CES 2011: iHome Airplay Speaker, Eye-Fi Direct, Fling Game Controller

[3goldens]

Looks like were off to a pretty sad start here!

 

[onefast1]

eye-fi

Eye-fi has several versions to answer earlier questions, the PRO version has adhoc mode and you can shoot straight to the iPad using and app called Shuttersnitch ($8).

Shuttersnitch is a great app and yes you can save the photos directly for transfer to your computer.

In my travels with my Canon 5D MkII w/CF adapter I have had very good performance and transfer rate to the iPad. 20-25 feet is about the limit without an AP.

 

[NorCalLights]

How the hell does AirPlay work? I mean I understand that they connect via WiFi, but how the hell do the speakers type in the WiFi password and get passed the security without a screen and a keyboard??

From the iHome website:

App-enhanced
Works with iHome+apps for easy network setup, device control and firmware updates.

My guess is you use one of their iOS apps to configure the network password. I bet you can also configure the network info by connecting the speaker via USB and configuring it from your computer, but that last one is just a guess.

 

[xraytech]

You can already use the Eye-Fi card with your iPad if you are in a wLan Network or Jailbreak the iPad into having it´s own wLan Network.

Right now I'm connecting my Nikon CoolPix S8100

w/Eye-Fi card thru my Sprint Overdrive Personal WiFi

to my iPad. Works like a charm but it would be nice to bypass my Overdrive and send picture directly to my Non-Jailbroken iOS device.

 

[lukecro]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148a Safari/6533.18.5)

Originally posted by baryon:

How the hell does AirPlay work? I mean I understand that they connect via WiFi, but how the hell do the speakers type in the WiFi password and get passed the security without a screen and a keyboard??

Isn't the idea that compatible devices use AirPlay/AirTunes to kinda "announce" themselves on your network? I don't think they need to actually log in to your network - the speakers/stereo don't need to enter a password. Instead, they're using Bonjour to broadcast their availability - they say, "hi, I'm here" - and then you can choose to play music to the device from your computer or iPhone, etc., because the AirPlay software is looking for Airplay devices for you. Once you choose the device (via Airplay, iTunes, AirFoil, or whatever) from the list of available Airplay devices, then the connection is made. It's kinda like working with a networked printer - the printer doesn't necessarily have to enter a password, it's simply available as a resource anyone on the network can print to - but the computer you're printing from does have to be logged onto the network, if the printer is only being made available over a secure local network.

I'm not entirely explaining this right, but I think that's the general idea. With an Ethernet/LAN connection this would be easy - should be plug-and-play, adding Airplay speakers just like you'd plug a printer in. With WiFi I'm not so sure - some Airplay devices may need to be configured/logged-in with your network using software on your computer or iOS device before being used the first time; or it may need to be allowed/paired with your other devices, kinda like how you associate Bluetooth headphones and wireless mice, etc., with a specific phone or computer.

I'm wondering about the opposite direction of this - if a password isn't required to connect to the device, is it possible you could connect to it even if you're not the device's owner. E.g. Could you prank your neighbor by streaming music from your house to their new iHome speakers without them knowing where the music was coming from 😉

 

[S.Jobs]

wish that sd card was bluetooth instead of wifi, then you could transfer photos anywhere wirelessly.

 

[SandynJosh]

And while they're at it, they can build a stylus-like pointing/input device 🙄

...oh, and add a slide-out real keyboard. 😉

 

[notabadname]

The game controller is genius in its simplicity and function. I want one.

 

[paradox00]

The controller solution is simple and it's 100% down to Apple to allow it.

There is no reason on earth why they cannot make an external iController as a user option for games. As they do the plug in adaptors for camera cards.

In any game, the developer can put a user option whether to use on screen controls or use the external iController.

They would sell millions of them, and allow people to play many games properly on their iPad.

Yes, some games are very suited to on screen controls. Other games are totally ruined and virtually unplayable without a real controller.

It's up to Apple to give people the option.

Anyone is free to make a third party controller right now. Apple has already allowed apps to access external devices through bluetooth or the dock connector.

Apple could certainly make things easier if they introduced a standard gamepad API that all apps could adopt, and possibly an Apple branded controller, but there is nothing stopping someone from making a gamepad now if the demand is there (but they'd have to work harder at getting apps to actually support the game pad).

 

[stuartmeyers]

I think the game controller is a great idea and I want one. I get frustrated with the onscreen controls and dont play the games that use them much.

Also, why hasnt anyone created a webcam that plugs into the adapter port? It means the button will be at the top but I can live with that.