Meta's Flailing Portal Repurposed As a Wireless Portable Monitor (arstechnica.com) 15
On Wednesday, Meta announced that the Portal Plus Gen 2 and Portal Go now support Duet Display, an app that can turn a display into a secondary monitor for Macs and PCs. Ars Technica reports: The Portal Plus is the same size as some of the best portable monitors, so it makes sense to repurpose it for that function. Because it's built for video image quality, it has a decent resolution for a portable display -- 2160x1440. Duet Display doesn't require a display to be connected to a computer via a cable, so specific Portals are now portable wireless monitors, too.
At a time when webcams are integrated into many laptops, and USB webcams are easier to find again, many consumers don't need a display dedicated primarily to web calls. But an extra monitor? That's more widely appealing. With the addition of Duet Display, Portal owners have further reason to think about their Portal when they're not on a video call. Meta also gave all Portals with a touchscreen -- namely, the Portal Go, Portal Plus, Portal, and Portal Mini -- a Meta Portal Companion app for macOS. The app enables screen sharing during video calls and provides quick access to video call features, like mute and link sharing in Zoom, Workplace, and BlueJeans.
At a time when webcams are integrated into many laptops, and USB webcams are easier to find again, many consumers don't need a display dedicated primarily to web calls. But an extra monitor? That's more widely appealing. With the addition of Duet Display, Portal owners have further reason to think about their Portal when they're not on a video call. Meta also gave all Portals with a touchscreen -- namely, the Portal Go, Portal Plus, Portal, and Portal Mini -- a Meta Portal Companion app for macOS. The app enables screen sharing during video calls and provides quick access to video call features, like mute and link sharing in Zoom, Workplace, and BlueJeans.
How can i use it on Ubuntu Linux? (Score:2)
How can i do this on my Xubuntu 20.04 laptop? I'm guessing it networks with WiFi. there is no MSFT product around here.
Re:How can i use it on Ubuntu Linux? (Score:4, Insightful)
If you are smart enough to avoid Microsoft products, why would you let a Facebook camera and microphone into your home?
Re: (Score:2)
I'm pretty sure they wanted to know how to use their laptop as an additional display for their desktop, and not how to use anything from Meta/Faceboot.
Meta/FB running out of ideas (Score:3)
I think Meta/FB is simply running out of useful ideas if they ever had any. Zuck was lucky once with the scheme he did at the university that turned into FB but since then nada.
Re: (Score:2)
You'll find that the same is true for pretty much all our current star billionaires. They all had one worthwhile endeavor that funds their other rather lackluster pipe dreams.
In Soviet Russia... (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
This. If it's Facebook, oops I mean Meta, callin', I'm not answerin'.
Innovation is Dead. (Score:2)
If anyone was still wondering if innovation is truly dead these days, one of the largest employers on the planet is selling a (literal) display, that can be "upgraded" to become a secondary display, with "wireless" (this is where you go "ooooh" and "ahhhh".) technology.
I guess we're now just too cool for physical display cables now while working from a computer setup that becomes portable about as often as the luxury SUV goes off-road, so naturally we'll market new displays with more mobility than a SEAL te
Title is too long (Score:2)
Meta's Flailing.
There FTFY.
Does anyone trust this? (Score:2)
That's a situation where nothing but disinterest or the fear of lawsuits prevents some amount of analysis of whatever is being sent to
Meta's ... (Score:2)
One word in and I'd already determined I'd never consider this product.
Re: (Score:2)
It's not just you, and it's one of the reasons why their products are all met with lackluster reactions. Even people who use Facebook are wary to use any new product they offer. They can't quit Facebook... for pretty much the same reasons people can't quit smoking, but they know that it's not a good habit. They know that they should leave. But it has become such a huge part of their life and their social planning that they can't simply quit because that would also mean losing the contact with some of their
Nope (Score:1)
$300 for a 14" monitor with a built-in webcam? I'm pretty sure you can still buy a low-end laptop for about that much.
These things are going to be on clearance soon enough, and they still won't be able to give them away. Facebook needs to stick to what they're good at: being a place for generations not named "Z" to post pictures of their food, pets, children, and argue about politics.
Re: (Score:2)
If the go on 90+% clearance, the question is - can you modify the bootloader to run straight linux on them ?
They might have some use as a smart photo frame/weather display/smart home controller interface - the webcam being used as a motion sensor to only turn up the LCD backlight when someone passes by so it'll extend the screen's life.
How about a big f@#k no (Score:2)