iPad Camera Connection Kit Notes and Demo Video

[ValSalva]

Oh absolutely. Nothing says complex like a usb port.

I know, I know. There is a mixed message about the iPad. On the one hand it's a simple content consumption device that should have minimal ports.

Yet Apple sells a version of iWork for the iPad. This vision of the iPad as a portable replacement for a netbook or MacBook would expect to have USB and SD capability.

I think at this stage with version 1.0 even Apple isn't sure where the developers and users will take the iPad in the future.

 

[AidenShaw]

That is why you don't see CF slots of any PC, Laptop, Mac or MacBook.

Wow, it's a big format now? I guess I should sell my Nikons (that are less than a year old) and buy new ones right now.

Have all you folks with the bigger Dell monitors noticed the CF card (and a half dozen other format) reader on the left side of the monitor?

$269 Dell Inspirons have an optional 19 format reader that does CF. Most other desktops that have standard or optional card readers include CF.

You don't see them on laptops, because the readers are huge. On a desktop, where they're usually in a "floppy drive" external form factor, there's plenty of room.
______________________

But, even though the point about "no PCs with CF slots" is wrong - IMO CF is still doomed.

CF has been the best choice for high capacity high bandwidth flash cards.

SDXC blows CF away in capacity and bandwidth, and is much, much smaller.

Keep your Nikons - but I'll bet that the next model will have both CF and SDXC, and the one after that will be SDXC only.

 

[SLBear]

Why Oh Why!

Do we need another adapter?
I think of them as crutches for things that were broken when I bought them. If they would simply put an sd slot and a usb plug on it to begin with they could nix the adapter.
I have a box full of white Apple adapters from a dozen or so products over the years. Mostly for proprietary display connections. Everytime I buy a new laptop, I need a new adapter. I think of each of them as a crutch to fix something that was intentionally crippled. Am I missing something?
I'm trying to be constructive. If someone with better knowledge than me can cue me in I'd appreciate it. What are the downfalls of putting plugs on the iPad or iPhone in the first place?
My 5 year old AT&T Motorola phone has a slot (and it's not even a smart phone), it's just for carrying extra pictures or music.
Is there really a positive side to not adding the plugs?

 

[cmaier]

Do we need another adapter?
I think of them as crutches for things that were broken when I bought them. If they would simply put an sd slot and a usb plug on it to begin with they could nix the adapter.
I have a box full of white Apple adapters from a dozen or so products over the years. Mostly for proprietary display connections. Everytime I buy a new laptop, I need a new adapter. I think of each of them as a crutch to fix something that was intentionally crippled. Am I missing something?
I'm trying to be constructive. If someone with better knowledge than me can cue me in I'd appreciate it. What are the downfalls of putting plugs on the iPad or iPhone in the first place?
My 5 year old AT&T Motorola phone has a slot (and it's not even a smart phone), it's just for carrying extra pictures or music.
Is there really a positive side to not adding the plugs?

The vast majority of people won't use an SD card or USB device. If they put in every feature that some 20% of the population is interested in, they'd end up with the HP Slate. Each such thing adds cost, complexity, ugliness, increases the size of the device, etc.

 

[Master Chief]

The vast majority of people won't use an SD card or USB device.

The vast majority? Who told you that? I call speculation.

Is that why Apple made a dongle for it? Is that why Apple wrote software for it? And yes, USB devices are quite common these days. Not to mention that we have a USB specification to make it work, flawlessly, with other devices. You think that Apple can't handle it and make it work?

If they put in every feature that some 20% of the population is interested in, they'd end up with the HP Slate.

But we ain't talking about 'every feature' but two very specific items that are missing. And again. Why did Apple bother to develop both the software and the hardware for it, if it won't be used that much?

And why demo/show photo's [as a feature] on the iPad [by Steve Jobs] if he thought that nobody is ever going to use it?

Each such thing adds cost, complexity, ugliness, increases the size of the device, etc.

Cost could have been kept minimal, and there is no added complexity since the software is there already. So is the space. No increase of size either.

A next version of the iPad will have at least one USB port. That's what a little voice told me at a stock meeting.

