Lux, renowned for crafting popular iPhone photography apps such as Halide, Spectre, and Skylight, has introduced its latest creation today: Orion. Orion is a unique app designed to transform an iPad into an external HDMI display compatible with a wide range of devices, including cameras, video game consoles, and even VHS players.
While Lux is primarily recognized for its mobile photography applications, Orion is somewhat of a departure from their usual offerings. The idea behind Orion emerged as a personal endeavor for the company. In the realm of professional photography, it’s customary to connect an external monitor for a larger and clearer view of the action. Orion not only fulfills this purpose but also streamlines the sharing of screenshots with your team through just a few simple taps, as the company elaborates.
Moreover, Lux highlights the enjoyment of playing Nintendo Switch games on a more substantial screen while traveling. However, enhancing the resolution was a challenge. The Nintendo Switch operates at a 1080p resolution, but most available adapters can only deliver 60 frames per second at 1080p. Orion stands out by leveraging AI-powered upscaling to enhance the quality of these lower-resolution inputs.
Orion offers additional flexibility by allowing you to adjust the iPad’s screen brightness beyond the limits of the built-in controls. This means you can boost brightness to HDR levels when viewing videos in broad daylight or dim it further than the iPad’s darkest setting during late-night flights.
The inspiration for this app came from the new features introduced in iOS 17, notably external webcam support for iPads. This innovation sparked the idea of turning the iPad into a portable display. Lux commenced work on Orion on August 6 and managed to launch it on September 20, a mere 45 days later.
Orion’s design features a retro-style aesthetic inspired by 1980s electronics brochures and VCR interfaces. It incorporates nostalgic-looking menus and a unique pixel font developed by Lux called Radiant.
The app itself can be downloaded for free, and for an additional $5, users can upgrade to Orion Pro, which includes the AI upscaling feature, CRT emulation for retro games, image adjustments, and any forthcoming Lux features—no subscription is required.
To assist users in finding compatible adapters for Orion, Lux has put together a comprehensive buying guide featuring their top recommendations, as well as suggestions for other accessories like iPad stands and mounts.
