11 ms·

Show HN: Lunar XDR Brightness control

124 points by alin23 5y ago

jiehong 5y ago
This app looks amazing! What a fantastic job! To be honest, some of it should be native to macOS. Some of it is very smart (like using your monitor as a soft box for online calls)!
- alin23 5y ago
  Ah, I didn't know it's called a softbox! That's actually what I had in mind, but oh well, Facelight has already stuck.
  - hhh 5y ago
    I think when they're used for lighting the subject's face it's typically a Key Light, but Facelight works just as well :)
  - adwi 5y ago
    A softbox could be used as a key light, and often is, but it’s classically more appropriate to use as a fill light. Soft light (which a softbox ideally creates) is defined by diffuse shadows. Perfectly soft light would cast no visible shadows. An important creative job of the key light, which is called such because it’s the main source of illumination in a scene, is to create a sense of depth by casting shadows onto the 3D objects, giving our brain cues on how to translate them from 2D space into an accurate mental image. Usually harder lights (meaning those with sharper, more defined shadows) are used for the key to create this depth, then the fill light, well, fills in these shadows with additional light to walk them back, which is why soft lights are appropriate there. As with all creative rules, exceptions abound. Maybe you could make a virtual lighting portrait studio, have sharp white light on one part of the screen, then some sort of gray gradient on the other to fill in some shadow. Unfortunately, that would be most effective if they had a big curved screen and they were willing to sit very near to it :)
speed_spread 5y ago
Does this mean you can get an iTan now?
- xxs 5y ago
  That would depend on the wave length of the blue LEDs
  - nullandvoid 5y ago
    Also whether you're wearing your blue light defense moisturizer (context - https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-10-20-streamer-valkyrae-faces-backlash-for-new-gamer-skincare-range https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-10-20-streamer-valky...)
- neogodless 5y ago
  Sorry, you missed the updated naming conventions. It's now called Apple Warm Glow.
jordn 5y ago
What are the risks of doing this? I would love to ramp up the nits for outside work, but presumably it's been limited to 500 nits for SDR for a reason.
- alin23 5y ago
  If used for long periods of time, the LEDs will definitely heat up and decrease the lifespan of the display. By how much, it is impossible to know. But 2 things should be considered: 1. If most of the screen is not full bright white, (e.g. white text on dark background), then LEDs will have plenty of time to cool down 2. macOS has hard temperature thresholds, and limits the brightness when the display gets too hot: https://www.pcmag.com/news/apple-xdr-displays-limit-brightness-when-its-hot https://www.pcmag.com/news/apple-xdr-displays-limit-brightne...
  - magicalhippo 5y ago
    > 1. If most of the screen is not full bright white, (e.g. white text on dark background), then LEDs will have plenty of time to cool down Note that the display is not an OLED display, but a regular IPS LCD with local dimming zones for the backlight[1]. Thus only the dimming zones not covered by white text would get to cool off. This also points to another downside of pushing up the nits: it will likely increase the bleed-through of the backlight, driving up the black level especially in white-text-on-black scenarios. [1]: https://www.apple.com/pro-display-xdr/specs/ https://www.apple.com/pro-display-xdr/specs/
    - alin23 5y ago
      Yea, bleed-through is annoying. But when used in direct sunlight, it’s hardly noticeable.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- randyrand 5y ago
  They added this 500 nits limitation to always leave room for HDR, so that SDR and HDR "coexist" properly. But it looks terrible imo I think they failed on that front. Also they want HDR to be a selling point. Not many phones take HDR videos and images. "It goes brighter" is what makes HDR pop.
orlp 5y ago
I've noticed a lot of Apple software pretends to be open-source (like this one: "Lunar is also open-source so you can check that for yourself: Github - alin23/Lunar "), when they really aren't. They're - at best - open core: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-core_model https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-core_model For example, I quote from the Lunar GitHub page: > I'm pausing contributions for the moment as Lunar has paid features and isn't compilable because of missing parts of the source code (Pro features code is encrypted). > Lunar can't be built from this repo yet as the source code for the paid features is hidden. I will try to post stubs for those paid features to at least make it compilable in an only-free-features form. So right now I couldn't modify and/or redistribute Lunar as I see fit. It is not open source. And even if the Lunar repository is updated so that it at least compiles the free version, then what? Then it would fit the strictest definitions of open-source (you are free to modify and redistribute), but would miss the community aspect completely due to misaligned incentives. I could add a great feature, but my pull request would be denied if it overlaps a paid feature. You could fork Lunar at that point and make all the traditionally paid features for free and accept pull requests simply based on merit. But at that point you would be open-source, and not open-core anymore, and the concept of a paid version would simply go away. I don't really see open-core actually working in any way other than an attempt to leech contributions from the open-source community without playing by its rules.
