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Title: iPad VGA interfaces and accessories
Post by: Luther Bell on April 13, 2012, 10:47:25 AM
Modifying:
     I have been looking for a couple of days and I have yet to come across an iPad dock with a VGA output.  The Alesis iO Dock has a composite video out.  I'm just surprised that since there is the VGA adapter cable, there isn't a dock with one built in.  Or is there???

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OK, I know that iPad interface discussions have been bouncing around but I thought of another issue with using iPads for presentations.  Has anyone used a wireless remote (Kensington, or Honeywell Power Presenter) with an iPad?

I'm evaluating my typical corporate A/V setups to see if I could utilize iPads for more than an expensive e-reader.
Title: Re: iPad interfaces and accessories
Post by: Mac Kerr on April 13, 2012, 10:56:46 AM
OK, I know that iPad interface discussions have been bouncing around but I thought of another issue with using iPads for presentations.  Has anyone used a wireless remote (Kensington, or Honeywell Power Presenter) with an iPad?

I'm evaluating my typical corporate A/V setups to see if I could utilize iPads for more than an expensive e-reader.

What are you trying to accomplish? The iPad is a touchscreen interface, how do you control that remotely?

Mac
Title: Re: iPad interfaces and accessories
Post by: Luther Bell on April 13, 2012, 11:16:18 AM
What are you trying to accomplish? The iPad is a touchscreen interface, how do you control that remotely?

Mac

I'm wondering if it would be possible to run a Keynote presentation at a tech table with an iPad-VGA adapter and, using some type of dock or interface, hook up a presentation remote for a presenter to use on the stage.
Title: Re: iPad interfaces and accessories
Post by: Mac Kerr on April 13, 2012, 11:32:08 AM
I'm wondering if it would be possible to run a Keynote presentation at a tech table with an iPad-VGA adapter and, using some type of dock or interface, hook up a presentation remote for a presenter to use on the stage.

When the presenter brings the changes down in the morning on a USB stick how do you load it quickly? A laptop is not that much bigger and will be much faster to type edits on and to send and receive from USB sticks, two things that happen to presentations a lot.

Turning the whole thing around and finding a wireless audio and video solution so a presenter could use his iPad onstage as the remote computer seems a lot more useful.

Mac
Title: Re: iPad interfaces and accessories
Post by: Luther Bell on April 13, 2012, 11:35:29 AM
When the presenter brings the changes down in the morning on a USB stick how do you load it quickly? A laptop is not that much bigger and will be much faster to type edits on and to send and receive from USB sticks, two things that happen to presentations a lot.

Turning the whole thing around and finding a wireless audio and video solution so a presenter could use his iPad onstage as the remote computer seems a lot more useful.

Mac

Those are the same issues that I'm running into.  I don't have an iPad yet and haven't run into any of these situations, I just figured that I would start my homework early so I have a plan. 
Title: Re: iPad interfaces and accessories
Post by: Scott Carneval on April 13, 2012, 02:53:55 PM
There are several ways to use the iPad for presentations. I wouldn't expect to use a 'master' iPad for presentations, rather the presenter will have their own iPad which they have built their presentation on.

The iPad can connect wirelessly to a projector or display using Apple TV and a wifi network. The only caveat is the Apple TV must connect with HDMI, it looks for the HDCP compliance when you turn it on, regardless of whether or not you are using protected media. The workaround to this is an 'HDCP Stripper', which I've used with mixed results.

As for a wireless presenter, the iPhone or iPod touch can be used as a remote for the iPad by installing an app on the iPhone called Keynote Remote. This app works great and even allows the presenter to preview upcoming slides and view presentation notes on the iPhone.
Title: Re: iPad interfaces and accessories
Post by: Jordan Wolf on April 14, 2012, 01:07:06 AM
I see no reason why the presenter can't just use their iPad to control the presentation, either by using it as a remote or as the host device for the actual presentation.

Needing a controller for the controller seems a bit…unnecessary.  It's like we're in the Redundancy Department of Redundancy.

Most users I tolerate just want the newest gadget, won the thing at some function they attended, or have it forced on them by a higher-up to "help improve sales".  That does nothing to make them proficient in using it for building and operating presentations.  I have yet to meet an iPad user who instills confidence in the future of humanity as I know it.
Title: Re: iPad interfaces and accessories
Post by: Brad Weber on April 14, 2012, 07:16:07 AM
I see no reason why the presenter can't just use their iPad to control the presentation, either by using it as a remote or as the host device for the actual presentation.
An importance difference in terms of presentations is whether it is an original iPad or an iPad2, as an iPad does not allow mirroring the internal display to an external output which makes it more awkward to use as a presentation source.

Most users I tolerate just want the newest gadget, won the thing at some function they attended, or have it forced on them by a higher-up to "help improve sales".  That does nothing to make them proficient in using it for building and operating presentations.  I have yet to meet an iPad user who instills confidence in the future of humanity as I know it.
I've been working on a University project that has been interesting in this respect as on the one side I have their own IT and Distance Learning staff using iPads and they understand and the technical issues, however many of their end users are more like those you describe and who saw a commercial where what was on the iPad was on a screen with no wires so they assume that's something anyone can walk into a room and do.

