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Image courtesy of Apple

Wednesday, Jul 6, 2005 - Here's what I receive in the box:

• Apple 20GB iPod
• USB Power Adapter
• Dock Connector to USB 2.0 Cable
• Earphones
• Documentation: Getting Started Guide
• CD: iTunes, QuickTime, User Guide (pdf), Tutorial (pdf)

Tuesday, Jul 5, 2005 - I optionally purchased and received:

• iPod Camera Connector

Executive Summary

The Apple iPod Camera Connector is a simple-to-use and cheap USB device that turns an Apple 20GB or 60GB iPod into a digital wallet / digital photo storage device.

If you are tired of lugging your laptop just for the purpose of transferring your images from your camera's memory cards, then this is a solution worth exploring -- and cheap at US $29 / CDN $39, if you already own a 20GB or 60GB iPod.

However, if you are looking for an in-the-field digital wallet to free up your memory cards so you can continue shooting, the iPod / Camera Connector combination is not the best alternative available for the following 2 reasons:

1- Transfer times are pretty slow for use in the field. As an example, a 1GB memory card takes about 57 min to transfer (you can do the maths to obtain the approx. transfer times for your memory card size: @ 28 min for 512MB, @ 14 min for 256MB) -- an obviously unreasonable time to wait in the field.

2- The iPod Camera Connector mainly uses the battery from the iPod to effect the images transfer, with considerable battery power drain. While you can replace your digital camera's spent battery with a new one, you need a wall outlet to recharge the iPod's internal lithium ion battery (which takes about 5 hrs), which we are guessing will be a real problem in the field.

Note that both of these issues are not a problem if you intend to go back to your hotel room to effect the images transfer.

Bottom line: Not recommended for the professional photographer requiring an in-the-field digital wallet. For the amateur photographer on a trip, the 20GB or 60GB iPod together with the iPod Camera Connector is an excellent alternative to lugging your laptop along just for the function of transferring your images from your camera's memory cards.

Introduction

Most of us photographers bring our laptop along when we travel to serve as a digital wallet / digital photo storage. But lugging a laptop is a bother: it's big, heavy, expensive, and difficult to keep safely back in our hotel room, and certainly we cannot carry it with us in the field. So we turn to portable digital wallets.

There are two ways to use a digital wallet when you are travelling:

1. Use it "in-the-field": transfer images from your camera's memory card when it is full into the digital wallet, then erase the memory card and keep on shooting;
2. Take all pictures for a day's shoot, then return to your hotel and transfer the images to the digital wallet instead of to a laptop that you brought along just for that function.

For the first purpose, you would need something like the Epson P2000. Since, I only need a digital wallet for the second purpose, i.e. to prevent from having to lug a laptop around, I decide to settle for a less expensive and portable alternative.

Well, the Apple iPod and iPod Photo have been recently re-introduced as the 20GB iPod and 60GB iPod, both now sporting a 2 in. colour LCD display and therefore able to display photos besides playing music. They are Podcast ready and compatible with PC and Mac.

This mini review explores how well the Apple iPod functions as a replacement for a laptop which is brought along just to be used as a digital wallet; I used the 20GB iPod, the iPod Camera Connector, and the Fujifilm FinePix F10 6.3MP resolution digital camera.

Why the Apple iPod and not any of the other available digital wallets? First, because I could not find any here in the Toronto area camera stores. Second, I was also taking the Fujifilm F10 digital camera with me on vacation and it uses the xD-Picture Card. All of the other digital wallets have slots for the CompactFlash (CF) and/or Secure Digital (SD) cards, and an optional adapter is necessary for the xD-Picture Card. I want a digital wallet that I can use for all digital cameras, and the Apple iPod's solution of importing the images directly from the digital camera means that it does not matter which type of memory card a digital camera uses.

