A resource for checking Mac external-display support, Comcast’s move away from NBCUniversal, Peacock’s streaming and sports strategy, and whether broadband offers a stronger business model than media all started off this MacVoices Live! conversation. Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Ben Roethig, Eric Bolden, Marty Jencius, Jeff Gamet, Norbert Frassa, Jim Rea, and Web Bixby examine Apple Invites and question why so many Apple features launch with fanfare but receive little sustained development.
Há dois meses, falamos aqui sobre o RetinaDesk, um site muito bacana que ajuda você a escolher o melhor monitor externo para o seu Mac, levando em conta todas as especificidades dos computadores da Apple.
Pois bem, recentemente, a ferramenta ficou ainda mais completa com a adição de uma página que ajuda você a descobrir, de maneira extremamente intuitiva, a quantidade máxima de displays externos suportados pela sua máquina.
O banco de dados da ferramenta cobre todos os Macs com Apple Silicon lançados até hoje, bem como suas respectivas variantes — detalhe que joga o total de computadores listados pelo RetinaDesk para nada menos que 53.
Encontrar essa página é fácil: basta acessar o site do RetinaDesk, clicar na aba “Tools” na parte de cima da tela e, depois, selecionar a opção “Mac External Display Support by Chip” — ou simplesmente acessar esse link. Feito isso, é só selecionar o modelo do seu Mac na seção “Which Mac is it?” e, em seguida, sua respectiva variante — indicada pelo chip e o ano de lançamento (e, às vezes, o número de portas do computador) — em “Step 2”.
Captura de tela/RetinaDesk
Uma vez que você indicar o modelo do seu Mac, o número máximo de monitores externos ao qual ele pode ser conectado deverá aparecer à direita da tela, junto de uma ilustração do seu “setup máximo” — ou seja, com o maior número de monitores possível.
A nova página, no entanto, não para por aí, já que ela também conta com outra seção a qual ajuda você a montar setups com diferentes combinações de monitores, os quais podem ter resoluções e taxas de atualização distintas — sempre levando em conta, é claro, as limitações do seu computador. Ela também é uma boa forma de descobrir se o seu Mac suporta uma resolução ou uma taxa de atualização (ou uma combinação dessas duas coisas) específica.
Captura de tela/RetinaDesk
A seção “What each built-in port can drive”, por sua vez, exibe com quais resoluções/taxas de atualização cada porta do seu computador é compatível, além de revelar a sua versão (se é Thunderbolt 4 ou 5, por exemplo). Logo abaixo, temos a seção “How you can arrange the displays” que, como seu nome indica, mostra todas as combinações possíveis de monitores para a sua máquina.
Por fim, a ferramenta também deixa você comparar um Mac qualquer com outro modelo da sua escolha, checar se sua máquina precisa estar no modo clamshell para suportar um setup específico e aprender sobre soluções alternativas e suas respectivas concessões.
Captura de tela/RetinaDesk
Assim como o resto das ferramentas do RetinaDesk, essa nova página é totalmente gratuita, com o único “porém” sendo o fato de que ela não está disponível em português — problema que, é claro, pode ser facilmente remediado com a ajuda das ferramentas de tradução dos navegadores atuais.
Além de já ter resultado em aumentos para o consumidor final [1, 2, 3], o efeito da atual disparada nos preços de componentes de memória também gerou outros impactos na cadeia de suprimentos.
No caso das linhas de produção do iPhone, a Apple estaria ampliando, desde o segundo trimestre deste ano, seu estoque de displays OLED1Organic light-emitting diode, ou diodo emissor de luz orgânico. para responder aos fortes aumentos nos preços de outros componentes.
Segundo fontes do ETNews, a Apple aumentou seu período de manutenção de estoque de displays de quatro para seis semanas, de modo a garantir um volume de peças maior.
Recentemente, os preços das matérias-primas têm subido rapidamente, e a pressão sobre os preços de outros componentes está se intensificando devido à disparada nos preços dos semicondutores de memória. A Apple aumentou seu estoque de painéis OLED para estabilizar os preços.
