# No ISP for iPad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 3, 2010, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-isp-for-ipad/534833 "2010-04-03T16:26:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-isp-for-ipad/534833/41 "2010-04-05T01:21:55Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > If you want to use a SD card or USB port you have to pay extra for an attachment. I guess that’s slightly better than not having them at all. No USB port I can understand - Apple doesn’t want to mess with all the drivers and explaining to people why they can’t use their USB toys. But what’s the reasoning behind no SD card slot? Similar to the USB one? ---
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-isp-for-ipad/534833/42 "2010-04-05T01:39:20Z")
No, it’s probably a shortcoming of their tight form factor. No room for the controllers. Being able to sell addons probably didn’t hurt either. ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-isp-for-ipad/534833/43 "2010-04-05T02:11:31Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Cite for it being crap? > Sounds to me like you’re just talking out your ass about stuff you’ve more opinion on than actual knowledge of. > There are some GQ style facts in question here, do yopu think you could calm your monkey-mind to the point where those issues can be addressed? Uh huh. Seemed to me the GQ had been answered so we passed that part of the discussion long ago. So of course you people who have an irrational emotional investment start throwing curses, personal insults, and typos (yopu?). It’s always fun trying to have a conversation with cultists. EDIT: [Here’s a cite! From the news, too! On TV!](http://androidheadlines.com/2010/04/cbs-evening-news-motorola-droid-better-than-ipad.html) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-isp-for-ipad/534833/44 "2010-04-05T02:14:09Z")
> [@Palooka](#): > > No, it’s probably a shortcoming of their tight form factor. No room for the controllers. > > Being able to sell addons probably didn’t hurt either. I’ve had MP3 players the size of my pinky with MicroSD slots. How big could the controller possibly be? Yeah, it’s probably so they can sell you one. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-isp-for-ipad/534833/45 "2010-04-05T02:34:34Z")
> [@troub](#): > > EDIT: [Here’s a cite! From the news, too! On TV!](http://androidheadlines.com/2010/04/cbs-evening-news-motorola-droid-better-than-ipad.html) 🙂 TV news, where some idiot calls a cellphone keyboard a real keyboard? That’s not a cite, that’s crap. ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-isp-for-ipad/534833/46 "2010-04-05T02:46:45Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > TV news, where some idiot calls a cellphone keyboard a real keyboard? That’s not a cite, that’s crap. Of course it is! But it’s about as good of a “cite” for an opinion as can be provided. Though I could probably come up with quite a list of grievances, if you’re _truly_ interested and not just trying to make a cite-calling scene over statements you don’t like.\ And by the way, do you have cite for my source being crap, or is its inherent “crapness” evident after an objective look at all of its properties? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Condescending\_Robot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a183cd/32.png) [@Condescending\_Robot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Condescending_Robot)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-isp-for-ipad/534833/47 "2010-04-05T04:21:48Z")
> [@troub](#): > > I’ve had MP3 players the size of my pinky with MicroSD slots. How big could the controller possibly be? Yeah, it’s probably so they can sell you one. Don’t forget the part where they remotely brick the device because you installed an unapproved SD reader and you cheerfully pay $600 for another one. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-isp-for-ipad/534833/48 "2010-04-05T04:24:21Z")
> [@Condescending\_Robot](#): > > Don’t forget the part where they remotely brick the device because you installed an unapproved SD reader and you cheerfully pay $600 for another one. For GQ, you sure make a lot of unsubstantiated claims. Care to cite where this has **EVER** happened? ---
**Author:** ![Condescending\_Robot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a183cd/32.png) [@Condescending\_Robot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Condescending_Robot)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-isp-for-ipad/534833/49 "2010-04-05T04:54:59Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > For GQ, you sure make a lot of unsubstantiated claims. > Care to cite where this has **EVER** happened? No, I cannot cite where my prediction for an event that will happen in the future of a device that was released yesterday has happened in the past. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-isp-for-ipad/534833/50 "2010-04-05T11:48:33Z")
> [@Condescending\_Robot](#): > > No, I cannot cite where my prediction for an event that will happen in the future of a device that was released yesterday has happened in the past. That is not at all how your post read. ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-isp-for-ipad/534833/51 "2010-04-05T12:26:33Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > For GQ, you sure make a lot of unsubstantiated claims. > Care to cite where this has **EVER** happened? We do have plenty of past history of Apple pushing updates that specifically break anything not explicitly “authorized;” hardware, software, network usage, etc. Just a sampling: [One](http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2009/jul/15/apple-itunes-update-breaks-palm-pre-sync) [Two](http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/11/09/change.poses.hurdle.for.hackintosh.configurations/) [Three](http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9054719/Reports_Next_iPhone_update_will_break_third_party_apps_bust_unlocks) [Four](http://www.neowin.net/news/latest-iphone-update-breaks-t-mobile-unlock) [Five](http://www.macnn.com/articles/09/02/25/apple.tv.231.update/) And the list goes on. If you think you’ll be able to buy some generic SD card reader at a reasonable price to connect to your iPad, well, I’ve got one to sell you. See, you just plug it into your USB port…ah, oops. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-isp-for-ipad/534833/52 "2010-04-05T12:40:13Z")
> [@troub](#): > > We do have plenty of past history of Apple pushing updates that specifically break anything not explicitly “authorized;” hardware, software, network usage, etc. > > Just a sampling: > [One](http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2009/jul/15/apple-itunes-update-breaks-palm-pre-sync) > [Two](http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/11/09/change.poses.hurdle.for.hackintosh.configurations/) > [Three](http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9054719/Reports_Next_iPhone_update_will_break_third_party_apps_bust_unlocks) > [Four](http://www.neowin.net/news/latest-iphone-update-breaks-t-mobile-unlock) > [Five](http://www.macnn.com/articles/09/02/25/apple.tv.231.update/) > > And the list goes on. If you think you’ll be able to buy some generic SD card reader at a reasonable price to connect to your iPad, well, I’ve got one to sell you. See, you just plug it into your USB port…ah, oops. None of those cites relates to the issue raised - Apple releasing some sort of update that invalidates or bricks your iPad for connecting a third party SD card reader to it. The possibility of that happening is absurdly small. It’s like saying I’m at risk of bricking my iPhone because I use a third party power cord for it. What’s the next bogus claim going to be - that people will brick their iPads/iPhones if they connect it to a non-Mac computer? Same difference. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-isp-for-ipad/534833/53 "2010-04-05T12:56:33Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > What’s the next bogus claim going to be ? **Saddam’s WMD’s? Found Inside iPAD!** Film at 11 ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-isp-for-ipad/534833/54 "2010-04-05T13:01:58Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > None of those cites relates to the issue raised - Apple releasing some sort of update that invalidates or bricks your iPad for connecting a third party SD card reader to it. The possibility of that happening is absurdly small. It’s like saying I’m at risk of bricking my iPhone because I use a third party power cord for it. What’s the next bogus claim going to be - that people will brick their iPads/iPhones if they connect it to a non-Mac computer? Same difference. The iPad has been out for three days. Of course there hasn’t been an update yet to disable unauthorized modifications. But since the past history of _nearly every single one of their other products_ indicates that it will happen, I think we can make a pretty reliable prediction. And as for connecting your iPod/iPad/iPhone to a non-Mac…how’s Linux support? Oh yeah, it requires a hack or workaround, and [might get broken at any time.](http://boingboing.net/2007/09/14/new-ipods-reengineer.html) ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-isp-for-ipad/534833/55 "2010-04-05T13:04:19Z")
> [@troub](#): > > The iPad has been out for three days. Of course there hasn’t been an update yet to disable unauthorized modifications. So you’re honestly suggesting that there’s a high percentage chance of Apple releasing an update to disable…something…if you connect it to a third party SD card reader. That’s about as logical and probable as them releasing an update to disable connecting to third party headphones. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-isp-for-ipad/534833/56 "2010-04-05T13:13:39Z")
> [@troub](#): > > The iPad has been out for three days. Of course there hasn’t been an update yet to disable unauthorized modifications. But since the past history of _nearly every single one of their other products_ indicates that it will happen, I think we can make a pretty reliable prediction. > > And as for connecting your iPod/iPad/iPhone to a non-Mac…how’s Linux support? Oh yeah, it requires a hack or workaround, and [might get broken at any time.](http://boingboing.net/2007/09/14/new-ipods-reengineer.html) Yeah, Apple doesn’t support C64 either… I guess I’m not going to buy an iPad. :smack: As for your claim that Apple will brick your device if you attach a non-Apple peripheral, all I can say is [click and clack] BOOOOOOOOGGGGGGGUUUUUUSSSSSS!. As with all manufacturers, Apple’s firmware updates will often times cause third-party firmware that violates the terms of use to fail. However, this is a far cry from Apple deliberately disabling a valid peripheral - something that I’ve never heard of happening. ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-isp-for-ipad/534833/57 "2010-04-05T13:45:30Z")
