Universal Control beta deep dive - tips & tricks, best practices and more!

Universal Control: A Deep Dive into Apple's Latest Innovation

Apple has been working on a new feature called Universal Control that allows users to control multiple devices with a single input method. In this deep dive, we'll explore what Universal Control is, how it works, and its limitations.

Using Universal Control in a Mac Setup

Universal Control is a feature that uses Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology to track the location of your device and other connected devices. When you connect multiple devices using Universal Control, the feature can identify the exact position of each device in relation to the others. This allows for seamless control over all devices with a single input method.

To use Universal Control, simply drag and drop connected devices onto the display preferences icon in the System Preferences window. Once you've rearranged your devices, you can start using Universal Control by moving your cursor between them. This feature is perfect for users who want to manage multiple devices with ease.

Removing Devices from the Chain

One of the unique features of Universal Control is its ability to remove devices from the chain without disrupting control. When you break a device in the middle of the chain, Universal Control will automatically reconfigure to maintain seamless control over the remaining devices. This feature ensures that users can easily manage their device setup without worrying about losing control.

However, there are some limitations to this feature. Users have reported issues with connecting multiple devices beyond three at a time. When trying to connect a fourth device via Display Preferences, the app will not proceed due to an "unable to connect" error message. While users can manually reconfigure their setup, it's unclear why Apple has implemented such a limitation.

Using Universal Control with iPads

Another interesting feature of Universal Control is its ability to use iPads as termination points. This means that iPads serve as endpoints for Universal Control, allowing users to control multiple devices using a single input method. However, there's a catch: iPads do not allow the invocation of Universal Control, meaning users cannot start controlling their devices from an iPad.

To work around this limitation, users can manually rearrange their device setup to ensure that the Macs are at the end of the chain. This allows for seamless control over all devices using Universal Control.

Universal Control and Sidecar

In a surprising twist, it appears that Universal Control and Sidecar can be used simultaneously. By exploiting a glitch in the beta version, users can enable both features at the same time, allowing them to control their devices with one input method while also using Sidecar for extended displays.

This feature is still experimental and may not work as intended outside of the beta environment. However, its presence raises interesting questions about Apple's future plans for Universal Control and how it might be used in conjunction with other features like Sidecar.

Conclusion

Universal Control is an innovative feature that allows users to control multiple devices with a single input method. While it has some limitations, particularly when it comes to connecting more than three devices, the potential for seamless device management is undeniable. As Apple continues to refine and improve this feature, we can expect to see more exciting developments in the world of Universal Control.

What do you think about Universal Control? Will you be using it day-to-day? Share your thoughts and feedback in the comments below. If you appreciate content like this, please thumbs up to let us know that our videos are worth watching. Don't forget to subscribe for more Mac-related content and stay tuned for upcoming videos.

Author: Jeff Benjamin

Nine to Five Mac