Probably the biggest issue I encounter is that people simply look at any signal coming in or out as being the same thing.  Ethernet, USB, video, audio, - they're  all just signals on a wire so they're all the same aren't they?  So if they can wirelessly get audio and video from web sites then they must be able to transmit audio and video wirelessly.  The difficult part is getting them to understand that their not being able to do what they think they can do or what they saw in an ad or commercial is not a matter of your competence but rather of their misunderstanding.
Title: Re: iPad interfaces and accessories
Post by: Tim Padrick on April 14, 2012, 09:57:07 PM
Needing a controller for the controller seems a bit…unnecessary.  It's like we're in the Redundancy Department of Redundancy.

It's the Department of Redundancy Department.
Title: Re: iPad interfaces and accessories
Post by: Luther Bell on April 15, 2012, 01:53:33 AM
With this post, I'm not approaching it from a 'presenter with an iPad' situation.  I'm approaching it from toying with the idea of creating an iPad driven tech table with one on audio, one on video/ppt.
Title: Re: iPad interfaces and accessories
Post by: Brad Weber on April 16, 2012, 09:37:42 AM
With this post, I'm not approaching it from a 'presenter with an iPad' situation.  I'm approaching it from toying with the idea of creating an iPad driven tech table with one on audio, one on video/ppt.
If you are looking at the iPads as user interfaces for other devices then that may be practical as there are many apps available to allow an iPad to control other devices.  If you are looking at iPads replacing mixers, monitors, switchers and computers, then that may not be as practical.
Title: Re: iPad interfaces and accessories
Post by: Luther Bell on April 27, 2012, 08:37:37 PM
Bump...With a new iPad related question

If you are looking at the iPads as user interfaces for other devices then that may be practical as there are many apps available to allow an iPad to control other devices.  If you are looking at iPads replacing mixers, monitors, switchers and computers, then that may not be as practical.
Title: Re: iPad VGA interfaces and accessories
Post by: Brad Weber on April 28, 2012, 10:40:49 AM
Modifying:
     I have been looking for a couple of days and I have yet to come across an iPad dock with a VGA output.  The Alesis iO Dock has a composite video out.  I'm just surprised that since there is the VGA adapter cable, there isn't a dock with one built in.  Or is there???
Thanks to Apple we now have the iPad, the iPad 2 and not the iPad 3, but rather "The new iPad" (and their other brother Darryl) and they do not all use the same docks, but all three seem to use the same Apple dock connector.  I would guess the issue is the cost of the dock and the variations on audio and video connectivity that are possible.  The Apple VGA adapter cable is the same cost as a dock, the HDMI and composite adapter cables are $10 more each.  That makes it seem quite likely that most users could purchase a dock and the one or two adapter cables they want or need for less than someone could offer a dock that includes all of the potential connectivity.
 
I have to say that I'm not sure I understand the concept of using a portable, personal device as a critical component in a installed professional presentation system.  They're simply not really intended for that type of application, which it turn seems to also exclude such use from warranty coverage.
Title: Re: iPad VGA interfaces and accessories
Post by: Tim McCulloch on May 22, 2012, 11:09:07 AM

I have to say that I'm not sure I understand the concept of using a portable, personal device as a critical component in a installed professional presentation system.  They're simply not really intended for that type of application, which it turn seems to also exclude such use from warranty coverage.

+1

The feeding frenzy that Apple marketing creates gives the buyer/user a "Bose-like" mentality.  "It can't be that I'm misinformed, incompetent or the device simply doesn't do what I think it should."  It becomes the AV technician's fault that the user can't do what he thinks should be do-able.
Title: Re: iPad VGA interfaces and accessories
Post by: Ned Ward on May 22, 2012, 04:34:08 PM
Yes and no.  Apple got it right with the iPhone. Way better for most users for corporate email (you wanted to see attachments?) than Blackberry, and now look where RIM is/isn't.

Keynote on an iPad for 1 on 1 coffee table presentations is fantastic. Using an iPad to present from at a conference in front of hundreds of people? no thanks. replace my Macbook Pro with only an iPad? no thanks.

I've used the Keynote remote to run presentations when I don't want to be tied to my computer and would actually like to walk around while presenting. However, those are usually shows I've set up. Whenever we have AV support I'll take whatever clicker they have.

My pet peeves:
Keynote is a fantastic program in many ways: native HD support, doesn't cough playing back 1080P video files, and you can throw in PDFs, Illustrator Files, Layered Photoshop files and they show up beautifully.

Peeve #1 - There's no Export for iPad. This would be great to let us know that the fonts won't work (or need to be made into vector art), how a 720p aspect presentation is going to be messed up, which files won't play/show up. You'd think they'd want to make this a seamless integration between OSX and iOS app, but noooo.

Peeve #2 - Export for PowerPoint works - kind of. Keynote breaks all master file layouts on export, can't figure out that a smooth dissolve shouldn't export to a checkerboard 1980's transition.

I'm checking tonight to see if Keynote on iPhone/iPad works with AirPlay on an AppleTV to show the display screen, not mirror the presenter mode. If so, could be cool. If not, Peeve #3.

wish they'd actually work on this vs. relegating it to "we're working on it" status.
Title: Re: iPad VGA interfaces and accessories
Post by: Scott Carneval on May 24, 2012, 09:30:36 AM
I don't have any hands-on experience with it, but this is the first 'professional' grade interface I've seen.

http://www.sescom.com/product.asp?item=SES-IAV4