I feel like emailing this thread to every camera company and app developer out there. You (we) are an intuitive bunch.
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iPad as the ultimate photographers companion...
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We've gotten away from the OP's initial questions by instead thinking big thoughts about the possibilities for the future. I am extremely optimistic about the advancements we'll see down the road, both in software and in hardware peripherals. However, he wanted to know what the iPad is already capable of doing, hence my reply that it's not geared toward productivity right now.
Right out of the gate, it will be a great media display device. I would love to have one for giving keynote presentations and for showing photos to people. I love the idea of handing a tablet to someone as you would a photo album. And as someone who sells stock photography, I really love the idea of people rediscovering magazines and an increased demand for stock images because of it.
But to answer the OP's questions:
1) The iPad has a USB port, but right now (as I understand it) the OS has no way of mounting an external drive. You can sync iWork files to another Mac, but that's it. Perhaps third-party apps may make it possible to mount hard drives in the future.
2) The answer is apparently no, you cannot view raw files on an iPad. [Edited following Grimace's reply, below.]
3) What SD card accessory for the iPad are you talking about?
Right out of the gate, it will be a great media display device. I would love to have one for giving keynote presentations and for showing photos to people. I love the idea of handing a tablet to someone as you would a photo album. And as someone who sells stock photography, I really love the idea of people rediscovering magazines and an increased demand for stock images because of it.
But to answer the OP's questions:
1) The iPad has a USB port, but right now (as I understand it) the OS has no way of mounting an external drive. You can sync iWork files to another Mac, but that's it. Perhaps third-party apps may make it possible to mount hard drives in the future.
2) The answer is apparently no, you cannot view raw files on an iPad. [Edited following Grimace's reply, below.]
3) What SD card accessory for the iPad are you talking about?
(Clarification)
I don't think the iPod/iPhone/iPad can read RAW files. iTunes makes a size-appropriate JPEG image and sends that on to the device.
The SD accessory is a connector with a dock connector on one side and a USB or SD slot on the other end.
I don't think the iPod/iPhone/iPad can read RAW files. iTunes makes a size-appropriate JPEG image and sends that on to the device.
The SD accessory is a connector with a dock connector on one side and a USB or SD slot on the other end.
There are better solutions for storing and viewing photos than the iPad (iTampon as joked about at youtube and other places). These are only a few of numerous devices one can use to download from a camera and store the photos when traveling or away from a computer:
http://www.offrench.net/photos/articles/portable_storage_devices.php
http://www.offrench.net/photos/articles/portable_storage_devices.php
^^^Somehow I completely missed that little gizmo.
I'm sure the day will come when the iPad grows up and there will be enough apps and accessories to make it useful to just about anyone.
I'm sure the day will come when the iPad grows up and there will be enough apps and accessories to make it useful to just about anyone.
So, the new iPad looks like a cool tablet for photographers. At least, it has the potential. My doubts are:
1. Can you connect an external drive to the iPad? This would be amazing to make photo backups in travels.
2. Can the iPhone OS read RAW files? If yes, does it have the sufficient capacity to display them smoothly? Somehow making a stripped down version of Aperture for the iPad would be cool, and being able to import to Aperture and then transfer them to you Mac would be cool.
3. Lastly, does the accessories for the iPad to connect SD card work with the iPhone/iPod Touch?
Thanks.
No, it does not have the potential:
1. No.
2. It probably can display RAW files, but I wouldn't expect any performance wonders from a CPU that was designed for cell phones.
3. Don't know, but the iPods have an own camera connector kit.
Just get this straight: The iPad was solely designed to make you buy content from the iTunes store. End of story.
it'd be amazing if there was some sort of app similar to a basic version of lightroom just to mess with raw photos. i guess i can only hope it becomes a reality...
Hmm, I can see that the left camera accessory has a SD reader but what's on the right? And I wonder if Apple will allow developers to make use of the 30pin dock connector like how they now allow 3rd party developers to create 3rd party hardwares that hooks up to the iPhone using the 30pin dock connector.