Since I also have no desire to carry multiple memory cards in the field, I purchase a 1GB xD-Picture Card for the Fujifilm F10. The latter holds about 341 full-resolution 6.3MP resolution images, which is plenty for a day's shoot. I estimate that a 20GB iPod should hold about 5,000 of those full-res images, more than sufficient for one week's vacation shooting. Ready and packed to go!

The Apple iPod As A Digital Wallet

Apple knows a good thing when it sees one, and it was probably caught completely by surprise when camera enthusiasts started using the original iPod Photo as a digital wallet (using the Belkin iPod accessories, such as Media Reader and Camera Link). But Apple caught on to it quickly and introduced the iPod Camera Connector -- a compact device with a connector to receive the USB 2.0 cable from your digital camera.

Without the all important iPod Camera Connector, the iPod cannot function as a digital wallet. The iPod Camera Connector plugs into the iPod and your camera's USB cable plugs into the Camera Connector. Here's a diagram showing how it all connects together (the iPod Camera Connector is the small device in the middle):

Diagram courtesy of Apple

Do not get confused by the 20,000 - 25,000 photos advertised as being able to be viewed on the iPod. These refer to iTunes-optimized images -- not full-resolution images captured by your digital camera.

To get a rough estimate of how many full-res photos the iPod can hold as a Digital Wallet, simply multiply the drive capacity (actual formatted capacity of a 20GB iPod is about 18GB) by the number of full-res images a 1GB memory card for your particular digital camera can hold.

So, for example, a 1GB xD-Picture Card for the Fujifilm F10 can hold about 341 6.3MP full-res images. A 20GB iPod (17.5GB actual formatted capacity) should hold [17.5 * 341 =] approx. 5,000 full-res images. This is, of course, assuming that you are not using the iPod for anything else, you know, music and such.

Why do I round off the numbers so freely? Because, the iPod does not just import your images; it also creates thumbnail images in the import process that can eat up quite a bit of space.

If you need more space than that, then consider the 60GB iPod with 3 times the drive capacity of the 20GB iPod.

Installation and Configuration

The first thing I do on unpacking the box is to recharge the battery. It seems the battery already has some juice in it. According to the iPod manual, it takes approximately 3 hrs to charge the iPod's lithium ion battery to 80%, and about 5 hrs to fully charge it.

While the battery is charging, I insert the CD into my computer and install iTunes. During installation, it asks to connect the iPod and I do so. Now, that is probably not the smartest idea since I can run out of battery power during installation with potential catastrophic drive failure. I don't know if iTunes will do a battery power check and refuse to proceed if the battery on the iPod is too low [hint to Apple software engineers]. I can also click a checkbox and bypass connecting the iPod at this time and do that later. Being finger trigger-happy, the mouse clicks and away the software went its merry way -- with a large foreboding "Do not disconnect" sign continuously flashing on the iPod. Thankfully eveything goes fine.

Installation is straightforward, and with iTunes installed, and iPod registered, I eject the iPod (this is important if you do not want to lose images -- do not just unplug it), reconnect the USB cable to the Power Adapter and resume charging the iPod battery.

Just one small improvement suggestion to Apple designers: the Serial No. that needs to be typed into the registration form is engraved in tiny letters and digits on a very reflective metal back and is extremely difficult to read, and would do with a larger print.

In Use

Since the iPod Click Wheel [what a delightfully elegant idea!] is extremely sensitive to touch, a neat feature is the "Hold" switch at the top of the device. Slide it to the left, revealing an orange bar; placing the iPod on Hold prevents you from accidentally turning it on -- and wasting precious battery power -- while it is in your pocket (or in the backpack that I carry all my gear in).

To transfer images from digital camera to iPod:

1. Turn on the iPod and attach the Camera Connector. The message "Ready to connect" displays on the iPod screen.
2. Turn on camera, connect it to the Camera Connector using the camera's USB 2.0 cable. The iPod recognizes the camera and launches Photo Import.
3. Choose "Import" on the iPod.
4. Once all the images have been safely imported into the iPod, let the iPod erase the camera's memory card, or erase it yourself manually.

