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Immediately setup my iPadOS 15 iPad beside my macOS 12 M1 machine....and it didn't work. At the time there were a couple of brief articles saying just move the

Immediately setup my iPadOS 15 iPad beside my macOS 12 M1 machine....and it didn't work. At the time there were a couple of brief articles saying just move the mouse off the edge of your screen. They haven't released this technology yet, so we can't test it out. Just an FYI to anyone who looks to try it out. As an aside, I have a Mac Mini beside a MBP in my normal setup. My BT keyboard and mouse are connected to the mini. I wish I could do this as easily to jump between machines.

twobitshifter 5y ago
This article says 3 devices are supported and uses an example of iPad MacBook and iMac - so I think it will cover you, unless it’s m1 only. https://petapixel.com/2021/06/07/apples-universal-control-seamlessly-links-multiple-devices-together/ https://petapixel.com/2021/06/07/apples-universal-control-se...
pohl 5y ago
For comparison, Sidecar didn’t work for me until late in the beta cycle. I think it was the last public beta where I finally got it to work. Ultimately I could never get in the habit of using Sidecar because it turns out I have to VPN into work, thwarting Sidecar altogether. I expect VPN to prevent me from using Universal Control too.
- reaperducer 5y ago
  I'm not sure I understand the difference between Sidecar and Universal Control. Is UC just Sidecar for more screens? (FWIW, I use Sidecar every day and it works really well.)
  - pohl 5y ago
    What makes them similar is that the two machines need to be able to communicate with each other. The difference is that one turns the iPad into a display for the computer, while the other turns the computer into a keyboard & mouse for the iPad. I imagine VPNs will interfere with both. Sidecar works great for me, too. I just have no occasion to use it where I’m not on VPN.
  - yurishimo 5y ago
    UC let's you use the iPad as an iPad and not as a screen. Think of it more as a KVM for your Mac and iPad. This is great if you want to use the iPad app version of something rather that just needing an extra screen (Sidecar).
  - adrusi 5y ago
    Sidecar is VNC, universal control is synergy.
- brundolf 5y ago
  I don't think Universal Control uses the local network, I heard it uses 1) iCloud to link up and then 2) direct WiFi/Bluetooth for communication
- minhazm 5y ago
  If your VPN client supports split tunneling and your organization has enabled it then Sidecar works fine.
- jackson1442 5y ago
  You can use USB for both Sidecar and Universal Control, by the way.
handrous 5y ago
> As an aside, I have a Mac Mini beside a MBP in my normal setup. My BT keyboard and mouse are connected to the mini. I wish I could do this as easily to jump between machines. There are BT keyboards and mice that support multiple connected devices and let you switch between them. My keyboard and my mouse can support three each, and I use the functionality daily (on Mac, iOS, and Win10 devices). For the combo I've got, at least, it's rock solid. My keyboard can also plug in, so at the inconvenience of needing to fumble around on the side of it to toggle the "BT or wired" switch, I could support four devices with it (I don't, but I could). All without any external hardware (KVMs, say) or extra software. [EDIT] to give an idea of the ease, changing the input on my monitor is the most annoying part of switching devices (for the two that are connected to it) since I have to stretch forward to reach that button, and probably takes about 50% or more of the total time of switching. Mouse and keyboard each take maybe 2 seconds, total, including BT syncing to the other device. Since not all of that's hands-on time so you can be initiating a switch on the second one while the first is syncing, I bet I usually switch my inputs in about 3 seconds, total. Monitor's probably another 3-4 seconds on top of that.
- domano 5y ago
  Can you point me to some mice and / or keyboards that can do that? I searched for something like this for ages and gave up.
  - gogoincar 5y ago
    Not everyone’s cup of tea, but if you like/need an ergonomic layout Kinesis Bluetooth keyboards support multiple devices.
  - handrous 5y ago
    My current keyboard: Keychron k8a3. It's not beautiful, but it's cheap (for a mechanical BT keyboard) and it's not given me any trouble [edit: any trouble with connectivity and device-switching being at all fiddly or unreliable, or with basic being-a-keyboard functionality—obviously the "complaints" paragraph below means it's given me some trouble]. fn + 1/2/3 switches devices. Has a built-in battery that charges over USB-C. Lasts days on battery even if I accidentally leave the KB's light on a couple nights, and despite my tuning its power-saving features down to basically nothing. Complaints: it's easy to accidentally hit the light-pattern-cycle button on the top-right, or for a cat to do the same, and I always want it on "steady light, no pattern" (I hate flashing lights on keyboards) but then have to hammer the button twenty times to get back to my preferred setting if it gets pressed. This happens maybe once a week, and is annoying. I also had problems with it dropping into sleep mode a lot when I didn't want it to, but IIRC there was some settings-modifying key-combo in the manual that mostly fixed that (at the cost of worse battery life), and keeping the backlight on its lowest light level (rather than off) during use made the problem 100% go away. https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-k8-tenkeyless-wireless-mechanical-keyboard https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-k8-tenkeyless-wir... $69 My current mouse: Logitech M720 Triathlon. Basically a boring, normal, easy-to-find lowish-mid-range BT mouse. One of the thumb-buttons on the side handles device switching. Tap once, the light under the current device (1, 2, or 3) comes on on the mouse (those lights are off normally). More taps and it starts cycling through them. Four taps and you're back where you started. Simple, quick, and reliable. Works fine. Has a weighted free-spinning scrollwheel (though you can push in a switch to make it feel like a more traditional wheel) that took some getting used to (that is: I hated it at first) but I really like it now. https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/mice/m720-triathlon.910-004790.html https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/mice/m720-triathlon.... $40 on Amazon In the past, I've also used a Logitech K380 BT keyboard, which was (and looks like still is?) TheWireCutter's recommended BT keyboard. It's very much a travel-type keyboard, though, so I don't love using it at my desk. It does support three devices at a time, though, and that functionality worked just fine while I was using it. I keep it around just-in-case, since it's tiny anyway, but don't use it much anymore. Nothing wrong with it, though. https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/keyboards/k380-multi-device.920-007558.html https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/keyboards/k380-multi... $30 on Amazon (no affiliation with, nor particular loyalty to, Keychron or Logitech)
terhechte 5y ago
I’m using synergy for this. Works just as in the video (except for iPad support and drag and drop) https://symless.com/synergy https://symless.com/synergy
- sbierwagen 5y ago
  I've been a user of Synergy for many years. Note that it doesn't like when any of the computers involved go to sleep. There's a reason you can bind a hotkey to restart the server.
smw 5y ago
You can! Synergy does exactly this! However, you almost certainly want the fork, Barrier, now, as Synergy has stagnated. https://github.com/debauchee/barrier https://github.com/debauchee/barrier
whatch 5y ago
I am using Dell U3417W monitor [0] with windows desktop and linux laptop. Keyboard and mouse are connected to the monitor (via one Logitech unifying receiver). The monitor has built-in KVM switch and when I change video input using monitor hardware buttons keyboard and mouse switch automatically. And it's amazing! As far as I know the monitor has 2 or 3 USB A ports. I found an article that seems to explain how to set everything up [1]. Sorry for medium, should work in incognito. Interestingly, I almost bought standalone KVM switch when I discovered that my monitor already has one. Three years after I bought the monitor, I finally understood why there was that fancy blue USB 3 B cable in the box. Also Logitech MX keys keyboard and MX master 2S mouse support three bluetooth/logitech adapter devices. So I can use this setup occasionally with a tablet and with my old mac that has hardly functioning keyboard and trackpad. Logitech and Dell devices are worth the money. [0] https://www.dell.com/si/business/p/dell-u3417w-monitor/pd https://www.dell.com/si/business/p/dell-u3417w-monitor/pd [1] https://medium.com/@ningzh/share-a-dell-u3417w-monitor-between-two-computers-6d589a1801d5 https://medium.com/@ningzh/share-a-dell-u3417w-monitor-betwe...