And it will be cool if there are Aperture Lite (only for iPad - stripped down version of Aperture) which only feature the management side of Aperture (projects, keywords, ratings and etc.) and all the editing/adjustment related will need the full Aperture. Also, once you synced Aperture Lite to the Mac, all the things you added such as ratings, projects, smart album and yada yada will all by synced to Aperture, so in my opinion this cuts down a lot of time from having to manage your photos again in Aperture.
But no CF card support.
Maybe monoprice.com can fill the void...
A USB connector for importing direct from the camera. It will be slow and eat batteries, just like the ones used for laptops.
As a photographers tool, I think it might be best as a way to show a customer/friends/family photos, whether it is a way to show a newly married couple their wedding photos or just taking it along to a family gathering to show of your 5,000 pic 3 day tour of all of western europe... the device is relatively small, light weight & portable and much easier to hand around or have at different angles than a laptop, but a much bigger screen than your phone or iPod Touch. The interface for moving between pics is easy to understand and basically anyone can do it.
Otherwise, it is at least one USB port short of being anything more practical. Though, I quickly figured that a USB port means people can attach their USB 3G network devices to it and skip the AT&T 3G service. hmmmmmmmm. It also means you wouldn't be able to upload pics while having it powered through the dock connector if you are away from your full setup, I would love to just upload pics to the device and review without needing to lug everything with me. Camera kit, iPad, cable & ac power adapter. Makes the computer side quite lightweight.
The device has loads of potential, but there is nothing about it that makes me even worry about my credit card balance getting adjusted by $500+ , I am sure it will sell, but it could have been so much more to so many people.
Otherwise, it is at least one USB port short of being anything more practical. Though, I quickly figured that a USB port means people can attach their USB 3G network devices to it and skip the AT&T 3G service. hmmmmmmmm. It also means you wouldn't be able to upload pics while having it powered through the dock connector if you are away from your full setup, I would love to just upload pics to the device and review without needing to lug everything with me. Camera kit, iPad, cable & ac power adapter. Makes the computer side quite lightweight.
The device has loads of potential, but there is nothing about it that makes me even worry about my credit card balance getting adjusted by $500+ , I am sure it will sell, but it could have been so much more to so many people.
Again, I see the potential for the future. I'm in the "thumb's up" group as far as the iPad goes. But the OP was asking about the present.
I've seen some of these before. My only complain is that they're ugly, very ugly.
Tho, for the moment, buying one for trips might be good, I really don't like bringing my laptop with me.And seeing how the iPad is geared towards replacing and doing the job of a phone and a laptop, it might be great if it did had this feature.
I think this is were you are wrong. That would be silly from Apple. It's evident they stop you from playing AVI files, because they want you to buy from their store. But connecting an external drive, in something made to "replace" a laptop, feels just like a necessity.
Tho you do have a point if we look towards the Apple TV situation. An excellent product with lot's of potential, but which Apple has never added the option to connect an external drive. Let's hope Apple goes a little to the laptop side, and decide to make the iPad a more open environment.
One of the things that draws me to buying the iPad is using the basic dock and using it as a digital picture frame... something I have wanted but would not buy for its single use.
Hear you there; but keep in mind Apple could have limited the use of the USB port for things other then competing 3G network devices.
For me, I lament the lack of an SD card slot over the lack of a USB connector... I see this as Apple's game to get us to buy the 32GB or 64GB models. Why offer an SD card slot to expand beyond the basic 16GB unit if there is no built-in expansion?
More why I am on the fence here about getting the iPad. Still smaller and lighter, and easier to use for basic things than the Macbook Air.
Replacing? Says who? It's been introduced as a replacement for nothing. It's supposed to be a whole new product category, one that has a bit of overlap with the other two categories, but not so much that you can do without owning all three. That's where Apple would like to see it go, anyway.
