Redpark preps dial-up, serial adapters for iPhone, iPad
updated 04:55 pm EST, Fri February 12, 2010
Redpark DB9 and RJ11 adapters have Apple OK
Peripheral firm Redpark at Macworld has promised the unique option of serial port (DB9) and dial-up (RJ11) adapters for Apple handhelds. The company's designs would give at least iPhone and iPod touch units support for legacy data through a Dock Connector adapter and is notably approved by Apple as a "reference design" that can be used by other companies. The iPad hasn't been tested for self-evident reasons but should also support the add-ons.
Which companies might use the adapters isn't stated and will determine the release date, but Redpark envisions the adapters being used with apps for hospitals, industrial monitoring, networking and science.
Apple doesn't include support for these devices itself but, from iPhone 3.0 onwards, allows these adapters for third-party titles using their own standards. Serial ports and dial-up have often been used both for work purposes such as server monitoring but have often been the specialty of Windows Mobile PDAs and smartphones.
Hmm
02/12, 08:59pm reply
Alright, these iPad/iPhone/iTouch peripherals are starting to get interesting. if someone comes out with a DVD burner with a dock port, then I might just be sold on this whole iPad as a computer replacement thing...
WiseWeasel
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 1999
@WiseWeasel
02/13, 04:05am reply
What are you going to use DVD for?
- transfer file? try wifi
- play it on tv? connect the iPad to it
I haven't burn a DVD in ages.
dliup
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2006
Well
02/13, 05:00am (1 reply) reply
What the heck are you going to do with an RJ11 port, for that matter... The answer is none of your damn business!
WiseWeasel
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Joined: Apr 1999
Rejoice
02/13, 08:56am (1 reply) reply
That attachment would have been really useful in 1991. I'll try to suspend my skepticism, but I share the opinion that this support is largely outdated and redundant today, for the reasons stated above.
ebeyer
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Joined: Jun 2004
iPhone serial console win
02/13, 09:27am reply
I would actually find the DB9 adapter EXTREMELY useful to tip into unix servers via serial console port. Assuming that my iPhone SSH console app was updated to use it.
OtisWild
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Modems
02/13, 07:18pm reply
I'm in the process of deploying over 50,000 modem based devices for the US Gov't. Modern, I know. Worse, these dial-up devices (running at 14.4k - 19.2k on average) are going to also have a VPN stack for security. (Reducing the bandwidth down to about 5k). 15 hour download times anyone?
My point is that dial-up is used more than you might expect.
driven
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Joined: May 2001
ethernet
02/14, 03:40am reply
Too bad there is no option for connecting with ethernet. Yes, I know I can connect wirelessly but would be another option at least...
maclite
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Joined: Feb 2010
web-cam
02/14, 09:23am reply
It would be cool to have something similar for a Skype compatible web-cam.
driven
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Joined: May 2001
comment title
02/14, 11:45am reply
These are great - there are a lot of people out there that travel to third-world areas, or have vacation cabins somewhere which can't get internet access - except for dialup.
Road Runner with Time Warner actually provides over 20+ hours free of dialup with their internet service, they just don't advertise it.
BurpetheadX
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Joined: Jul 2002