Advertisement: Protect your iPad with the invisibleSHIELD.
“Apple’s configuration profile tools for iOS devices include a variety of settings and restrictions that companies can impose to regulate how the devices are used and to configure services such as VPN and wireless networking access or email, calendar and directory services,” Dilger reports. “Policies can also force strong passwords and set security features such as the number of times a password attempt can fail before the device wipes its data. Similar to parental controls, the policy settings can also be used to block access to features such as the iTunes Store, Safari, YouTube, or the use of its camera. “
Dilger reports, “While iPhones do have cameras to disable, no iPad models currently do. However, among the profiles specifically included in its iPad documentation, Apple notes the ability to restrict camera use on the iPad.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Lava_Head_UK” for the heads up.]
Proof enough for me. Still, can’t say I actually miss a camera on my iPad.
I’m guessing the iPad camera was taken out of iPad’s specs last minute before production went full throttle.
If they add camera functionality, it needs to match iPhone dual camera specs or better for charter adopters to roll over these non-camera original iPads. Anything less will make the iPad look bad as a camera display device – particularly since there are already Bluetooth iPhone to iPad connection software kits.
Dang it MDN. You forgot to call it the “revolutionary” iPad AGAIN. You are slipping…
This is why I’m waiting for iPad2.
Just as with iPhone, they got their basic version ou the door- next year’s will embody all they’ve learned from having millions of devices tested out in the field all day every day.
I’ll sell my iPad a few months in advance in order to keep value for the next cycle…
Having used an iPad daily (and nightly) since Day One, I can’t really see any use in a camera now. Kinda dumb.
I suspect that Apple planned to include the iPhone 4 forward/aft camera setup on the iPad. There was either not enough time, or not enough supply. So Apple chose to push that off until iPad 2.
FaceTime for iPad. It’s coming. Revision 2!
But let’s hope the up-and-coming new iPod touch sports cameras along with Retina Display, etc.
The procedure to disable it had better be snappy.
I’ve had my iPad 3G since May. Haven’t even once seen any need for a camera.
As I’ve said before, I think it is possible that the iPad will get a user-facing camera, anticipating FaceTime becoming a WiFi feature that does not require a phone call to initiate.
However, I do not think iPad will get a camera that points away from the user. Having the user hold up and point (using two hands) something as large as an iPad does not pass the Steve Jobs usability test, in my opinion. And it would look ridiculous, and people are not going to pull out there iPad to take an impromptu snapshot or video, like they do with iPhones.
A user-facing camera will also be somewhat bad in terms of usability. If the user is holding the iPad directly in front, like with an iPhone, it will need to be held with two hands and aimed steadily for an extended time, during the FaceTime chat. An iPhone is light and can be held easily with one hand. If the iPad is in your lap, you can use just one hand to prop it up and keep it steady, but that camera angle (looking up at you from a 45º angle) would be terrible. It would work well if you had some type of stand to prop up the iPad during the video chat (so the iPad acts more like a MacBook), but that seems a bit un-Apple-like. Also, the frame around the screen serves the iPad’s “handles” for holding, so putting the camera dead center of the edge opposite the Home Button would be a bad idea, because that’s a likely location for your hand. The best spot for a built-in camera (if there is one) is probably at the upper left corner.
But in my opinion, the best way to add a camera to an iPad is with a separate accessory that connects using Bluetooth. Such a camera can be placed and aimed independently of the iPad’s position and orientation, and can be pointed forward or backward (or in any direction). There are Bluetooth cameras for “regular” computers, so it should be possible with iPad, and all existing iPads will then be able to use a camera.
OMG…
Like we didn’t know already…
Another mister obvious writes a stupid article…