I might have worded myself incorrectly. What I meant is that Apple wants you to use the iPad instead of having to take your laptop with you in situations were taking it is inconvenient.
In making it more close to a laptop than an iPod, I think the iPad can achieve greater success. As for now, it seems Apple is trying to make it more like an iPad than a laptop.
The pros are way ahead you..
A few of us have been looking into creating a system for those of us who own and run non-public stock photo sites that need to move around images and get high res to clients while on the road. I think the iPad is somewhat limited, but in time, it does not have to be...
An iPad should be nice for MD's and other professionals who have to store medical and other data from their patients or customers. I believe that there are some electronic pads these people can use, but the iPad, which is much like an iPod Touch, has a large screen. One can easily read the text in this screen without having to zoom-in or enlarge it. My doctor carries around her small laptop, but the relatively inexpensive iPad would be much easier for her.
Also, as you may already know, there are several medical apps for the iPod and iPhone. With these, doctors and patients can monitor heart functions, drug doses, etc.. These apps and other apps can be used with the iPad, displayed on a much larger screen.
Also, as you may already know, there are several medical apps for the iPod and iPhone. With these, doctors and patients can monitor heart functions, drug doses, etc.. These apps and other apps can be used with the iPad, displayed on a much larger screen.
Wow, I totally forgot bout its use in the medical field and you know what, what you said makes perfect sense! I guess part of the reason why many aint happy with what the iPad can do is cause many expects it to be some sort of notebook replacement when it's actually not the case.
Now, why Apple won't add a webcam to the iPad when its SDK seemed to have some sort of video conferencing and the iPad allows VoIP is beyond me
This is what we use at our facility: http://www.motioncomputing.com/products/tablet_pc_c5.asp
These have been around for awhile now, no need for Apple to pretend like they have invented the wheel. There's an included camera so we can scan our medications and patient labels. We can review xrays, labs, share medical notes. And there's a handle. Now, that last part is very important in the medical field. Those iPads will get dropped so quick, especially when someone is using gloves. The stylus of the C5 is important because using a touch device while wearing gloves is also pretty tough to do.
Now, in terms of being a photographers companion, that remains to be seen. Until someone actually develops apps for it, it's a pipe dream.
Looks like a device that is probably serving the medical community very well. Since it has a stylus, it is probably better suited to the job than an iPad could ever be (don't doctors need to sign things a lot?).
However, the handle is a non-issue. There will of course be every manner of slipcase and holder available for the iPad before long.
Wow, I totally forgot bout its use in the medical field and you know what, what you said makes perfect sense! I guess part of the reason why many aint happy with what the iPad can do is cause many expects it to be some sort of notebook replacement when it's actually not the case.
Now, why Apple won't add a webcam to the iPad when its SDK seemed to have some sort of video conferencing and the iPad allows VoIP is beyond me
What Apple should have done was to have more than one USB, or perhaps one FW port in addition to two USB ones. I imagine that third party manufacturers will create all kinds of gadgets one can connect to the iPad. For example, with the right app in the iPad, a cam connected to the USB port should be nice. Another example: with the Canon software for my 40D, camera connected to the computer via a USB port, I can use my computer's monitor as a viewfinder for the camera, compose, and then take the photo. I see no reasons why the same could not be accomplished with the iPad in the near future.
You are correct in that Apple hasn't invented the wheel. However, with the iPad Apple has opened the door to the market a little wider than before. The tablets I looked at in your link cost around $2,000 or more. I have also seen some that cost a lot more. The iPad is a lot cheaper, and has introduced competition to the tablet market. I am also certain medical tablet manufacturers will now have to introduce newer technology and features. If they don't, Apple will do to the table industry what it did to the music player industry with the iPod and beat them on their own grounds. There is a huge market (third party manufacturers) around the iPhone and iPod.
This thread is nicely tucked away in the photo forum, is like a small space for the sane to discuss this wonderful device. Thanks guys.