O segundo trimestre é tradicionalmente um período de baixa temporada para a cadeia de suprimentos da Apple. Como a empresa costuma lançar novos modelos de iPhone só em setembro, os volumes de pedidos de componentes inevitavelmente caíam de forma significativa durante o período em anos normais.
No entanto, relata-se que os volumes de pedidos deste ano foram “substanciais”, uma vez que a demanda pela linha iPhone 17 permaneceu sólida e o período de manutenção de estoque de componentes foi ampliado.
Como a escassez de chips não é um problema que será resolvido em curto prazo, a extensão do período de manutenção de estoques se tornará uma política de longo prazo, e não apenas uma mudança temporária. Visto que se espera uma extensão desse período para os modelos “iPhone 18 Pro” e “iPhone 18 Pro Max”, cujo lançamento ocorrerá no próximo mês, prevê-se um aumento no volume de fornecimento por parte dos fabricantes de painéis sul-coreanos.
A Samsung Display e a LG Display continuam sendo as principais fornecedoras de telas OLED para o iPhone, com a chinesa BOE fornecendo uma parcela bem menor de componentes.
iPhone 17 Pro Max
Cores: prateado, laranja-cósmico ou azul-intenso Armazenamento: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB ou 2TB
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You heard that right, an entire GPU crammed into a compact PCMCIA card. What looks like an unassuming adapter for PowerBooks and PCs to hook up an external monitor, turns out to have an entire Trident Cyberblade XP2 chip crammed in there. Featuring many supported resolutions including up to 2048 x 1280 @60Hz […]
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The Mobile Pixels Duex Float 2 Pro combines a stunning 2.5K 120Hz display, effortless setup, and a versatile portable design to deliver an excellent dual-screen experience for professionals and travelers.
No matter how powerful a laptop is, there’s one limitation that always seems to get in the way of productivity: screen space. At my desk, that’s never been much of an issue since I have an external monitor available. But when I’m traveling for work, attending press events, or simply working away from my office, I’m limited to the display built into my MacBook Pro.
That’s what initially caught my attention about the Mobile Pixels Duex Float 2 Pro. I wanted a portable monitor that would give me the extra screen real estate I rely on every day without requiring a bulky setup. After using it both at my desk and while working remotely, I wanted to see if it could become a permanent part of my travel kit.
About the Mobile Pixels Duex Float 2 Pro
The Mobile Pixels Duex Float 2 Pro is a premium 16-inch portable monitor designed to give laptop users a more productive and flexible dual-screen experience wherever they work. Its innovative foldable design allows the display to mount above a laptop screen, creating a stacked workspace that maximizes screen real estate while maintaining a compact footprint. The monitor can also be used in presentation mode for sharing content or as a traditional freestanding portable display.
Featuring a sharp 16-inch 2.5K (2560 × 1600) display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, 350 nits of brightness, and 100% sRGB color coverage, the Duex Float 2 Pro delivers crisp visuals for everything from everyday productivity to creative projects. Connectivity is simple with USB-C and mini-HDMI ports, while support for 65W pass-through charging helps keep compatible laptops powered during use.
Compatible with macOS, Windows, Linux, Android devices with DisplayPort Alt Mode, and other supported devices, the Duex Float 2 Pro is built for professionals, students, creators, and remote workers who want the convenience of a portable dual-monitor setup without sacrificing performance or versatility.
Features
16-inch 2.5K display
Perfect for 15-inch to 16-inch laptops
33% lighter and 20% thinner than previous model
Stacked design
Built-in dual speakers
Two USB-C ports with 65W pass-through charging
One mini HDMI port connectivity
Newly designed built-in kickstand
Three different viewing modes
Pricing & Availability
The Duex Float 2 Pro has a list price of $389.00 on mobilepixels.us and is available on Amazon for $249.99.
Setup and Installation
Getting the Duex Float 2 Pro up and running is very simple. After taking it out of the box, all I had to do was connect it to my laptop using the included USB-C cable. There was no software to install, no firmware updates to worry about, and no complicated configuration process. Within moments, the display was recognized and ready to use. While the cable that was provided worked just fine (with my MacBook Pro, iPad and laptop running Linux), I did wish that it was longer. I ended up grabbing a StarTech USB4 cable that was capable of 8K60Hz, 40Gbps, 240W. It was a bit longer and allowed me a little more freedom in positioning both the Float and the host device.