- eptcyka 5y ago
  This is why free software is what we should be aiming for, not just OSS.
- alin23 5y ago
  Yes, it's not open-source by that definition. It was fully open-source until v3: https://github.com/alin23/Lunar/tree/lunar3 https://github.com/alin23/Lunar/tree/lunar3 I've kept that around, it's still compilable, but probably not that useful. When making Lunar paid in v4, I didn't want to remove the possibility of sharing knowledge, so I kept the non-paid parts open-source. This allowed other apps like MonitorControl [1] and DisplayBuddy [2] to port some Lunar features (like DDC on M1) to their own code. So I'd say it's still useful enough. [1] https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl [2] https://displaybuddy.app https://displaybuddy.app
randyrand 5y ago
Really curious how this works under the hood!
- alin23 5y ago
  I’ll open source this feature and do a write up this week. But as a hint, it involves some internal SkyLight.framework and Core Brightness APIs to ramp up the headroom slowly. Here’s my previous failed attempt: https://alinpanaitiu.com/blog/over-500nits-failed/ https://alinpanaitiu.com/blog/over-500nits-failed/
  - grishka 5y ago
    Ah so it's not taking screenshots continuously and rendering them into an HDR video?
    - alin23 5y ago
      Definitely not :) It's changing the real nits limit of the screen, with the same APIs that the system uses when a HDR video is played.
      - randyrand 5y ago
        Congrats! That's really impressive work.
cersa8 5y ago
If this works properly for a code editor I may have to reconsider buying a MacBook Pro for coding in the garden. Not looking forward to switch from Linux to macOS but the hardware is pretty good.
- alin23 5y ago
  It does work properly for code editing. That’s my main use case actually, coding in botanical gardens with lots of sunlight around. It’s so good to not have to squint on that colored text with less contrast.
  - seltzered_ 5y ago
    Congrats on cracking whatever privateframework to make this work! I went from macbook to a raised, close-face Linux tablet for my outdoor computing setup (and have been thinking about hi brightness since the MSI Creator 17 and iPad pro 12" came out last year). Encourage sharing a photo of high brightness outdoors botanical garden computing on https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMobileComputers/ https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMobileComputers/
    - Void_ 5y ago
      Aren't there any good eInk displays for this use case?
      - seltzered_ 5y ago
        There's the book mira 13" (and 25") and dasung paperlike 13", which is much better than earlier years but even then they have their classic eink quirks (resolution isn't going to be as good as a hiDPI display, they also need some input power to do eink at high refresh modes, etc.). Plus it's yet another thing to carry. I've had a 'good enough' experience so far with the raised tablet setup outdoors and an extra battery.
  - earthscienceman 5y ago
    There has to be dozens of us. I also work in the Denver Botanic Gardens, so nice. As an aside, does anyone know what's up with the linguistic difference between Botanic and Botanical -- Gardens --... are both correct? When speaking, all my friends say "botanical gardens" but every gardens I've been to says "botanic gardens" on the placard.
ricardobeat 5y ago
Unless you’re out in a park under bright sunlight, I can’t see this being useful. The max brightness is already blinding indoors.
- alin23 5y ago
  That’s exactly what it’s made for :) You can finally go outside and work on your laptop in the bright sunlight without squinting! You probably don't do this often, but it's nice to have, right? https://lunar.fyi/#xdr https://lunar.fyi/#xdr
  - skerit 5y ago
    > You can finally go outside and work on your laptop in the bright sunlight without squinting! You probably don't do this often, but it's nice to have, right Dear god, is this what laptop makers think too? I want a laptop to use in the sun outside. I actively look for a laptop that does that, but they're either super expensive and/or super ugly.
    - alin23 5y ago
      Well it’s definitely not the advertised use case. The promo videos are mostly made with studio rooms in mind. I’ve yet to see a laptop advertisement where someone is working outside in sunlight.
      - ricardobeat 5y ago
        The OLPC had a reflective screen designed for outdoors use.
    - argsnd 5y ago
      The ambient light sensor on MacBooks will raise the limit past 500 nits when it detects bright sunlight.
      - alin23 5y ago
nicolas_t 5y ago
