Astropad, the company behind the popular Astropad Studio app that turns the iPad into a drawing tablet for Mac or PC, has launched a new app called Astropad Slate. Astropad Slate is a free public beta that lets you control your Mac using your iPad and Apple Pencil. You can use it as a mouse, a trackpad, a pen tablet, or a handwriting input device.
What is Astropad Slate?
Astropad Slate is an app that runs on both your iPad and your Mac. It connects the two devices over WiFi, USB cable, or Peer-to-Peer networking. Once connected, you can use your Apple Pencil as a cursor for controlling the desktop mouse, with a tap on the screen serving as a click. You can also use two-finger touch gestures on the iPad for actions like scrolling and zooming on the Mac.
Astropad Slate also supports handwriting recognition. You can write into Slate’s handwriting input box on the iPad, and typed text will appear on your Mac. This works with any app that accepts text input on the Mac.
Another feature of Astropad Slate is that it allows you to use your iPad as a pen tablet with Mac apps that support drawing, sketching, and other creative work. The iPad screen will be blank, so you can focus on your work on the Mac. Astropad Slate supports Apple Pencil hover gestures on newer iPads, and there is a simulated hover option on older iPads.
Why use Astropad Slate?
Astropad Slate is designed for people who want to use their iPad and Apple Pencil as an input device for their Mac. It can be useful for various scenarios, such as:
- Working remotely: You can control your Mac from anywhere using your iPad and Apple Pencil.
- Taking notes: You can write notes on your iPad and have them appear as text on your Mac.
- Drawing and sketching: You can use your iPad as a pen tablet for your favorite Mac apps without having to buy a separate device.
- Gaming: You can use your Apple Pencil as a mouse for playing games on your Mac.
Astropad Slate is also free to use during the public beta period, so you can try it out without any cost or commitment.
How to get started with Astropad Slate?
To use Astropad Slate, you need to download the companion apps for both your iPad and your Mac. You can sign up for the beta on the Astropad website and receive an email with download instructions.
After installing the apps, you need to launch them on both devices and follow the setup instructions. You can then connect your devices using WiFi, USB cable, or Peer-to-Peer networking.
Once connected, you can start using your iPad and Apple Pencil to control your Mac. You can adjust the settings and preferences of Astropad Slate from the menu bar icon on the Mac or the sidebar menu on the iPad.
You can also share your feedback with the Astropad team by emailing them at beta@astropad.com.
What are the requirements and limitations of Astropad Slate?
Astropad Slate has some software and hardware requirements that you need to meet in order to use it. These are:
- iPad: Your iPad must be running iPadOS 15 or later
- Mac: Your Mac must be running macOS 11 or later
- Apple Pencil: You need an Apple Pencil (first or second generation) to use Astropad Slate
Astropad Slate also has some limitations that you need to be aware of. These are:
- Screen mirroring: Astropad Slate does not mirror your Mac screen on your iPad. If you want that feature, you need to use Astropad Studio, which is a paid app.
- Screen mapping: Astropad Slate allows you to choose between two modes of screen mapping: Mouse Mode (relative positioning) and Drawing Mode (absolute positioning). You cannot switch between them during a session.
- Compatibility: Astropad Slate may not work well with some apps or websites that have complex interactions or animations. It also does not support pressure sensitivity or tilt sensitivity of the Apple Pencil.
