Can someone please direct me to anywhere re headless mode?

[pax-eterna]

I have now tried several paid apps (only in trial) and the hardware method (Luna Display) and NONE can successfully do what I need....

MacMini M2 and iPad Pro 3rd gen are the devices and what I want to do is use the iPad as a monitor screen when I am away from home in portrait mode.

All of them seem to have one glitch or another, the hardware solution of Luna Display will not work in portrait, and the others, while they state they can, are flaky at best!
This was one of the prime reasons I bought the Mac mini as it has a far smaller foot print (including power supply) than the nearest windows mini pc options.

I have now wasted two days on trying to get this sorted. I even tried the Apple method of using sidecar but that doesn't work out either!

So yeah, ANY links or tips/tricks that folks can share will be appreciated!

 

[pax-eterna]

Wow, 50 views and no-one has any idea - must be way more difficult than I thought.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Jump Desktop is an excellent option.

 

[pax-eterna]

cool, thanks had not found that one, will check it out now......ahhh, looks nice but it's web based means I'd need an active internet connection, not always possible on stage.

 

[idmean]

cool, thanks had not found that one, will check it out now......ahhh, looks nice but it's web based means I'd need an active internet connection, not always possible on stage.

I want to do is use the iPad as a monitor screen when I am away from home in portrait mode

So what connective technology would you like to use if not the internet? Radio? Satellite?

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Jump or Splash were the best last I looked, a couple of years ago. Both require Internet… if you won’t have Internet, then THAT is your technical hurdle - not the display.

 

[pax-eterna]

Oh there's Better Display, Duet Display, Luna Display and others, none of which rely on internet as you can use a USB-C connection but none seem to nail it.

You'd think with all of Apples' tech brilliance they'd have figure how to get sidecar mode into portrait with two Mac devices. If I'd wanted landscape there are a plethora of systems that work!

 

[iStorm]

This came up as the first result in a Google search on how to use Sidecar in portrait mode using BetterDisplay. Have you tried that yet?

How to use SideCar with an iPad in portrait orientation

Using SideCar to extend your Mac's display to an iPad is great, but you're limited to landscape. Here's how use SideCar with your iPad in a portrait configuration.

appleinsider.com

Not sure if you can use Sidecar in a headless set up though, at least not easily. Sidecar is essentially just AirPlay, even if you are using a USB-C cable.

A portable USB-C monitor would probably be a better/easier option. They're thin like a tablet and will present itself to the computer as an actual monitor.

 

[pax-eterna]

This came up as the first result in a Google search on how to use Sidecar in portrait mode using BetterDisplay. Have you tried that yet?

How to use SideCar with an iPad in portrait orientation

Using SideCar to extend your Mac's display to an iPad is great, but you're limited to landscape. Here's how use SideCar with your iPad in a portrait configuration.

appleinsider.com

Not sure if you can use Sidecar in a headless set up though, at least not easily. Sidecar is essentially just AirPlay, even if you are using a USB-C cable.

A portable USB-C monitor would probably be a better/easier option. They're thin like a tablet and will present itself to the computer as an actual monitor.

Yeah, was thinking the same myself - touch screen monitor

 

[Global_traveler]

Oh there's Better Display, Duet Display, Luna Display and others, none of which rely on internet as you can use a USB-C connection but none seem to nail it. You'd think with all of Apples' tech brilliance they'd have figure how to get sidecar mode into portrait with two Mac devices. If I'd wanted landscape there are a plethora of systems that work!

 

[Global_traveler]

With Luna, you do need WiFi to connect your M2 Mini to your iPad. I just got an M2 Mini and it works with my 2017 IPP. Haven’t gotten the hard wired “headless” mode to work yet, but will attempt in a couple of days and update here.

 

[pax-eterna]

With Luna, you do need WiFi to connect your M2 Mini to your iPad. I just got an M2 Mini and it works with my 2017 IPP. Haven’t gotten the hard wired “headless” mode to work yet, but will attempt in a couple of days and update here.

Thanks, yeah I can get it work in wireless as the dongle does the transmitting, but in landscape only - they confirm it does not do portrait and they have no plans to do so, and will wait for people to start asking - hahaha, I am sure hundreds of people HAVE been asking as I seriously do not believe I am the only user on the planet who wants to use their iPad as a monitor in portrait mode!!

 

[pax-eterna]

So I ditched all notions of trying to get this to work in any software, or using dongles or anything else....went the hardware route with a Viewsonic TD1655 Touch Monitor - simply loaded the Viewsonic MacOS touch Drivers, connected via USB-C and it was as simple as that!

With all the tech prowess, I would have thought Apple would have enable portrait in Sidecar, and the longer I think about the more I think it is a dumb commercial (cannot be expertise as with their software engineers they have that in spades) decision to block it's inception. Anyway my issue is fixed.

haha, maybe there's a marketing niche they can take over, create "dumb" touch screen monitors using the iPad (10"-13" models) as the hardware design, leave out all the iOS stuff, THEN allow them to "plug 'n' play" with Macs and Mac minis

 

[Global_traveler]

Got it working in wired mode, for remote work, and at home over WiFi. When in “Mac”, or “headless” mode, there is still some “iPad“ functionality;

• Screen print on iPad still works pressing buttons or swiping up.
• Open or close a Mac App via touch
• Open or close a file
• Drag objects to Trash
• All other drop-down commands, such as “New Folder”
• Various adjustments in Settings.
• Limited functionality in Safari. Scrolling via mouse only.
• Swipe up from bottom right to open iPad Quick Notes still works. This is a true simultaneous functionality of Mac & iPad!!!!
• The M2 Mac mini is 6 ounces lighter than any MacBook.

 

[AnotherScott]

cool, thanks had not found that one, will check it out now......ahhh, looks nice but it's web based means I'd need an active internet connection, not always possible on stage.

Jump desktop does use wifi, but it does not require an active internet connection. My understanding is that you can set up an ad hoc wifi connection between your iPad and your Mac, so you don't even need a router. It just becomes a wireless connection between the two devices.