Direct camera to iPod wire transfer (Firewire or USB2.0)

Ceroc Addict · #1 September 17th, 2004, 02:04 AM

With the number of camera companies putting out new digital cameras with firewire and/or USB2.0 ports built in, I don't understand why Apple doesn't contact one (or several) of these companies in order to figure out how to *directly* transfer photos from the camera to an iPod.

i.e. Using a camera to iPod direct wire transfer (rather than some dodgy Belkin flash card reader solution).

Any thoughts?

Kap

P.S. I've already posted the above to www.apple.com/feedback/ipod.html

Zammy-Sam · #2 September 17th, 2004, 02:49 AM

Isn't the iPod like an external disk following all standards? If so, then it's rather a stupidity of the camera companies to not add certain software to their cameras that supports external disks other than card readers.

Ceroc Addict · #3 September 17th, 2004, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zammy-Sam

Isn't the iPod like an external disk following all standards? If so, then it's rather a stupidity of the camera companies to not add certain software to their cameras that supports external disks other than card readers.

Agreed. Especially because the iPod has such a large (and growing) following now and has heaps more storage that those ridiculous cards.

Along the same line, why don't the cameras adopt those USB/Firewire sticks as storage media? (maybe I just don't realise it and it is possible to transfer photos to a USB/Firewire stick, but I've never heard that it was possible)

Kap

Ceroc Addict · #4 September 28th, 2004, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zammy-Sam

Isn't the iPod like an external disk following all standards? If so, then it's rather a stupidity of the camera companies to not add certain software to their cameras that supports external disks other than card readers.

I've had a second thought about this that I wanted to follow up on.

i.e. Does it really have anything to do with the camera companies?

My reasoning:

Connecting a digital camera to a computer via Firewire will transfer the photos via iPhoto. There is no special camera software - it's just a matter of having the appropriate drivers present in OS X.

So, why can't the iPod just pretend that it's iPhoto and get the pictures off the camera in the same way?

We already know the iPod can download pictures via the Belkin card reader. Why is the Belkin card reader special? (compared a direct connection to the camera)

Kap

mi5moav · #5 September 28th, 2004, 07:20 AM

I can see why a direct import as the pictures are being taken may be a bit difficult since the drive would have to constantly be spinning or somehow have the ipod pull the info to the 32MB memory buffer on the ipod and then transfer it to the disk. I think that is one reason why a digital camera with a HD would be so expensive since you couldn't just have a small HD in there you would also need a memory buffer to grab the pictures instantly and then have the HD spin up when it becomes full or just right before. Now, I really don't understand why after my camera has it's photos on its SD card i can't just put it into USB mode and download directly through my ipod. This is a one time deal the HD would spin up and pull down info. I can very easily tranfer by dragging and dropping between camera folders and ipod folders. I think it's Apple blocking for some reason. If I am correct in my assumption the ipod can only pull info from an authorized source. Does the belkin card reader have some authorization device built in that Apple had requested? Since if I could just pull info from a small HD device or SD device why wouldn't I be able to connect to ipods together and pull info between one another. I don't think Apple want's this since it may get into copyright stuff and this is a way to blcck that. In a sense a authorized dongle device(belkin reader) may have to be added to perform an authorized transfer. If they could make a HD camera with firewire I wonder if they would bump up the ipod battery life so that the camera could actually be charged by the ipod at the same time the ipod would have a beefed up memory buffer to 64 or 128 so that it could store a few more pictures before having to access the HD and start wasting the battery. I am sure Apple is on it just a matter of time.

Ceroc Addict · #6 September 28th, 2004, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mi5moav

I think it's Apple blocking for some reason. If I am correct in my assumption the ipod can only pull info from an authorized source. Does the belkin card reader have some authorization device built in that Apple had requested? Since if I could just pull info from a small HD device or SD device why wouldn't I be able to connect to ipods together and pull info between one another. I don't think Apple want's this since it may get into copyright stuff and this is a way to blcck that. In a sense a authorized dongle device(belkin reader) may have to be added to perform an authorized transfer.

I can see why Apple would block iPod to iPod transfer, but not camera to iPod. Even if they were doing such blocking, what makes Belkin any different from a camera manufacturer (e.g. Canon)?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mi5moav

I am sure Apple is on it just a matter of time.

Hope so. I've heard the Belkin reader is slower than a turtle. I don't want to be forced to buy one if I can do a direct wire transfer instead.

Kap

**chevy** · #7 September 28th, 2004, 01:14 PM

The camera and the iPod are slave USB devices.

To transfer from the camera to the iPod, the camera must become the master. I agree it should be part of the software of expensive camera.

OlsonBW · #8 September 29th, 2004, 07:00 PM

Directly connecting my digital still or digital video camera to my iPod to download pictures and video is something I also want. This is _less_ of an issue after I bought a 1GB flash card. But still ...

As far as copying to an iPod. I've had no problems copying 20GB files from my iMac to my iPod so there shouldn't be any problems copying a gig of pictures or video to one.