Now that the iPad has been out for a few days and you ’ve read every possible revue , first - impressions article , and opinion piece , you ’re probably starting to consider about more pragmatic affair : hold that Apple ’s unexampled machine has the same connexion — dock connexion , headphone jack , Bluetooth — as my iPhone or iPod touch , will it work with the accouterment I already have ? Which novel accessory should I grease one’s palms ? And will I need to carry a bottle of Windex for that screen ?
You could just go out and buy new“Made for iPad”accessories . But we ’ve spent the past few days test the iPad with existing accessories to see if you may reprocess those add - ons . Here ’s what we ’ve determined so far .
Apple ’s iPhone Power Adapter
Apple’s iPhone Power Adapter
Chargers and battery : As we cover a few days ago , the iPad requires more juice than the iPhone or any iPod . As a solvent , no iPhone or iPod chargers we tested — AC or car — were able to charge the iPad as cursorily as its own 10 - Watt USB charger . Higher - power USB courser , such as Apple ’s iPhone Power Adapter and some AC and auto battery charger designed specifically for the iPhone , will charge the iPad , albeit more slowly , even while the iPad is in use . Other iPhone courser , and most chargers plan for iPod , do n’t provide enough juice to commove the iPad ’s battery while the iPad is being used ; you ’ll see the messageNot chargingin the iPad ’s carte cake . ( These scurvy - world power accouterment willpowerthe iPad during use ; they just ca n’t charge the stamp battery at the same time . When you put the iPad to sleep , the iPad ’s battery will charge , but very lento . )
When it come to external barrage , none of the existing iPhone and iPod battery that we ’ve test can charge the iPad ’s battery during purpose . gamey - power batteries ( those that can output approximately 5V , such as Sanho ’s HyperMac MacBook Batteries , which have a 5V USB - force mariner ) will power the iPad , but not charge its battery , during role ; these will charge the stamp battery only when the iPad is asleep . Lower - power iPhone and iPod battery , such as the compact models you might bring along in your traveling bag for a fast on - the - go charge , are similarly limited to charge up the iPad ’s battery while the iPad is asleep , but do so even more slowly .
What we have n’t yet had a chance to check is how much juice a barrage ( or courser ) must render tomaintainthe iPad ’s barrage during use — in other words , so that the iPad ’s battery level does n’t godownwhen you ’re using the iPad .
B&W’s P5 Mobile Headphones
Headphones : The iPad appears to use the same headphone circuitry as the latest iPhone and iPod touch model . Which intend that any circle of headphones with a 1/8 - inch miniplug will work with the iPad — and you ’ll postulate a set , because the iPad inexplicably does n’t ship with headphones . If you have headphones with an iPhone - compatible inline distant control , that comptroller will crop with the iPad just as it does with an iPod mite : a individual - button remote will let you manipulate medium playback , and a three - button remote control will have you hold in playback and align the volume level . The microphone will also work ( see the next item ) .
B&W ’s P5 Mobile Headphones
Microphones : The inline microphone on any iPhone- or iPod - compatible lot of earphone cultivate as a mono microphone for making voice transcription in patronise apps . It also works in Skype and other voice - related apps . Unfortunately , none of the dock - connector microphones for the iPod that we tested — including the Blue Mikey — worked with the iPad , nor did the microphone on any Bluetooth phone or headsets ( covered below ) .
Belkin’s Bluetooth Music Receiver
Bluetooth stereophonic system earphone : We tested a issue of stereo Bluetooth headphones ; all pair apace with the iPad and routed most audio — for example , audio from the iPod and Video apps , and sound from game — through the headphones . However , audio from the Skype app was n’t routed through the headphones , and for those Bluetooth earpiece that included a microphone , that mike did not work with Skype or audio - recording apps . In addition , as with the iPhone , if your Bluetooth headphones provide on - phone control , the only playback control you get via Bluetooth phone isvolume stratum and a maneuver / pause toggle . Here ’s trust iPhone OS 4.0 — or , even better , an update to iPhone OS 3 — finallybrings usAVRCP , the Bluetooth profile that allows full playback control via Bluetooth headphones and speakers .
Bluetooth loudspeaker system : As with Bluetooth stereo headphones , the Bluetooth speaker organisation we essay paired quick and routed most audio — from euphony , TV , streaming medium ( such as Pandora , ABC Player , and Netflix ) , and games — through the speakers . However , as with Bluetooth phone , above , on - speaker playback ascendence is limited to toggle dramatic play / pause .
Belkin ’s Bluetooth Music Receiver
One of Bose’s many SoundDocks
Bluetooth accessories for well out audio to your stereo , such as Belkin’sBluetooth Music Receiver(which I cover in a Macworld telecasting ) , also work well , letting you see video or recreate games on your iPad ’s screen while the audio plays through your boastful fishing rig .
