By doing this, we were able to concentrate on other aspects of the app and of course, we know a thing or two regarding the VNC protocol! We also chose to rely on the built-in Screen Sharing service, which is part of OS X since 10.4 Tiger. The server app is only responsible to create those virtual displays and to broadcast the service. What that in mind, we designed Mini Display so that everything is in the iOS app. Many times you’ll have settings or indications or steps that are spread between the two apps, which makes it a pain to use. I hate when I have to figure out how to use an app, especially in the case of iOS apps that require a server app counterpart. Vandal: I believe Mini Display is easier to use compared to our competitors. TNW: One of the first things that people will want to know, I’d think, is how Mini Display differs from AirDisplay? I had a chance to chat briefly with Luc Vandal of Edovia about Mini Display and how it compares to other offerings. With Mini Display on a phone or iPad, I can.

Even though I can stream Tweetbot, for instance, on my iPhone as a native app, I can’t click those links and open them in Chrome on my Mac. Adding even just an iPhone to stream a Twitter feed makes a huge difference. I travel and work on an 11″ MacBook Air, and even with Mission Control and Spaces, it’s tough to keep track of certain things all the time, because every inch is in use. The ideal application for this kind of thing is traveling, where screen real-estate is at a premium. The documentation conveniently lists them all. There are also a host of clever gestures for controlling your display, like pinching to close the connection and swiping with three fingers to bring up the keyboard. You can choose between ‘best’ resolution, which provides you with the best performance, or more real-estate. The display is pixel-correct, taking full advantage of the iPhone and iPad’s Retina displays to extend your monitor. Mini Display is lightning fast, with some very slight perceptible lag, but far less than other options I’ve tried like AirDisplay. As long as both of your devices are on the same WiFi network, you’ll see a screen appear that you can choose to add your iDevice to. Then you snag Mini Display from the App Store on your iDevice and launch it. You download a free app from the Mac App Store and run it. Mini Display is a deceptively simple app, with an interface that mirrors the setup of Screens.

Now, Edovia, the makers of Screens, have taken a turn at making your iPhone or iPad an external monitor for your Mac, and the results are just as good. Its polished and pleasant interface, reliability and speed have enabled it to crush all of the other options I’ve tried over the years.

The remote desktop app Screens is a perennial resident of my iPhone’s utilities folder.

Mac mini using ipad as display