 

[Takeo]

There is no USB port because the iPad is not a computer and Apple doesn't want to get a million phone calls a day from people asking why their usb printer, mouse, hub, vibrator, etc. doesn't work. The iPad is not a computer. It's an information appliance that syncs to a computer. If you want ports and readers and whatever else, buy a computer. I doubt the iPad will ever get a USB port. The majority of USB devices wouldn't work or even make sense on an iPad with iPhone OS 3.

 

[Takeo]

I don't think Apple needs to add USB, HDMI, SD Card slot, Cameras, Compact Flash Card slots. For me, this is a travelling entertainment device that I can do some light computing on. Unlike software, I can't just turn off stuff I don't use – I have to live with 5 ports junking up my sleek gadget, adding weight and taking up room, and just making it uglier. I'm going on a cruise later this year and I can't wait to take my iPad on board. SO much better than carrying a laptop around. I think the great mind hurdle for a lot of people is trying to define what a computer is.

It turns out that the iPad is a new sort of device. Just get it if you want it. If it doesn't do it for you, then get a netbook or something else. What Steve Jobs said is right... "netbooks AREN'T a new category between laptops and cell phones. They are just small laptops." That's no insult to netbooks, just that if you want a new product class it has to be different enough from the existing products. You might have to accept that this "other thing" doesn't do stuff your computer does, but it does do other stuff.

Where are all the people complaining that netbooks don't have accelerometers, touch screens, any applications actually made for them (you'll never find a new racing game that runs well on a netbook, because who is developing that?!), an app store with the simplest uninstalls, or that you can't read an e-newspaper on a netbook while standing up in the subway?


If you want a really good device, you have to decide what it is NOT. A fork doesn't become better if you tape a knife to it. Being true to what the device is and not trying to be for every geek actually makes it better for your intended customers.

Exactly. I think the people complaining are the people who decided not to buy one. Once you own one and discover all the cool places where it makes sense and is in fact much better than a laptop (love the subway example)... where it is in fact... a JOY to use... they might "get it". Until then they will refuse to even try it and instead whine and moan about missing ports. Typical techno geeks - myopically focused on spec sheets. The iPad is about the experience... not ports, protocols, file systems and whatever other geek BS (and I say that as a geek myself with 15+ years as a web developer).

 

[aafuss1]

Apple should add support for the Camera Connection Kit in iPhone OS 4.0 so it could work with the iPhone or iPod touch-is there anything preventing Apple from doing this?

 

[Master Chief]

There is no USB port because the iPad is not a computer and Apple doesn't want to get a million phone calls a day from people asking why their usb printer, mouse, hub, vibrator, etc. doesn't work. The iPad is not a computer. It's an information appliance that syncs to a computer.

It is different yes, but still a computer. Not a PC as we know today, but a computer it is. Be it a rather new and different one.

If you want ports and readers and whatever else, buy a computer.

No. iPad owner are supposed to purchase the optional iPad Camera Connection Kit. Not a computer.

I doubt the iPad will ever get a USB port. The majority of USB devices wouldn't work or even make sense on an iPad with iPhone OS 3.

But it could have worked 'magically' and out of the box. That would have been better for us iPad owners [and Apple stock holders] but unfortunately [for us] this wasn't possible. Not for the same amount of money [probably not] and/or not in time for launch day.

And yes, it remains unclear if an USB port will be added, because only Apple can tell if and when, but one thing is clear to me and that is that Apple [and Steve Jobs] are far from done with the iPad.

 

[polaris20]

I wonder if this means an audio interface that doesn't require a driver (like some of the Edirols) could be used in conjunction with a recording app. I'd love to use that with something like Sonoma Wireworks' StudioTrack.

 

[vanderlay]

Does it convert photos from RAW?

Sorry if this has been covered, didn't see it mentioned.

It said above that the iPad can import photos from RAW (or other formats), but will it only keep them in this form? I prefer to shoot photos in RAW, but wouldn't want my 16GBs to be filled up too soon with huge files, so I'd rather have it convert or import them as JPEG or similar?

Of course, I could let my computer convert them, but then there is really not a lot of need for the camera connection kit.

 

[talkingnewmedia]

Sorry if this has been covered, didn't see it mentioned.

