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If it is so high tech, why don't it use the Thunderbolt connection only? Wi-Fi sounds like a VNC solution. Ok, I really believe it performs better than Duet, but I don't even have an Wi-Fi AC router... USB-C/Thunderbolt should be enough.
 
I am intrigued by this - I have a 12in iPad pro (A$350 trade in value) that I only use to watch TV whilst in the garage - I could use the iPad as a screen for the mini and then my wife could use the iPad when she wants. She might be the primary user of the Mac Mini.
 
The article doesn't seem to be clear that you don't need the new iPad pro for this, according to the link, works on iPad2 and up.

I'd have preferred a wired solution which fixed the broken Duet. I used to use that as a second monitor for work (home and office) with my last gen iPad pro. about changed something a yeaChang which broke the native iPad full screen resolution, leaving a black bordered compromise that Duet can't fix.
 
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It's just a competing solution. Luna Display is from the company that created AstroPad. It's more than screen mirroring, it turns your Mac into a drawing pad, like a Cintiq. It allows you to draw and paint from the couch. Since the iPad pencil doesn't have the concept of hover, you can simulate it with a three-finger touch gesture. While AstroPad only has screen mirroring, Luna Display allows you to have a second monitor with a drawing pad. AstroPad alone is limiting, because it can only mirror a small part of your full screen. Luna Display adds a new screen, which is, by definition, a full screen.

Apple should allow this natively, without having to go to third party yearly subscription and a specialized hardware dongle.
Luna does not support pressure sensitivity and is not meant to be used like a drawing tablet. AstroPad Studio is designed for that.
 
I see one use case already for this. You're a person who MOSTLY uses their iPad to do everything, but sometimes you need access to a full computer. Enter the headless running Mac mini that you can connect to at a moments notice and have entire full performance of the computer at your fingertips, being able to plug in flash drives into etc. When you're done, you can go back to the iPad as it was.
 
I have a Luna and I use it as a "soft-proof" for game dev. It runs at 60 fps, supports at least 8-bit color, and does full retina resolution. I move the game window over to the ipad and can interact with it using touch without having to constantly build to iOS. This saves many hours during development and it paid for itself on the first day.
 



Last week, the team behind the Luna Display adapter that's designed to turn the iPad into a second display for any Mac published an article outlining how the adapter was used to morph a current iPad Pro into a display for Apple's newest Mac mini.

The Mac mini ships sans display, which means if you have an iPad, it can be used as the Mac mini's sole display. We thought the idea was interesting, so we decided to try it out in our latest YouTube video.


The Luna Display is a little adapter that plugs into the USB-C port on your Mac (for older Macs, there's a Mini DisplayPort version). So to use the iPad Pro as a Mac mini display, you need to plug the adapter into the Mac mini and then download the appropriate software.

There's Luna software for both the iPad and the Mac, which you'll need to download to get this setup working. For setup, you're going to need a separate external display for the Mac mini so you can get the software installed, but once it's set up, the iPad Pro can be used as the only display.

Because the iPad and the adapter in the Mac mini work via WiFi, you'll need a strong connection for seamless performance and a zero lag experience.

Once the iPad Pro is set up as the Mac mini's display, it's a neat example of what it's like to use a touchscreen with a Mac machine. You can display full Mac apps on the iPad Pro, from Photoshop to Final Cut Pro.

What's neat is that you can control apps on your Mac mini through the iPad using the Luna Display app and then swipe out of it to access all of your standard apps. Switching between the two is flawless.

The iPad Pro is, of course, a super expensive display for the Mac mini so this is only useful if you happen to have both of these devices. Buying an iPad Pro just to use as a Mac mini display probably isn't a good idea since you can get a bigger display at a cheaper price.

You can also use the Luna Display with other Macs to turn the iPad into a secondary display. If you want your own Luna Display, it's available for $79.

What do you think of the iPad Pro as a touch display for Mac mini? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: Video: We Turned an iPad Pro Into a Mac Mini Display With the Luna Display Adapter
Looking for a 27" 4k display that I can change the brightness from the iMac keyboard.
 
