Two displays, are better than one and the Air Display For iPad is here to make the scenario a reality without the added expense of a second screen. Unfortunately, Air Display did not take off with the instant impact we hoped for. Connection was simple enough: install the software, start the app, connect. But our tests via Windows Vista and XP were drawn out and not completely successful, particularly with Vista. However, this could be down to other factors such as the hardware used and connection issues, and we did have more success via a Mac. Air Display uses the same Wi-Fi network as the desktop so the quality of service can be dependent on the quality of the connection. If the connection does drop out there is the option to connect automatically, but we only had occasional success with this.

Once connected and into action it’s all about the moving windows and apps to arrange. The mouse moves right and makes an appearance on the iPad screen, but when dragging a window from desktop to iPad there is a slight delay.

Using the mouse across two screens takes some getting use to and it occasionally disappears when making the transfer. Swapping windows didn’t see any auto resize for the different resolutions, meaning the user needs to perform the action. Swapping more dynamic content, ie video, saw a poor frame rate and jerky video. The app is much cheaper than a second screen, and it could prove very useful, but it just doesn’t fulfill its potential just yet.

See Also

• How to Use iPad 2 as a Second Screen | iPad Tips
• How To Use SIRI | Your Personal Assistant
• Best Direct Auto Insurance Apps For iPad