_sigh_ [“unapproved docks”](http://www.borntechie.com/entry/hack-that-tricks-apple-firmware-into-connecting-unapproved-docks/) [compatibility matrices](http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/ipod-photo-peripheral-compatibility-explained-updated/) For a system that touts such simplicity, why is this so complicated? And if you go buy an SD reader for your iPad, it will most certainly be “Apple-licensed.” Think that’s free? No, you’ll get a fancy white box and pay more for it than you would an SD reader for any other system. [$29 for a connector cable.](http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/ipod-camera-connector-incompatible-with-ipad/) This is also, by the way, why I always personally refuse to buy a phone that doesn’t use a regular USB cable. There is NO reason, other than to trap people into buying ridiculously overpriced accessories and charging manufacturers for the privilege of making them, for using a non-standard cable connector. Apple alone gets to make the decision about what is a “valid peripheral.” ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-isp-for-ipad/534833/58 "2010-04-05T13:51:12Z")
> [@troub](#): > > _sigh_ > [“unapproved docks”](http://www.borntechie.com/entry/hack-that-tricks-apple-firmware-into-connecting-unapproved-docks/) > [compatibility matrices](http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/ipod-photo-peripheral-compatibility-explained-updated/) > > For a system that touts such simplicity, why is this so complicated? And if you go buy an SD reader for your iPad, it will most certainly be “Apple-licensed.” Think that’s free? No, you’ll get a fancy white box and pay more for it than you would an SD reader for any other system. > > [$29 for a connector cable.](http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/ipod-camera-connector-incompatible-with-ipad/) This is also, by the way, why I always personally refuse to buy a phone that doesn’t use a regular USB cable. There is NO reason, other than to trap people into buying ridiculously overpriced accessories and charging manufacturers for the privilege of making them, for using a non-standard cable connector. > > Apple alone gets to make the decision about what is a “valid peripheral.” All devices have third-party approval lists. Show me one that doesn’t. I just bought a new cable modem - I had to check Cox’s list to make sure it was supported. I suppose you would just whine and picket in front of their offices if the one you wanted wasn’t approved. As far as a $29 cable goes, I get mine for $2 off of ebay. And, of course Apple gets to decide what is a valid peripheral - just like any other manufacturer does with their product. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-isp-for-ipad/534833/59 "2010-04-05T14:21:33Z")
> [@troub](#): > > [compatibility matrices](http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/ipod-photo-peripheral-compatibility-explained-updated/) I don’t think this link says what you think it says. And if you think the $29 Apple-approved SD card connector is the only SD-card connector that is going to work for this, you’re going to be sadly mistaken. I won’t be surprised if there’s a $10 version available through monoprice within a month. ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-isp-for-ipad/534833/60 "2010-04-05T14:35:51Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I don’t think this link says what you think it says. You might be right. All I get from it is that it’s a confusing mess of gibberish about which firmware versions work in various increments of completeness with various different revisions of various different peripherals – all of which are supposedly “approved,” by the way. Even if parsing it all out equates to “get the latest revision of everything and it works fine,” why should that be necessary? > [@](#): > > And if you think the $29 Apple-approved SD card connector is the only SD-card connector that is going to work for this, you’re going to be sadly mistaken. I won’t be surprised if there’s a $10 version available through monoprice within a month. That wasn’t really the point. It’s that a cable with apparently the same connector, seeing as how it looks just like and fits just like the previous cable, doesn’t work with the newest gadget for some unknown reason. So you have to buy a new, additional, practically identical cable for the new gadget. I have yet to EVER see a good reason for this other than just to force people to buy the same thing over and over again. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-isp-for-ipad/534833.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-isp-for-ipad/534833.md?page=4)