Belkin announces Digital Camera Link for 3G iPods

News

Belkin announces Digital Camera Link for 3G iPods

“Free up disk space on your camera so you can take more pictures. Just move your images to your iPod with the new Belkin Digital Camera Link. By connecting with a USB cable, the Camera Link works with mass-storage DCF-format and PTP-compliant digital cameras. Joining Belkin’s extensive iPod accessories line, this addition will ship on May 1 in North America.

Simply connect the Belkin Digital Camera Link to your iPod. Then connect it to your camera with your camera’s USB cable. Using software support that is already built into your iPod (with software version 2.1 or later), your pictures transfer quickly and you can begin shooting again. When you return home, just connect your iPod to your computer to retrieve the images. It is like having virtually unlimited storage space for all your photos.”

« iLounge User Group meeting: Author, Chris Breen

iTunes gaining ground over file sharing »

Comments

1

Wow, that’s ... uh… already posted.

Bring anapod’s original post back from the dead for every .0.0.1 upgrade for a year, but add a brand new belkin camera link post 4 days after the original one… I just don’t get it….

Posted by JC on April 27, 2004 at 7:44 AM (PST)

2

I don’t get why these things have to be so huge.

Why can’t someone make a simple cable that goes from camera to iPod not some enormous box to carry around.

Posted by Spencer Callaghan on April 27, 2004 at 8:18 AM (PST)

3

The above post is the official release by Belkin.

Posted by Dennis Lloyd in Irvine, CA on April 27, 2004 at 8:38 AM (PST)

4

“I don’t get why these things have to be so huge.

Why can’t someone make a simple cable that goes from camera to iPod not some enormous box to carry around.”

I agree. It’s a neat first effort, but what’s going to win is not having to lug a bunch of extra crud around.

When the Ipod has a color screen and a multi-card reader in it or a CF II slot (which would read most every other card with adapters), then this will become a defacto standard for photo storage.

But until then, I’ll pass on this. If I have to carry another “box” around, there are far more elegant and effective solutions than this. AND they have color screens (up to 3.5”) to boot.

Posted by Z on April 27, 2004 at 8:53 AM (PST)

5

The iPod is not capable of importing data from a USB of FireWire device without significant additional circuitry and additional power supply from batteries. It’s not a matter of “someone making a cable”.
This iPod will NEVER have a multi-card reader or any other slots, this would be completely counter to the philosophy of simplicity behind the iPod.

Posted by Wired on April 27, 2004 at 9:19 AM (PST)

6

I Agree ^^^

next step - smaller block

Posted by Bluefrog on April 27, 2004 at 11:48 AM (PST)

7

Ugh, for that price, you can buy a bigger flash card for your digital camera. I bought a 256mb one on eBay for $19. Oh well.

- narco

Posted by narco in Burbank on April 27, 2004 at 6:06 PM (PST)

8

“This iPod will NEVER have a multi-card reader or any other slots, this would be completely counter to the philosophy of simplicity behind the iPod.”

Huh? A CF II slot would not “counter the philosophy of simplicity”. How does a card slot make a device more complicated? You take a card and shove it in. Yeah, real complicated. Almost as complicated as connecting a cable.

A card slot would be the most efficient way of transfering photos from a digital camera to the Ipod. What would you rather do? Carry a cable in your pocket and deal with that everytime you wanted to transfer photos, or accomplish the same task with no cable?

I believe the Ipod very well may migrate to a color screen and offer the ability to store photos, and perhaps videos as well.

Perhaps it won’t, but that would be a logical progression. Besides, do you work for Apple? How do you know what it WILL and won’t have?

Posted by Z on April 27, 2004 at 8:36 PM (PST)

9

The iPod _should_ be able to do this without added bulk, BUT it would take Apple doing it, not a 3rd party. With USB 2.0, and Firewire, it SHOULD be able to take a 3rd party card reader (readily available). But it would take firmware inside the iPod to read the cards.

Reading CF memory is usually cheap (for power). Erasing is usually expensive, and could be left to the user to do that upon returning the card to their camera.

And yeesh, this comes out 2? years after the original iPod, when this was the 1st add-on I thought of. Shame on Apple for not getting such a useful type of feature out earlier.

Posted by Mike on April 28, 2004 at 3:12 AM (PST)

10

$89 is crazy. i could get half gb of flash card with that price.

Posted by proudipodowner on April 28, 2004 at 1:48 PM (PST)

11

for that price isnt better get the media reader?

Posted by iPod 0wNz on May 6, 2004 at 9:57 PM (PST)

12

How about this SyncBox? Seems to link two USB devices together. Anyone know if it works with the iPod? The product description says it works with mp3 files.

Looks smaller than the Belkin, and at $50 is def cheaper!

http://www.macally.com/gif/products/specialties/syncbox/syncbox_6.gif

http://www.macally.com/gif/products/specialties/syncbox/hand.gif

http://www.macally.com/gif/products/specialties/syncbox/syncbox_4.gif

Posted by SyncBox on May 7, 2004 at 11:34 AM (PST)

If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods/iPhones/iPad or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod/iPhone/iPad products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.

Recent Reviews

New Deals

Shop for Accessories: Cases, speakers, chargers, etc.

iLounge

News