SMissing Extended Desktop after reinstall

[Berenger Capmany]

Hi there!

I guess they have killed the extended desktop feature on the latest drivers…

I happened the same to me after updating the Drivers.

I usually have the Desktop off but it’s pretty useful when you needed.

it’s a pitty!

[Joshua Helling]

Hey all,

I’m pretty much just poaching Kristian’s post from a few days ago, but here is the basic info and reasons behind it.

The main reason is that Apple Color checks each desktop it detects for OpenGL compatibility and because the extended desktop output is not OpenGL, Color fails to launch.

Also, the way the OS enumerates the displays may sometimes cause issues which are undesirable and beyond our control. Such as the video desktop enumerates with a higher priority than the acutal graphics cards which messes up features that requires hardware acceleration from the graphics cards.

Extended desktop was first conceived many years ago so that users can have proper TV colorspace output from Photoshop and After Effects by dragging the canvases across to the “tv screen”. However, we now have proper plugins so that users can output directly from Photoshop and After Effects so the desktop feature is no longer used much.

Sincerely,

Joshua
Director of Support
Blackmagic Design Inc.

[Filippo Ferlini]

Dear Joshua,

I agree with your statement, and understand, but in our case this cut off is a big problem.
We are using two Studio to broadcast (litteraly) two chat windows from iChat.
It is a very basic use, but work. Or, better, worked.

Some suggestions on a workaround?

thanks

[Bryan Fowler]

Thanks Joshua for the update.

I understand (only slightly) the difficulties with Open GL and color.

What bothers me is that functionality was removed from a product that I purchased largely in part for that particular functionality. I used to have the option to turn OFF in order to run color. This was a pain, and I would rather not do it, but I would still rather have the option, than to have it taken away.

Now that I think about it, it’s not the kind of thing I would expect from Blackmagic Design.

Going back to the old drivers would be fine with me, as long as they will work with Snow Leopard.

I appreciate what BMD does, and I’m excited that they now bought Divinci.

Bryan
Chattanooga, TN

[Kristian Lam]

Hi Bryan,

Thanks for the feedback.

What exactly do you use the extended desktop for? Is it just for more desktop space while in the Finder?

regards

Kristian Lam
Blackmagic Design

[Oliver Maingay]

Hi Kristian,

We also used the Extended Desktop feature frequently in our facility. Often our clients want to view their performances on television and it was very useful to be able to play out embedded video from websites through SDI to tape or DVD for review purposes.

Is there any chance of this feature returning?

Regards

Oliver

[Kemmon Gull]

We use the extended desktop feature as our primary use of the Decklink cards. We use 2 Mac Pros for all playback and CG for our main auditorium. We can get video played out other ways, but have to accomodate a large number of Keynote and Powerpoint presentations which will not work without it. The whole reason we bought Decklink cards was to provide second monitor output in SDI format.

Now with a driver update, our investment in the cards (as well as software to support them, ie ProPresenter Advanced and Keyer modules) is out the window. My only recourse now seems to be to buy additional computers with second display cards and external DVI to SDI converters for some applications, and use existing computers with DeckLink cards for others.

Not happy.

[Chris Ruffell]

The Extended Desktop feature is an absolutely integral part of my company’s daily workflow; removal of this feature has been an unpleasant surprise. As a busy facility, having a feature being completely removed without warning across all of our systems has been disruptive.

As we do not use Apple Color, or any other pieces of software that have experienced any problems (OpenGL related) that have been suggested, we’d appreciate having the option to choose whether or not to use Extended Desktop.

I urge Blackmagic Design to please reinstate the Extended Desktop feature, or make older versions of the driver software available, again, as a choice.

Thank you,
Christopher Ruffell
Aclara Promotions

[Bruce Little]

I also just bought this card based on the information on the website stating this feature..
Please.. put this back.
thanks

[Andre Racine]

We bought 2 cards primarily because of that feature (on windows). Please bring this choice back in the control panel.