twobitshifter 5y ago

This article says 3 devices are supported and uses an example of iPad MacBook and iMac - so I think it will cover you, unless it’s m1 only. https://petapixel.com/2021/06/07/apples-universal-control-seamlessly-links-multiple-devices-together/ https://petapixel.com/2021/06/07/apples-universal-control-se...

pohl 5y ago

For comparison, Sidecar didn’t work for me until late in the beta cycle. I think it was the last public beta where I finally got it to work. Ultimately I could never get in the habit of using Sidecar because it turns out I have to VPN into work, thwarting Sidecar altogether. I expect VPN to prevent me from using Universal Control too.

reaperducer 5y ago
I'm not sure I understand the difference between Sidecar and Universal Control. Is UC just Sidecar for more screens? (FWIW, I use Sidecar every day and it works really well.)
- pohl 5y ago
  What makes them similar is that the two machines need to be able to communicate with each other. The difference is that one turns the iPad into a display for the computer, while the other turns the computer into a keyboard & mouse for the iPad. I imagine VPNs will interfere with both. Sidecar works great for me, too. I just have no occasion to use it where I’m not on VPN.
- yurishimo 5y ago
  UC let's you use the iPad as an iPad and not as a screen. Think of it more as a KVM for your Mac and iPad. This is great if you want to use the iPad app version of something rather that just needing an extra screen (Sidecar).
- adrusi 5y ago
  Sidecar is VNC, universal control is synergy.
brundolf 5y ago
I don't think Universal Control uses the local network, I heard it uses 1) iCloud to link up and then 2) direct WiFi/Bluetooth for communication
minhazm 5y ago
If your VPN client supports split tunneling and your organization has enabled it then Sidecar works fine.
jackson1442 5y ago
You can use USB for both Sidecar and Universal Control, by the way.