Note that imported images are listed on the iPod by roll number ("roll of film" metaphor?).

Transferring all the images from my 1GB xD-Picture Card (which contains 995MB total worth of images) takes about 57 min. On the iPod screen, a thumbnail of the image being transferred displays.

After an import, you can immediately browse the photos by that roll number to verify that the transfer went well, then erase the images from your digital camera.

To view the images you just imported: main menu > Photos > Photo Import > choose the roll number you want to view > Browse.

Unlike the images you download from your computer using iTunes, the images transferred from your digital camera cannot be viewed as a Slide Show on the iPod or on a TV. To view images as a slide show, you need to first sync with iTunes by transferring them from the iPod to your computer, then reimport them into the iPod using iTunes.

You can import movies and RAW image data captured on your digital camera, but you won't be able to view them on the iPod. The movies and RAW image data need to be transferred to your computer; the movies can then be viewed using QuickTime and the RAW image data needs an appropriate RAW Converter software.

The Apple iPod battery, fully charged, is advertised to last about 15 hours, so you don't have to worry about a dead battery in the field when listening to music. But when using it as a digital wallet, the iPod Camera Connector uses the iPod's battery to import the photos from your digital camera, and battery drain is substantial. On a full charge, after transferring about 1GB of images, the battery indicator then indicates an almost empty charge. While you can carry spare batteries for your digital camera, the iPod needs to be plugged into a wall outlet to be recharged, so is not the ideal in-the-field digital wallet.

You might want to ensure the iPod's battery is fully charged before doing a transfer so you have enough battery power to complete the transfer. Since the Dock Connector (that connects to the Power Adapter) and Camera Connector plug into the same port on the bottom of the iPod, you can't use both at the same time. After the transfer is completed, the iPod's battery is pretty well discharged, and you would want to then recharge the iPod's battery in preparation for next day's transfer.

What I do is when I come back to my hotel, I start transferring the images right away. After about 1 hour, transfer is complete, and I then connect the iPod to be recharged overnight (fully recharging a depleted battery takes about 5 hrs). The Fujifilm F10 comes with an AC Adapter, so it is already plugged in and recharging (fully recharging a depleted battery takes about 4 hrs).

3 Apple "Typos"

If you browse to Apple's web site:

you'll note 2 typos about the iPod Camera Connector that could be misconstrued by a quick reading:

1- "The iPod Camera Connector provides a fast, easy way to transfer images from your digital camera to your iPod with color display."

Sorry, any spin you want to put on it, it's just not "fast."

2- "Simply plug the iPod Camera Connector into the iPod dock connector, plug your camera's USB cable and watch your images make their way to the iPod, ready to view in a slide show!"

Not sure what "ready to view in a slide show!" really means here but sure gives the impression that once you transfer your digital camera images to the iPod, you can then immediately view them as a slide show. Yes, you can immediately browse your imported photos (jpegs only -- not movies or RAW image data), but you cannot do so as a slide show -- i.e. not until you have transferred them into your PC and then transferred them back again into the iPod using iTunes. So, if you were thinking of impressing your family and friends with an instant slide show of the images you just took and transferred to your iPod, forget it.

In the iPod Getting Started guide, on page 31 (or page 36 in the iPod User Guide pdf), under the section Transferring Photos Directly From a Camera or Photo Card Reader
to iPod, it reads:

3- "Using the optional iPod Camera Connector or an iPod–compatible photo card reader (available for purchase at www.apple.com/ipodstore) and a standard digital camera, you can store and view photos on iPod, then delete them from the camera or photo card and take more pictures. Then later you can transfer the photos from iPod to your computer using a standard digital photo application (such as iPhoto, on a Macintosh)."

As mentioned earlier, because of severe battery power usage and extremely slow image transfer, it is just not practical to use the iPod in that fashion -- unless you are using a very small capacity memory card (but then, it's better to just get a larger capacity one), or can afford a very long downtime in the field while the images are transferring.

