While $10 might sound like way too much for an app, for that price Duet can turn an iPad into a MacBook Display. When you consider how much an secondary display costs, it is small price to pay for the added functionality of a second monitor for your laptop.
Air Display (and Air Display 2) have been top choices for iPad display technology with Macbooks for a long time. However, while this technology functions, it relies on often unreliable Wi-Fi networks for communication. This can lead to lag and random stutters, making it tough to use in regular situations and nearly impossible for playing videos on your iPad screen.
The Duet app, however, uses the traditional 30-pin cable to link your iPad to your MacBook and transfer data. Although it’s not fully wireless, it provides faster data speeds for a smoother experience with less stuttering and almost no lag. Videos will also play nicely over the connection, enhancing your experience when using your iPad as a second screen.
Developed by former Apple engineers, Duet offers a new way of adding a second monitor to your Macbook. The technology has benefited from the former Apple employees’ experiences, offering full Retina resolutions at 60 frames per second. However, many users will be satisfied with the much more energy efficient 30 frames per second which still play videos fluidly.
While this setup is a nerd’s dream, it’s hard for most people to deny the enhancements to productivity a second screen can offer. This setup makes it easy to take that productivity on the road with you wherever you need to go as well. The Duet app seems like a no-brainer since it will handle even the heaviest of data streams and can greatly increase your ability to work from any location of your choosing.
[Photo: Wired]