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Using iPhone as an external HD for ipad?

A

aerospace

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Is this possible?

Theoretically I'm sure it can be done but are there any apps that could accomplish this? It would double the ipads storage with minimal fuss. Only interested in video storage though there are many other applications for it.
 
aerospace said:
Is this possible?

Theoretically I'm sure it can be done but are there any apps that could accomplish this? It would double the ipads storage with minimal fuss. Only interested in video storage though there are many other applications for it.
Click to expand...

How do you picture this working out, to me it seems like a stupid idea (sorry to be blunt)
 
aerospace said:
Is this possible?

Theoretically I'm sure it can be done but are there any apps that could accomplish this? It would double the ipads storage with minimal fuss. Only interested in video storage though there are many other applications for it.
Click to expand...

There are many iPhone/iPod Touch apps that let you turn it into a wifi hard disk. I have never browsed network files from an iThing except through the iDisk freeware available from Apple. I'm sure there is something out there, I just haven't tried it myself. iPad usefulness would be severely limited if there wasn't a way to browse network files. I would expect to be able to copy iWork files from my Macbook, edit them on the iPad and them copy them back later. While I expect to have this capability, I cannot prove to myself it is available except through the aforementioned iDisk app.

Keep in mind that the OS underneath iPhone OS is Unix based. This means if you can browse files on the network, then they are mounted in /Volumes and it is the same as having an sd card plugged in or NAS storage attached.
 
guycross said:
How do you picture this working out, to me it seems like a stupid idea (sorry to be blunt)
Click to expand...

Even 64gb seems rather limited to me, adding 32 more from my phone would help. You could just upload to a storage site but then you have to deal with bandwidth issues on downloading, and you would have to have a good signal. Using wifi you could be in the middle of the Atlantic and it would work between the 2 devices.

Minimal storage and jailbrake are the only things holding up my purchase. If I can solve 1 then I can buy and wait for the other 😉

Also I always have my phone with me so technically someone could save money and buy the 32gb version if they also have an iphone to add storage. Obviously there's a battery issue but if the ipad is as good as it says it is I wouldn't mind my phone running low.
 
Just had another thought, what about a cable linking iphone to ipad, male to male so to speak. That would cut the battery issue and also allow you to charge your phone off the ipad in a pinch.
 
I doubt you will be able to run apps from a network drive from the iPad. You will likely be able to keep docs and some media on a network drive but having a 32g iPhone plus a 32g iPad will not be like having a 64g iPad.

The OS will limit what you can do with things that come via wifi. I have reserved the 16 gig model because I assume there will be nothing on the device but apps and a handful of data files. I expect all the rest of my stuff to be either on NAS at the house or in the cloud (iDisk). I only have about a gig of music with me at any one time so even if it must be stored internally to play on the iPad, it's no big deal.

You mention jailbreaking. I'm sure the jailbreakers will be working from day one to turn the iPad into a general purpose computer capable of treating any file anywhere as if it were loaded internally. I just wouldn't bank on this being available and remaining consistently available.
 
r0k said:
You mention jailbreaking. I'm sure the jailbreakers will be working from day one to turn the iPad into a general purpose computer capable of treating any file anywhere as if it were loaded internally. I just wouldn't bank on this being available and remaining consistently available.
Click to expand...

http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/26/geohot-teases-untethered-jailbreak-that-will-probably-work-on-i/

I have high hopes and I'm not waiting for the easy version, I can run a code if needed.
 
aerospace said:
Bah your method requires I carry another device with me. Also I would have to charge my phone, ipad, and flash drive as this one has a battery. No thank you 🙂

Holy cow just noticed it's also $100 lol
Click to expand...

That was for the person asking for SD card. Not for tethering an iPod to iPad. 😎

I know...the price is pretty steep! 😀
 
I am sure the jailbreakers will come up with a hack for the iPad to do something like this using the camera connecting kit
 
I have a feeling the camera adapter will allow usb drives.

For me though, attaching anything to the iPad seems like it will ruin what's nice about the tablet form factor.
 
I imagine a developer could make a iPhone and iPad app that could transfer files between each other in the same fashion that the Bump app works. So the app would be running on both machines at the same time and facilitate file transfers. I also don't see why that app couldn't then link up with a pc/mac over wifi like so many already do.

I wish I were a developer...
 
diabolic said:
I have a feeling the camera adapter will allow usb drives.

For me though, attaching anything to the iPad seems like it will ruin what's nice about the tablet form factor.
Click to expand...

It would be more for the oh crap I am getting full but don't want to delete anything atm situations. Or I'm going on a trip and want to bring a few more movies for the flight etc. Paying $200 extra for 48 gigs of space is also not thrilling. Save the $200 and keep it as down payment for an upgrade next year. 🙂
 
I have a possible solution...

Not associated with these people in any way, just a fan..

http://tonido.com/

You have two options:

1) share or access, via the web, files literally on your mac or pc
2) share or access, via the tonido plug - which you have to purchase, and have a USB drive attached to that, which stays in your lovely cosy home

This solution is gaining a following, and personally I think it has huge potential for keeping your private stuff in the cloud, but WITH YOU, and only YOU. Think google services, but on your own home pc or the tonido plug attached to your network and a hard drive.

Comments please, and thoughts?
 
Both solutions would require a stream and that might be a coverage/speed issue. Connection to iPhone via wifi/bluetooth or camera connection kit and sd card would not.
 
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