I'm trying to use "sub-zero" dimming with a 2021 mbp but can't figure out how to use it. EDIT: for anyone confused, it's because XDR and the sub-zero dimming only works in the drop down from the menu bar but NOT in the main windows of the app.. Very confusing.
- alin23 5y ago
  Make sure the Allow brightness to reach zero is unchecked: https://app.lunar.fyi/display/builtin/controls https://app.lunar.fyi/display/builtin/controls Screenshot: https://cln.sh/O9MSDd https://cln.sh/O9MSDd Then just lower the brightness to 0, either with the slider or the brightness keys. Another red slider will appear for the sub-zero brightness and brightness keys will control that slider now. EDIT: I saw your edit now. I'm trying not to add more elements in the Preferences window as it's already too complex. The Preferences window is supposed to only be used when you have to change some more persistent settings. Sub-zero dimming is easier to use with the brightness keys.
  - nicolas_t 5y ago
    That makes sense. I think the reason I was confused is that when you first open the app, it shows the preference windows, so I tried to set the brightness below 0 in that window. It didn't work, so I checked Allow brightness to reach zero. I then tried the keys and it didn't work due to me having checked that option. I then unchecked it while trying to figure it out... And eventually saw the screenshot on your site where the user is interacting with the icon in the menu bar) which is how I got it working.
tinus_hn 5y ago
Next up: ‘My expensive MacBook has burn in on the non replaceable display!’
- thebean11 5y ago
  What laptop has a replaceable display??
  - smoldesu 5y ago
    Many. For a lot of laptop models, you can remove the bezel around the display and unscrew the display from the topcase. That allows you to upgrade/replace panels as-needed. Apple notoriously builds their displays directly into the topcase, which means that when your display malfunctions, or the screen cracks, you generally have to replace the entire top component instead of just the broken part. That's why anything "breaking above the hinge" on a Macbook will run you $600+ to fix no matter who you're paying to replace it.
  - davidmurdoch 5y ago
    My Dell Precision. I've had it replaced twice under warranty. Don't recommend
    - Reason077 5y ago
      Apple replaced the display on my 2017 MacBook Pro under warranty too (because the backlight died). They're definitely replaceable, just not (intended to be) user-replaceable.
      - davidmurdoch 5y ago
        It is user replaceable. A guy came to my house with the new screen and a screwdriver set and swapped it out right there on my desk. Even left an extra bezel behind because they like to warp after months of opening and closing the lid, causing even more backlight bleed. My Precision is incredibly upgradable and user serviceable (I've swapped my wifi module, ram, m.2s, and serviced the fans myself), but it has a horrible screen (because of severe backlight bleed), trackpad, weighs nearly 10 pounds, and has a battery life of less than 30 minutes after 3 years. Oh, and let's not talk about the thermals... I wouldn't buy it again.
radicality 5y ago
Any potential dangers with using it on a Pro Display XDR? Wouldn’t want to ruin that screen, but I do have a very sun-lit room and one of the reasons I got the monitor was it’s sustained 1k nit brightness (and only afterwards realised that it tops out at 500 nits and anything above is XDR only…) definitely going to try this though!
- bredren 5y ago
  Perhaps the author of this tool is not aware of this, but the XDR Pro Display offers native 1600 nits mode. Apple shows this on the product page, and it is selectable in the System Preferences -> Displays panel. It is not the default setting, but it is what I run most of the time. https://www.apple.com/pro-display-xdr/specs/ https://www.apple.com/pro-display-xdr/specs/
  - adamwathan 5y ago
    This isn't true — the native 1600 nits mode only uses 1600 nits for HDR content. Regular content/OS UI/etc is still limited to much less brightness. Check out this HDR YouTube video at this timestamp to see how bright white actually is at 1600 nits: https://youtu.be/NlAsAuBtmps?t=180 https://youtu.be/NlAsAuBtmps?t=180 Here's a photo of my XDR display with a pure white rectangle in Figma next to white content in an HDR video, with the display set to the 1600 nits mode: https://www.dropbox.com/s/rmvu6r6vugaxg95/xdr-brightness-comparison.png?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/rmvu6r6vugaxg95/xdr-brightness-com...
    - bredren 5y ago
      Huh, I was not aware of that. I will take a closer look.
- alin23 5y ago
  The Pro Display XDR has active cooling (fans) and huge heatsinks so I’d say it’s probably created with this use case in mind. It’s not uncommon for creators to work on HDR content all day long where the nits are not limited.
_august 5y ago
Wow, this app is great. It unlocked the audio setting on my external LG display (which im running my speakers through), and lets me control with the keyboard keys! Thanks for making this.
bredren 5y ago
Was this project influenced by or derived from https://github.com/supercurio/xdr-tuner https://github.com/supercurio/xdr-tuner?