With these 3 marketing "typos" out of the way, we can now highly recommend that, if you intend to use the iPod as a replacement for lugging a laptop around (as I did on my vacation trip), then you should seriously consider a 20GB or 60GB iPod together with the iPod Camera Connector as a digital wallet.

Compatible Digital Cameras

At this point, you are sold on the idea of using the iPod instead of your laptop as a digital wallet and probably asking the BIG question: is my digital camera compatible?

First of all, the iPod Camera Connector does not work with past versions of the iPod. Belkin makes a couple of accesories (Media Reader and Camera Link) that will continue to be the solution of choice in these cases.

When you plug the iPod Camera Connector into the new 20GB or 60GB iPod, and then your digital camera into the Camera Connector (using your camera's USB 2.0 cable), the iPod recognizes your digital camera and launches Photo Import. The question is, will it recognize any digital camera with USB 2.0 connectivity? Apple says that in principle, the iPod Camera Connector will recognize any digital camera that uses one of the following protocol for importing photos: Mass Storage, Type 4 (sometimes referred to as "Normal"), or PTP.

Apple also maintains a list of Supported Digital Cameras for the Apple iPod Camera Connector. If your digital camera figures on the list, you're in luck. But what if it does not?

I used the Camera Connector with the Fujifilm F10 which is, at the time of this writing, not listed as a compatible camera -- and it is recognized by the iPod and works flawlessly. However, don't assume that because a digital camera not on the list works now that it will continue to work for future versions of the iPod or the Camera Connector. All I can say is that the Fujifilm F10 works for now, but there is no guarantee unless Apple expressly adds it on its list of compatible digital cameras.

Best bet is to take your digital camera to the store and ask to try it out before buying (without a restocking fee for opened items), or buying from a reputable retailer with a good return policy.

Improvement Suggestions

There is a lot of interest from photographers in using the Apple iPod as a digital wallet. I have no complaints, but here are a couple of improvement suggestions that will make future versions of the iPod + Camera Connector a digital wallet of choice:

• Update the iPod Camera Connector and any required software so that any digital camera using USB 2.0 connectivity can be recognized as an external drive.
• Improve transfer speed. According to this review, the Epson P-2000 (US $499.99) can transfer 1GB worth of image data in about 7 minutes (c.f. with 45 min. using an iPod + Camera Connector).
• Let the Camera Connector have its own lithium ion battery (rechargeable and replaceable). According to the same review mentioned above, the Epson P-2000 can transfer 13 1GB cards on a single lithium ion battery charge.

Whether these improvement suggestions are incorporated into a future version of the iPod and Camera Connector, or as the case may well be, Apple comes out with its own "iWallet," there will be many amateur and professional photographers waiting to pounce on it as soon as it is available.

Conclusion

Overall, import speed is slow: a full 1GB memory card can take about 57 min to transfer (your digital camera will give different numbers) which means that the Apple iPod is not recommended for in-the-field use as a digital wallet.

But, as a digital wallet replacing a laptop, where you wait until you are back in your hotel room to transfer the images from your digital camera, the Apple iPod performs well.

Before you rush out and buy the iPod and Camera Connector, or just the Camera Connector if you already own one of the new 20GB or 60GB iPod, you need to ensure that the iPod Camera Connector is compatible with your digital camera. At US $29 (CDN $39), it is an easy and cheap way to convert your new 20GB or 60GB iPod into a digital wallet -- and leave the laptop at home.

