Video: We Turned an iPad Pro Into a Mac Mini Display With the Luna Display Adapter

[tjleonard]

How is this different than the Duet iOS app?

It’s actually a lot different. It works WAY better, less lag. The USB C dongle emulates a video card and it just plays a lot nicer.

Trust me, I was on the boat of “why do this when I can use duet” and then I tried the Luna and will never go back.
[doublepost=1542830255][/doublepost]

This is the same thing as vnc! Don't be tricked into paying for it.

Not close...for you giving that advice tells me you haven’t used both...good try though...
[doublepost=1542830414][/doublepost]

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.

They can’t fix it because the issue is they need a video card to accomplish it (hardware). That’s what Luna is...and it’s why it works so well.

Luna actually tried to do it through just software, but they couldn’t accomplish results they were looking for without hardware...that’s where the USB C Dongle comes in play.

 

[gugy]

This is pretty cool. As a designer using Photoshop with the Apple pencil on the iPad pro sounds awesome. All under the MacOS environment. That will kill the Cintiq and no need to buy a Wacom tablet.
Hopefully Apple will allow this to continue.

 

[hardwickj]

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.

This isn't entirely accurate. Duet Display is entirely software based. Luna actually tricks your laptop into using the GPU, and therefore it's much less taxing on the CPU, and also much better performing.
[doublepost=1542831028][/doublepost]

My theory as to what Luna Display is doing is emulating a display in order to get GPU acceleration working.
I've been doing this on my Mac mini server for several years now and you can really tell the difference in performance when using VNC or other screen sharing apps.

https://www.amazon.com/CompuLab-fit...2752841&sr=8-4&keywords=hdmi+display+emulator

I'm guessing the luna dongle is just a display emulator and their software specifically pipes that display output to their viewing server and to the client on the ipad. The fact that both the iPad and the Mac need to be on the same network is evidence that they are using some sort of remote display over IP. They say so much on their website that their protocol offers lower latency and that its less than half of what others are capable of. If so, kudos to them. It would be nice if you can just buy the software and use any display emulator or even a real display to get the same results. However they are probably making a good margin on the dongle and it is acting as a sort of a hardware license key. It probably has a specific EDID that the luna software looks for in order to function.

EDID report attached...
[doublepost=1542831362][/doublepost]

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

1. You have no imagination.
2. I use this every day. I'd gladly pay double for it.
3. Most readers here already have an iPad that doesn't get enough use. So....why not put it to use?

 

[abhibeckert]

Perhaps, but there is a difference between an app designed for use on a touch screen and using a touchscreen to replicate the mouse. They have two different UI designs. For example, inputing a date in iOS often brings up a "slot machine" scroller that a swipe up or down rolls to get you to the desired input, OS X would either get a drop down or require keyboard input. I agree OS X could be a good touch input OS, but that would require rethinking many of its design features.

Having used a touch screen fairly often on windows and also occasionally logged into a Mac from an iPad over VNC, I really don't think anything needs to change.

It does take practice to reliably hit small things, but I think it requires less practice than a mouse or trackpad. Once you get the hang of it it works just fine.

For first time users a touchscreen Mac would be difficult, however I don't think that's a problem. The Mac has always been something you need to spend time learning how to use and I think it should move even more in that direction now that iOS is available for casual users.

One thing it would need, however, is to be able to rest a finger or two on the screen while using another finger on the same hand to tap something. There needs to be some method of recognising a touch and hold in one place as ignored input. This allow much greater accuracy. Try typing on an iPhone keyboard with your pointer finger and your whole arm hovering in mid-air instead of holding onto the phone - it's nearly impossible to be accurate.

 

[ftaok]

Nice. But if this is the useful for you, you could better buy a Surface. You can work with a full scale OS and use it at a mobile device.

Yeah, but can the Surface run Minecraft for Mac?

 

[brdeveloper]

Call me when an app can use an iPad Pro as an external display and its GPU as an eGPU.

 

[maxfromdenmark]

I travel extensively for work. I can't bring a full sized monitor with me everywhere, and it would be incredibly wasteful and time consuming to buy one everywhere I go. I already have my iPad with me, so....perfect!

(See my other post with photo to get a better idea)

Laptop seems to be enough for the reason. I cannot even imagine to carry Apple Mini, iPad, a keyboard and a mouse when traveling.

