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iPad SDK allows you to take photos and other insights

by Mike Schramm Jan 28th 2010 at 6:00PM

Turns out a camera in the iPad may have been closer than we thought -- Engadget has been diving into the SDK released yesterday (NDAs be darned, I guess?) and discovered that the ability to "Take Photo" is still hidden in the iPad's code. Of course, the device doesn't actually have a camera, but the fact that there's code written for one could mean that prototypes of the device did have a camera, and/or that we'll eventually see one in a future revision.

There's a few other interesting things sneaking out of the SDK as well, including the fact that "popovers" (those windows and menus that were popping up in the video yesterday) are listed in Human Interface Guidelines as iPad-only flair. That would make designing for the two platforms pretty different -- while it's certainly possible, as we learned yesterday, to run iPhone apps on the new platform, it seems like Apple is telling developers that iPad apps will have a very different feel than their smaller predecessor's versions. A year from now, the two platforms may end up being different markets entirely.

Update: The "touch to return to the call" bar made the trip to the iPad, too. Makes it more likely that this is just vestigial code.

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Turns out a camera in the iPad may have been closer than we thought -- Engadget has been diving into the SDK released yesterday (NDAs be...
 

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RainyDayInterns

We were hoping the SDK would have a few more native apps simulated...maybe the next one.

For those who want a quick look at the SDK, we posted a few pics here:

http://www.rainydaymagazine.com/RDM2010/Home/January/Week4/RDMHomeJan2910.htm#iPadSDKFirstLook

January 29 2010 at 6:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
iKendel

What the hell? The iPhone DOES have those little popups.

They just come up from the bottom and don't have the little arrow point showing you what it's regarding.

The screen/resolution is soo small on the iPhone that that's how they do it!

January 29 2010 at 5:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chris Howard

Ya... but what if maybe Apple is planning to let you use your iPhone's camera via bluetooth or a cable? Just a thought.

January 29 2010 at 9:04 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jeff

Great. Next thing we'll see is a tripod designed for the iPad.

January 29 2010 at 8:49 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Albert

I don't think this really means anything. Apple will clean up the code in the SDK when it comes time to, since developers should've signed (and followed!) the NDA.

When the iPod touch was first released it had a bunch of iPhone-like comments.

"From a software standpoint, Apple’s approach to preserving and omitting iPhone features is only partially understandable, and seems to have been decided in a rush, with certain features unexpectedly cut from the iPhone’s software even after iPod touch’s manual was written. You can tell how hastily iPod touch’s feature set was developed from some of its on-screen displays, which still say “iPhone” rather than “iPod touch;” like the manuals, we’d expect that Apple will clean up these references at some future date. We’ll have to stay tuned to see how the device evolves—or doesn’t—in the future. "

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/entry/apple-ipod-touch-8gb-16gb/P2

January 29 2010 at 4:30 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Albert's comment
tasmanb

As I heard it the reason for no camera in the ipod touch was because apple was more interested in getting the price point down rather than adding more functionality. Perhaps that was the reason here too. It could also have been as others have pointed out that in practice a camera in a ipad does not function as well as we might imagine. Im still pretty bummed about it though. I would like to read an interview with the designers to find out what the reasons were behind these descisions.

January 29 2010 at 7:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chad Edge

Late pass

January 29 2010 at 4:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jashue

Len,
How do you envision video chatting with this thing? Are you going to hold it up at 90 degrees in front of your face? Hope your arms don't get too tired during a long video chat! Actually seeing someone do that could be kinda funny in a ridiculously sad sort of way!

Or do you intend to chat while the thing is on your lap-- looking down at it with your chin all winkled up (not very flattering!).

Do you envision placing it on a table with a stand of some sort so that it can capture an image of you that is more reasonable, and if so, can I ask you if you don't already have a computer with a camera? If that's the case, then I understand where you're coming from.

January 28 2010 at 9:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Jashue's comment
Tito

I don't know, I envision something like maybe?
http://images.apple.com/ipad/design/images/accessories_20100127.jpg

January 28 2010 at 10:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kevin

In the dock at that angle, the camera would maybe get the top of your head.

January 29 2010 at 2:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jashue

Vestigial code? How sloppy! Steve can't be pleased!

And asa far as those of you that are clinging to hope that this thing will ship with a camera... Please... Get OVER it! It won't have a camera and I really don't think that it needs one.

January 28 2010 at 7:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Jashue's comment
Len Banks

I agree it won't likely ship with one, but I believe it absolutely does need one. I think that a case could be made that the iPhone/iPod Touch are too small for the iChat video conversations, but the iPad size and target niche it is creating screams for this feature. It may or may not come out in future versions as people are already guessing and hoping. But IMO it was a serious mistake to not include it on the first version.

January 28 2010 at 8:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jabba

Erm, wasn't it announced that there would be a camera add on? I still don't understand all the hubbub. Apple does this with all its products, start it with fuck all then add a new feature with each revision, they done it with the ipod and they doe it with the iPhone. Next year they'll add an inbuilt camera and all maybe a couple things we're bitching about not being there. Then other stuff will be missing and we'll get that the year after. Simples.

January 28 2010 at 7:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Jabba's comment
Jonathan

let's hope so. Remember there still isn't a camera on the iPod Touch. The camera stuff for the iPad is a connector for transferring photos/videos from a camera instead of requiring a computer as a mediator.

January 28 2010 at 7:43 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jabba

I think the only reason the Touch hasn't got a camera yet is because it would basically make an iPhone that cant make calls and with no 3G. Its the only logical reason I think they would stick one in the Nano and not in the Touch, as well as giving people a new reason to get a Nano.

January 28 2010 at 9:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bill

I thought about the "one more thing" issue too. Could make sense. Given what flack Apple is getting over this already, it may be a good idea to do quickly.

I was hoping for camera and phone capability.

I suppose that may be the iPad Pro in a year or so though...

January 28 2010 at 7:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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