For the majority of my testing, I connected the Duex Float 2 Pro to my MacBook Pro, which was already connected to an LG UltraWide monitor through a Thunderbolt dock. Even with two external displays attached, macOS recognized everything correctly, and I experienced no compatibility or performance issues.
One of the defining features of the Duex Float 2 Pro is its optional magnetic mounting system, which allows the display to float above your laptop’s screen. While I appreciate having that option, I wasn’t sure about attaching the adhesive-backed magnets to my primary MacBook Pro, I was concerned that as someone who switches between machines frequently that it would be harder to get used to using it on one with magnets and the other without, so I completed the majority of my testing using the integrated kickstand instead.
This approach gave me an excellent idea of how it performs for users who want the added screen space without permanently attaching anything to their laptop. To evaluate the floating design, I did install the magnetic mounting plates on a secondary MacBook Pro that I use exclusively for testing. Installation was straightforward, and once attached, the monitor felt secure while mounted.
Display and Performance
The 16-inch 2.5K display is one of the standout features of the Duex Float 2 Pro. Compared to a standard 1080p portable monitor, text appears noticeably sharper, and images have greater detail and clarity. Whether I was writing articles, browsing the web, or editing photos, the higher resolution made a meaningful difference in day-to-day use.
The 120Hz refresh rate is another welcome improvement. While not everyone will immediately notice the difference, I certainly did. Scrolling through web pages feels exceptionally smooth, windows move fluidly across the screen, and the overall desktop experience feels more responsive than a traditional 60Hz display. I can say this as someone who plays mobile shooters at 144Hz daily and really notices the difference when dropping down to 60Hz. While a higher refresh rate isn’t essential for a productivity monitor, it makes everyday interactions feel more fluid and contributes to a noticeably more polished user experience.
Brightness was more than adequate for indoor use, including working near windows with natural light. One feature I especially appreciated was that I could adjust the display’s brightness directly through Lunar on macOS instead of navigating the monitor’s on-screen display menu. It made brightness adjustments quick and convenient while allowing me to stay focused on my work.
Productivity and Daily Workflow
Using the Duex Float 2 Pro as a freestanding monitor quickly became part of my normal workflow. One thing I’ve always liked about stacked monitor layouts is that they create a more focused workspace than placing displays side by side. I found myself naturally dedicating the Duex Float 2 Pro to applications that I constantly reference throughout the day, such as Messages, Slack, email, or browser windows containing research. Keeping those applications visible allowed me to focus on my primary task without repeatedly switching windows.
During testing, I frequently left the Messages app or Slack open on the Duex Float 2 Pro while working on my LG UltraWide display. Having conversations visible at all times meant I could keep up with notifications without interrupting my workflow or constantly switching windows.
When working away from my desk with only my MacBook Pro, the additional screen real estate proved even more valuable. Whether I was researching, writing articles, organizing files, editing photos, or referencing notes while composing content, having a dedicated second display made multitasking significantly more efficient and reduced the need to constantly jump between applications.
The monitor also remained stable throughout daily use. There is a moderate amount of movement when it’s standing on its integrated kickstand, particularly if the desk is bumped or the monitor is adjusted, but it never felt unstable or gave me any concern that it might tip over. Overall, it performed exceptionally well for writing, web browsing, spreadsheets, photo editing, and video conferencing.
Portability and Overall Usability
Despite offering a generous 16-inch display, the Duex Float 2 Pro is easy to carry alongside a laptop. It slides neatly into my backpack with my MacBook Pro and doesn’t consume an excessive amount of space. It does add some weight to my everyday carry, but the weight is distributed well enough that I never found it uncomfortable during travel. Those using an ultra-slim laptop sleeve may find it to be a tighter fit, but with a standard backpack or laptop bag, portability shouldn’t be an issue.
