Was the iPad supposed to have a camera? Evidence from the SDK suggests, perhaps

Seth Weintraub
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January 27, 2010
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It could very well be one of the carryovers from the iPhone bit of the SDK, but according to TechCrunch, the iPad's SDK has reference to taking pictures with a built-in camera. 

Was there supposed to be a camera in this model or does this have to do with the ability of the device to connect to external cameras?   More importantly, will there be one built-in camera the next version?

Comments (50)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 27, 2010 - 4:58pm

Still not sure why it doesn't have a camera. What DOESN'T have a camera on it these days!?

mime454 | January 27, 2010 - 5:03pm

I think it might have a camera at release. Notice in the hands on that several things were not implemented, also we have already figured out several things that were not mentioned in the presentation. Also Apple was rumored to be buying loads of cameras suited for this device.

Mobius (not verified) | January 27, 2010 - 5:20pm

That'd be nice....a last-minute surprise on launch-day where it'd have a built-in camera. Though I highly doubt it. Just not Apple style. Maybe there would be a webcam/camera accessory for it in the future?

iPad Ponderer (not verified) | January 27, 2010 - 5:37pm

While thinking about the lack of a camera at the top of the iPad (like what is found at the top of all current Macs), I started thinking back to old Apple patent filings... like the one where the screen pixels that would have imaging capabilities and thus could take a picture of the user. Hmmm...

SHEFFmachine (not verified) | January 27, 2010 - 6:20pm

Next version should have flash, camera (front and back) and it will be perfect.

Simon (not verified) | January 27, 2010 - 7:25pm

For me the lack of a camera is a deal breaker, I'll patiently wait for version 2.0

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 28, 2010 - 7:29am

Thumbs Up!!!

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 27, 2010 - 7:42pm

Is the prompt seen in the picture actually visible in the software? Or is it just cut out of an iPhone screenshot?

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 27, 2010 - 8:14pm

yeah this is a miss for me. when the iphone came out. it was revolutionary. the way we browsed the web and the multitouch was amazing. we all have iphones or ipod touches now and have used them for nearly 3 years. Though the iPad (terrible name) makes the overall iphone and ipod touch experience better, it lacks functionality that I don't already have with my iphone and macbook pro. The biggest one of these features, for me at least, is the lack of student marketing. I am a student. I take notes in class. What could be greater than to have an awesome, beautiful, and easy to use app for taking notes in class on my ipad. A way to sync notes to other people in my class who also use the app would be cool. A way to record audio of a lecture or video (why isn't there a camera in this thing?!) would be so cool. Maybe this is an opportunity for a 3rd party to develop something really cool, but Apple left out some key features that could make a device like this truly wanted, if not needed, by college students and even professors. The same could be said for many industries, graphic design (hook it into your mac and use it as a wacomm style tablet with a pen), and other things that I can't think of.

Love the design, and I think it has loads of potential. But if this was the end all for tablets, I'll wait until the game really changes.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 01, 2010 - 7:44am

all of these things you are talking about will most likely exist through the power of apps

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 27, 2010 - 9:55pm

it has no camera because its typical APPLE behavior. They will add it next year so people can fork more money... to them... I mean come on no multitasking...I can understand the iphone is smaller and their excuse is hardware limitations but this things is bigger....I'm quite dissapointed with the iPad......

Toy Needle (not verified) | January 28, 2010 - 4:28am

Uhm, isn't the iPhone SDK for iPhone, touch *and* iPad? So a hook for camera stuff is iPhone-related. Of course the iPad will have a camera eventually, as well as proximity gesture recognition.

JayR (not verified) | January 28, 2010 - 6:22am

I'm glad there's no camera. It would just be a waste. I'm not a fan of cellphones (iPhone, etc) cameras, but these are one hand devices. Using a camera in an iPad would require two hands and look pretty awkward holding up something the size of a book. I like the iPad as a media player and internet browser, and definitely plan on buying one later this year.

