We all know how the iPad lacks a USB port or a SD card slot, for which Apple had started to let customers place
orders for a kit that supports usb for cameras and an SD card.
Finally the kit has arrived to one of its first owners who posted its unboxing pictures. iPad owner Jerrod H recieved it.
The kit docks to the ipad and the USB is connected to external hardware. The kit consists of a pair of dongles one for the SD card slot and the other for the usb port.
When hooked up the ipad cleverly detects them and a photo app pops over the camera tab, the intension is the usb is solely for cameras.
The app is smart enough to detect duplicates and offers other clever funtionalities such as deleting the pictures from the card etc.
The dongle also can be used to grab movies in to the iPad. While there are other reports such as from Create Digital Music indicate that the iPad camera connection kit may also provide support for audio interfaces.
Apple software engineering manager William Stewart confirmed that the dongle will support class complaint USB audio devices.
It is interesting to note how Apple would not release a generalized USB dongle and rather insists on using the dongle solely for a camera. Are hackers trying to break free from such kind of control on the products that Apple or other companies would like to possess? Seems like it. Steve Jobs sure does not like to share.
Afterall owning an iPad does not come with one time costs. Its costs just keep adding up with many apps not being free.
Windows User
Could be the result of an agreement with AT&T to keep peeps from tethering, and/or a way to prevent the iPad from getting drained by peripherals. Jobs seems to make battery life a priority.
rjcool
Yeah, i agree