Tip: Using Camera Connection kit+usb to store movies on the move

[kaelell]

Apologies if this has already been covered, I havnt read anything about it I was just experimenting and found it works so sharing with others.
I've only got a 16GB iPad with about 2GB free. Going on a trip soon and wanted to take a couple of series with me that far exceed that 2GBs.
So what you can do is put the files on a portable USB drive (I've got an 8GB pen drive) in a folder called DCIM (this folder may not even be nessecary).
when connected through the kit, it shows up under photos and you can copy the video to your device to watch, delete it then copy the next one over essentialy treating as a portable hardrive connected to your Ipad.


Your thoughts?

thanks


Edit: I guess it might be worth adding, I would imagine this would not work with Movies/videos bought from itunes due to DRM, but Ive tried with mp4's I've converted and its working.

 

[greyshark]

Thanks for the tip.

I have the camera connection kit on order, but reading about it, it seems a lot more versatile than my first impressions. All the reviews I have read seem really positive.

 

[b.c.]

... So what you can do is put the files on a portable USB drive (I've got an 8GB pen drive) in a folder called DCIM (this folder may not even be nessecary).

good tip.

one thing: I notice that you DO need to have a DCIM folder on your USB drive or SD Card, and the files need to be inside that folder to show up for import on your iPad.

if a DCIM folder does not exist you get an error: "The attached USB device is not supported."

 

[HiFiGuy528]

So it should work with SD cards too since cameras can format with DCIM folder in place. Anyone tried that?

 

[b.c.]

So it should work with SD cards too since cameras can format with DCIM folder in place. Anyone tried that?

Yes it does work with SD cards too. You can even manually create the DCIM folder on the SD Card, then put movies into it - the iPad will see those files in the DCIM folder to import

 

[funkyc]

so this definitely works?
what abt for files such as .doc or .pdf?
and what formats do ipads read for videos? just m4v or whatever it's called?
sorry for all the questions but i don't have an ipad yet and am waiting for one to be delivered...so i want to get ready

 

[avaloncourt]

Pretty interesting stuff. Thanks for posting.

 

[poloponies]

so this definitely works?

Yes, it's posted all over the place, run a Google search if you want.

 

[kaelell]

so this definitely works?
what abt for files such as .doc or .pdf?
and what formats do ipads read for videos? just m4v or whatever it's called?
sorry for all the questions but i don't have an ipad yet and am waiting for one to be delivered...so i want to get ready

it does, but only for videos not other documents. Ipad can read I believe mp4 & M4v's

exact file specs pasted below:

Support for 1024 by 768 pixels with Dock Connector to VGA Adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Component AV Cable; 576i and 480i with Apple Composite AV Cable
H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format

 

[poloponies]

it does, but only for videos not other documents.

The DCIM folder is for "Digital Camera IMages", so files that meet that criteria can be accessed via the camera kit, including movies and photos - but that's it.