18 ms·

Orion: iPad as an external HDMI display for video game consoles

54 points by whalee 3y ago

nirav72 3y ago
Wonder if this works with straight usb-c without the capture device with hdmi input. Like connecting a nintendo switch’s usb-c directly to a ipad prod?
floydnoel 3y ago
really nifty! i've wanted this feature for a long time, glad it's finally here.
jauntywundrkind 3y ago
I spent a while trying out webcams and hdmi-to-usb (also usb-video class devices) adapters on Android. There were a bunch of apps that could do it, but it seemed pretty obvious that Android itself was basically useless & sad, that these folks were basically writing userland usb drivers. I was really hoping I could just open a chrome webcam test page, and everything would work. It really felt so infernal that Android, built atop Linux which makes this all so easy & simple, would have such a shitty sad state of affairs. What a terrible Linux. And the bloody AOSP docs make it sound like it should just work. Liar. https://source.android.com/docs/core/camera/external-usb-cameras https://source.android.com/docs/core/camera/external-usb-cam...
tiahura 3y ago
Not sure about consoles, but does seem like it would be useful for photographers.
alanwreath 3y ago
I’m dumb, is the only reason this couldn’t be done on an iPhone because the iPad has usbc?
- doloputer 3y ago
  The device needs to support usb webcams. I don't know if any iphone does that.
robsh 3y ago
Good start! There aren’t too many nice battery powered screens. It would be nice if the U in USB-C really meant universal. If I plug in an iPad to a computer over USC-C it should advertise itself as a storage device, a battery (bi-directional charge), a monitor, a touch input device, and two webcams. The computer should also advertise to the iPad what it has. Then both devices would need OS level software to control which features they want to use. Mirror iPad screen to computer screen? Sure. Use iPad as extra monitor? Sure. Use iPad as drawing tablet for computer, yes please.
MassiveBonk51 3y ago
So all it needs is a USB c to hdmi adapter? Could I use this on an sbc like an Raspberry pi then?
polski-g 3y ago
Nice to see Apple catching up to Samsung finally! (re: Dex)
- bdavbdav 3y ago
  Isn’t Dex doing the opposite? I.e. displaying the UI on an external screen (which I believe iPad does too). I think this is capturing video and using the iPad as a monitor
bdavbdav 3y ago
Stick the iPad in a case with magnets on to cling to a rack door and id be all over this instead of a crash cart. Especially if I could shrink wrap a sturdy HDMI cable to an adapter.
- tristanb 3y ago
  That is my plan too! Wish the ipad could send its keyboard and mouse to the server as well.
  - bdavbdav 3y ago
    I was trying to think of a nice way to achieve that, but I suspect something like one of those logitech keyboard/touchpad wireless combos may be an easier way ahead

54 points by whalee 3y ago

Wonder if this works with straight usb-c without the capture device with hdmi input. Like connecting a nintendo switch’s usb-c directly to a ipad prod?

floydnoel 3y ago

really nifty! i've wanted this feature for a long time, glad it's finally here.

jauntywundrkind 3y ago

I spent a while trying out webcams and hdmi-to-usb (also usb-video class devices) adapters on Android. There were a bunch of apps that could do it, but it seemed pretty obvious that Android itself was basically useless & sad, that these folks were basically writing userland usb drivers. I was really hoping I could just open a chrome webcam test page, and everything would work. It really felt so infernal that Android, built atop Linux which makes this all so easy & simple, would have such a shitty sad state of affairs. What a terrible Linux. And the bloody AOSP docs make it sound like it should just work. Liar. https://source.android.com/docs/core/camera/external-usb-cameras https://source.android.com/docs/core/camera/external-usb-cam...

tiahura 3y ago

Not sure about consoles, but does seem like it would be useful for photographers.

alanwreath 3y ago

I’m dumb, is the only reason this couldn’t be done on an iPhone because the iPad has usbc?

doloputer 3y ago
The device needs to support usb webcams. I don't know if any iphone does that.

robsh 3y ago

Good start! There aren’t too many nice battery powered screens. It would be nice if the U in USB-C really meant universal. If I plug in an iPad to a computer over USC-C it should advertise itself as a storage device, a battery (bi-directional charge), a monitor, a touch input device, and two webcams. The computer should also advertise to the iPad what it has. Then both devices would need OS level software to control which features they want to use. Mirror iPad screen to computer screen? Sure. Use iPad as extra monitor? Sure. Use iPad as drawing tablet for computer, yes please.

MassiveBonk51 3y ago

So all it needs is a USB c to hdmi adapter? Could I use this on an sbc like an Raspberry pi then?

polski-g 3y ago

Nice to see Apple catching up to Samsung finally! (re: Dex)

bdavbdav 3y ago
Isn’t Dex doing the opposite? I.e. displaying the UI on an external screen (which I believe iPad does too). I think this is capturing video and using the iPad as a monitor

bdavbdav 3y ago

Stick the iPad in a case with magnets on to cling to a rack door and id be all over this instead of a crash cart. Especially if I could shrink wrap a sturdy HDMI cable to an adapter.

tristanb 3y ago
That is my plan too! Wish the ipad could send its keyboard and mouse to the server as well.
- bdavbdav 3y ago
  I was trying to think of a nice way to achieve that, but I suspect something like one of those logitech keyboard/touchpad wireless combos may be an easier way ahead