This seems like one of those stupid as **** ideas that some airhead youtuber like tld decides to showcase bcus it gives good demo but in actuality has no pragmatic use beyond shoveling money towards these companies quarterly revenue reports. Please lemme just drop $800 for an ipad $800 for a mac mini $100 for the dongle and just pack it up folks ive created the perfect setup i mean cost benefit is non existent but hey at least that nice new ipad can now act an srgb panel paperweight slave for my real computer
 
I have a Luna and I use it as a "soft-proof" for game dev. It runs at 60 fps, supports at least 8-bit color, and does full retina resolution. I move the game window over to the ipad and can interact with it using touch without having to constantly build to iOS. This saves many hours during development and it paid for itself on the first day.
But you have a real monitor on which you do the actual development, yes? Do you use the iPad in monitor mode for anything other than testing apps?
 
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all this so your display can cost as much as the Mac mini?
No. It costs $79. It is assumed that you already own an ipad and give it additional use.
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Wait… macOS on an 11" display… run from a unit that's over-priced and thermal throttles… plus that $79 adapter… SWEEEEEET!! Just what I was waiting for to replace my iMac 5K.
What unit are you talking about that is “overpriced “ and that “thermal (sic) throttles”? I would like to know which device you’re talking about and what evidence you have.
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This seems like one of those stupid as **** ideas that some airhead youtuber like tld decides to showcase bcus it gives good demo but in actuality has no pragmatic use beyond shoveling money towards these companies quarterly revenue report.
And two posts earlier: “It paid for itself on the first day”.
 
macmini 2018 in home server room hard wired to 10Gbe

iPad Pro 12.9” 2018 around the house connected to corporate grade 5GHz ac APs

ipad keyboard of choice as keyboard
pencil2 as mouse

that could work, but I’d also like a way to use a real mouse/trackpad out of the Mini bt range...I remember a software sponsored in some youtube videos for continuity of mouse/kb between multiple PC/Mac/Linux machines...that could be used somehow with a cheap fanless linux box in your local room to connect a usb dongle mouse and then via the webz to the Mini.

edit: actually this could be done with a networked usb sharing hub or ethernet based usb extenders...then one could use a USB dongle mouse (if on the couch) or even a wired (lightning cable) magic trackpad (if on a desk close to the networked usb hub)...
 
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I really want to do this with my 13” Retina MBP but I know one software update can completely render that useless.. IOS 12 rendered a bunch of my aftermarket lightning cables “incompatible”
It is hardware, Duet is an hack
 
This feels like it's burying the lede somewhat? Luna is most useful to make the iPad into a Wacom Cintiq replacement in conjunction with AstroPad. It might be overkill if you just want to use it as a second display (unless you're planning on always having that 2nd display set up and want to minimise latency?) - I guess it is cool if you have your laptop and iPad on the road and want a quick multi display setup.

Luna does not support pressure sensitivity and is not meant to be used like a drawing tablet. AstroPad Studio is designed for that.
I use Luna in this capacity. The whole point of Luna to many is working conjunction with Astropad. I backed it on Kickstarter for this alone. Every bit of Luna hype I've seen online.. Until today (haha) has been from artists who use it with AstroPad - which detects the Luna instantly and gets a massive performance boost from it. You don't need to use the Luna app itself.

You don't even need the Studio version of AstroPad really, as you're likely by a keyboard/mouse when using it anyway so can use that's kb/mouse shortcuts. (as nice as AP:Studio is)

Also, you can use it wired! You don't have to use Wifi at all.
 
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How is this different than the Duet iOS app?

Astropad - the software used together with Luna - is much more responsive and is fine-tuned for Pencil work. It, basically, offer a Cintiq experience and is geared towards artists. Duet is much worse in this regard. Also, Luna can work wirelessly.

But, if you're not an artist, Duet is a fine option, too.
 
Its a bit more than that - you don't have to use wifi, it supports wired connections too. It allows full metal support on the iPad display - which appears as a normal second display in osX, lets you easily use full retina resolution with little perceivable latency.

Its super smooth compared to other methods. On mine I plug the little dongle in, it makes a bloop noise, automatically loads Astropad, rearranges the screens to how I've arranged them for when it's connected.

Explains it a lot better.
 
L

Luna does not support pressure sensitivity and is not meant to be used like a drawing tablet. AstroPad Studio is designed for that.

Both true and not true. Luna is a hardware accessory that also allows Astropad and Astropad Studio to be used as independent screens rather than mirror screens (this is how they work without Luna).

So, basically - Luna can be matched with Astropad, it is a hardware addition that allows Astropad to work with a separate screen. So, it supports pressure sensitivity when used with Astropad. It is designed for artists primarily, in fact.
 
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