HyperDrive USB-C Hub for 2018 iPad Pro Adds Ports for 4K HDMI, Headphones, SD Card, and More

[cult hero]

I’d avoid these flush mount hubs like the plague. It’s better to have a hub with a short cable. It puts way less stress on the contector, especially when uptight. I have a Hyper for the 12” MacBook because it was the only option for MiniDisplayPort for the longest time. It never sat right, always seems loose, and any cable tension from the hookups causes issues.

Pluggable makes a nice little charging dock that has been a much nicer replacement.

 

[tjleonard]

That's my point. I wish people would stop trying to make an iPad into a laptop, or say it's a laptop replacement. They are totally different user experiences, and have different user scenarios.

Completely agree. Can some people do 85% on an iPad that they do on a notebook? Yeah. Hell I’m in IT and I can do a lot from one, it’s just a different work flow, but I still need a regular laptop. I can remote into servers (Jump Desktop or equivalent, I can configure a switch with any SSH app, Linux...SSH...there are even some AD tools. But again, if I’m in my office, or doing more multitasking, I need my MacBook.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

Maybe it's just me, but I fail to see why this is a better solution than having a laptop, with... you know - ACTUAL PORTS!!!

Because most pro users would only be using ACTUAL PORTS!™ 10% of the time and enjoying less clutter and more portability when they don't need accessories.

 

[Delgibbons]

Accessory company Hyper today announced the HyperDrive USB-C Hub for the 2018 iPad Pro. Apple's latest iPad Pro is the first of the company's tablets to include USB-C (replacing the Lightning port), allowing support for third-party USB-C accessories like Hyper's new device.

The HyperDrive for iPad Pro adds six total ports to the tablet: 4K HDMI, 3.5mm headphone jack, SD card slot, Micro SD card slot, USB-A 3.0, and USB-C Power Delivery. Hyper explains that the accessory features a replaceable C-shape grip that holds the USB-C hub securely onto the iPad Pro.

The device is available in Space Gray and Silver, to match the iPad Pro's colors, and it will work with both 11-inch and 12.9-inch models with and without the Smart Keyboard Folio. The company says that the HyperDrive for iPad Pro will be available in December for $49 for customers who sign up to be notified on its website. Otherwise, the device will run for $99.99.

Article Link: HyperDrive USB-C Hub for 2018 iPad Pro Adds Ports for 4K HDMI, Headphones, SD Card, and More

That looks great. Really sleek. Just as good as an integrated solution.

/s

 

[PickUrPoison]

Wow, that’s fugly.. I think it would have made more sense to have ran a small cable from the port to allow the dock to sit on the desk or tucked behind the iPad?

I think the best way to use this hub would be with a M-F USB-C extension cable, say 1 foot or longer depending on your needs.

Excellent price btw especially at $49.

 

[cbird007]

Hey, look..there's a clunky way of getting the headphone jack!

 

[Gorms]

Just clones the iPad screen. No separate display really. What does this really benefit? I can already do that with AirPlay. Besides being slightly faster I don’t see the point in using an iPad as an external monitor. You can turn off the brightness and just have the tv as the display?

I was raging about this last week too. Turns out you don’t have to mirror the iPad display, however it’s up to devs to implement some functionality on that external display and beyond keynote/videos/photos and occasional games, no one has bothered to do that.

Since I’ve found about this, I’ve been thinking how you could use this but the best application I can think of for this is maybe a video editor or dj/vj software where your second screen content is dictated by the interactions on your first screen.

See wwdc session 233 from this year I think. But they were reiterating that the api for this has been around for longer, probably since around iOS 4.2/5 as, as you say, we could already AirPlay a second screen.

 

[TrueBlou]

Apple doesn’t seem to want to do this because it will canabolize their Mac sales. I still think they have a working iPad with Mac software on it just waiting for the right time to release it. Maybe one day

I think it’s the MacBook cannibalisation that’s holding Apple back from jumping properly in at the deep end.

Yet I can’t help but think they’d actually end up making more money from it with all of the extras they sell. The keyboard, the Pencil, the adapters, cables and so on and so on.

