iPad Question about using hard drive with iPad - possible?

[ssledoux]

I know I have used a small drive to move photos from my work iPad to my work Windows laptop. However, my knowledge is strictly limited to my exact usage because I've never done anything else with it.

My friend is asking if she could copy a video from her iMac onto a drive of some sort, and then plug that in to the iPad and access the video (this would be a video she would've taken with a camera, and edited on the Mac). Her ability to do this is what will determine whether or not she buys an iPad (she currently hauls her iMac with her to various places, which is DARN inconvenient).

Anyway, is this possible, and, if so, will any hard drive work, or are there ones specifically suited to the iPad?

 

[mikzn]

I do this kind of thing daily with video clips, photos, documents and Keynote presentations.

1) Airdrop is great for a quick transfer - fast and simple

2) iCloud drive is great for multiple documents - create a folder on the mac with the docs and it will show up on the iPad

both are wireless and require wifi but once the video / document is on the iPad you can "open with" an apps to save it permanently on the iPad

 

[Rigby]

Right now using external storage devices with an iPad is very limited. It can import images and videos from a specific folder (that is normally used by digital cameras) into the photo library, but that's pretty much it. However, iOS 13/iPadOS (which should be released within the next two months) will change that by making USB storage devices accessible from the Files app, which should make it possible to access files on an external hard drive using the USB 3 camera adapter. That will require connecting a power supply to the adapter though since the Lightning port does not provide enough power for a hard drive (a USB stick might work without extra power though). It might be more practical to buy a small laptop (e.g. a Macbook Air) instead.

Alternatively, there are a number of ways to copy files from a Mac to an iPad (via cable, wirelessly, or through a cloud service), but that may not be what your friend wants.

 

[rui no onna]

Note, this is assuming, of course, that the video format she exports to is supported on the iPad (either natively or through 3rd party app).

 

[ssledoux]

I do this kind of thing daily with video clips, photos, documents and Keynote presentations.

1) Airdrop is great for a quick transfer - fast and simple

2) iCloud drive is great for multiple documents - create a folder on the mac with the docs and it will show up on the iPad

both are wireless and require wifi but once the video / document is on the iPad you can "open with" an apps to save it permanently on the iPad

I think the thing is, that once it's on the iPad, she may need to be able to upload it to a computer at the library in town (we are in a rural area, and internet access/speed is always an issue). She can airdrop from the Mac to the pad I'm sure, but she'd needs to be able to move it from the ipad to a computer.

 

[NoBoMac]

What @Rigby said.

If history repeats itself, on the 18th or 25th of September will be when iOS 13 is released to the public. At which point, with the correct connector, will be able to easily move bi-directionally files to/from iOS devices and external drives.

For example, here is a thread from the first beta of iOS 13 and the success one user had moving data around.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ipad-pro-10-5”-transfer-speeds-test.2184712

Assuming external drive is old-school USB-A...

For an iPad with a Lightning port, this connector would be needed:

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

If going to an iPad with USB-C (ie. Pros), this:

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MJ1M2AM/A/usb-c-to-usb-adapter

 

[mikzn]

Note, this is assuming, of course, that the video format she exports to is supported on the iPad (either natively or through 3rd party app).

good to have VLC on the iPad - it will play most formats - and can pull movie files directly from time capsule

 

[rui no onna]

I think the thing is, that once it's on the iPad, she may need to be able to upload it to a computer at the library in town (we are in a rural area, and internet access/speed is always an issue). She can airdrop from the Mac to the pad I'm sure, but she'd needs to be able to move it from the ipad to a computer.

Are we talking direct connection between library PC and iPad? If so, probably not doable unless your local library has iTunes pre-installed.

If she's using a flash drive or HDD anyway, there's no need to go through the iPad. Just connect the flash drive/HDD directly to the library PC.

 

[ssledoux]

Are we talking direct connection between library PC and iPad? If so, probably not doable unless your local library has iTunes pre-installed.

If she's using a flash drive or HDD anyway, there's no need to go through the iPad. Just connect the flash drive/HDD directly to the library PC.

Yeah that definitely makes sense, but for some reason she wants to use the iPad in the mix. It’s because something she’s doing is requiring her to take her actual iMac with her when she goes places, and whatever it is she’s doing, she wants to do it on the iPad so she’ll have a portable device to take with her instead of her iMac. Yes, iMac, NOT MacBook. I can’t believe she’s made it this long without something portable if she’s toting her computer everywhere.

Money is a factor though, so a MacBook isn’t really an option.

 

[AutomaticApple]

I know I have used a small drive to move photos from my work iPad to my work Windows laptop. However, my knowledge is strictly limited to my exact usage because I've never done anything else with it.

My friend is asking if she could copy a video from her iMac onto a drive of some sort, and then plug that in to the iPad and access the video (this would be a video she would've taken with a camera, and edited on the Mac). Her ability to do this is what will determine whether or not she buys an iPad (she currently hauls her iMac with her to various places, which is DARN inconvenient).

Anyway, is this possible, and, if so, will any hard drive work, or are there ones specifically suited to the iPad?

AirDrop is practically my best friend.

 

[actionmarker]

Does anyone know what external drive formats the iPad will read/write. Presumably not NTFS, but FAT? or is going to be tied down to Apple formats only?

 

[rui no onna]

Reckon FAT and exFAT are guaranteed since those are the file systems used by most cameras.

 

[actionmarker]

And will an iPad be able to format a drive?

 

[sparksd]

And will an iPad be able to format a drive?

I really doubt that functionality will be available in iOS/iPadOS.