IPad – How to transfer pictures from a USB flash drive with the Camera Connection Kit

file-transferipadphotosusb

I would like to transfer a bunch of photos onto my iPad without syncing through iTunes.

I had the idea of using a USB flash drive and the Camera Connection Kit, but simply dumping the pictures into the root directory of the drive doesn't work; the iPad says that there are no photos.

Is there any way to do this?

Best Answer

This can be done by imitating the folder structure of a camera's memory card.

First, find a flash drive that's compatible with the Camera Connection Kit (i.e. doesn't draw more than 100 mA).

Create a directory in the root of the USB drive named DCIM. Inside DCIM create a directory that has exactly 8 characters. Put your picture/video files inside this directory, ensuring that they have an 8.3 pattern filename (e.g. somepics.jpg).

You'll end up with a directory structure that looks like this:

USB drive root
  -\DCIM
    -\FAKECAM1
      -\pict0001.jpg
      -\pict0002.jpg
...
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