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First Look: iDisplay

by Erica Sadun Apr 2nd 2010 at 5:30PM

iDisplay is one of those apps that you receive as a press release in your inbox and just when you're about to move on, it suddenly hits you exactly what that app does. And you go "Oh man! Yes!" In this case, iDisplay transforms your iPad or iPhone into a second monitor for your Mac.

I haven't had a chance to play with it yet (I already downloaded the software but haven't received my iPad) but I am so looking forward to using it. It works like this: you install an extension on your OS X desktop system. (A Windows version is in the works, as well.) That extension looks like a monitor to the underlying operating system, which begins to send data through the extension to any attached device. The data is sent over Wi-Fi to the iPad (or iPhone, if you're using an iPhone, as it's a universal application), which acts as an extra monitor.

It's not just a one-way connection. The on-device keyboard generates shared events for OS X, and the screen allows you to treat your second monitor as a multi-touch input device.




Now don't imagine you're going to watch video over Wi-Fi using this kind of connection. The best use cases involve slower apps like instant messaging, Twitter clients, or even Photoshop.

According to Shape Services Head of Development Alex Makarov, iDisplay grew out of an in-house idea. "All of us have two or more monitors on our systems at our workplace. It was natural to make an external monitor out of our iPhone devices." Makarov pointed out that external hardware monitors represent a significant investment compared to using a spare iPad or iPhone, plus these devices are highly portable, adding extra screen space on-the-go.

My iPad should arrive tomorrow. I'm betting that on Sunday, I'll find some excuse to head out to Starbucks with my Hackintosh and my iPad to test out the software in the real wild. iDisplay has an introductory price of $4.99.

Update: I've got the extension installed (requires reboot) and it running with an iPod touch. It's both really cool and clearly closer to alpha than a beta product. I love that I can take my Mac applications (if they are on the correct screen) with me across the house. Stability? Not so much. So use with care. Still can't wait to use it on a larger screen.

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iDisplay is one of those apps that you receive as a press release in your inbox and just when you're about to move on, it suddenly hits you...
 

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Chris

This app completely messed up my computer with a difficult uninstall that consisted that would be challenging for 90% of Mac users. Strongly recommend against this app.

April 03 2010 at 11:17 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
audi4eva

HELP!

I "uninstalled" iDisplay by removing the MSM files but my bootup apple logo is huge and all stretched out. How do I revert the bootup resolution back to the original? My resolution is normally 1920 x 1200.

I had the same problems with iDisplay as others had: reboot after installation makes the primary display the secondary display without any 2nd monitor/iphone attached, bringing the resolution down to 1024 x 768. The uninstall instructions do not work. I'm not even sure its not completely off my system.

April 03 2010 at 7:25 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Patrick


You can use ScreenRecycler for years with every VNC client on the iPhone already. Nothing new.
There will be a ScreenRecycler client though as current vnc implementations are quite slow on the iPhone/iPad.
Have a look at http://www.screenrecycler.com/video.html to see the speed - SCREENRECYCLE CAN PLAY MOVIES !

Patrick aka Jolly
---
author of: ScreenRecycler, JollysFastVNC, SmartSleep, SmartSokoban and more.

April 03 2010 at 6:27 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Alexandre Lopoukhine

Does secondbar work?

April 03 2010 at 5:43 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Michael

We do that for more than 7 years on Windows: http://www.maxivista.com

Cross-platform version is coming soon.

April 03 2010 at 3:29 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
3 replies to Michael's comment
MikeWard1701

This looks amazingly cool and has given me another reason to consider the iPad.

Based on the comments here though I'll pop into my wish list for download when I do eventually pick one up.

April 03 2010 at 3:28 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jonathan

I have it running and I have to say, I like it. I'm not getting very many crashes, and it seems perfect for something that's more or less static (adium's buddy list, for example.) However, for those of you who are also running it, have you found a way to make the virtual keyboard show?

April 03 2010 at 2:47 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Jonathan's comment
Jonathan

Aha, never mind. It tells you when you connect, tap with two fingers.

April 03 2010 at 3:00 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Murta

I hatted the program..
I have the same problem of Jeff, instaled to test (worked ok, but useless for iphone), and now I don't have option to remove the second screen that it artificially putted in mac monitor system preferences.
I erased all.. but the second screen is there yet..

April 02 2010 at 11:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jipi

To "fix" (read uninstall) the permanent virtual display problem, just erase all the files starting by MMS in /system/library/extensions and library/graphics/image units folders. Restart your computer and wait for an update before reinstalling.

To all of you interested in buying this app WAIT. Obviously they rushed development for the iPad launch.

I want to add that you CANNOT even interact by touching except to enter text, at least not with the softwares I tried.

April 02 2010 at 9:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to jipi's comment
Chris

This cannon be stated enough (or more clearly). Removal instructions from the developer are cryptic at best for 90% of Mac users.

April 03 2010 at 11:27 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
pki730

A very unstable program. It constantly crashes on my Mac. Definitely a beta. Needs work but great concept.

April 02 2010 at 8:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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