| Sign in: |
| Members log in here with your user name and password to access the your admin page and other special features. |
|
|
|
|
|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
No 3rd Party Card Reader - USB Port Adapter For The iPad?
Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
 |
| | | Posted: 9:26 AM on 05.15.10 |
->> A client has contracted me to perform a series of specific tests on the iPad for their needs. Part of this requires the transfer of data to & from the iPad.
I know this can be done with the iPad Camera Connection Kit's USB adapter. This part is out of stock for 3 to 4 weeks. I cannot find any 3rd party manufacturer making a USB port or card reader for the iPad.
Anyone found one yet or does it just not exist yet? |
|
George Bridges, Photographer, Photo Editor
 |
Washington | DC | USA | Posted: 11:53 AM on 05.15.10 |
->> Steven,
I don't think it exists yet. I know some folks have tried connecting various card readers through the camera connection kit or other methods who keep getting error messages -- mostly doing with power.
I'm waiting to see what connectivity and photo processing apps develop for the iPad before jumping into one, but I think as more developers get into it we can see some great benefits for photo.
As far as getting images without the connection kit you may be able to use some of the iPhone apps that let you create an ad hoc network and ftp with a camera wft or eye-fi card into the iPad. Don't know if anyone has tried it but they work on the iPhone so those apps may work for the iPad. |
|
Israel Shirk, Photographer, Assistant
|
Boise | ID | US | Posted: 12:07 PM on 05.15.10 |
->> If you're up for jailbreaking your iPad, this will do it quite well - you can just drop them into a folder shared from your iPad onto a mac.
http://www.macstories.net/ipad/ipad-photos-documents-finder-mac/
Just back up your ipad using itunes before you start (in itunes, right-click on the ipad in the sidebar and go to back up), so if you have any problems with it you can go right back to how it was before. |
|
Israel Shirk, Photographer, Assistant
|
Boise | ID | US | Posted: 12:10 PM on 05.15.10 |
| ->> "into a shared folder on your iPad from a mac"... |
|
Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
|
| | | Posted: 12:28 PM on 05.15.10 |
->> Geo,
My client is not a photographer or photo oriented. They are looking to access graphics files / PDFs for their needs, which they receive upon arrival. They can get this info on an SD card, usually now on a jump drive, but they are looking at the SD cards.
They need to be able to load this info, which can be saved as a JPEG, and have the first people on site upload the info others in their team. They also create certain images, generally with point & shoot cameras, for specific needs and share those immediately with others.
So, the need to plug in an SD card, card reader or USB device is critical to their needs in possibly adopting the iPad and shedding netbooks. The iPad for them has quite a few advantages, but the lack of being able to test out the card reader/camera connection is problematic.
There are some card readers for the iPod, Belkin makes one, but while it works with the iPod Touch even they don't know if it works with the iPad. |
|
Ed Wolfstein, Photographer, Assistant
 |
Burlington | VT | USA | Posted: 12:54 PM on 05.15.10 |
->> Look into Dropbox for the iPad. Stuff resides in the cloud (2 Gig free) but you can save favorites - I haven't explored it on the iPad long enough... https://www.dropbox.com/ipad
- Ed. |
|
Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
|
| | | Posted: 1:01 PM on 05.15.10 |
->> Ed
The problem is not hosting, but being able to quickly put the info into the device.
If you're standing in a room with an SD card & an iPad, the info has to get from the SD card to the Cloud before you see it on the iPad. This is why I am looking at physical devices.
I'd go more into the details of my client's needs, but I am simply not allowed to. |
|
Israel Shirk, Photographer, Assistant
|
Boise | ID | US | Posted: 1:02 PM on 05.15.10 |
->> Check out DropCopy for transferring the files around; it requires a wireless network to run.
One of these will split the USB so you can feed power into it from a battery or other source:
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?edc=1772140&cm_mmc=ShoppingFe...
Waiting a few weeks and trying out the card reader seems like a better idea though. |
|
Richard Rector, Photographer
|
Lancaster | Pa | US | Posted: 1:09 PM on 05.15.10 |
| ->> You could spend $70++ on ebay... |
|
Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
|
| | | Posted: 1:12 PM on 05.15.10 |
->> Israel
The reason I am playing with the iPad for a client is they want to drop all devices and have people in their organization that travel extensively fly only with the iPad.
