iPod Camera Connector supports iPod photo only, media readers, and USB host?
posted March 23rd 2005 6:06PM
Earlier this week the iPod Camera Connector became available for ordering from the online Apple Store. Early this morning Apple put up several support documents which were shortly thereafter taken down (but only after being noticed by iPodlounge), which highlighted a few items of note about the new $29 device:
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The iPod Camera Connector is not supported for use with older iPods. Only the iPod photo is supported, despite earlier hopes that older generation iPods might be able to use the connector.
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External media readers will be supported for use with the device. In addition to being able to hook up directly to your camera via USB, you can also hook in any supported media reader and suck down photos from card-based media.
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The USB port on the connector is a low power port, and can't be used to charge other iPods.
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Interestingly: "While an iPod photo with an attached iPod Camera Connector may recognize another iPod if you connect it, transferring photos from one iPod to another is not supported."
The last item hints that the iPod photo may in fact have some sort of USB Host capability. Though it may not be supported by Apple to do iPod to iPod transfers, let's see what the folks at the iPod Linux project can come up with.
iPod shuffle --> iPod photo??
hmm..that'd be kinda cool, but really pointless
It's just stupid that this connector can't be used with regular iPods. Apple would have sold heaps of them.
Kap
But that wouldn't be overbearing and restrictive now would it Kap?
Kap- I'd imagine the iPod Linux people will be able to get this functional with non-photo iPods (at least other 4G ones), once they get 4G support finished (which hopefully won't be long as they're well on their way already).
OK, where do I find the list of compatable card readers and cameras?
Dalton-
http://www.ipodlounge.com/ipodnews_comments.php?id=6766_0_7_0
The list was on the Apple support site but pulled, basically, it's most USB cameras (and card readers) that "support either the PTP, Type 4 (Normal), or Mass Storage protocol."
darn. i too was hoping it would work with older dock-havin' iPods as the earlier rumors suggested. i really don't care to actually look at photos on my iPod... but was hoping to be able to pick this up to offload files from cameras when in a place i don't feel like bringing a computer to. like on vacation. etc.
though i suppose for the $29 price i could just spend a few more Hamiltons and get a 1GB SD card vs. the 256MB i have now.
I'm glad to hear that the iPod will download off card readers.
I am fully expecting an Engadget HOWTO on how to use this with older iPods.
Not iPod Linux, but native Apple iPod.
I'll stop reading if you don't figure it out.
I hope you are joking, because if you are not, what a fucking jerk.
I really had hoped Apple would update the firmware on recent iPods to support this connector. We have two 4G 20G iPods and I would instantly buy a connector to offload 8MP images.
I don't see a need for an iPod Photo ($ / features) Since the iPod Photo is just temporary storage ( it doesn't allow you to view your downloaded images, until you transfer them to your system and then sync 'm back ) why not let the iPod do the same?
i'm not sure if my hp 935 will work with this cable and my 40gb photo ipod?
Actually, you can view photos on the iPod photo after pulling them directly off of a camera (which you couldn't do with the belkin version). What you won't be able to do is view them on a TV until you sync the iPod.
Totally lame. I'm taking a three week trip overseas this summer and I NEED (not want) to dump photos onto my 4G 40GB iPod.
I guess I can use the Belkin version but 1)it costs more and 2)an Apple branded device would be ideal.
Apple is insane to not offer this for regular iPods. They'd sell tons of them...
i'm just as frustrated as all of you at apple's seeming disabling the photo connector with non-color screen ipods. these 3&4G players scream portable on demand storage ... but then we see this limitation. only so much energy can go towards frustration, so i tried to figure out apple's motives. could be: (1) 5G iPod, color screen or no, will support this as well. (2) it did say for "iPod photo", but has apple officially said _not_ for other versions (this is a ridiculously long shot, but not entirely improbable given the distinct lack of definitive information (?)) (4) firmware update currently still in testing will be released to coincide with ship date of adaptor. (3) apple crunched the numbers and showed that disabling this connector yields more profits down the road for some other accessory/generation.
i'd love to hear more ideas about apple's reasoning - they're a smart company, i wonder what motivated this decision.
It looks like ajmicek has left out another possible reason why photo connector needs iPod photo to work. May be only iPod photo has the USB chipset to support the photo connector. Unlike FireWire, USB does not have peer-to-peer capability. It can either be a host or a device and not both at the same time. Remember most USB devices cannot ever become a host.
Another feature that would freak out the music industry but consumers would love; The ability to connect one iPod to another and copy music across without having to go via a PC/Mac running iTunes. Apple are getting awfully close to being able to do this and it really looks like this latest add-on has all the hardware capability to do it.
But then Apple is in the music distribution business these days so they're always going to limit the software to keep these sort of features out of our hands.
Why does the latest firmware add an "import photos" option in 4G iPods if it can't be used?
Now I am remembering why I dumped apple and switched to PCs in 1999. Someone needs to kick them in the nuts.
wait a minute... not supported != won't work...
Maybe there is still a chance of using this with my 4G 20gb iPod. I really don't want to buy Belkin's they have a track record of slow speeds for nearly anything they build, plus it would be an extra $20 and a pile of batteries to use it.
Why else would my iPod have a photo import option on it already if Apple doesn't want the extra cash I would be giving them. But I will not buy a photo ipod when I've only had my 4G for less than 4 months.
