I love these sort of things in a geek/tech way, but I I don't think that the headset is practical. Skype sounds incredible with the built-in microphone on the iPhone. I can't believe that the iPad will be worse. You can already plug any pair of headphones that you'd like in to the stereo headphone jack on the iPad. So, using the headphones that you use the rest of the time on the iPad, with its incredibly high quality built-in mic, is probably all you need. Carrying around an adaptor kit, and a second pair of headphones just involves more stuff. Plus, most headset mics that I've heard don't sound as good as the built-in mic on the iPhone.
Bryan -----Original Message----- From: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com [mailto:macvisionar...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Esther Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2010 3:04 PM To: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com; viph...@googlegroups.com Subject: TUAW's Report on Using a USB keypad or headset through the iPad's Camera Kit Connections Hi all, List members may find this report from TUAW of interest: one reader was able to use the iPad's Camera Kit USB connector to attach a USB keyboard to his iPad and use it to type in text entries. Another reported use of this kit by Glenn Fleishman of TidBITS was to connect up his USB headset and Skype a call on his iPad. The devil may be in the details, since at least one other user commenting in the TidBITS article mentioned getting a "USB device not recognized" message when trying his USB keyboard. This isn't the only instance where an unannounced feature of an Apple product can be made to do double duty. For example, it's been common to use the USB port of the Apple AirPort Express WiFi routers to charge iPods, shuffles, and iPhones, dating back to the time of the first generation iPod Shuffle. This apparently only works if you have the older AirPort Express models that were designed for 8.0211a/b/g wireless. By contrast, the current 10 Watt USB Power Adapters for the iPad can be used for charging iPad, iPhone, iPod, or Shuffle at the maximum current draw for each of these devices (2.1 Amps for iPad, 1 Amp for iPhone or iPod Touch, and 500 milliAmps for other iPods) according the iLounge review of the iPad power adapter. Incidentally, the maximum current of 500 mA from the USB ports of your computer is the reason why your iPhone or iPod Touch charges more slowly this way compared to when they are connected to an AC outlet, and why some external battery packs that aren't rated at 1 Amp won't charge your iPhone/iPod Touch very fast. For more details on the USB keyboard and headset connections through the iPad Camera Kit, see Erica Sadun's TUAW article: * "Dear Aunt TUAW: Can I use a USB keyboard or headset with my iPad?" by Erica Sadun, April 23, 2010: <http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/23/dear-aunt-tuaw-can-i-use-a-standard-keyboard-or-usb-headset-wit/ > And for Glen Fleishman's article see: * "iPad USB Camera Adapter Supports Audio Headsets, Too" TidBITS, April 23, 2010: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/11221> The article also gives a link to his main review of the USB Camera Adapter. If you read through the comments of the latter review of the USB Camera Adapter for iPad, you'll find that some users who tried connecting USB keyboards to the iPad through the Camera Adapter were not able to get their devices recognized. Finally, the reference that the 10 Watt USB Power Adapter for iPad is usable to charge other devices from the iLounge review is: "It dynamically adjusts its output to the 500mA demanded by iPods, the 1A of iPhones, or the 2.1A of iPads" from: * "Review: Apple iPad 10W USB Power Adapter" by Jeremy Horowitz, April 22, 2010: <http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/mobile/reviews/apple-ipad-10w-usb-power-adapter/ > There are several references to the fact that (older) AirPort Express units can be used as USB chargers. (Most of these date from six years ago.) Here's a more recent MacWorld article: * "Charge it on your AirEx" by Dan Frakes, April 23, 2009 <http://www.macworld.com/article/140166/2009/04/expresscharge.html> Here's a discussion in a forum that indicates the newer AirPort Express units may not work for this: <http://gdgt.com/discuss/use-usb-port-to-charge-iphoneipod-vv/> Wow, I see that Josh's post went out while I was typing this up. So the main addition I'd point out here is that not all USB keyboards work with the Camera kit, but there's not enough information to tell which ones do. Cheers, Esther -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en.
