iPad as the ultimate photographers companion...

[jbernie]

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?

I am not sure what is worse a restricted USB port or no port at all.... though memory card wise, it might be more sensible to allow browsing of say images & videos only and restrict storage of apps ibooks and the look to the internal memory, I can buy that kind of restriction as in theory it should make the device safer... that being said, i'm sure Apple would be ridiculed anyway.

There is that article on Computerworld.com critical of Apple for the 3G cost given the component costs less than $10, so it looks like they are subsidizing the non 3G versions. I agree that a usb 3G device isn't elegant, but I can see the people who already have one and are paying for the monthly service would benefit more from switching it between devices than adding yet another service plan... (based on AT&T).

I wonder if it would be possible for Apple or another company to create a connector that allows charging & have a second shorter cable hanging off for connecting memory cards?

I really want to like this device because we have needed a truely functional tablet style device for a long time, but imposed restrictions for now seem to make it just another tablet unfortunately.

Probably also another example of Apple keeping quiet while the rumour mill goes insane coming back and biting the on the butt. Free talk is great, but there were pretty high expectations set and quite a few got missed.

 

[John.B]

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.

I fully expect the iPad to play H.264 MPEG-4 video. But AVI is a Microsoft video format wrapper... I wouldn't hold my breath waiting an iPhone OS-specific version of Perian that would enable AVI video on the iPad (regardless of the underlying video formats).

 

[Ruahrc]

What Apple should have done was to have more than one USB, or perhaps one FW port in addition to two USB ones.

For a device that can't multitask, that is about 3x too many ports. The device is supposed to be a lightweight portable computer with just enough power and functionality to do most of what people typically need on the go, not the hub of a portable media workstation. That role is still best served by a laptop.

And, supposedly, since the 30-pin dock connector is open to developers, there isn't really any reason that these things should not be possible with the iPad as currently realized, albeit with the use of an adapter cable.

I see no reasons why the same could not be accomplished with the iPad in the near future.

Honestly, there supposedly is nothing stopping developers from making these same apps for the iPhone/iPod touch, they have had the ability since the announcement of iPhone OS 3.0. Yet, I still have yet to see anything approaching this. They demoed all kinds of neat hardware integration at the iPhone 3.0 launch presentation, yet seemingly none of them have seen the light of day. Is it that it's harder than anticipated? That there are still a great deal of limitations to what you can do with the port? Perhaps just no market for this kind of thing...

I dunno, but when I think about how few hardware attachments there are for the iPhone/iPT, I wonder how much stuff will really get made for the iPad. But I hope I'm wrong about this!

Ruahrc

 

[wheelhot]

Hmm, I think if the iPad allows you to run IM + iPod + 1 other app at the same time will make the iPad more appealing and still gives Apple some control.

 

[John.B]

Hmm, I think if the iPad allows you to run IM + iPod + 1 other app at the same time will make the iPad more appealing and still gives Apple some control.

Well, you definitely want to run the iPod player in the background. For the IM you only need background processing for IM notifications, you would switch between your "1 other app" and the IM client to reply to someone else. The key is to make switching between applications fast enough and seemless enough that it *looks* like multitasking is happening.

 

[wheelhot]

Well, you definitely want to run the iPod player in the background. For the IM you only need background processing for IM notifications, you would switch between your "1 other app" and the IM client to reply to someone else. The key is to make switching between applications fast enough and seemless enough that it *looks* like multitasking is happening.

hmm, good idea So is the iPad fast enough for it to looks like multitasking is happening?

 

[sogj]

So...what was that about RAW files?

So I've read this whole forum (and have scoured the internet for hours) but can't find an outright answer to my question and I figured the brilliance here would be good enough to answer it for me.

Can the iPad be used to offload images during a shoot?

There are all sorts of questions about offloading JPGs or editing RAW but I don't need to be able to view or edit RAW files or anything like that. I just want to know if I can buy a 3rd party adapter (Belkin will make one I'm sure), plug the CF card reader into the 30 pin port, put my CF card in the reader, and transfer RAW files to the iPad. That's all I wanna do but I can't figure out if the iPad can be used as an external harddrive without connecting to a computer as a middle man.

Does anyone know for sure?? (I also have no idea if the iPhone or iPod touch can do this either.)

Thanks SO much!