Docking speakers : Perhaps the most democratic iPhone and iPod accessories after headphones , “ speaker system docking facility ” are also among the least compatible with the iPad . The first and most obvious reason is that the immense majority of these systems sport a dock cradle usingApple ’s Universal Dock designand sized for the smaller profile of an iPhone or iPod — the iPad simply does n’t tally , and its docking facility - connection port ca n’t make a stable association with the dock connector in the place of origin .
But even if you could put your iPad in one of these docks , you ’d still have power issues . We were capable to connect an iPad to a number of docking speakers usingCableJive ’s Dock Extender Cable , one final stage of which plug into the iPad ’s dock - connector embrasure and the other into the connection in a dockage . When connected in this manner , the iPad ’s audio plays through the Speaker , and any on - verbaliser playback controls work properly . However , because of the charging issues covered above , none of the docking loudspeaker system we ’ve tested have been capable to charge the iPad ’s battery while the iPad ’s screen is on ; most AC - power speakers seem to just keep the iPad ’s shelling tier unwavering . On the other hand , we found that speaker docksdocharge the iPad ’s battery , very tardily , if you rick off the iPad ’s screen ( by weight-lift the Sleep / Wake switch ) during music playback .
Apple’s iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter
One of Bose ’s many SoundDocks
One exclusion here — in more ways than one — was Bowers & Wilkins ’ Zeppelin Mini . Thanks to that system ’s unparalleled dock - provenance design , we were able-bodied to bob the iPad instantly in the Zeppelin Mini ’s cradle ; however , we could n’t play music through the Mini . On the other manus , the Miniwasable to charge our docked iPad , even when the iPad was in role ( cue Twilight Zone paper ) .
Of course , if your utterer dock has an subsidiary - input diddlysquat , you could connect the iPad using that jack ( see the next item ) . The drawback is that you lose any on - utterer controls that postulate a dock connection .
Apple’s iPad Keyboard Dock
Powered speaker unit and standard stereo organization : As with any equipment with an audio output , the iPad works fine with powered computer speakers or any standard stereo system with line - level stimulus . You just run a cable from the iPad ’s headphone jack or the bloodline - out jack on Apple ’s Keyboard Dock or iPad Dock to one of the organisation ’s input . If the Dock is also plug into to the iPad ’s own courser , you get flying charging , as well .
While we ’re on the topic of Speaker , it ’s worth noting that the iPad ’s build - in speaker is surprisingly capable . You wo n’t get true stereophonic audio , and the speaker unit ca n’t take a large room , but it place the iPhone ’s build - in loudspeaker system to shame : the iPad ’s speaker is less tinny , sound clear , and can playmuchlouder than the iPhone ’s . If you ’re not refer with ultimate reasoned quality or looking for huge sound , but rather with just get enough bulk and pellucidity to get a line free-and-easy audio — for object lesson , to listen to podcasts in your office or to hear pullulate media from across the hotel room — give the iPad ’s loudspeaker system a endeavor before fling on speakers .
FM Transmitters : Most iPod and iPhone FM transmitters , especially those design for in - motorcar use , are in reality a compounding of an audio accessory that grabs your player ’s audio - out signal via the dock - connecter embrasure , and a courser that provides power via that port . In testing a few of these appurtenance , we line up , as you might have a bun in the oven from the information above , that the FM transmitter circuitry was able to successfully grab the audio sign from the iPad and transmit it over the chosen FM absolute frequency , but the charging circuitry suffered from the same issuing as many iPod and iPhone chargers — the accessory was n’t able to institutionalize the iPad while the iPad was in use , displaying theNot chargingmessage . However , we ’re assuming that , as with docking speakers , dock - connector FM transmitters that supply power will charge the iPad when the iPad is at peace , and even — much more slowly — while the iPad is playing euphony with the screen turned off . ( FM transmitters that simply grab the sound from your machine ’s headphone jack will of course of instruction work finely with the iPad . )
iPad cases from i-Luv
Apple ’s iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter
Video - out accessories : If you ’re look to get video out of your iPod an onto another display , Apple ’s iPad - add-on Sir Frederick Handley Page lists only the $ 29 iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter , which permit you output video recording — at 1024 - by-768 resolving with a 720p scan rate — fromcompatible apps : Keynote , Safari ( video content only ) , Videos , Photos , and YouTube . But Apple ’s recentComponent AV CableandComposite AV Cable — and compatible third - party accessories that admit the necessary Apple - okay circuitry , which would be most Made For iPhone- and Made For iPod - certify television accessories made in the past couple years — also work , letting you output video recording to TVs via component or composite connections , respectively , and audio via unexpended / veracious cables .