The overall build quality is equally impressive. The hinge and integrated kickstand feel solid and well-made, providing confidence that they’ll withstand regular travel and daily use. Throughout my testing, the stand held its position securely and supported the display without feeling flimsy.
After spending some time with the Duex Float 2 Pro, it’s easy to see it becoming a permanent part of my setup. It integrates seamlessly into my desk at home, but its greatest strength is how easily it transitions to remote work and travel. Whether I’m covering an event, working from a hotel, or simply spending the day away from my office, having a lightweight second display that can be set up in minutes makes a noticeable difference in both comfort and productivity.
Conclusion
The Mobile Pixels Duex Float 2 Pro delivers an impressive portable dual-screen experience that’s equally at home on a desk or in a travel bag. During my testing, the Duex Float 2 Pro quickly became an essential part of my workflow, whether I was writing articles, editing photos, or working remotely. If you’re looking for a high-quality portable monitor that can significantly expand your workspace without sacrificing portability, the Duex Float 2 Pro is an easy recommendation.
A new 3D image projection system from researchers at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering and the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) marks a major step toward overcoming a longstanding problem for holographic technology.
Professor Aydogan Ozcan led the work reported in a recent paper published in Light Science and Applications, which describes the team’s new snapshot 3D image projection system, solving one of the technology’s most daunting issues.
“These results establish the diffractive 3D display system as a compact and scalable framework for depth-resolved snapshot 3D image projection, with potential applications in holographic displays, AR/VR interfaces, and volumetric optical computing,” the authors write.
3D Image Challenges
While 3D films viewed wearing special glasses were popular a decade ago, this type of 3D image projection is something more akin to the holodeck on Star Trek, projecting sophisticated, real-time images. While advances have been made in bringing such technology to life, many obstacles remain to creating convincing three-dimensional projections.
The snapshot 3D image projection system described in the paper combines a digital encoder with a passive optical decoder and uses a deep learning algorithm that operates end-to-end to overcome one of holography’s greatest challenges.
Interplane cross-talk is one of the main issues associated with 3D image projection. As 3D objects are sliced up and images projected at various depths, elements from one image can leak through to the image in front of it, destroying the illusion of a solid object existing in three-dimensional space.
Improving Holographic Technology
In the new system, an image first enters the encoder, which uses a Fourier-based neural network to separate spatial and frequency features into a stack of images. It then analyzes the positions where the images will be projected to simultaneously generate a 3D visual. Then the images are decoded and projected onto structurally optimized surfaces, where the depth-dependent field programming occurs as the light propagates.
The deep learning algorithm, building on recent advances in combining machine learning and 3D projection, optically routes the image slice to its correct depth while adjusting for in-plane leakage.
Together, this system creates a compact, high-fidelity display in a single shot, combining closely spaced axial planes to create the illusion of a three-dimensional object from projected light. These improvements provide for a more natural depth perception and increase visual comfort for the viewer.
The Future of 3D Image Technology
Advancing 3D imaging technology is essential for a variety of emerging applications, including augmented reality, virtual reality, holography, and immersive visualization. The rapid degradation of image fidelity caused by light bleed has been one of the primary issues impeding progress in these fields.
So far, the researchers have demonstrated their multi-plane snapshot image projection with a model of volumetric scenes comprising 28 axial slices. They also constructed a simpler real-world prototype to validate the model, made of only two planes. Experiments with the prototype corroborated the model’s results, producing outputs that matched the simulated numbers and achieved a similar image quality. Additionally, when the team ran their prototype against a projection without a diffractive decoder, their device exhibited considerably superior performance.
Between the simulations and laboratory tests on a physical prototype, the team has demonstrated that their work is scalable yet compact, enabling a 3D display with high axial resolution. In their current form, the researchers see near-eye displays, microscopy, and volumetric optical computing as the primary use cases, but continued development could open possibilities for multi-perspective holography and energy-efficient 3D systems.
Ryan Whalen covers science and technology for The Debrief. He holds an MA in History and a Master of Library and Information Science with a certificate in Data Science. He can be contacted at ryan@thedebrief.org, and follow him on Twitter @mdntwvlf.
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