124 points by alin23 5y ago

This app looks amazing! What a fantastic job! To be honest, some of it should be native to macOS. Some of it is very smart (like using your monitor as a soft box for online calls)!

alin23 5y ago
Ah, I didn't know it's called a softbox! That's actually what I had in mind, but oh well, Facelight has already stuck.
- hhh 5y ago
  I think when they're used for lighting the subject's face it's typically a Key Light, but Facelight works just as well :)
- adwi 5y ago
  A softbox could be used as a key light, and often is, but it’s classically more appropriate to use as a fill light. Soft light (which a softbox ideally creates) is defined by diffuse shadows. Perfectly soft light would cast no visible shadows. An important creative job of the key light, which is called such because it’s the main source of illumination in a scene, is to create a sense of depth by casting shadows onto the 3D objects, giving our brain cues on how to translate them from 2D space into an accurate mental image. Usually harder lights (meaning those with sharper, more defined shadows) are used for the key to create this depth, then the fill light, well, fills in these shadows with additional light to walk them back, which is why soft lights are appropriate there. As with all creative rules, exceptions abound. Maybe you could make a virtual lighting portrait studio, have sharp white light on one part of the screen, then some sort of gray gradient on the other to fill in some shadow. Unfortunately, that would be most effective if they had a big curved screen and they were willing to sit very near to it :)

speed_spread 5y ago

Does this mean you can get an iTan now?

xxs 5y ago
That would depend on the wave length of the blue LEDs
- nullandvoid 5y ago
  Also whether you're wearing your blue light defense moisturizer (context - https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-10-20-streamer-valkyrae-faces-backlash-for-new-gamer-skincare-range https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-10-20-streamer-valky...)
neogodless 5y ago
Sorry, you missed the updated naming conventions. It's now called Apple Warm Glow.