 

[robbieduncan]

So I've read this whole forum (and have scoured the internet for hours) but can't find an outright answer to my question and I figured the brilliance here would be good enough to answer it for me.

Can the iPad be used to offload images during a shoot?

There are all sorts of questions about offloading JPGs or editing RAW but I don't need to be able to view or edit RAW files or anything like that. I just want to know if I can buy a 3rd party adapter (Belkin will make one I'm sure), plug the CF card reader into the 30 pin port, put my CF card in the reader, and transfer RAW files to the iPad. That's all I wanna do but I can't figure out if the iPad can be used as an external harddrive without connecting to a computer as a middle man.

Does anyone know for sure?? (I also have no idea if the iPhone or iPod touch can do this either.)

Thanks SO much!

The iPhone can't right now. I would hope that if this is possible the iPad could leverage the RAW support code from Mac OSX in it's version of OSX to view the files. As long as they then synced out to Aperture when the iPad was connected to a computer I'd be happy.

 

[wheelhot]

Hmm, I think iPad should be able to retrieve file from a SD or camera cause if it doesn't what's the point of the accessory? and I do think if Apple do allow 3rd party developer to create accessories to connect to the iPad via the dock connector, we might see a CF reader.

And assuming iPad Photo has similar features as iPhoto, I guess it just might be able to display RAW images *crosses fingers*

 

[sogj]

The iPhone can't right now. I would hope that if this is possible the iPad could leverage the RAW support code from Mac OSX in it's version of OSX to view the files. As long as they then synced out to Aperture when the iPad was connected to a computer I'd be happy.

Does anyone guesstimate when we might be able to know this kind of stuff? Obviously Apple isn't really talking.

 

[robbieduncan]

Does anyone guesstimate when we might be able to know this kind of stuff? Obviously Apple isn't really talking.

Quite possibly not till someone has one with the camera connector to try it with

 

[sogj]

Hmm, I think iPad should be able to retrieve file from a SD or camera cause if it doesn't what's the point of the accessory? and I do think if Apple do allow 3rd party developer to create accessories to connect to the iPad via the dock connector, we might see a CF reader.

And assuming iPad Photo has similar features as iPhoto, I guess it just might be able to display RAW images *crosses fingers*

I'm just worried that the "camera connection kit" will only recognize and allow you to upload JPG files. :/

 

[robbieduncan]

I'm just worried that the "camera connection kit" will only recognize and allow you to upload JPG files. :/

This is possible, although Apple's own text mentions videos as well. No technical details are given over supported formats, either for the images, the videos or even the SD cards (I mean I assume SDHC is supported but it doesn't even tell us that).

 

[killerrobot]

If it's anything like the iPhone, every time you import photos it will "optimize" them - meaning jpg and lower quality.
I'd imagine, even at 64GB if you're a professional photographer you'd roll through that space way too fast as well.

 

[sogj]

If it's anything like the iPhone, every time you import photos it will "optimize" them - meaning jpg and lower quality.
I'd imagine, even at 64GB if you're a professional photographer you'd roll through that space way too fast as well.

Not really. I just do portraits and weddings, I really just need a way to backup files. I won't even go through all 10 of my 4 gig cards, but on-the-fly backup is a must and I was hoping the iPad would be a good option instead of the almost-equally priced Epson P-6000.

 

[Designer Dale]

Not really. I just do portraits and weddings, I really just need a way to backup files. I won't even go through all 10 of my 4 gig cards, but on-the-fly backup is a must and I was hoping the iPad would be a good option instead of the almost-equally priced Epson P-6000.

We will not really have answers to these questions before the retail rollout. When Apple starts to take Web pre-orders, they will be more specific as to what you can do with the device.

But keep asking. It's fun to read...

Dale

 

[Westside guy]

So I've read this whole forum (and have scoured the internet for hours) but can't find an outright answer to my question and I figured the brilliance here would be good enough to answer it for me.

Can the iPad be used to offload images during a shoot?

Yes - it specifically says so under "Photos" on the iPad Features page.

As a side note to something another poster mentioned (but I'm not seeing now) - you can carry files on the iPod Touch using an app called "Briefcase" or "Briefcase Lite". The files transfer to/from your device over wifi. So I can't imagine it not being usable on the iPad - especially with the iWork apps.

