iPad Pro Needs a full USB-C Port

[jclardy]

So today I encountered the one thing that is holding iPad back right now - getting large files on and off the device.

I have some video footage that I wanted to attempt to edit in Luma Touch on my iPad, for a quick edit. Unfortunately, the import process ultimately would take longer than the act of doing the actual edit, and this is absolutely terrible.

The video files are from a GH4, so 4K, and quite sizable, but only around 25GB total. I have them on a Samsung T3 SSD, so I attempt to plug that in with the USB camera connection kit. That is a no go, too much power.

I go to my second option, SMB from a Mac. That is currently importing, as it has been for the last 2 hours. The Mac is hardwired with gigabit ethernet and my router is 802.11AC, so as fast as possible with the iPad, but still slow as molasses because of the required protocol.

The fastest option seems to be putting them back onto an SD card and importing with the SD card reader, but the problem there is that now I will be adding 25GB of video onto my iCloud storage (pushing over 200GB and forcing me to upgrade to the 1TB plan), because there is no local only import and I have to go through photos.

Given the "Pro" moniker now only means smart connector and no air gap, do you think the iPad Pro will get an actual USB port in 2018?

 

[chabig]

Did you try Airdrop from the Mac?

 

[Shirasaki]

Apple wants to cut all wires. I highly doubt they will add even a second lightning connector any time soon. The problem is, wireless transfer is just not fast and stable enough.

 

[bennibeef]

The video files are from a GH4, so 4K, and quite sizable, but only around 25GB total. I have them on a Samsung T3 SSD, so I attempt to plug that in with the USB camera connection kit. That is a no go, too much power.

Try a (powered) USB Hub between the Drive and the iPad? This is the "normal" go-to solution to any usb device on iOS. Most of the devices cant get enough power through the camera adapter. Same with some ethernet adapters etc.


Which Pro do you have? Not every one has lighting with USB3, some still have USB2.

 

[stevenme]

So today I encountered the one thing that is holding iPad back right now - getting large files on and off the device.

I have some video footage that I wanted to attempt to edit in Luma Touch on my iPad, for a quick edit. Unfortunately, the import process ultimately would take longer than the act of doing the actual edit, and this is absolutely terrible.

The video files are from a GH4, so 4K, and quite sizable, but only around 25GB total. I have them on a Samsung T3 SSD, so I attempt to plug that in with the USB camera connection kit. That is a no go, too much power.

I go to my second option, SMB from a Mac. That is currently importing, as it has been for the last 2 hours. The Mac is hardwired with gigabit ethernet and my router is 802.11AC, so as fast as possible with the iPad, but still slow as molasses because of the required protocol.

The fastest option seems to be putting them back onto an SD card and importing with the SD card reader, but the problem there is that now I will be adding 25GB of video onto my iCloud storage (pushing over 200GB and forcing me to upgrade to the 1TB plan), because there is no local only import and I have to go through photos.

Given the "Pro" moniker now only means smart connector and no air gap, do you think the iPad Pro will get an actual USB port in 2018?

Have you tried the new Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter? If you have an IPP this will give you USB3 speed and should provide enough power for the SSD.

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MK0W2AM/A/lightning-to-usb-3-camera-adapter?fnode=91

 

[jclardy]

Did you try Airdrop from the Mac?

Airdrop would likely be faster, but it still has the issue of having to go through photos. The problem is that Photos being the buffer it is either all or nothing if you use iCloud photo storage. If Apple let us choose what to do with certain file types it would be fine, but any photo/video goes straight into photos no matter what.

Apple wants to cut all wires. I highly doubt they will add even a second lightning connector any time soon. The problem is, wireless transfer is just not fast and stable enough.

I know they want to, but on the iPad this will be a long while. The iPhone charges so slowly over a "fast" 7.5w wireless charger, the iPad still charges insanely slow even with a 12w brick. 29w is barely enough for the 12.9" iPad.

Try a (powered) USB Hub between the Drive and the iPad? This is the "normal" go-to solution to any usb device on iOS. Most of the devices cant get enough power through the camera adapter. Same with some ethernet adapters etc.

Which Pro do you have? Not every one has lighting with USB3, some still have USB2.

I have the 10.5" pro, but I did just realize that I was using my older USB->lightning adapter. I'll try again with the new one later.

 

[JPack]

The 10.5" iPad Pro already has a full USB-C controller on the logic board. Apple is simply not using it for anything but power delivery.

Given Apple's stance, I would expect Lightning v2 to to introduced instead of USB-C.

 

[rowspaxe]

So today I encountered the one thing that is holding iPad back right now - getting large files on and off the device.

Least of your problems. Its not a high end video tool.

 

[DNichter]

Cloud? Never have problems.

 

[TheRealAlex]

So today I encountered the one thing that is holding iPad back right now - getting large files on and off the device.

I have some video footage that I wanted to attempt to edit in Luma Touch on my iPad, for a quick edit. Unfortunately, the import process ultimately would take longer than the act of doing the actual edit, and this is absolutely terrible.

The video files are from a GH4, so 4K, and quite sizable, but only around 25GB total. I have them on a Samsung T3 SSD, so I attempt to plug that in with the USB camera connection kit. That is a no go, too much power.

I go to my second option, SMB from a Mac. That is currently importing, as it has been for the last 2 hours. The Mac is hardwired with gigabit ethernet and my router is 802.11AC, so as fast as possible with the iPad, but still slow as molasses because of the required protocol.

The fastest option seems to be putting them back onto an SD card and importing with the SD card reader, but the problem there is that now I will be adding 25GB of video onto my iCloud storage (pushing over 200GB and forcing me to upgrade to the 1TB plan), because there is no local only import and I have to go through photos.

Given the "Pro" moniker now only means smart connector and no air gap, do you think the iPad Pro will get an actual USB port in 2018?

Not before the IPhone gets a USB-C Port I just don’t see it happening. Apple makes too much money off Licensing Lightning Accessories.

 

[Brammy]

Yeah, be nice to just have one charger for everything.

 

[ctg7w6]

Still having a lightning port is absolutely stupid.

 

[whitedragon101]

I have them on a Samsung T3 SSD, so I attempt to plug that in with the USB camera connection kit. That is a no go, too much power.

Its a simple fix.

The USB3 camera connector has two female ports one USB3 and one lightning. If you plug a lightning cable into the female connector and plug the other end into the iPad Pro wall charger there is more than enough power. This is what the extra lightning slot is for, providing extra power to the connected device.

I just tested this by running my USB hard drive off the kit and the drive span up just fine. This uses a lot more power than an SSD.

This is all assuming you have an app that can read your drive.
What I would really like is native support for connecting external drives like this in the files app.

 

[Falhófnir]

I’m wondering if they might switch the USB A end of their cables to a USB C within the next year or so, most computers now seem to be shipping with at least one type C port. Perhaps they might transition away from lightning at the same time? Most likely not but it would be the easiest way of making everything universal...