 

[code-m]

Not really. It still feels like an iPad with huge limitations. If apple wants to compare it to a laptop they need to open it up to software like a laptop. Can still be similar to how it is now but the limitations on the os has always held back the iPad and always will till it changes.

Is Apple stalling the inevitable, hmm. The hardware has been capable for years. Seems the 2018 iPad Pro replaces the Retina MacBook with the exception of iOS and extra add-on such as Pencil and KB.

 

[stylinexpat]

Maybe it's just me, but I fail to see why this is a better solution than having a laptop, with... you know - ACTUAL PORTS!!!

Or better to have just built in some of those ports to begin with. Apple wants to charge the highest price possible for just 1 USB-C port lol..
[doublepost=1541443527][/doublepost]

I’d avoid these flush mount hubs like the plague. It’s better to have a hub with a short cable. It puts way less stress on the contector, especially when uptight. I have a Hyper for the 12” MacBook because it was the only option for MiniDisplayPort for the longest time. It never sat right, always seems loose, and any cable tension from the hookups causes issues.

Pluggable makes a nice little charging dock that has been a much nicer replacement.

This is very true, I agree. Better to use ones with cable.

 

[blackcrayon]

Maybe it's just me, but I fail to see why this is a better solution than having a laptop, with... you know - ACTUAL PORTS!!!

I fail to see why this is a better solution than a Playstation 4 Pro for playing the next installment of The Last of Us!

Huh? This is for people to add ports and functionality to a device they already want to own, an iPad. Not sure about your sarcasm, there are tons of other multi function USB hubs out there, most end up ALSO getting connected to laptops and even desktops to add... MORE ACTUAL PORTS!!!

 

[31 Flavas]

Apple doesn’t seem to want to do this because it will canabolize their Mac sales. I still think they have a working iPad with Mac software on it just waiting for the right time to release it. Maybe one day

Rather to the contrary, I’d say, all of apples devices generally operate to replace the device above it. The laptop to replace the desktop. The tablet to replace the laptop. The iPhone to replace the iPod. And the watch replace the iPhone.

I’d argue this is why the desktops and laptops, and iPod receive the least amount of attention. Where the iPhone, iPad, and watch get the most attention.

That said, for the person(s) who will say the new 12.9” iPad Pro is a terrible replacement for a laptop - Ok great. If we acually need and actual PC in tablet form - why hasn't the MS Surface tablet franchise taken off? Or why hasn't any other manufacture tried to improve upon the shortcomings of the MS Surface tablets with Snapdragons or whatever. It doesn't seem to difficult to engineer the tablet that the iPad Pro “should” be and take it to the bank.

 

[Donka]

I would occasionally use an SD card reader, headphone port and HDMI out. This looks like a one stop shop for those that I can throw in a bag and know I have what I need with me.

 

[341328]

Maybe it's just me, but I fail to see why this is a better solution than having a laptop, with... you know - ACTUAL PORTS!!!

Because the device can be thinner when you don’t need the ports.
[doublepost=1541445934][/doublepost]All this and STILL no Bluetooth mouse support.
[doublepost=1541445983][/doublepost]Having the hdmi port (or a DisplayPort) is great for connecting all the monitors that don’t have usbc.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Rather to the contrary, I’d say, all of apples devices generally operate to replace the device above it. The laptop to replace the desktop. The tablet to replace the laptop. The iPhone to replace the iPod. And the watch replace the iPhone.

I’d argue this is why the desktops and laptops, and iPod receive the least amount of attention. Where the iPhone, iPad, and watch get the most attention.

That said, for the person(s) who will say the new 12.9” iPad Pro is a terrible replacement for a laptop - Ok great. If we acually need and actual PC in tablet form - why hasn't the MS Surface tablet franchise taken off? Or why hasn't any other manufacture tried to improve upon the shortcomings of the MS Surface tablets with Snapdragons or whatever. It doesn't seem to difficult to engineer the tablet that the iPad Pro “should” be and take it to the bank.