BTW to be pedantic - the iPod Touch and iPhone already multitask. Thing is, only certain Apple apps like Mail are allowed to do it. Any iPod Touch owner that's had the misfortune to use Mail on our commuter rail network (Sound Transit's "Sounder"), gotten tired of waiting and switched back to whatever game only to hear the "new mail" beep five minutes later can vouch for this.

 

[ronjon10]

Do any of you shoot RAW + Jpeg? I do that if I want to review pictures on my laptop or whatever else in the field. It works out great. The files display quickly and the quality is good enough for reviewing focus and composition.

The iPad would be ideal for doing this.

It's not like I'm going to sit there and clean up raw files in Lightroom out in the field anyway.

 

[sogj]

Yes - it specifically says so under "Photos" on the iPad Features page.

No, it doesn't. It says that it can be used to upload "pictures" which typically means JPGs. I need to know if it can read, access, and copy RAW images to some sort of disk or file system. Not if it can view them or edit them, just if it can copy them.

 

[Westside guy]

No, it doesn't. It says that it can be used to upload "pictures" which typically means JPGs. I need to know if it can read, access, and copy RAW images to some sort of disk or file system. Not if it can view them or edit them, just if it can copy them.

Okay, you didn't mention RAW files in your previous post. However...

I think it's extremely likely you will be able to upload your RAW files because that's how the existing iPod functionality works. I used to use my old iPod 3G to offload RAW (NEF) images from my old D70 way back - that's why I gave the answer I did.

Note that being able to offload them doesn't necessarily equate to being able to view them on the device. With the iPod, you could download both NEF and JPG files but could only view the JPGs.

I'll be curious to see if this functionality is kept specific to the iPad, or if an upcoming software update will add this to the iPod Touch (and iPhone) as well. I haven't checked in a while, but last time I looked it wasn't possible to use the Touch as a direct storage device for offloading images from the camera.

 

[sogj]

Okay, you didn't mention RAW files in your previous post. However...

I think it's extremely likely you will be able to upload your RAW files because that's how the existing iPod functionality works. I used to use my old iPod 3G to offload RAW (NEF) images from my old D70 way back - that's why I gave the answer I did.

I did, sorry, it was just later in the post and in the title. And I've read a lot of places that the OLDER iPods let you do this, but the newer ones don't, they stopped supporting that functionality for some reason, which is why I'm trying to find out for sure. I am trying to decide if it's worth it to wait for the iPad or if I can go ahead and buy the Epson P because if the iPad can't do this I can't use it. Do you happen to know if the new iPods can do this?

 

[Westside guy]

I did, sorry, it was just later in the post and in the title. And I've read a lot of places that the OLDER iPods let you do this, but the newer ones don't, they stopped supporting that functionality for some reason, which is why I'm trying to find out for sure. I am trying to decide if it's worth it to wait for the iPad or if I can go ahead and buy the Epson P because if the iPad can't do this I can't use it. Do you happen to know if the new iPods can do this?

Huh, it looks like you're right - the latest iPods (the ones that've come out since they redid the dock connector) don't work with the iPod Camera Connector, just the 4G and 5G (my 3G worked with a Belkin-made connector that pre-dated the Apple one, and my only other iPod has been the Touch).

I'd hate to give you bad advice! All I can say is, I assume the new camera connector will work similarly to the old one, which would mean they would support RAW file transfers. I've heard a lot of people like those Epson devices, though. They probably weigh close to what the iPad weighs however.

Personally I'd wait - if the iPad doesn't do what you want, there's always a chance (what with PMA this month) Epson might release an updated version of their device somewhere in that time frame.

 

[jackies35]

good point!

The iPhone photos app displays RAW files so there would be no reason to assume that the iPad would be any different.

For getting RAW into the iPad, that is a different story. I still have the camera adapter that allowed you to plug a USB cable (from a camera) directly into an iPod photo. Hopefully it still works on the iPad!

Editing would be a pain in the butt on a device like this. But, for dumping photos (slowly...) from a shoot -- that would be nice.

As with Aperture 3 (X) - I'm not holding my breath.

that's true... Also, someone made a photoshop program for the ipod touch/iphone. There's an app for that!

 

[HarryPot]

It's official, the iPad supports RAW files. And as far as I see, it displays the photos.

Now the only remaining doubt is wether you can transfer photos from the iPad to an external drive.

 

[Westside guy]

It's official, the iPad supports RAW files. And as far as I see, it displays the photos.

A link would've been helpful...