How do you use dual-displays and show a movie in one display and work in the other?

[WilliamG]

Sorry for the long-winded question. I've been trying to figure this out to no avail.

I have a 27" iMac with a 24" Cinema Display connected as a secondary display.

Say I want to watch a Youtube video full screen in one window, - e.g. on my iMac, and then continue to write email/surf web etc on the 24" attached display, as soon as I click into the 24", my iMac movie loses full screen. It's even worse when watching movies using VLC, because then the secondary display goes black!

Is there any way around this?

Thanks!

 

[MacDawg]

I don't use full screen
I just stretch the window to the largest size

 

[rickvanr]

In VLC, goto the preferences and uncheck "black out second monitor"

 

[WilliamG]

In VLC, goto the preferences and uncheck "black out second monitor"

Thank you. That works for VLC, though I still see the dock/menu bar, which isn't the end of the world.

Any ideas for Flash-based media like Youtube?

 

[rickvanr]

Thank you. That works for VLC, though I still see the dock/menu bar, which isn't the end of the world.

Any ideas for Flash-based media like Youtube?

Why not play the video in the monitor without the dock/ menu bar. I don't ever see them on mine.

As for Youtube, try dragging the window with the video you want to go full screen, and then maybe the main window will not go black?

 

[ViViDboarder]

Thank you. That works for VLC, though I still see the dock/menu bar, which isn't the end of the world.

Any ideas for Flash-based media like Youtube?

Not really a good method... but you can just drag the window really large.

It's up to the App to handle full screen and most applications will interpret a click outside the window as losing focus.

As for your issues with the dock and menu bar... Switch around the primary and secondary screens and you won't see it.

 

[WilliamG]

Thanks for all the replies/suggestions, guys.

I guess I'll just deal with the Youtube issues. Life can't be too bad if we have dual displays.

 

[js81]

Life can't be too bad if we have dual displays.

Yeah, especially if you have a 27" iMac and 24" ACD. I have a 17" iMac and an old 15" 4:3 LCD, lol.