handrous 5y ago

> As an aside, I have a Mac Mini beside a MBP in my normal setup. My BT keyboard and mouse are connected to the mini. I wish I could do this as easily to jump between machines. There are BT keyboards and mice that support multiple connected devices and let you switch between them. My keyboard and my mouse can support three each, and I use the functionality daily (on Mac, iOS, and Win10 devices). For the combo I've got, at least, it's rock solid. My keyboard can also plug in, so at the inconvenience of needing to fumble around on the side of it to toggle the "BT or wired" switch, I could support four devices with it (I don't, but I could). All without any external hardware (KVMs, say) or extra software. [EDIT] to give an idea of the ease, changing the input on my monitor is the most annoying part of switching devices (for the two that are connected to it) since I have to stretch forward to reach that button, and probably takes about 50% or more of the total time of switching. Mouse and keyboard each take maybe 2 seconds, total, including BT syncing to the other device. Since not all of that's hands-on time so you can be initiating a switch on the second one while the first is syncing, I bet I usually switch my inputs in about 3 seconds, total. Monitor's probably another 3-4 seconds on top of that.

domano 5y ago
Can you point me to some mice and / or keyboards that can do that? I searched for something like this for ages and gave up.
- gogoincar 5y ago
  Not everyone’s cup of tea, but if you like/need an ergonomic layout Kinesis Bluetooth keyboards support multiple devices.
- handrous 5y ago
  My current keyboard: Keychron k8a3. It's not beautiful, but it's cheap (for a mechanical BT keyboard) and it's not given me any trouble [edit: any trouble with connectivity and device-switching being at all fiddly or unreliable, or with basic being-a-keyboard functionality—obviously the "complaints" paragraph below means it's given me some trouble]. fn + 1/2/3 switches devices. Has a built-in battery that charges over USB-C. Lasts days on battery even if I accidentally leave the KB's light on a couple nights, and despite my tuning its power-saving features down to basically nothing. Complaints: it's easy to accidentally hit the light-pattern-cycle button on the top-right, or for a cat to do the same, and I always want it on "steady light, no pattern" (I hate flashing lights on keyboards) but then have to hammer the button twenty times to get back to my preferred setting if it gets pressed. This happens maybe once a week, and is annoying. I also had problems with it dropping into sleep mode a lot when I didn't want it to, but IIRC there was some settings-modifying key-combo in the manual that mostly fixed that (at the cost of worse battery life), and keeping the backlight on its lowest light level (rather than off) during use made the problem 100% go away. https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-k8-tenkeyless-wireless-mechanical-keyboard https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-k8-tenkeyless-wir... $69 My current mouse: Logitech M720 Triathlon. Basically a boring, normal, easy-to-find lowish-mid-range BT mouse. One of the thumb-buttons on the side handles device switching. Tap once, the light under the current device (1, 2, or 3) comes on on the mouse (those lights are off normally). More taps and it starts cycling through them. Four taps and you're back where you started. Simple, quick, and reliable. Works fine. Has a weighted free-spinning scrollwheel (though you can push in a switch to make it feel like a more traditional wheel) that took some getting used to (that is: I hated it at first) but I really like it now. https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/mice/m720-triathlon.910-004790.html https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/mice/m720-triathlon.... $40 on Amazon In the past, I've also used a Logitech K380 BT keyboard, which was (and looks like still is?) TheWireCutter's recommended BT keyboard. It's very much a travel-type keyboard, though, so I don't love using it at my desk. It does support three devices at a time, though, and that functionality worked just fine while I was using it. I keep it around just-in-case, since it's tiny anyway, but don't use it much anymore. Nothing wrong with it, though. https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/keyboards/k380-multi-device.920-007558.html https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/keyboards/k380-multi... $30 on Amazon (no affiliation with, nor particular loyalty to, Keychron or Logitech)

terhechte 5y ago

I’m using synergy for this. Works just as in the video (except for iPad support and drag and drop) https://symless.com/synergy https://symless.com/synergy

sbierwagen 5y ago
I've been a user of Synergy for many years. Note that it doesn't like when any of the computers involved go to sleep. There's a reason you can bind a hotkey to restart the server.

smw 5y ago

You can! Synergy does exactly this! However, you almost certainly want the fork, Barrier, now, as Synergy has stagnated. https://github.com/debauchee/barrier https://github.com/debauchee/barrier

whatch 5y ago

I am using Dell U3417W monitor [0] with windows desktop and linux laptop. Keyboard and mouse are connected to the monitor (via one Logitech unifying receiver). The monitor has built-in KVM switch and when I change video input using monitor hardware buttons keyboard and mouse switch automatically. And it's amazing! As far as I know the monitor has 2 or 3 USB A ports. I found an article that seems to explain how to set everything up [1]. Sorry for medium, should work in incognito. Interestingly, I almost bought standalone KVM switch when I discovered that my monitor already has one. Three years after I bought the monitor, I finally understood why there was that fancy blue USB 3 B cable in the box. Also Logitech MX keys keyboard and MX master 2S mouse support three bluetooth/logitech adapter devices. So I can use this setup occasionally with a tablet and with my old mac that has hardly functioning keyboard and trackpad. Logitech and Dell devices are worth the money. [0] https://www.dell.com/si/business/p/dell-u3417w-monitor/pd https://www.dell.com/si/business/p/dell-u3417w-monitor/pd [1] https://medium.com/@ningzh/share-a-dell-u3417w-monitor-between-two-computers-6d589a1801d5 https://medium.com/@ningzh/share-a-dell-u3417w-monitor-betwe...