Ok so all of you are hoping iPod Linux will hack this right? Well do any of you currently use iPod Linux? I use it on my 1st gen iPod for the games on my commute and the fun/work of tinkering with my iPod. The playback support for anything other than mp3s is not quite there yet and even then it's choppy. I'm a big fan of the project and would like to get it going on my 4th gen when it comes out, but don't expect this anytime within the next couple weeks/months. If you have any experience with this sort of thing, head over there and lend a hand instead of sitting around expecting this to be delivered to you. And for the masses that keep hassling these guys for 4th gen support, it will come, be patient. They have made a lot of progress recently and finally got some audio playback.
Now as for the topic I would love to be able to use this device 4 my 4th gen iPod to offload some pictures off my sd card, but I realize this isnt going to happen. Think about it, what would be the point of an iPod Photo? I am hoping after Apples next revamp of the iPod that the iPod Photo will disappear.
Transfering from iPod ---> iPod shuffle would be GREAT but unlikely.
I could take my iPod photo on holiday, load a fresh selection to shuffle to take to beach and leave iPod photo safely in hotel.
Come on Apple - think about it!
As I understand it, the reason that only iPod Photos are supported is due to hardware differences: at the moment, they are the only non-mini iPods based on the Portal Player 5020 system-on-chip, which among other things provides "dual-role" USB on-the-go functionality. I believe that the 4G iPods use an earlier chip.
- Dan
I am interested in another angle for my iPod Photo. I just received my Sony PSP. It can handle, obviously, video... it came with Spiderman 2. As I read the manual, you can connect it to Mac/PC and convert your movie files and transfer to the PSP. Trouble is, it only supports those files on memory sticks (lame and expensive).
Wouldn't it be sweet to somehow get a connector of some sort going from the memory stick slot on the PSP, to a 60G iPod Photo. Movies for the PSP resolution/compression comes down to about 2G. That is 20 movies you could have at your disposal for those long airplane trips.
Anyone think that is possible?
#23: no, 4th gen also use PP5020. 1st-3rd gen used another chip: PP5002 I think.
to anna manni: "May be only iPod photo has the USB chipset to support the photo connector. Unlike FireWire, USB does not have peer-to-peer capability."
If that were the case why wasn't the camera connector made to work through the firewire protocol rather than USB? (Just a logical question that seems to follow.)
I think there are two explanations that are the most logical. 1) Hardware doesn't support it. Unfortunately I don't know enough about the chipsets to speak knowledgably on this. or 2) ajmicek's last reason: they crunched the numbers and fiscally makes more sense to disable it (better margins on ipod photos, push the latest technologies, etc etc.).
One final possibility is that it just requires a firmware upgrade and Apple provides it in the near future. That would be the cool thing to do. Not everyone wants an iPod photo and it does, in my opinion, represent a semi-tangent from the original intention of the iPod. Then again a CAMERA CONNECTOR working only wiht an iPOD PHOTO does make sense. I'm bitter cuz I have a 4g but want to use my ipod as a temporary HD for my camera.
If that were the case why wasn't the camera connector made to work through the firewire protocol rather than USB? (Just a logical question that seems to follow.)
Because few digital cameras (not the video ones) support firewire.
seems like the iPod Photo should've had a USB connector built into it (on top near the headphone jack) instead of requiring an external kludge like this. I also think it's a crime that they don't include the A/V cable.
FWIW, I own a 3G 40 GB iPod. I think it would be nice if the wired remote had a button to toggle shuffle mode since I to use shuffle to browse and then tend to listen to several tracks from the same album until I'm in the mood for something completely different.
I've got a 40gig iphoto, a Sony Cybershot T3 digital camera & I've just got an iPod Camera connector. Does anyone know how I get my pictures from my camera onto my iphoto? any help please!!!?
I've got a 40 gig ipod photo, a Sony DSC-T33 digi camera & a newly purchased ipod camera connector. All I want to do is connect them so I can use the ipod as a storage facility when I'm out & about... not carry or even bother purchasing any further cards for the camera.
Can anyone PLEASE tell me how I do this. I've trawled both the apple & sony sites, alas no info or joy so far... H-E-L-P!!!
I have an iPod Photo and the new Camera Connector. I also have a card reader that does not work - the San Disk that was reviewed somewhere and didn't work. Still doesn't!
Does any reader/user of the camera connector know any card readers (prefer usb 2, but not fussy) that do work and are available for purchase in Australia?
Please post or email me (crows979803@yahoo.com.au) .
Many thanks.
I have an iPod Photo and the new Camera Connector. I also have a card reader that does not work - the San Disk that was reviewed somewhere and didn't work. Still doesn't!
Does any reader/user of the camera connector know any card readers (prefer usb 2, but not fussy) that do work and are available for purchase in Australia?
Please post or email me (crows979803@yahoo.com.au) .
Many thanks.
I am a comment spammer: bestarsenalfan@hotmail.com
I am a comment spammer: bestarsenalfan@hotmail.com
EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO USE A CARD READER WITH THERE CAMERA CONNECTOR: Go here for spec: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPod_Camera_Connector, the belkin one is the best, plus lifetime warranty!
then click on other articles and ipod camera connector, the links a bit rubbish!!
Does anyone know if the adapter will support reading from a USB Flash Drive? I have a Sandisk Cruzer Titanium 512MB and a 4G 60GB iPod Photo. I am considering buying the adapter if it will dump my USB drive to the iPod. Please let me know if you have tried this or anything similar. Thanks!