jordn 5y ago

What are the risks of doing this? I would love to ramp up the nits for outside work, but presumably it's been limited to 500 nits for SDR for a reason.

alin23 5y ago
If used for long periods of time, the LEDs will definitely heat up and decrease the lifespan of the display. By how much, it is impossible to know. But 2 things should be considered: 1. If most of the screen is not full bright white, (e.g. white text on dark background), then LEDs will have plenty of time to cool down 2. macOS has hard temperature thresholds, and limits the brightness when the display gets too hot: https://www.pcmag.com/news/apple-xdr-displays-limit-brightness-when-its-hot https://www.pcmag.com/news/apple-xdr-displays-limit-brightne...
- magicalhippo 5y ago
  > 1. If most of the screen is not full bright white, (e.g. white text on dark background), then LEDs will have plenty of time to cool down Note that the display is not an OLED display, but a regular IPS LCD with local dimming zones for the backlight[1]. Thus only the dimming zones not covered by white text would get to cool off. This also points to another downside of pushing up the nits: it will likely increase the bleed-through of the backlight, driving up the black level especially in white-text-on-black scenarios. [1]: https://www.apple.com/pro-display-xdr/specs/ https://www.apple.com/pro-display-xdr/specs/
  - alin23 5y ago
    Yea, bleed-through is annoying. But when used in direct sunlight, it’s hardly noticeable.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
randyrand 5y ago
They added this 500 nits limitation to always leave room for HDR, so that SDR and HDR "coexist" properly. But it looks terrible imo I think they failed on that front. Also they want HDR to be a selling point. Not many phones take HDR videos and images. "It goes brighter" is what makes HDR pop.

orlp 5y ago

I've noticed a lot of Apple software pretends to be open-source (like this one: "Lunar is also open-source so you can check that for yourself: Github - alin23/Lunar "), when they really aren't. They're - at best - open core: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-core_model https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-core_model For example, I quote from the Lunar GitHub page: > I'm pausing contributions for the moment as Lunar has paid features and isn't compilable because of missing parts of the source code (Pro features code is encrypted). > Lunar can't be built from this repo yet as the source code for the paid features is hidden. I will try to post stubs for those paid features to at least make it compilable in an only-free-features form. So right now I couldn't modify and/or redistribute Lunar as I see fit. It is not open source. And even if the Lunar repository is updated so that it at least compiles the free version, then what? Then it would fit the strictest definitions of open-source (you are free to modify and redistribute), but would miss the community aspect completely due to misaligned incentives. I could add a great feature, but my pull request would be denied if it overlaps a paid feature. You could fork Lunar at that point and make all the traditionally paid features for free and accept pull requests simply based on merit. But at that point you would be open-source, and not open-core anymore, and the concept of a paid version would simply go away. I don't really see open-core actually working in any way other than an attempt to leech contributions from the open-source community without playing by its rules.

eptcyka 5y ago
This is why free software is what we should be aiming for, not just OSS.
alin23 5y ago
Yes, it's not open-source by that definition. It was fully open-source until v3: https://github.com/alin23/Lunar/tree/lunar3 https://github.com/alin23/Lunar/tree/lunar3 I've kept that around, it's still compilable, but probably not that useful. When making Lunar paid in v4, I didn't want to remove the possibility of sharing knowledge, so I kept the non-paid parts open-source. This allowed other apps like MonitorControl [1] and DisplayBuddy [2] to port some Lunar features (like DDC on M1) to their own code. So I'd say it's still useful enough. [1] https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl [2] https://displaybuddy.app https://displaybuddy.app

randyrand 5y ago

Really curious how this works under the hood!

alin23 5y ago
I’ll open source this feature and do a write up this week. But as a hint, it involves some internal SkyLight.framework and Core Brightness APIs to ramp up the headroom slowly. Here’s my previous failed attempt: https://alinpanaitiu.com/blog/over-500nits-failed/ https://alinpanaitiu.com/blog/over-500nits-failed/
- grishka 5y ago
  Ah so it's not taking screenshots continuously and rendering them into an HDR video?
  - alin23 5y ago
    Definitely not :) It's changing the real nits limit of the screen, with the same APIs that the system uses when a HDR video is played.
    - randyrand 5y ago
      Congrats! That's really impressive work.

