Astropad's Journey to Windows: Updates and Progress on Luna HDMI Prototype

In our previous update, we began exploring the process of creating a Luna HDMI unit that would allow users to utilize an HDMI monitor as a second screen for their Windows PC. Our team has been working diligently on rewriting the code and developing a prototype for the Luna HDMI unit. The good news is that Astropad and Luna Display share the same core technology, known as LIQUID, which enables us to make progress on both projects simultaneously.

LIQUID is a proprietary platform consisting of 40,000 lines of code that handles networking, GPU acceleration, and video compression. By translating this large code base into Rust, we will be able to cover significant ground in our journey to Windows. As you may recall, we announced last year that we were officially embarking on the path to Windows after being 'sherlocked' by Apple.

We are excited to share that we have made significant progress and are back with updates for Astropad and Luna Display for Windows. Before diving into the details, let's take a quick recap of recent events and where we left off.

One question on many users' minds is how long the free beta will be available. We don't have a set end date for the beta at this time, but rest assured that we will keep you informed as we move forward.

In other news, some of you may be wondering when Slate for Windows will become available. While we are currently focused on the Mac version to fix bugs quickly and learn more about how people are using Slate, we may consider a future release for Windows in the future. If you're interested in learning more about Slate for Windows, please let us know.

For those who have been following our progress, you may be familiar with the features that allow users to control their Mac cursor with their iPad. Yes, it's still possible to do so! With Slate, you can move your finger across the iPad screen to move your Mac cursor, tap to click, double-tap and hold to drag, and use two fingers to scroll and zoom.

You can also adjust the Touch Settings to use one finger for mouse control, similar to a traditional trackpad. The mapping is adjustable, just like a traditional pen tablet. This means you have the flexibility to choose how your cursor moves on your iPad.

In terms of screen-mapping options, Slate offers two modes:

* Screen-mapping (Absolute positioning): The entire screen of your iPad scales to map your entire Mac display. Your cursor mirrors your Apple Pencil/finger movements regardless of location on the iPad.

* Mouse Mode (Relative positioning): Your iPad acts like a giant trackpad.

With Slate, you also have the option to choose how your cursor moves:

* Desktop: Your Mac must be running macOS 11.0 or later

* iPad: Your iPad must be running iPad OS 15.0 or later

We're excited to continue working on Astropad and Luna Display for Windows and look forward to sharing more updates with you in the future.

What do you think about our progress so far? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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