	Apple iPod	QuickFact™ Sheet
	Drive Capacity 1GB = 1 billion bytes; actual formatted capacity less. Music capacity is based on 4 minutes per song and 128-Kbps AAC encoding; photo capacity is based on iPod-viewable photos transferred from iTunes.	• 20GB or 60GB hard disk drive • Holds 5,000 or 15,000 songs in 128-Kbps AAC format • Holds up to 20,000 or 25,000 photos • Stores data via USB 2.0 or FireWire hard drive [Editor's Note: the photos refered to here are iTunes thumbnail images, not the full resolution images imported from your digital camera.]
	LCD Display	• 2-inch (diagonal) transflective, 65,536-color liquid crystal display with white LED backlight • 220 x 176 pixel resolution, 0.18-mm dot pitch • Support for display of multiple languages and characters simultaneously
	Audio	• Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz • Audio formats supported: AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Music Store), MP3 (32 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, WAV, AIFF • Upgradable firmware enables support for future audio formats • iTunes synchronizes thumbnail images to iPod from the following file formats: JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PSD (Mac only) and PNG
	Headphones	• Earbud-style headphones with 18-mm drivers using Neodymium transducer magnets • Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz • Impedance: 32 ohms
	Mac System Requirements	• Macintosh computer with USB 2.0 or FireWire port • Mac OS X v10.2.8 or v10.3.4 or later • iTunes 4.7 or later (included on iPod CD) • iPhoto 4.0.3 or later recommended
	Windows System Requirements	• PC with USB 2.0 or FireWire port or USB 2.0 or FireWire card • Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4 or later, or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later • iTunes 4.7 or later (included on iPod CD) • Adobe Photoshop Album 2.0 or Elements 3.0 or later recommended
	Customizable Settings	• Customize main menu • Save On-the-Go Playlists, delete songs from On-the-Go Playlists • Adjust audiobook playback speed • Clicker on or off • Rate songs • Shuffle songs or albums • Repeat one or all • Sound Check on or off • 20 equalizer presets on or off • Backlight timer • Alarms on, off or silent • Sleep timer • Date and time • Display time in menu bar • Contacts sort and display by first or last names • Clicker on or off • Album art display large or small • Photo slideshow settings: - Music from Now Playing, iPhoto (Mac) or iTunes playlists - Time per slide (manual) — 2, 3, 5, 10 or 20 seconds - Repeat on or off - Shuffle photos on or off - Transitions: off, random, push down, wipe across, wipe down or wipe from center - TV out on, off or ask - TV signal PAL or NTSC • Menu Languages: Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swedish and Traditional Chinese • Additional language support for display of song, album and artist information: Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Greek, Hungarian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian,Turkish and Ukrainian
	Environmental Requirements	• Operating temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C) • Non operating temperature: -4° to 113° F (-20° to 45° C) • Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing • Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet (3000 m)
	Input and Output	• iPod - Dock connector - 3.5-mm stereo headphone minijac - Remote connector • iPod Dock Kit (sold separately): - Dock connector - Audio and composite video output - S-video output
	Power and Battery Rechargeable batteries have a limited number of charge cycles and may eventually need to be replaced. Battery life and number of charge cycles vary by use and settings. See www.apple.com/batteries for more information.	• Built-in rechargeable lithium ion battery • Music playback time: Up to 15 hours when fully charged • Photo slideshow with music viewing time: Up to 5 hours when fully charged • Charging via USB 2.0 connector to computer system or power adapter, or with optional FireWire cable (sold separately) to computer: - Fast-charge time: about 3 hours (charges up to 80% of battery capacity) - Full-charge time: about 5 hours
	Power Adapter	• 4-pin USB A connector • AC input: 100V to 240V at 0.15 amp rms maximum • Frequency: 50Hz to 60Hz • DC output: 5V at 1 amp maximum
	Dimensions (W x D x H)	20GB: 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.63 in. 60GB: 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.75 in.
	Weight	20GB: 5.9 ounces 60GB: 6.4 ounces
	MSRP	20GB: US $299 / CDN $379 60GB: US $399 / CDN $519

Here in Canada, I ordered the Apple 20GB iPod and the optional iPod Camera Connector online via the Apple Store and received them both within a couple of days by courier delivery. [Why not via Amazon.com? I'm not allowed to order stuff on my own site, plus I did not want to pay any of the custom fees.]

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