cersa8 5y ago

If this works properly for a code editor I may have to reconsider buying a MacBook Pro for coding in the garden. Not looking forward to switch from Linux to macOS but the hardware is pretty good.

alin23 5y ago
It does work properly for code editing. That’s my main use case actually, coding in botanical gardens with lots of sunlight around. It’s so good to not have to squint on that colored text with less contrast.
- seltzered_ 5y ago
  Congrats on cracking whatever privateframework to make this work! I went from macbook to a raised, close-face Linux tablet for my outdoor computing setup (and have been thinking about hi brightness since the MSI Creator 17 and iPad pro 12" came out last year). Encourage sharing a photo of high brightness outdoors botanical garden computing on https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMobileComputers/ https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMobileComputers/
  - Void_ 5y ago
    Aren't there any good eInk displays for this use case?
    - seltzered_ 5y ago
      There's the book mira 13" (and 25") and dasung paperlike 13", which is much better than earlier years but even then they have their classic eink quirks (resolution isn't going to be as good as a hiDPI display, they also need some input power to do eink at high refresh modes, etc.). Plus it's yet another thing to carry. I've had a 'good enough' experience so far with the raised tablet setup outdoors and an extra battery.
- earthscienceman 5y ago
  There has to be dozens of us. I also work in the Denver Botanic Gardens, so nice. As an aside, does anyone know what's up with the linguistic difference between Botanic and Botanical -- Gardens --... are both correct? When speaking, all my friends say "botanical gardens" but every gardens I've been to says "botanic gardens" on the placard.

ricardobeat 5y ago

Unless you’re out in a park under bright sunlight, I can’t see this being useful. The max brightness is already blinding indoors.

alin23 5y ago
That’s exactly what it’s made for :) You can finally go outside and work on your laptop in the bright sunlight without squinting! You probably don't do this often, but it's nice to have, right? https://lunar.fyi/#xdr https://lunar.fyi/#xdr
- skerit 5y ago
  > You can finally go outside and work on your laptop in the bright sunlight without squinting! You probably don't do this often, but it's nice to have, right Dear god, is this what laptop makers think too? I want a laptop to use in the sun outside. I actively look for a laptop that does that, but they're either super expensive and/or super ugly.
  - alin23 5y ago
    Well it’s definitely not the advertised use case. The promo videos are mostly made with studio rooms in mind. I’ve yet to see a laptop advertisement where someone is working outside in sunlight.
    - ricardobeat 5y ago
      The OLPC had a reflective screen designed for outdoors use.
  - argsnd 5y ago
    The ambient light sensor on MacBooks will raise the limit past 500 nits when it detects bright sunlight.
    - alin23 5y ago

nicolas_t 5y ago

I'm trying to use "sub-zero" dimming with a 2021 mbp but can't figure out how to use it. EDIT: for anyone confused, it's because XDR and the sub-zero dimming only works in the drop down from the menu bar but NOT in the main windows of the app.. Very confusing.

alin23 5y ago
Make sure the Allow brightness to reach zero is unchecked: https://app.lunar.fyi/display/builtin/controls https://app.lunar.fyi/display/builtin/controls Screenshot: https://cln.sh/O9MSDd https://cln.sh/O9MSDd Then just lower the brightness to 0, either with the slider or the brightness keys. Another red slider will appear for the sub-zero brightness and brightness keys will control that slider now. EDIT: I saw your edit now. I'm trying not to add more elements in the Preferences window as it's already too complex. The Preferences window is supposed to only be used when you have to change some more persistent settings. Sub-zero dimming is easier to use with the brightness keys.
- nicolas_t 5y ago
  That makes sense. I think the reason I was confused is that when you first open the app, it shows the preference windows, so I tried to set the brightness below 0 in that window. It didn't work, so I checked Allow brightness to reach zero. I then tried the keys and it didn't work due to me having checked that option. I then unchecked it while trying to figure it out... And eventually saw the screenshot on your site where the user is interacting with the icon in the menu bar) which is how I got it working.

