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That's truly amazing what they're doing here. I'm sorry if this is an ignorant question, but wouldn't it make sense for there to be some kind of USB port or so
by unoti 16y ago
That's truly amazing what they're doing here. I'm sorry if this is an ignorant question, but wouldn't it make sense for there to be some kind of USB port or something that's actually designed for I/O on the iPhone? I mean, surely there'd be less power loss if the port was actually designed to power other low power devices. Especially if it could mean that you don't need as powerful of an external microcontroller for doing the hacking and encoding that's necessary for doing all the work-arounds from not having a real IO port.
- acgourley 16y agoApple wants you to use their 30 pin interface, but that requires going through their MFi program and that lets them control the hardware ecosystem like they do the software ecosystem. To be fair, there are certain advantages to hardware manufacturers willing to jump those hurdles. You're able to ensure no one can make software for your hardware, for one. Secondly users who plug in your hardware can automatically be taken to the app store to download your software.
- frosty 16y agoAlso the headphone jack is available on all phones and if you develop for 30 pin interface, you have to design different hardware connector for different phones
- joe_bleau 16y agoIs there anyplace online people in the MFi program hang out (forums, usenet, mail lists, etc.)? I've got some very basic questions about the whole process, but it seems like such a black hole (from the outside looking in). It would be great to use the ipods or ipads for industrial data collection, but we'll need IR and a way to get data on/off without network connectivity.
- acgourley 16y agoNot that I've seen, and the NDA you have to accept is pretty strict.
- joe_bleau 16y agoThat's what I was afraid of. In the quantities we're looking at, maybe we'd be better off jailbreaking and selling the whole thing as a package. Or maybe I'll just drag my feet a bit and hope there's a decent Android tablet with USB host and an SD slot coming soon...
- yesbabyyes 16y agoYou should take a look at Adam from Notion Ink. It's USB host. To me that's the killer feature, for this reason!
- joe_bleau 16y agoThanks, that's an interesting device.
- jodrellblank 16y agoSo far, it's vapourware. That's something I just can't get over when I consider ordering one.
- seabee 16y agoIf it's vapourware then what were they showing at CES 2011?
- haribilalic 16y agoIt's vapourware until you can buy one. A lot of things that are shown at CES do end up being cancelled before they're ever released.
- yesbabyyes 16y agoThe pre-orders are shipping. Mine will arrive in about two weeks.
- 16y ago
- ptomato 16y agoI really have no idea about the iPhone, but the iPad can be a USB host via the USB part of apple's camera connection kit.