Mirroring the iPad on the Desktop Computer

In a previous blog, I talked about an inexpensive ($14.99) software application that allows you to mirror the iPad on the laptop or desktop computer.  The application resides on the laptop or desktop computer, but not on the iPad.  A recent email noted that the software, Reflection, has been renamed Reflector.  The updated website is at http://www.reflectorapp.com 

To begin the mirroring, the first thing you do is to open the Reflector app on the laptop or desktop computer.  Next, double-click on the Start button on the iPad where you see the menu showing all of the open apps.  Use your finger to slide that menu to the right where you see the menu to play music.  

You will see AirPlay icon (an icon with a blue rectangle outline and solid blue triangle) located to the left of the volume slider.  Click on the icon.  All of the AirPlay available devices will appear.  As a default, the iPad will have a checkmark.  Change the view to the laptop or desktop computer name where Reflector software is open.  The iPad image will automatically appear on the laptop or desktop computer screen.

I have used Reflector in a face-to-face class to demonstrate an iPad feature or software application.

Reflector also has the ability to record changes made on the iPad.  The movie is saved as a .mov file.  That is the good news.  I tested the recording function for 48 seconds.  The file size was 2.1 MB.  I would like to use the feature to create movies for the eBook I am writing.  The next catch is that the iBooks author video has to be a MP4 file.  That means converting the .mov file to MP4.  That process is another blog.

Mirroring the iPad

With our faculty development ePublishing workshop there is so much to learn!  I saw a video in MacWorld today that demonstrated mirroring the iPad on the Mac. That was a process that I wanted to master.  It would be a very nice feature to include pertinent videos about the iPad in this blog, in a course, or in a workshop.  It turns out that there are several apps that allow that to happen without using Apple TV! 

I decided to try the Reflection app.  It was amazingly easy.  All I did was to download the app (trial) to the Mac.  I double-clicked the Home button on the iPad and did a right fingersweep.  A button appeared that allowed me to select to mirror to the Mac and to turn on mirroring using AirPlay.  That was it!  The image of the iPad appeared on the Mac.  I then started Screenflow video capturing software and did a sample recording.  I am still a novice user of Screenflow but plan to work with it more.  I could do some great recordings for the iBook and also for my online course content.

Apparently, Reflection and AirServer are very similar apps.  The cost is identical - $14.99.