tinus_hn 5y ago

Next up: ‘My expensive MacBook has burn in on the non replaceable display!’

thebean11 5y ago
What laptop has a replaceable display??
- smoldesu 5y ago
  Many. For a lot of laptop models, you can remove the bezel around the display and unscrew the display from the topcase. That allows you to upgrade/replace panels as-needed. Apple notoriously builds their displays directly into the topcase, which means that when your display malfunctions, or the screen cracks, you generally have to replace the entire top component instead of just the broken part. That's why anything "breaking above the hinge" on a Macbook will run you $600+ to fix no matter who you're paying to replace it.
- davidmurdoch 5y ago
  My Dell Precision. I've had it replaced twice under warranty. Don't recommend
  - Reason077 5y ago
    Apple replaced the display on my 2017 MacBook Pro under warranty too (because the backlight died). They're definitely replaceable, just not (intended to be) user-replaceable.
    - davidmurdoch 5y ago
      It is user replaceable. A guy came to my house with the new screen and a screwdriver set and swapped it out right there on my desk. Even left an extra bezel behind because they like to warp after months of opening and closing the lid, causing even more backlight bleed. My Precision is incredibly upgradable and user serviceable (I've swapped my wifi module, ram, m.2s, and serviced the fans myself), but it has a horrible screen (because of severe backlight bleed), trackpad, weighs nearly 10 pounds, and has a battery life of less than 30 minutes after 3 years. Oh, and let's not talk about the thermals... I wouldn't buy it again.

radicality 5y ago

Any potential dangers with using it on a Pro Display XDR? Wouldn’t want to ruin that screen, but I do have a very sun-lit room and one of the reasons I got the monitor was it’s sustained 1k nit brightness (and only afterwards realised that it tops out at 500 nits and anything above is XDR only…) definitely going to try this though!

bredren 5y ago
Perhaps the author of this tool is not aware of this, but the XDR Pro Display offers native 1600 nits mode. Apple shows this on the product page, and it is selectable in the System Preferences -> Displays panel. It is not the default setting, but it is what I run most of the time. https://www.apple.com/pro-display-xdr/specs/ https://www.apple.com/pro-display-xdr/specs/
- adamwathan 5y ago
  This isn't true — the native 1600 nits mode only uses 1600 nits for HDR content. Regular content/OS UI/etc is still limited to much less brightness. Check out this HDR YouTube video at this timestamp to see how bright white actually is at 1600 nits: https://youtu.be/NlAsAuBtmps?t=180 https://youtu.be/NlAsAuBtmps?t=180 Here's a photo of my XDR display with a pure white rectangle in Figma next to white content in an HDR video, with the display set to the 1600 nits mode: https://www.dropbox.com/s/rmvu6r6vugaxg95/xdr-brightness-comparison.png?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/rmvu6r6vugaxg95/xdr-brightness-com...
  - bredren 5y ago
    Huh, I was not aware of that. I will take a closer look.
alin23 5y ago
The Pro Display XDR has active cooling (fans) and huge heatsinks so I’d say it’s probably created with this use case in mind. It’s not uncommon for creators to work on HDR content all day long where the nits are not limited.

_august 5y ago

Wow, this app is great. It unlocked the audio setting on my external LG display (which im running my speakers through), and lets me control with the keyboard keys! Thanks for making this.

bredren 5y ago

Was this project influenced by or derived from https://github.com/supercurio/xdr-tuner https://github.com/supercurio/xdr-tuner?