Mashable.com
Perhaps we haven’t learned everything about the iPad just yet. Could an iPad with a camera be in the near future?
Mission Repair, a company that fixes broken Apple products, apparently got their hands on some iPad parts. Their pictures showed off the internal frame, which curiously enough has a small hole on the top.
When the Mission Repair team took a camera out of a MacBook and placed it inside the iPad’s top hole, it fit right in. You can see a comparison of the MacBook camera and the iPad slot in the image above.
Now if they’ll just add Flash capabilities, memory slot, USB port, etc., etc.
They have to have something cool to add so the fanboys will upgrade next year.
Only fanboys use the word fanboys…….D’oh!
Seems like it wasn’t just the iPod touch that the guys at apple weren’t able to get a camera working in.
When will folks stop giving apple a free pass regarding their hardware? They obviously can’t even get something as simple as a webcam to work in multiple products.
Hmm, a closeup of Steve during the launch shows that HIS tablet had a camera!
http://wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/02/apple-ipad-may-ship-with-webcam/
Flash? Plugins are dead, not just Flash.
And they are working on a bigger one, too:
http://techcrunch.com/2010/02/01/apple-tablet-os-x-ipad/
Or you could just buy a modbook:
http://axiotron.com/
#6 From Techcrunch? I call BS.
honeyman
Negative.
“The term is most commonly associated with adolescent and teenage males but can be applicable to any age or sex, and is MOSTLY APPLIED BY OTHERS as a derogatory label.”
Only a fanboi would say Only fanboys use the word fanboys.
There’s probably not a camera because somebody figured out that using a camera on an unsupported 1.5 lb., 9.5 X 7.5 inch tablet would suck for anything other than goofing around.
Why would you want to take pictures or video using a really huge camera with bad optics, fixed focus, and no flash? If you want to take pictures with a crappy camera you’ve probably already got one on your cellphone.
How long would you be able to hold that thing at the proper angle for somebody to see your face during an ichat or skype session?
The ipad maybe a device in search of a purpose, but it’s not a laptop and not a phone. You’re better off with a lower price and dropping a feature that people might think it should have but that it’s not really suited for.
#9 The primary use for a camera on this thing would be as a webcam for coversations with other webcam users.
A feature that for some reason isn’t avalable on a iPhone.
“the primary use for a camera on this thing would be as a webcam for coversations with other webcam users.”
That’s my point. An iPad would be awful for that. On a desktop or laptop, you don’t have to worry about holding the camera. On the iPad you would. Your audience is going to spend half the time looking at your neck or chest instead of your face, – if they can see you at all.
Would you use a webcam if you had to hold it all the time? I wouldn’t.
I mean maybe you can set it in your lap in such a way that you don’t have to support it with your arms or hands but then you’re staring down at it. I just don’t see it being very comfortable.
#11 tjspiel
You nailed it.
Looks like the apple apologists are here in force defending another dick move by apple.
@ tjspeil: You named all the things and I-Pad isn’t good for but haven’t named one thing for which it is good? Does that mean its another pointless piece of crap from Apple?
Every hand held compute device will have a camera at some point. This is not a revelation.
Future interfaces will include gesture recognition for instance. Although Republicans will have trouble with this since they are always frowning.
Everyone explaining another Apple “failure”. Good thing I don’t rely on youse for stock tips.
BTW – the dock for this critter is where the USB connection is made – and then it’s positioned properly for video conferencing.
All of this info is available on the Web. If only some of you knew what you were talking about, you could be taken seriously.
All kidding aside, I think the iPad will be used heavily by employees to bypass their companies’ internet blocking, filtering, and monitoring. 75% of US companies monitor and/or block their employees internet access under the guise of security. This is the perfect tool to get around that.
The reason that the iPad does not have a camera is that the iPhone does have a camera, and you are expected to own and carry both.The same reason that you can’t link a bluetooth headset to the iPad and make a phone call… you are expected to buy an iPhone.
Actually, you are expected to buy three items: an Iphone, an iPad and a MacBook, so you can make phone calls, do iPad ‘stuff’ (whatever that may be) and do ‘real’ computing.
Basically the iPad ends up being a device that is easy to use for reading in bed and while on the toilet. Or if you are one of those dweebs that goes to Starbucks to browse the web. And that’s about it.
Wait until the 3rd revision comes out.
The 1st generation iphone was totally crappy wrt the iphone 3G. And the iphone 3G isn’t as nice as the 3GS (the speed, RAM, and compass of the 3GS really set the standard of smartphones, until Android 2.1).
If you don’t “need” the ipad, why be an early adopter?
I’m waiting for the Nexus v. iphone 4G shootout this summer!
The iPad is an excellent device for surfing the web while you sit on the john. Other than that…
#20 True but also a great couch potato surfing device. I use my ipod touch now and could see where a larger screen would be pretty nice to have.
I think the key to success is great content – like magazine and newspaper formatted for that screen size with added multimedia.
It’s funny how people unequivocally endorse or vehemently oppose a device no one yet owns.
I must really be out of the loop here. I don’t see any real advantages of the Ipad over a netbook, except to read a website, interactive book, or games.
Website without Flash? $600 buys a lot of books… PSP…
$400 can get you an excellent netbook with a webcam, keyboard, etc.
It’s just not as Apple cool.
Here’s just a random example, pulled off the web.
http://tinyurl.com/ycsln9j
So how is the Ipad that much better at %50 extra expense?
Ah_Yea said “Website without Flash?”
You’re saying that like it’s a bad thing.
I think it is prudent at this stage to adopt a wait and see approach on the iPad and not fall into the media trap of endless speculation and hyperbole based on its own hyperbole and speculation.
Having said that I was a bit under-whelmed by what I’ve seen so far.
Cringely posted a report from a beta tester. It has a camera front and back.
# 27 honeyman Endless speculation and emotional outbursts are the things that make IT a science.
I would like to know if the regulars here, who think Flash is optional, ever read DU on a nonFlash enabled device?
About 1/3 (or more) of videos posted here REQUIRE flash, as well as lots of other media I can’t see.
That said, the ipad would have had some sizzle for me if it could be docked into a netbook, like that device at CES. Why didn’t apple think of that???