Again, for their purposes it makes sense. I'll be using the iPad over the next month to test out very specific attributes for my client, in New York, Paris, London, San Francisco and Chicago ... and to test it properly chances are I'll be flying wit the same kit they travel with ... which means only the iPad. Flying with only an iPad to various places means no access to a standard USB port.
They are looking at the iPad as a way to be more effective while also ditching the laptops.
These people are not photogs, journalists or anything of the sort, so its a bit of a mindset change in looking at their unique needs rather than common needs we think of. |
|
Israel Shirk, Photographer, Assistant
|
Boise | ID | US | Posted: 4:06 PM on 05.15.10 |
->> eBay... That's all anyone can help with if you have to be obscure that we don't know what you're trying to ask :)
http://wap.ebay.co.uk/Pages/ViewItem.aspx?aid=300427641091&ebayref=http://cgi.ebay.co.uk:80/Apple-iPad-Camera-Connection-Kit-in-UK-next-day-post_W0QQitemZ300427641091QQcategoryZ4601QQcmdZViewItem&autoredirect=off&sflag=1 |
|
Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
|
| | | Posted: 4:24 PM on 05.15.10 |
->> Israel,
Actually I am being quite blunt in what I am asking.
I am trying to find out specifically if there is any 3rd party company that has created an SD card reader or a USB port for the iPad ... similar to the items sold by Apple in the Camera Connection Kit.
I am specifically looking for hardware solutions not software solutions.
I have found some items that are media card readers for the iPod/iPod touch, but I cannot ascertain if any of them will work with the iPad. I had contacted Belkin who didn't know if their device would work.
I found a device from Zoom Media that should have been available a few weeks ago, but it seems that delivery is now pushed back until June, after Apple's estimated delivery date of the OEM parts. |
|
Svein Ove Ekornesvaag, Photographer
|
Aalesund | Møre og Romsdal | Norway | Posted: 5:32 PM on 05.15.10 |
->> I can't understand how they imagine to be more effective with an iPad than with a laptop with that kind of work.
Laptop:
Same size
No problem with card readers
No problem with usb drives
No problem with reading/writing mail FAST
Almost the same battery life
Built in sd-reader
Normal keyboard
Lots of software
Access to the full web
iPad:
Touchscreen
Apps |
|
Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
|
Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 5:47 PM on 05.15.10 |
| ->> Get a PC. |
|
Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
|
| | | Posted: 5:54 PM on 05.15.10 |
->> Svien,
I know people on SportsShooter love to argue ... however since you have no idea what the parameters and end use for the client you can't possibly make any assumption of the practical use of the hardware.
I am looking for information on one specific aspect ... a 3rd party piece of hardware that competes with, or offers the same features, of the Apple OEM Camera Connection Kit.
Lets stick to the topic. |
|
Israel Shirk, Photographer, Assistant
|
Boise | ID | US | Posted: 8:27 PM on 05.15.10 |
->> Let's take guesses at what Steven has really been up to ;)
He's looking to set up a group of Mexican't drug lords with some high tech ways to deliver their products. Not Mexican. Mexican't. The kind fated with capture and infiltration. The kind with that bitter, flustered, "I've been in the pounder just uno too many times" blues.
He met one of them on a charter flight, got to talking, and then Steven leaned towards the guy and quietly made the magical marketing suggestion - "You know, the iPads are bright and shiny, I'm sure we could streamline this whole system with a few!"
Right now, their overlords are stuck using laptops and clearwire/virgin mobile internet, and it's just not working so great. They need a device which will allow them to easily land, take a photo of where they're at, geotag it, and upload it to Google. As soon as they do this, that needs to go out to all their local dealers, who will send back photos of themselves (for authentication), geotagged with their current location and ETA. Then using the spiffy google maps app on their ipads, they will all converge on the dealer's location and authenticate automagically using an app similar to the iphone's "bump", but also similar to the "smash" fad that's going around. It'll also tell the ovarloard how much to disperse to each dealer, tracking each shipment with an RFID tag and making sure that it ends up in the right place.
It's basically an automated inventory tracking and meetup thing; all they're having trouble with is getting the cameras to work out so they can tell if it's really the dealer or just a SWAT team guy they'd like to avoid.
That was the pitch. Executed flawlessly. A great sell by any standard. That was supposed to
Having already had his daily dose of luck, however, Steven was a little *too good* at the marketing venture.
