Dual monitors and fullscreen fiasco, is there a work around?

Joe Kinlaw wrote:

Relief in the pipeline?

From http://9to5mac.com/2013/04/29/apple-to-update-os-x-with-new-power-user-features- more-from-ios-later-this-year/

"The ability to keep a different “Space” or full-screen app open on a different monitor (in multiple monitor setups) is another important power-user feature coming in 10.9."

Maybe a solution to this particular problem, but the rest of the OS updates sound dire to this kid. E.g., "According to one source, Apple has been testing a new multi-tasking system for OS X that is similar to the quick-app-switcher function on iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches. The multitasking feature will be functional for applications in the background, according to this person. Additionally, Apple could use app-pausing technologies from iOS to pause background application processes in OS X."

One of the things about UNIX that I love with all my tech heart is how well it multitasks. This quote from the article, to me, sounds as though they're bound, bent and determined to destroy everything and anything good about OS X. I do not want my next MacBook to look, act and feel as though it's a hybrid iPad Pro Retina.

I think I'll go sit in the corner and rock back and forth now. 😟

Interesting info. I don't know how that Seiko slipped under my radar, I'd think it would get a ton of press with such a break through price.

I actually think ~50" is the perfect resolution for a 4K monitor. Anything smaller and everything is going to look so small it's going to be horrible.

I tried to follow the steps.

(1) The app cannot be assigned to a desktop while in full screen, it must be assigned prior to entering fullscreen

(2) the dreaded linen STILL appears on the non-fullscreen monitor

I don't see this as a work-around.

The only work-arounds to date are the windowing Apps, such as Cinch, Divvy, TileWindows, Breeze that are available on the App store under utilities.

Wow! Was planning to get a Macbook Pro to use on the road and as a dekstop replacement (I have dual screens). Luckily I stumbled on this thread, and am now rethinking that strategy.

Amazed that this thread is 2 years old and 49 pages long!

Hallo - my two cents for that topic and also in contribution to reach the goal:

1, I do not have really an issue with the current support, however more flexibility in the choise of how to arrange and how to behave (of the functionality with MAximimized Mode / Full Screen Mode ) would be welcome

2. I use my MBPro actually every day in dual monitor mode , with a second larger screen or with Projector and so far I have arranged my work to make it good for me

3. Again, other folks sees that different

4. In Presentation Mode ( with MS PPT ) , I enjoy the full screen for the folks, my preview just for me

5. And yes, if I swipe to a different app ( maybe an Excel table ) it also swiping on the presentation screen - here I see some room for advantage. To have a customer view on one screen, my laptop screen shows something what I need

And, in difference to a lot of people, I do not see a bug here 🙂

The full screen mode is exactly doing what it is described - so, where is the bug? But again, improvements and flexibility are possible.

Ronald

1) connect a second monitor

2) run mail (or any other application)

3) maximise it

4) look, I've got a kitchen worktop for a secondary monitor.

5) This is totally bone headed on the part of Apple, who obviously don't give any tax (topical:^)

I agree. I just added a second monitor to my 2011 Mac mini running OS X "Lion". I noticed the full screen video issue immediately. I appreciate your tip, thanks.

I think users are being overly picky. With the full screen video issue out of the way, I have no problem using Dual Displays as is. It is still very handy. I don't need to run my apps in full screen; maximized or resized is just fine.

Just for the record, I think adding these tablet features to OS X is dumb. I don't want to use touch on my desktop/laptop; I don't want to soil the screen with fingerprint smudges; I don't want to tire my arms reaching for the screen. I see no value in running apps in full screen (with the exception of video playback). I've used Mac and Windows for many years and I have never missed this full screen feature; I never will.

getbarrett wrote:

Just a thought/question... Have you considered just not using Lion's "fullscreen" with an app? Wouldn't that be like is was with SL in terms of external displays? Just drag to position and maximize the window and re-size as you wish?

It seems to me that Apple did not take away or "break" any feature so much as added one and it's just not working in the exact way that people want it to. I think they designed fullscreen with MacBooks in mind where screen real estate is precious. I do know that in Mountain Lion, you can choose which monitor you want the fullscreen app to open on which is different from Lion, but it still keeps the other monitor as part of that same app. For example, if you open iPhoto and take it fullscreen, you can have the photo browser on one monitor and editing HUD, toolbars, etc. on the other.

In terms of watching video full screen with Lion...

With Quicktime, just drag video window to the monitor you'd like to use and choose View -> Fit to Screen

With VLC (2.0):

1) VLC -> Preferences... Interface > uncheck "Use native fullscreen on OS X Lion"

2) Video > uncheck "Black screens in Fullscreen"

3) Fullscreen Video Device = choose which monitor you want to use

4) SAVE, exit and then re-launch VLC

Every time something changes – especially big changes like a whole OS – and I don't particularly like a feature or wish it were different, I have to remind myself that Apple is not forcing me to buy their products. It is a choice and if I don't like it, I can send them feedback (which they are not forced to listen too), not upgrade or use something else. I certainly don't take it personally or think that "Apple doesn't care about it's users". It seems to me the opposite is true.

