Hi all - I have question regarding the use of USB flash memory cards and an iPad. I've seen various videos online that show you can use a USB flash memory card to open and import pictures onto the iPad (without jailbreaking...).

My question is, have any of you been able to save files onto the USB flash memory card FROM the iPad? I'm not concerned about jailbreaking if that's what needs to be done to do so.

Thanks!

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gWGotBHMgY"]YouTube - Preparing a USB Flash Drive to work with an iPad[/ame]

Just create a DCIM folder in the root of the usb drive and copy your images/videos into that folder. This tricks the iPad into thinking it is connected to a camera.

Also note that a usb drive will not work if it draws too much power from the iPad. This probably isn't a problem for thumb drives, but other devices like a wd passport don't work.

Lilman,

Thank you. This was the simplest solution for importing pictures using flash thumb drive. Great work. You should have this solution marked by the moderators. It probably won't help anyone that wants to view any file type but it is way better for pictures if you don't want to connect to a PC or your camera. If you want pix from someone now all I need is the connector and my flash thumb drive.

Thanks

Jamboy

thanks for your video

How do I create a scum folder.does it have to be done on a laptop.

Very very nice

Good find? Where can you get a camera connector kit?

any place that is selling the ipad and accessories should also stock them, it is an official apple product

Amazon

Tried the DCIM folder on a flash drive and an SD card. I took out the memory card from my camera and it picks up all pics taken from that camera,if I transfer pics to that SD card they will not show ??? Can you help

The images also have to be formatted properly.

The photo app will only show images named IMG_0856.jpg, where 0856 can be any digit you want.

Ok,thanks will look into that.cheers".....nice one that worked

My old Sony camera names it's photo files with DSC-------. does that mean the iPad wouldn't see those files?

thanks for this post I just got the camera kit I am going to try this and I will get back to you

That is a good question, to which I know not the answer off.

it can read both DSC and IMG files

the dsc file is 108KB 1000 x 750, the img file is 4.93MB 4000 x 3000

loads both fine

Thanks! Now for a follow up question.. Does the filename even matter? I used to have a samsung camera and that had a different name from both of those. And what if somebody wanted to name their files to something descriptive, which a lot of people do.

Things have changed

I posted last year that it using the camera kit with a thumb drive and folder DCIM worked great. It did ... until the upgrade to iOS 4. Apple seriously limited the power that the connection port from ~900 mA to ~200 mA. Very few USB devices can operate at this low level and need external power. I had been able to use a Sandisk Cruzer before but now it does not work. The USB connector is useless unless you are directly connecting your camera and it supplies the power. The SD card connector still works because it is just reading a flash card. This limitation requires the use of a dedicated camera USB cable and the battery drain to transfer pictures or using an SD card only that has been removed from some device. You could use a PC but why even offer such a limited camera kit. I know it is a very raw spot for professional photographers, who typically use compact flash cards and were using unpowered USB devices to load pictures to view and/or edit without the need for a computer or wasting battery power on their cameras. As for importing from a Sony camera, yes the Ipad does recognize the DSC files, but since Sony cameras use MS Pro storage, it is the same scenario of using your cameras USB cable and waste power or upload your pictures to a computer and transfer them via the Apple USB cable or copy them to a SD card.

I like that I can do it by fooling the Ipad using a simple DCIM folder but I don't like the idea that Apple altered the technical aspects of the Ipad (without any notice or documentation) so that one of its ancillary products is severely limited. Apple is reaping the rewards for the creativity and application of the Ipad in areas they never could have anticipated it being used. I find it distasteful that in an effort to control what peripheral devices could be used it even diminishes the utility of its own product.

the filename does matter, anything other than those it will not recognise

shame really, like you say, renaming pics to something more descriptive is what a lot of people do, me included

@ Jamboy

indeed, i have a load of thumb drives, but only 1 works

I forgot,what format on video does the iPad work on? I filmed my little one learning on her bike from a camcorder us a disc I would like it on my iPad