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Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit plays nice with keyboards, headphones

By: , IntoMobile
Monday, April 26th, 2010 at 10:19 AM

You’d think Apple’s iPad Camera Connection Kit would be locked down to only work with things like, you know, cameras and stuff. But, you’d be wrong. New reports indicate that the Camera Connection Kit works well with other peripherals, like USB keyboards, USB headphones/headsets, and even USB microphones.

The iPad’s Camera Connection Kit is essentially an adapter that allows iPad users to connect a camera to their Apple tablet via USB port and move images taken with a camera to the iPad’s Photo Gallery app. The photos are imported in the equivalent of 3-megapixel resolutions. That’s a departure from the iPhone, which down-samples images to 800 x 600. The iPad will import in 2048 x 1536 for images formatted in the 4:3 aspect ratio that many point-and-shoot cameras use, or 2048 x 1364 for images formatted in the 3:2 ratio typical with DSLR cameras. The adapter will also preserve the EXIF data embedded in the digital images.

Seeing as how the iPad already works with its the Apple iPad Keyboard Dock through the iPad’s dock connector, it makes sense that the camera adapter would work with other USB keyboards. You won’t get the added functionality of the dock itself, but at least you can that old USB keyboard out of the closet and put it to good use.

It’s also good to see that the USB camera adapter is compatible with USB headphones, headsets and microphones. That opens the door to using your VoIP headset to make internet phone calls. And, if you use a USB headset with a digital signal processor to clean up the audio, call quality should be stellar.

Check out the video below to see the iPad Camera Connection Kit in action.

[Via: AppleInsider]

About The Author

Will Park

Will hails from The City of Angels - Los Angeles, California. He spends his time playing with his numerous gadgets and looking forward to seeing what future holds for mobile technology. An avid promoter of a fully "digital" life, he promotes the widespread adoption of truly mobile, paper-less living. He dreams of the day when he can go completely digital. No more snail mail, paper receipts, bound books, notepads/spiral notebooks, credit cards, hard currency. He's a digital warrior - fighting for the converged life. He is an idealist and a realist - he has a perfect view of what the world should be but knows that the world is not perfect. Can we ever hope to see Will's dream become reality? We'll see...

  • cpip

    Seems to kind of defeat the entire purpose of having this “ultra-portable, take me with you anywhere, the ‘on-screen’ keyboard is fabulous” device don’t you think?

    Just my thoughts…………..

  • Marty McPadden

    I’m still waiting patiently for my 3G iPad to arrive. Unless the on screen keyboard is totally unusable, I probably won’t bother with a bluetooth keyboard. I’m more impressed that the Camera Connection Kit works with more devices other than digital camera and a way to get your photos onto the iPad. I’m encouraged hearing reports the adapter works with USB headphones and microphones. The size of the connector will make it easy to pop in your pocket and use your USB accessories on the go. I’m surprised Apple hasn’t publicized these “hidden” features.

  • solecize

    unless you want to hack a keyboard and build an icade like the one on think geek and play pacman on your ipad!

  • kina

    Latest, Livsim Technology Co.,Ltd launched a new product 2 in 1 ipad camera connection kit.This camera connection kit have one port connect with ipad, another a USB port and SD card slot. With it can easy import photos and videos from camera by USB cable or SD card. It’s with good quality and lower price than apples’. Only USD15~USD20 per unit!
    If anyone interest it, please feel free to contact me. MSN: kina.shang@hotmail.com

  • http://www.sortshots.com/ andykeating

    Thank you for your excellent post on the iPad Camera connection Kit.