Where tablets are concerned, it’s all about the display, the primary part of the technology we interact with. The new kids on the block are Amazon’s Kindle Fire and its direct competitor, the Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet, which features smaller seven-inch screens at a more wallet-friendly price. But are they a match for Apple’s market-leading iPad 2? How to use 2 screens on iPad?
What is the iPad Air 2 display size?
That’s what Dr. Raymond M. Soneira at DisplayMate Technologies Corporation wanted to find out for his latest IPS Tablet Display Technology Shoot-Out, dropping the inexpensive Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet into a cage match with the iPad 2 to see which display comes out on top. Still not satisfied? If the iPad Air 2 display size of 9.70 inches is still too small for your needs, you can create multi-display, connect your displays and use the best combination for your work!
How to set up 2 screens on your iPad?
- Open a program on your iPad.
- At the top of the screen, tap the Multitasking button.
- Use the Split View or Slide Over buttons to change the view.
- Your Home Screen appears after the current app has been moved aside.
- On your Home Screen, tap a second app. (To see apps on additional Home Screen pages, swipe left or right.)
Connect iPad to an external display to use 2 screens
In the charging port on the iPad, connect a USB-C Display AV Adapter or a USB-C VGA Multi-port Adapter. Connect the adapter to a TV using an HDMI or VGA cable. Connect the display, TV, or projector to the other end of the HDMI or VGA wire. Change the video source on the display, TV, or projector to the correct one if necessary.
Let’s put it to a test!
Surprisingly, the Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet landed in the first place, with Dr. Soneira rating it highest in both lab measurements as well as viewing tests. While he touts the iPad 2 as having a “great display,” the reality is that the tablet is “starting to show its age” as newer, cheaper, and smaller displays begin to swoop in and outperform the market leader — a gap that’s sure to narrow within months as Apple introduces the iPad 3.
Are there serious flaws?
Amazon’s Kindle Fire came in dead last for what DisplayMate calls “serious flaws” with a very high screen reflectance — despite Amazon’s insistence that the device features an “anti-reflective screen.” Dr. Soneira also called out the Kindle Fire for a major flaw in the Gallery photo viewer which washes out images, while noting that such issues will likely be addressed in a promised software update coming soon.
Waiting for patches and tweaks
DisplayMate cautions that there is “no absolute winner” with this latest Display Shoot-Out, with all three tablets exhibiting flaws in many categories. Dr. Soneira also blames manufacturers rushing to meet the holiday season as part of the problem, with both the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet shipping before Thanksgiving, then allowing Amazon and Barnes & Noble time to provide “patches, tweaks, and enhancements later.”
While it may be too late to use DisplayMate’s latest shoot-out as a buying guide for this holiday season, the full report is a worthwhile read for anyone in the market for a tablet, especially Dr. Soneira’s companion piece on the Next Generation of Tablet Displays which may provide a few hints as to what we’ll see next year.