 

[Tech198]

Not bad..

There are lots of this stuff out there... but i'd still prefer software this solution, like Duet Display

I still think physical connection is better, for this type of stuff. But Wi-fi, for convenience if no cable round.

You'd have to be on a wi-fi connection to use.

 

[koruki]

I love it when my display is more powerful than my computer lol

 

[KJL3000]

this will answer your question
https://lunadisplay.com/pages/luna-display-vs-duet-display

FWIW I would classify Duet in the useless/unusable category

Well it wasn’t useless until Apple screwed up usb display link in 10.13.4. Before that duet was working almost perfect in any resolution via lightning usb cable like any other connected display. Without another dongle or extra hardware. Now duet is indeed quite useless, at least until display link is working again.

https://www.macrumors.com/2018/03/30/mac-desktop-extender-duet-bug-macos-10-13-4/

EDIT:
It seems like Apple finally is going to fix that in Mojave...
https://appleinsider.com/articles/1...ems-with-displaylink-multiple-monitor-drivers

 

[jlc1978]

Not bad..

There are lots of this stuff out there... but i'd still prefer software this solution, like Duet Display

I still think physical connection is better, for this type of stuff. But Wi-fi, for convenience if no cable round.

You'd have to be on a wi-fi connection to use.

Luna works fine with a USB connection to the iPad; no wifi needed. I've used Duet and it's a good low cost solution; but I find Luna a better overall solution.
[doublepost=1542895614][/doublepost]

Well it wasn’t useless until Apple screwed up usb display link in 10.13.4. Before that duet was working almost perfect in any resolution via lightning usb cable like any other connected display. Without another dongle or extra hardware. Now duet is indeed quite useless, at least until display link is working again. So lunadisplay is not impressive at all to me, since there was a cheaper, dongle- and more important WiFi-less Solution that worked exactly the same until Apple screwed it up.s

I get your dongle point but Luna also works over USB sans wifi.

 

[MacBH928]

I'm assuming it's H.265 or similar compression on the iPad side then the dongle has a hardware decoder. There shouldn't be a driver on the Mac side since the mac just thinks it's a monitor. It's pretty similar to how Apple's HDMI out adapter for lightning works.

Is the 8-bit color thing a typo? I was under the impression that was pretty terrible.
[doublepost=1542811549][/doublepost]

The mac just sees a monitor, so it's probably the iPad.

If it sees a monitor then the mac is the one driving the monitor and the iPad Hardware is just sitting there

 

[KJL3000]

Luna works fine with a USB connection to the iPad; no wifi needed. I've used Duet and it's a good low cost solution; but IU find Luna a betteroverall solution.
[doublepost=1542895614][/doublepost]

I get your dongle point but Luna also works over USB sans wifi.

Oh I didn’t know that, thanks, I corrected that in my post.

 

[warp9]

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?

It's plugged into a 27" iMac. The iPad is used only for game testing. I'm considering another 27" monitor.
[doublepost=1542980065][/doublepost]

I agree, thus my post. But if there's compression, where is it being performed? In the dongle? A special driver on the Mac?

I'm skeptical.

My guess it's either less than 8 bit color and/or less than 60 fps.

The technology is not new. Teradici has been using it for years with their PCOIP cards. I had a few of those cards and they can push dual 24" monitors across gigabit ethernet with no or very little compression artifacts. Those cards were $300 a few years ago and compression hardware has come down in price since then.
https://www.teradici.com/workstation-access
[doublepost=1542980331][/doublepost]

Is the 8-bit color thing a typo? I was under the impression that was pretty terrible.

8-bits per channel (R/G/B) meaning full 24-bit color. Actually, I think the Luna does 10-bit (it's on the feature list) but I can't find confirmation of that.

 

[jlc1978]

FYI. Luna is 20% off with free shipping for Black Friday.

 

[citysnaps]

The technology is not new. Teradici has been using it for years with their PCOIP cards. I had a few of those cards and they can push dual 24" monitors across gigabit ethernet with no or very little compression artifacts. Those cards were $300 a few years ago and compression hardware has come down in price since then.
https://www.teradici.com/workstation-access

Is that what's being used in the Luna plug-in adapter?

 

[warp9]

Is that what's being used in the Luna plug-in adapter?

