HDMI Monitor - Orion

This app imagines itself as a Monitor for casual and professional settings, and while it is cute with it’s skeuomorphic design, few CRT filters, and 4K upscaling, it’s just not as reliable or capable as another app Genki Studio in just working. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why Orion is not outputting sound from my source, but Genki has no problem. Orion regularly cannot see my input device (attached via a USB 3.2 hub) unless I detach and reattach the source, and really I’d just like a simple list of available input devices than have to physically disconnect and reconnect a device in my chain to the captured device. If the signal is working fine, and for whatever reason I close or step away from Orion long enough for iPadOS to close Orion for standby, then often I’m met with the blue “NO SIGNAL” message which again I apparently need to disconnect and reconnect for it’s “automagical” operation. Again, Genki Studio as a comparable “simple HMDI” app, just works and supplies my source’s video and audio 100% of the time, albeit without the clever nostalgia UI. Furthermore, the “manual” being buried behind an UNSKIPPABLE CUTSCENE is just kind of infuriating when I’m trying to debug the circumstance, and then realize it’s basically useless as there is no actual operation instructions or tips, but links out to the developer’s website to list unhelpful info.

I have been waiting on a feature like this for the iPad for a long time. The app is almost flawless and i like the 4k up scaling. The only gripe i have with it though is that audio seems to come out in mono and not stereo. Besides that and a few stutters from frame rate (which could be a result of a cheap capture card) this app is amazing, and i would recommend to anyone. It’s an amazing feature for the iPad. Imagine you’re taking a long trip and you bring your console to play on the go, now you have a way to play the whole way! When they update the audio to stereo, I’ll rush back to update tp 5 stars.

I bought this app with the sole intention of using my iPad as a portable monitor for Switch and Analogue Pocket. Unfortunately, there is noticeable input lag, even with wired USB controllers, which makes it unusable for my purposes (I’m a big retro gamer and input lag is truly a dealbreaker). I’m using the one-and-only USB-C video capture card linked from their website. The capture card could be the input lag culprit, but again, I’m using the only dongle listed on the site. If a different accessory is recommended for gaming, I’d suggest mentioning that on the website (there’s already a section for recommended gaming accessories). If a $150 high-performance capture card is required for gaming, I would have thought twice about purchasing the app. The fact that the app is marketed towards gamers as well as photographers is the only reason I’m rating the app three stars. If input lag isn’t a dealbreaker for you, Orion is a great app. Setup was ridiculously easy, and the CRT emulation effects are fun to mess around with (by the way, disabling the effects doesn’t seem to improve the input lag situation). I’m truly hoping Orion improves over time. I paid for the app in hopes of encouraging further development.