And if you disagree with me, okay, but please don't be mean! Life's too short. It's just a computer.

Is this the current state of affairs with Macs? I am about to either build a DIY beast of a Windows PC or get a Mac desktop, but either way, I must have 3 monitors. My current triple-monitor Win7 is a dream, just too slow and old for HD editing.

I did a search for Mac Mulitple monitors and found a lot of very disconcerting threads in this Apple support area. Looks like this may have helped me make a decision. I think I just dodged a bullet.

Does FCP have native support for triple monitors or Adobe Premiere on Mac?

I use Adobe PP and other Adobe software a lot using multiple monitors (2 or 3) and multiple virtual desktops on Mac. It's great, works fantastic.

The problem is that there's a specific "make the app completely borderless and fullscreen" function that doesn't really work how most people want it to when there's multiple monitors. It's worst if you want to playback video on one screen like it was a tv (no menu bars and such) and keep working on the other one. The "totally borderless fullscreen" thing makes your app behave a bit like an iPad - just the app, no OS toolbars. It's a godsend on a small laptop where screen space is precious. Not much use on a multiple monitor pro setup - but nobody's forcing you to use it.

When video editing I'm doing in in HD pixel for pixel, so I never want to blow it up fullscreen anyway. I just use all the screens to arrange all my Finder windows and all the millions of little Adobe palettes, and I want access to all the menu bars.

I wouldn't let this thread stop you using a mac in a pro madia production environment. Also note that there's rumors of some fixes for this in the next version anyway.

Well, whoop-de-doo. Apple seem to be using the bug tracker as a way to add new 'groundbreaking' features to their next OS and charging you $29 for the fix - if they decide to even let your machine run it.

Mavericks indeed. (Definition: One that refuses to abide by the dictates of or resists adherence to a group - the Apple user base submitting bugs, if you will.)

Tell you what, much as I like using the Mac OS, there is literally no reason I could recommend to any business any more. I don't remember the last time Mac did something to address the issues I've experienced. Bug reports ignored, hard drives going down after 6 months, server updates killing services, certs expiring, you name it I've wasted too much time supporting it. No wonder its $29 for the OS. I'd rather pay $329 and get a support team.

/rant

Can't confirm what CT? I can confirm the last para whole heartedly, but of course the first two are an educated guess, based on my personal experiences and observations. Google 'Lion Broke Screen Sharing' and see how many people got ignored there until Mountain Lion came out and charged people $29 to fix the issue 😉

Well, regarding charging people for updates, got to pay the piper. Don't have a problem with that. Cheap at the price.

I do have a problem with what Adobe just announced... though! Now you will have to *rent* photoshop, illustrator premiere dreamweaver...

... for more per year than a straight CS license cost?!

Disgusting. They should be taken down for monopoly abuse of the market.

_____

Regarding the "power users" base of Apple, that's been the lifeblood of the company, and it makes sense to make that aspect of the company a strong priority. It's similar to Formula One racing, making high performance vehicles in small numbers might not make a lot of money in and of itself, and working at that level isn't easy or cheap, but it steers the company in the right direction, and if you can keep a racing driver happy, you can build a domestic vehicle with ease, the technology can be repackaged and coarsened without a problem. There's no hiding behind marketing or shiny icons when it comes to serious computer users, the product has to deliver the goods.

That's always been the problem with Microsoft, a "that'll do" or "they'll never know the difference" attitude. Microsoft Word's PDF generation is a classic example, it's absolutely diabolically kludged, starts slicing images up into little pieces because the graphics handler can't handle more than a few MBs, shoddiness and amateurishness has a knock on effect. It's easy to dumb smart stuff down, it's much harder to supercharge stuff that's full of holes.

john lewis wrote:

Can't confirm what CT?

CT doesn't even think that Apple's implementation of fullscreen mode over dual-monitors is a bug, so you may as well give up on the conversation. He/she/it has been questioned on his/her/its stance and no intelligible answer has ever been forthcoming on this topic.

da bishop wrote:

misfeature is probably the correct term

I'll agree on the technicality of "specifics of the English language". LOL

Otherwise, it's a farkin' bug for anybody who needs dual-screen support and full-screen apps simultaneously on Lion or Mountain Lion. After watching the Mavericks demo, I find myself being excited about OS X for the first time since Snow Leopard. Honestly, I think it's finally a Big Deal worthy of my consideration. Very nice.

Unfortunately, given my current hardware is an Early 2008 MacBook, getting excited about Mavericks will cost me a lot more than $29. 😝

I see what you mean. I think getting off on a technicality is akin to politics, rather than a real-world scenario. A bit like renaming 'laptops' 'notebooks' so people don't sue for burning their legs or becoming impotent.

Personally I think 'Full Screen' implies to 'fill a single screen'. Nothing more, nothing less. Possibly the most pointless 'feature' I've ever seen. I'd like to hear of a real world example where this proves useful. I can think of thousands of reasons why it's useless.

Yet more of my life I won't get back with no actual soution, awesome, way to go.