I don't know, I'm just assuming so. If it's just a repackaged $8 dummy plug, then I would be sorely disappointed (and ripped off).

 

[warp9]

I suspected that my relatively simple gameplay testing wasn't a good benchmark, so I did a test to see how far I can push it. Running on an iPad Pro 12.9 (2732 x 2048) via wired connection, I played a 60fps 4k Youtube video in Chrome.

The Luna definitely chooses framerate over quality. On fast moving shots, the resolution dropped to below SD (480p) but the framerate still held at 60FPS. It recovers quickly when it stops moving but I would have to say, this is not gaming-ready. It's fine for my need of testing simple iOS games and Photoshop but don't expect any miracles.

 

[jlc1978]

I don't know, I'm just assuming so. If it's just a repackaged $8 dummy plug, then I would be sorely disappointed (and ripped off).

It’s the software that is important. AFACT a dummy plug alone won’t allow use of an iPad as a display.

 

[warp9]

It’s the software that is important. AFACT a dummy plug alone won’t allow use of an iPad as a display.

If it is just software, then why do I need to spend $80 on an $8 dongle? If Astro needed to make a custom dongle, why is it so much more expensive than all the others? Questions I won't find in the FAQ unfortunately.

EDIT: I gave it some more thought and realized what's going on here. They developed the LIQUID software and Luna app and it's worth about $60-$70. They could've relied on letting people use their own dongle, but that would become a tech support nightmare. Instead they developed their own (premium) dongle, sold it for $80 and made the software free. It's now a good product for almost everybody and a trouble-free experience out of the box.

 

[Anarchy99]

i know they are not officially supported.
but does anyone know if the usb-c variant of the luna can work on older macs via somekind of adapter (TB2 to TB3 adpater, or USB-C to mDP with a gender changer maybe?)
ive got some newer machines rocking TB3 but still a 2015 mbp I use often.

id rather not have to buy two Luna's at the moment and would prefer to future proof

 

[warp9]

...does anyone know if the usb-c variant of the luna can work on older macs via somekind of adapter...

This page has their answer. In short, probably not.
https://lunadisplay.com/blogs/news/adapters-and-docks

 

[jlc1978]

If it is just software, then why do I need to spend $80 on an $8 dongle? If Astro needed to make a custom dongle, why is it so much more expensive than all the others? Questions I won't find in the FAQ unfortunately.

EDIT: I gave it some more thought and realized what's going on here. They developed the LIQUID software and Luna app and it's worth about $60-$70. They could've relied on letting people use their own dongle, but that would become a tech support nightmare. Instead they developed their own (premium) dongle, sold it for $80 and made the software free. It's now a good product for almost everybody and a trouble-free experience out of the box.

That’s a great explanation. I think you hit the nail on the head. It is a trouble free solution, and well worth the price for someone, like me, that finds it a solution to wanting a second monitor on the road; or any of the otheruse cases.

I’ve found their tech support very responsive as well. All in all a great company I am happy to support.
[doublepost=1543065484][/doublepost]

This page has their answer. In short, probably not.
https://lunadisplay.com/blogs/news/adapters-and-docks

[doublepost=1543065533][/doublepost]

i know they are not officially supported.
but does anyone know if the usb-c variant of the luna can work on older macs via somekind of adapter (TB2 to TB3 adpater, or USB-C to mDP with a gender changer maybe?)
ive got some newer machines rocking TB3 but still a 2015 mbp I use often.

id rather not have to buy two Luna's at the moment and would prefer to future proof

No, it doesn't work with adapters. You need the Mini DP version. It worked fine on my 2015 MBP. I'd contact Luna/Astropad and see if they will give a discount on 2.

 

[NikRib]

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.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

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

Can Luna be used on the previous versions of MAC MINI and iPads?
[doublepost=1543318614][/doublepost]Can Luna be used with the previous version of MAC MINI and iPad?

 

[albebaubles]

jeebus why cant apple just offer a macOS iPad. The Apple Pencil completely throws out their old notion of a finger being too fat for things when it comes to touch. But as you can clearly see in the video, a workflow is totally possible.

Otherwise if u had a mac mini setup as a headless server at home this could be a nice way to quickly jump in and do some tweaks or manage files etc.

Patience, young Padawan --it's coming.