Exactly what I’ve been looking for
I use a headless Mac mini to record live shows and have been using a laptop to push start and stop, which meant hauling along another computer to the show. I wondered if there was anything that could turn the display on my iPad, which I’m using to mix the shows already, into a display for the Mac. This is exactly that!
Seamless integration, excellent range and virtually no lag. I couldn’t recommend this more.
Seamless integration, excellent range and virtually no lag. I couldn’t recommend this more.
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Great but Perfect With Improvements
Definitely a great option for those looking to use a headless Mac Mini but there are some areas improvements could be made.
1. I find myself needing to click more than once with the iPad Smart Keyboard when using the device. A standard trackpad use would be great (follow my mouse with the trackpad and click when I tap/press firmly). May be limitation due to API available.
2. Choppy frame rate even when on solid WiFi connection across house. This I feel may need tweaking but I find that cabled connection is the best. I believe it also works when Wi-Fi is not available so I can always use this to initiate the ability to utilize sidecar which does have better performance when the devices are near each other and wireless.
3. Scrolling on the Magic Trackpad with two fingers isn’t supported. Even worse, when attempting to do this, scrolling with two fingers on the display becomes rendered undoable. It’s easily reproducable and needs some way to restore this functionality without disconnecting and reconnecting.
1. I find myself needing to click more than once with the iPad Smart Keyboard when using the device. A standard trackpad use would be great (follow my mouse with the trackpad and click when I tap/press firmly). May be limitation due to API available.
2. Choppy frame rate even when on solid WiFi connection across house. This I feel may need tweaking but I find that cabled connection is the best. I believe it also works when Wi-Fi is not available so I can always use this to initiate the ability to utilize sidecar which does have better performance when the devices are near each other and wireless.
3. Scrolling on the Magic Trackpad with two fingers isn’t supported. Even worse, when attempting to do this, scrolling with two fingers on the display becomes rendered undoable. It’s easily reproducable and needs some way to restore this functionality without disconnecting and reconnecting.
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Response from developer
Hello, thank you so much for your feedback! We've made note of your suggestions and hope we can include these improvements in a future update!
Must have
Such a small item that performs so usefully as either a second screen or mobile mac.
Since I am working from home the fuel that would have powered my car on the commute has “paid’ for the Luna so great value for money.
Since I am working from home the fuel that would have powered my car on the commute has “paid’ for the Luna so great value for money.
Works beautifully with M1 mini
I use the luna display to connect the M1 mini to the iPad with magic keyboard and it works almost perfectly with a USB C connection.
Unfortunately it doesn’t work very good without a physical connection because my internet is poor. Furthermore, the same capability doesn’t exist when running Mac-to-Mac mode, so this prevents me from doing that.
Nevertheless, it’s a great product! I hope they can further develop the capability to use a wired USB connection to run Mac-to-Mac mode.
Unfortunately it doesn’t work very good without a physical connection because my internet is poor. Furthermore, the same capability doesn’t exist when running Mac-to-Mac mode, so this prevents me from doing that.
Nevertheless, it’s a great product! I hope they can further develop the capability to use a wired USB connection to run Mac-to-Mac mode.
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Adds a dimension to the workspace that surprised and delighted!
I thought the extended workspace would be much like having another monitor. I was surprised to find it far more useful than that. Having access to key components of my work flow in a portable system, let’s me walk around, get a coffee, and take a breath of fresh air without disconnecting from (lower-value) work effort. Think I can have this conversation while getting a coffee or reconnect with the outdoors. Before Luna both of those activities had to happen between meetings; Now I can work it into the flow.
Luna delighted me by being simple and easy to get working, and it does work...anywhere in the 3000 sq feet of the office where I work. No longer chained to the computer to get paid. So nice.
Luna delighted me by being simple and easy to get working, and it does work...anywhere in the 3000 sq feet of the office where I work. No longer chained to the computer to get paid. So nice.
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Response from developer
Love hearing you're able to take your work on the go! 👏 Thank you for the kind words!
Blown away
Wow. Have been an iPad user for years...now, being able to use it as the main display for the Mac Mini is just wow. Not to mention the ability to us the touch functionality on Mac OS. Genius. This really allows me to make full use of all devices. Love it.
It’s Ok for Headless Mac
Performance is good when it works, however.
- Connection to dongle is flakey.
- Constant splash screen drives me crazy, no option to remove/hide.
- No support Copy and Paste.
- Does not run in background so you need to connect via another method to log in and start app.
- Very slow development cycle with very few improvements or new features.
Luna display seems to miss the basics for use on a headless mac, I’ve gone back to Jump Desk which supports all the missing features and Retina.
- Connection to dongle is flakey.
- Constant splash screen drives me crazy, no option to remove/hide.
- No support Copy and Paste.
- Does not run in background so you need to connect via another method to log in and start app.
- Very slow development cycle with very few improvements or new features.
Luna display seems to miss the basics for use on a headless mac, I’ve gone back to Jump Desk which supports all the missing features and Retina.
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At last a solution which works
My goal is to run my 2014 Mac Mini in “headless” mode. Having tried various other programs I finally alighted on Luna display about 2 years ago. Initially I had trouble getting it to work and abandoned the idea, but having come back to it recently with the latest software it now works! At last I can run my Mac Mini from my iPad Pro - and with the Magic Keyboard on the latter it’s just like a “normal” desktop.
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Luna Display
Ordered from the USA and delivered to the UK in 6 days. Plugged into my Apple Mac and exceeded all my expectations. I have an old iPad, and it works. I am awaiting my new iPad Pro😁
Keep up the great work and I will be a customer for life.
Thank you.
Keep up the great work and I will be a customer for life.
Thank you.
It’s brilliant!
Essentially, this extremely clever hardware/app solution transforms your iPad (paired with a MacBook) into a Wacom Cintiq or similar. If, like me, you’re a bit of an Apple Pencil evangelist, you might want to team up the dongle with the Astropad Studio app to benefit from pressure sensitivity, but even without it, Luna Display offers a brilliant, responsive experience for iPad creatives who want to access the advanced functionality of their desktop applications. Recommended.
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