Surface is slowly getting there. Once it penetrates the office/corporate market well enough, it will be unstoppable.

https://www.engadget.com/2018/04/26/microsoft-q3-earnings/

https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/19/17591218/microsoft-q4-2018-earnings-cloud-services-surface-gaming

https://www.techradar.com/news/microsofts-surface-sales-continue-to-grow-driven-by-surface-go

 

[harriska2]

I’ve seen more surface devices in the wild than ipad 12.9.

 

[yaxomoxay]

I’ve seen more surface devices in the wild than ipad 12.9.

Apple needs Nadella, for real.

 

[SeattleMoose]

Can't believe the new iPad Pro has a USB-C port but doesn't work with an external drive.
https://www.businessinsider.com/app...tible-with-external-storage-2018-11?r=UK&IR=T
To get around this you can always get an app like File Browser https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/filebrowser-document-manager/id364738545?mt=8
Been using it for years and it works GREAT. Wireless read/write to my Mac and all of it's external drives with both my iPhone and iPad.

 

[Scottsoapbox]

Add-on ports does make it look more like the MacBook.

 

[JimmyJimmy007]

Accessory company Hyper today announced the HyperDrive USB-C Hub for the 2018 iPad Pro. Apple's latest iPad Pro is the first of the company's tablets to include USB-C (replacing the Lightning port), allowing support for third-party USB-C accessories like Hyper's new device.

The HyperDrive for iPad Pro adds six total ports to the tablet: 4K HDMI, 3.5mm headphone jack, SD card slot, Micro SD card slot, USB-A 3.0, and USB-C Power Delivery. Hyper explains that the accessory features a replaceable C-shape grip that holds the USB-C hub securely onto the iPad Pro.

The device is available in Space Gray and Silver, to match the iPad Pro's colors, and it will work with both 11-inch and 12.9-inch models with and without the Smart Keyboard Folio. The company says that the HyperDrive for iPad Pro will be available in December for $49 for customers who sign up to be notified on its website. Otherwise, the device will run for $99.99.

Article Link: HyperDrive USB-C Hub for 2018 iPad Pro Adds Ports for 4K HDMI, Headphones, SD Card, and More

I own one of these and wanted to use it on my macbook pro. It appears to be damaging my ports and when a colleague bumps my table by accident it disconnects. Have lost data whilst transferring to my external. Really not happy with the product

 

[Digital Skunk]

The iPad seems to be entering its awkward stage in life. No longer a child, but clearly not an adult.

Agreed! I've long been a proponent of the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement (minus apps with heavier needs) but this is a bit much. Like, we want the iPad to grow up, but not get into drugs.

Wow, that’s fugly.. I think it would have made more sense to have ran a small cable from the port to allow the dock to sit on the desk or tucked behind the iPad?

This would be dope if they had taken a page (from you) and out of the Android book. Just make a dock with all of those ports in the back and I'd buy it.

As a matter of fact, make it like the old iPad Gen 1 dock.

 

[cmwade77]

Ok, this says it adds support for SD cards, yet people have been saying that the USB-C port is locked down preventing the connection of external hard drives (which would also prevent SD card readers as well), so which is it? Can you connect external drives tot he iPad or not?

 

[playaproved]

I signed up. Probably pick one up simply to use as a HDMI adaptor as it’s cheaper than apple’s solution.

I lay the iPad flat on the tv stand when I connect it, so I’m not that worried about stress on the connector.

 

[newyorksole]

That's my point. I wish people would stop trying to make an iPad into a laptop, or say it's a laptop replacement. They are totally different user experiences, and have different user scenarios.

Depending on what someone does, it can be a laptop replacement, BUT you should still have one good working full desktop/laptop in the household.

I couldn’t imagine ONLY having an iPad and no actual computer. iMac + iPad is my ideal setup.

 

[bronksy]

Why do none of these adapters have VGA?

Because it's not 1988?
[doublepost=1541458989][/doublepost]I have one of their adapters for my MBP - I got it when it was a Kick-starter thing and I can tell you it looks great - and it works well BUT the damn thing keeps popping out of the USB-C on my MacBook. In hindsight I should have gotten one with a wire connecting it to the laptop. If you slightly move the laptop the hub comes away enough to cut the connection.