Astropad’s Luna Display is a clever product that enables you to use your iPad as a second display. Originally launched for Mac only, it was put in jeopardy when Apple launched its competing product, Sidecar. However, the company has pivoted to a multi-platform product and is now available for Windows machines.
A Long and Arduous Route
The company’s journey with bringing its products to market has been marked by challenges. It launched its first product about five years ago, followed by the addition of a wireless module in 2018 to eliminate pesky wires. However, when Apple launched Sidecar back in 2019, it effectively made Luna’s product moot and sent the company into crisis mode.
Staying Transparent
To its credit, Astropad has been transparent with its offering throughout this journey. When Apple beat them at their own game, they kept the lights on and announced that they had pivoted to working on a Windows product instead. This move was fueled by a $400,000 Kickstarter project.
The Red Dongle
Here is the Luna Display dongle in action, wirelessly throwing to an iPad operating as a secondary display. The dongle plugs in and communicates with Mac or Windows operating systems, unlocking iPad support for gestures, Apple Pencil, and external keyboards.
A Promising Product
On paper, at least, the product looks promising. The Luna Display claims a latency of only 16ms, which is not as good as Apple’s claimed 9ms latency for its Sidecar product but should be quick enough for most use cases that don’t require real-time input.
Software Stack
To build out the software stack powering the solution, Astropad relied on the Rust programming language. For fans of such things, the company’s CEO Matt Ronge did an interesting deep-dive into the pros and cons of using a relatively new language to build a low-latency solution.
Rust: A High-Performance Platform
"With Rust, we’ll have a high-performance and portable platform that we can easily run on Mac, iOS, Linux, Android, and Windows," says Ronge. "Not only will this drastically expand our potential market size, but we also see many interesting new uses for our LIQUID technology that we’ll be able to pursue with our Rust-based platform."
Availability
Luna Display costs $129 and is available directly from Astropad starting today, for both Mac and Windows, using USB-C, Mini DisplayPort or HDMI connectivity.
Comparison to Sidecar
While the Luna Display’s latency may not be as good as Apple’s claimed 9ms latency for its Sidecar product, it should still provide a smooth experience for most users. However, don’t expect to be doing heavy-duty design work or gaming on the display.
Conclusion
The Luna Display from Astropad is a promising product that offers an affordable and flexible solution for using your iPad as a second display. With its low latency and portability, it’s definitely worth considering if you’re in the market for a multi-display setup.
Why Choose Luna Display?
- Affordable: The Luna Display costs $129, which is significantly cheaper than Apple’s Sidecar product.
- Flexible: The display can be wirelessly connected to your iPad using a dongle, making it easy to move around and set up in different locations.
- Portable: The display is lightweight and compact, making it easy to take with you on the go.
Overall, the Luna Display from Astropad offers an attractive solution for anyone looking to use their iPad as a second display. With its low latency, portability, and affordability, it’s definitely worth considering if you’re in the market for a multi-display setup.