The guy just leaned back and said, "Sounds good, buddy. I'll meet you at your house in a week. You have the product, I'll have the payment." He leaned further, his dark-skinned temple nearly touching Steven's sweating brow. "You will have the product, won't you?"
"yyYes, I'll have it ready." |
|
Israel Shirk, Photographer, Assistant
|
Boise | ID | US | Posted: 8:39 PM on 05.15.10 |
->> Here's a way to make the exact same thing yourself.
Take a USB cable for an iPod, and take it apart... Then wire it using this:
http://pinouts.ru/PortableDevices/ipod_pinout.shtml
To this:
http://pinouts.ru/Slots/USB_pinout.shtml
This might help too:
http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/18/how-to-design-your-own-ipod-super-dock-p.../
The main thing is (as others have said) the power requirements... Use a smaller, SD or CF dedicated reader, not a multi-card reader.
You'll end up with the exact same internals of the camera connector dock. The iPad includes the driver support and everything not just for PTP (picture transfer protocol) and card readers/cameras, but for hard drives and some other kinds of devices too.
The software is really your main obstacle if you don't have a developer or software package lined up already. |
|
Butch Miller, Photographer
|
Israel Shirk, Photographer, Assistant
|
Boise | ID | US | Posted: 10:27 PM on 05.15.10 |
| ->> Just an adapter won't work; it won't trigger the ipod to activate the port. |
|
Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
|
| | | Posted: 8:35 PM on 06.13.10 |
->> Lets revisit this ... I still have not received my iPad Camera Connection Kit ... checked a few places that sell them for US$90+ on Amazon, the three I contacted didn't actually have them in stock (despite them saying they are in stock).
So...has anyone found an aftermarket iPad card reader/CF card reader/SD card reader or camera connection kit?
I need to find one in about 10 days or less. Its killing part of my research. Apple initially told me 3 weeks, now they are saying 6 weeks (so another 3 weeks).
Anyone know of any 3rd part makers? Heard of any 3rd party makers? Using a 3rd party item? |
|
Luke Johnson, Photographer, Student/Intern
|
St.Petersburg | FL | USA | Posted: 9:28 PM on 06.13.10 |
| ->> If your up to paying 3x retail value there are quite a few on eBay. |
|
Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
|
| | | Posted: 10:35 PM on 06.13.10 |
->> Luke
I might go that route, but my client does not authorize eBay, which has been a problem in this issue. |
|
Jack Kurtz, Photographer
|
Phoenix | AZ | United States | Posted: 12:25 AM on 06.14.10 |
->> This company makes an SD reader for iPhone and they say it will work with the iPad.
http://www.zoomitonline.com/
I don't know how much flexibility you have with placing files where you want them on the iPad. I've been told by some developers that photos have to go into the iPad's default photo folder.
jack |
|
George Bridges, Photographer, Photo Editor
|
Washington | DC | USA | Posted: 11:50 AM on 06.14.10 |
->> Steven,
If you haven't yet, read the posting Dennis from CameraBits put up regarding getting photos into the iPad.
A lot of what he says will apply to your wanting to transfer files. Developing a card reader is problematic because of power issues. Using the camera connection kit they tested several readers on the USB port and found power issues with some (device wanting too much) and some worked fine.
Using the SD card trying to import files any jpeg has to go into the Photo application and is locked into the "sandbox" created for photos in the OS so moving them around from there is not too easy.
Of course, Dennis explains it better and reading it could get the answer you are looking for and it may be to do what your client wants then they may need to hire a developer to see about custom-designing software for them if the program can overcome the restrictions of the OS. |
|
Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
|
| | | Posted: 5:05 PM on 06.14.10 |
->> A BIG thank you to Dave Tewksbury for sending me an Apple Camera Connection Kit!
THANK YOU DAVE!
With my luck, my $106 one will show up the same day, but probably not ... but Dave has saved my @$$ in getting this project done.
THANK YOU!!! |
|
Dan Routh, Photographer
|
Greensboro | NC | USA | Posted: 5:28 PM on 06.14.10 |
->> Don't know if it's too late, but I just saw this.
http://www.airstash.com/ |
|
James Broome, Photographer
|
Tampa | FL | US | Posted: 12:03 PM on 06.15.10 |
| ->> Cool item, Dan. Thanks for the link! |
|
Return to --> Message Board Main Index
|