iDisplay

Mac users looking to add a little extra screen real estate without sacrificing portability or display quality can now do so with Duet Display, a new app from a group of former Apple engineers that turns an iPad or iPhone into an external monitor.

A second monitor for your Mac, when you're on your Grownup Computer: That's a perfect use for the 1024x768 iPad, and exactly what $5 app iDisplay lets you do. But it needs some work. The concept and execution are equally simple: Your iPad serves as a secondary display for your Mac (and only your Mac), by leveraging a transparent VNC server and an artificial second monitor. Run the server app on your computer, run the client app on your iPad, arrange the displays in your OS X settings, and you've got an...

Mac users wanting an extra monitor can turn their iPhones and iPads into external multitouch displays. All you do is download the iDisplay app, an extension for OS X, and let the data flow over either 3G or Wi-Fi. Tada! Yes, the connection goes both directions, so you'll be able to use your multitouch gadget as an input device. The iDisplay app is $4.99 and available in iTunes and the corresponding OS X extension is available through the iDisplay website.