During this week’s MILO Chat podcast recording, we discussed the iPad’s use as a presentation device for lawyers. We were talking about the available iPad-to-VGA adapter and were left a little stumped as to how effective a presentation device the iPad would be if it had to remain tethered to the projector (where you couldn’t see it, if it was laying flat – or operate it, unless you were right on top of it.)
Our best guess was that the Keynote Remote app running on an iPhone would be a solution. The app lets you view your slides (current and upcoming) and gives you access to your presenter’s notes in your hand. Not a bad way to control your slides. Again, it was just a guess.
Lo, and behold, we learn that the Keynote Remote app webpage was updated today. Nothing directly on point in the discussion , but the title bar has been changed to reference to the iPad. See it here:
Many thanks to Finis Price (a MILO Chat host) to pointing this out and following up on our discussion.
The announcement, if it’s true & real, is an interesting development because it raises a number of issues (which we discussed in the podcast.). Namely, how will the iPhone, running the Keynote app, connect to the iPad? You know, assuming it can.
Given the hardware, there are two potential ways of connecting these two devices – wifi or Bluetooth. I don’t think either is the front runner given some of the limitations discussed below – mostly that enabling either exposes big holes that Apple tends to want to keep shut.
Unfortunately, the app’s current use doesn’t give us a lot of hints. If you use the Keynote Remote app, you have to have your Macbook or Macbook Pro create an ad-hoc wifi network. You can do this whether or not you are actually connected to the Internet. (Although, one of the benefits of doing so with an Internet connection is that you can share that connection with other devices on the network.)
BUT, there’s been no announcement that suggests the iPad will be able to create an ad hoc wifi network. Of course, that raises the question of what happens if creating an ad hoc wi-fi network is the method of connecting the two – can you share your 3G service on the iPad? Will Apple open up creating a wi-fi network with your iPad?
The second way, Bluetooth, is not much better. There are a number of Bluetooth protocols stacks in the world. If I took you through all of them, you’d be bored and overeducated. For now, though, suffice it to say that Apple has not enabled any stack that would permit you to control slides and transmit video information (like your next slide or presenter’s notes). Officially, the iPhone only supports wireless earpieces and stereo headphones. Unofficially, the hardware can support OBEX (object file transfer) protocol.
The problem with turning that on “officially” is that Apple is going to create a way to get files on and off the iPhone without using iTunes, including applications and it can create all kinds of holes that cause problems later.
Okay, you’ve come this far. I owe it to you to give you the simplest explanation, which is that the reference at the top of the title bar is probably just to let you know that you can load the Keynote Remote app onto your iPad and control Keynote on a Macbook Pro with that little Wifi-trick I mentioned above. But, what if…what if?
Regardless, you can be sure there will be lots of iPad discussion at the next MILOfest in November – and If it works out, this iPhone-to-iPad-to-Projector is definitely going to be my set-up.
Posted by Victor Medina
MacLovin’ JD