A company called Avatron Software is out with a cool iPad app, Air Display, that effectively turns Apple’s tablet into an extra PC monitor. You’ve heard that correctly, when you need more space on your screen, simply place your iPad near your monitor and voila, you get get additional 9.7 inches of the screen estate.
At the moment, Air Display works with Macs only, with Windows version of a desktop/laptop app set to be released shortly. In that sense, Avatron suggests using the application alongside the MacBook Air (or MacBook which also has a 13.3-inch screen).
Air Display works over WiFi and leverages the iPad’s auto-rotation feature, allowing the device to be rotated in portrait or landscape orientation as needed. The iPad can be positioned to the left or right of the primary screen. The app rocks a screen refresh rate of 150 frames per second for no perceivable lag time in mouse performance. Compressed image quality and refresh speed are continually balanced to optimize viewing quality or speed of movement as needed.
Finally, Avatron suggests that for best results, a stand may be used to position the iPad in the ideal viewing position.
Air Display ($9.99) [iTunes link]