It said above that the iPad can import photos from RAW (or other formats), but will it only keep them in this form? I prefer to shoot photos in RAW, but wouldn't want my 16GBs to be filled up too soon with huge files, so I'd rather have it convert or import them as JPEG or similar?

Of course, I could let my computer convert them, but then there is really not a lot of need for the camera connection kit.

Yes, they stay in RAW, according to those who have tested the kit.

 

[Takeo]

It is different yes, but still a computer. Not a PC as we know today, but a computer it is. Be it a rather new and different one. [...snip...] Apple [and Steve Jobs] are far from done with the iPad.

Sure... but you know what I mean. It's not a computer with a capital "C". It's not a "full blown" computer the way we have come to know them over the past 25 odd years. So a USB port is a questionable addition. The OS and hardware are simply not designed with USB devices in mind. Yes, it would be handy for downloading pictures and a maybe a headset for Skype and a few other fringe cases. In fact, I think photo transfer may be the ONLY common use case (non-fringe). Hence the "Camera Connector Kit". In most cases, USB peripherals just don't make sense on a mobile OS.

And I agree completely that the iPad is just the beginning.

 

[edoates]

More complete review of the iPad CCK

iLounge has a more complete review; it anwers a number of question posted in this discussion:

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/entry/apple-ipad-camera-connection-kit/

Eddie O

 

[polaris20]

Sure... but you know what I mean. It's not a computer with a capital "C". It's not a "full blown" computer the way we have come to know them over the past 25 odd years. So a USB port is a questionable addition. The OS and hardware are simply not designed with USB devices in mind. Yes, it would be handy for downloading pictures and a maybe a headset for Skype and a few other fringe cases. In fact, I think photo transfer may be the ONLY common use case (non-fringe). Hence the "Camera Connector Kit". In most cases, USB peripherals just don't make sense on a mobile OS.

And I agree completely that the iPad is just the beginning.

I think a USB connector instead of the dock connector would have made more sense, as it opens it up to far more devices without resorting to adapters. Headsets, audio interfaces, card readers, cameras, video cameras, hard drives, flash drives, etc.

But if that all works (or will work) with the dock connection with adapter, I guess it doesn't matter, outside of the fact you need to spend the money on the adapter.

 

[enil8tr1]

hopefully they will expand ipad line

v2 hopefully all will be 3g,then can have pro line with usb 2 cams etc

 

[mergedown]

Just picked up my camera connection kit

Walked in to an Apple store and snagged the last one. I was curious to find out how it worked with my brand new Flip HD Video Camera. At first, all seemed fine. When plugged in, iPhoto opened and went right to thumbnail previews of the Flip contents. I selected and imported. Success! Or was it?

When viewing at my ipad camera roll, the videos appeared as generic MP4 icons. They wouldn't open or play. I tried to email it to myself and the attachment was blank. Hmm, I was stumped.

I asked a friendly apple associate if I could connect my ipad to one of their systems to see if the video would translate over to the OSX version of iPhoto (good thing he didn't notice the Cydia icon on my home page). After a debate regarding their policy, they connected my ipad to a loaner laptop. The video appeared in iPhoto, imported and played just fine.

So, result? Not 100% supportive of my Flip HD video camera, but the ipad can certainly function as an interim storage device. Just don't plan on previewing or sharing the videos directly from the ipad, for now.

 

[spydr]

- USB headphone/headset will work on the iPad through the connection kit. Skype phone call was tested and "the quality was just terrific" - Tidbits

Using a camera connector kit and a USB headset instead of a mic/headphone output on top makes no sense whatsoever to me.

Am I missing something?

 

[blackcrayon]

Using a camera connector kit and a USB headset instead of a mic/headphone output on top makes no sense whatsoever to me.

Am I missing something?

Maybe you own a very high quality USB headset already and would rather use that than buy another to use in the headphone jack...

 

[NyArtboy]

USB is dead

Maybe SJ thinks USB is a dead technology just like Flash? I mean there is already a 3rd party app that can wirelessly transfer files to and from your computer to your phone in a 'file/folder format'. No usb required!

 

[cutts]

Sweet thanks so much