Apple’s Vision Pro can be used as a 4K virtual display for Mac, extending your desktop to a spatial computing environment. A new app called Splitscreen takes this further, allowing you to add a second macOS display to your Vision Pro, even with a different Apple ID.
This app is great for multitaskers who want to use multiple Mac computers with their Mac Virtual Display in the Vision Pro — one for work and one for personal use. With Splitscreen, you can create the feel of a multiple monitor setup within the VR/AR environment.
Developer Jordi Bruin mentions that solving the problem wasn’t easy, but the app’s approach will enable the addition of more displays, settings, and features soon after launch. Bruin also hints at upcoming features such as more granular controls and a more stable connection.
The indie developers behind Splitscreen, Mathijs Kadjik and Tom Lokhorst, previously developed the iPhone-to-Mac mirroring app Bezel. They collaborated with Bruin, who has created various iOS utilities and apps like Soosee and PosturePal under the developer account Good Snooze.
Kadjik mentions that they applied their learnings from Bezel to create Splitscreen with Bruin’s help. The team was inspired by the need for additional displays while using Mac Virtual Display on Vision Pro.
Splitscreen initially attempts to connect with Vision Pro on the best available network. Users can test the app for 15 minutes for free to evaluate the performance on their network. A $20 in-app purchase removes the time limit, at least until the end of March.
Currently, Splitscreen doesn’t support Intel Macs due to codec limitations. However, future updates will add support for Intel Macs, more resolutions, and additional displays beyond the current limit of two.
The developers envision Splitscreen being used for multitasking in professional workflows. Bruin mentions using it for coding, with one display for the code editor and the other for reference materials like Stack Overflow.
Splitscreen was initially tested with over 1,500 users on TestFlight to improve performance and determine pricing. The app is now available as a free download on the App Store with a $20 one-time in-app purchase.