For watching high - definition video on an external exhibit , you ’ll require to use the Component AV Cable : iTunes - purchased HD video includeHDCP(High - bandwidth Digital Content Protection ) and require an HDCP - compatible connection — which the Component AV cable allow for . If you do n’t have the Component AV cable , you ’ll need to sync the received - definition ( 480p ) version of your iTunes - purchased videos , which will play over the VGA Adapter or Composite Cable .
Camera connectors : Apple has denote a $ 29iPad - specific Camera Connection Kitfor transport photos from an Coyote State card or directly from your digital camera to the iPad ; the kit is schedule to embark later this month . Unfortunately , Apple ’s older Camera Connector , made for particular iPod models , does n’t work with the iPad .
Apple ’s iPad Keyboard Dock
keyboard : For those times you want a real , physical keyboard , the officialiPad Keyboard Dockcombines Apple ’s standard aluminum keyboard with a leaden dockage that holds your iPad upright piano and static while typing and provides larboard for charging , syncing , and audio output . But the Keyboard Dock is n’t the only option : the iPad is the first iPhone O twist that plunk for Bluetooth keyboards . We test several Bluetooth Mac keyboard , including Apple ’s Wireless Keyboard and MacAlly’sBTkey ; each paired easy and worked as look , including the MacAlly keyboard ’s numeric computer keyboard ( although the forward - delete winder operate as a standard [ backspace ] delete with the iPad ) . When using an external keyboard , you could even expend many common Mac keyboard crosscut , such as Command+C ( copy ) , Command+V ( paste ) , and Option - central special characters .
However , as we covered in our review , the iPad Keyboard Dock offers a number of limited - mathematical function keys for fast access to the iPad ’s Home CRT screen , limelight lookup , Picture Frame fashion , and screen whorl , and for bringing up the onscreen keyboard . Apple ’s Wireless Keyboard mimics the Keyboard Dock ’s limited keys for brightness , volume , and media - playback dominance , but the only compatible non - standard keys on third - company Bluetooth keyboard are volume and mute keys . ( On any Bluetooth keyboard , the Eject key bring in up the onscreen keyboard . ) And , of course , you ’ll postulate a separate stand when using a Bluetooth keyboard ; Apple ’s iPad Dock will work , although it ’s not almost as unchanging as the Keyboard Dock when you solicit the screen .
iPad lawsuit from i - Luv
Cases , bags , and other protection : await , what ? That ’s right , we ’ve included these sundries here . Not because we believe anyone would seek to put their iPad inside an iPhone grammatical case — that would be silly . No , we admit cases and bags here because , as you may have comment from our big iPad case roundup ( parts one andtwo ) , many vendors announced , and in some causa even released , iPad bags and casesbefore the iPad was available . We ’ve now seen around 30 of these merchandise , and of those , we ’ve launch that some other travelling bag — such as those from Belkin , Griffin , and Tom Bihn — fit the iPad utterly , while others , well , do n’t . ( Most of the latter are too big , rather than too low , so at least they ’re still usable . ) So , caveat purchaser .
We ’ll be reexamine grip and pillow slip for the iPad to help you select the correct one , but here are two quick tips : First , if you ’re shop online for an iPad bag , and you see one that ’s already useable for purchase , check the old bag ’s specs with Apple’siPad specifications , or e - get off the seller , to corroborate that the merchant marine product actually fits the iPad well ; some vendors are retooling their bags and causa now that the iPad is officially useable . secondly , if you see a bag that claims to be perfect for both iPads and netbooks , be doubly careful . Of the bags we ’ve interpret in somebody that take to puzzle out with both course of product , only a few ( such as Tom Bihn’sRistretto for iPad / Netbooksand Skooba’sNetbook / iPad Messenger ) really outfit the iPad well — the iPad ismuchthinner than the typical netbook and ends up swim around in the computer compartment in many of these cup of tea .
What about screen films and all - over protective films?PCWorldstress - quiz the iPad and found that the machine ’s screen was “ scratch - proof , ” even whenPCWorldeditors attempted to engrave the glass with a nail . Given our own scratch - free experiences with the iPhone 3GS , which employ a similarly racy glass screen , a protective projection screen flick does n’t seem all that necessary ( and , in fact , interferes with the screen ’s oleophobic finish ) . The exceptions would be flick that reduce glare or provide off - angle secrecy . As for full - trunk films such asInvisibleShieldand BodyGuardz , we ’ve been impressed by the anti - scratch protection they put up for the bodies of Mac laptops , but we have n’t yet try the fit and stopping point of each party ’s iPad film ; we hope to do so before long .
[ Dan Frakes is a senior editor for Macworld . ]
Updated 4/7/2010 , 3:29pm : append fresh selective information about mono Bluetooth headsets and the iPad .
