directly from the iPad and wouldn’t need to cast from the iPhone. Or could the iPhone create an ad hoc WiFi network for the iPad to join or vice versa? I also don’t want to just hotspot from my iPhone because hotspot data is limited.
 
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