Sandzlolz (not verified) | April 12, 2010 - 1:08am

Haha it would look awkward. It's like carrying the screen of your laptop at school taking pictures of your friends and stuff. Major awkwardness. I think this is what separates the iPhone and iPad apart. But i want an iPhone 0S 4 cuz it can multitask. If you don't want the iPad, get the iPhone or iPod touch :P simple as that. The iPad was designed to use the internet and read books, and watch movies, not really for music and personal things etc. camera.

JayR (not verified) | January 28, 2010 - 6:22am

I'm glad there's no camera. It would just be a waste. I'm not a fan of cellphones (iPhone, etc) cameras, but these are one hand devices. Using a camera in an iPad would require two hands and look pretty awkward holding up something the size of a book. I like the iPad as a media player and internet browser, and definitely plan on buying one later this year.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 28, 2010 - 6:31am

Why is everyone so upset about it not having a camera? Is that really that important? Who's going to want to hold up the tablet to take a photo or video? The size makes it rather unwieldy.

I just don't get why THAT is a deal-breaker.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 28, 2010 - 7:36am

It's a deal-breaker because netbooks can do it! Also look at how popular Skype is - and phoning without video is not even half the fun.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 28, 2010 - 7:46am

Video chat is what you need a camera for. How are you going to get to see the grand-children / niece or nephew on the other side of the world and them see you with out a camera?

john macdonald (not verified) | April 29, 2010 - 12:45pm

I have been waiting a long time for a ipad product for skype use this is what most would use it for " chat " why does it not have camera? I for one will pass until new model with camera comes out.

rlee (not verified) | January 28, 2010 - 11:41am

Duh for Skype & iChat

Joe Blow (not verified) | January 28, 2010 - 7:41am

the camera would face the user - for video skype and such.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 28, 2010 - 7:46am

The SDK is still a beta, so there's probably some left over iPhone code by mistake. I'm sure that will disappear in the next rev. I camera would be nice, but I don't know how practical it would be. Imagine trying to take a picture with it. Go practice with a phone book and you'll see how awkward it is. And how would a forward facing camera look? You'd have to hold the thing up to your face or people would be staring at the underside of your chin the whole time. Seems silly. I don't think the lack of a camera is a deal breaker. And anyone who thinks so needs to reconsider their priorities.

Anyway, camera or no camera, I don't think I can wait anther year for rev 2, when there's no guarantee that it'll happen. Look at the iPod touch, still no camera after all these years.

James (not verified) | January 30, 2010 - 5:10pm

The ipod touch does not have a camera because of two msin reasons:
1. They want people to have to buy the iphone for those 'additional features' and therefore make more money.
2. The ipod touch is advertised as a gaming device not a touch screen computer. The ipad however is advertised as a portable touch screen laptop or netbook which SHOULD have a camera. My guess is as always apple is waiting until version 2 to release the ipad with a camera, so we have to buy it all over again.

Matt Noob (not verified) | January 28, 2010 - 8:22am

I think some people are getting confused with the camera thing. Personally the reason i want a camera on this thing is for video chats like an iSight camera....not for taking photos with, thats just stupid.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 28, 2010 - 10:10am

What's to say they dont come out with an webcam accessory for the iPad? They already have an accessory to plus in a camera via USB and an accessory to plug in a SD card.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 28, 2010 - 10:27am

I don't a camera is a stupid idea. I was thinking using this device as an inspection tool during OSHA or building inspections. As you are filling out a checklist, you find a problem, snap, you have a picture that you embed into your inspection document. When you are done with the inspection, you have a finished document ready to send or do some final editing. This will save a lot of time and effort trying to put together the document and pictures (Believe me I do that right now).

MelM (not verified) | January 28, 2010 - 6:15pm

I think you're right. A camera pointing straight out from an edge, in the plane of the iPad and with an on-screen viewfinder seems like a nice idea.

Anyway, what I came here to find was something about a webcam for a Skype video call.

DWD (not verified) | February 07, 2010 - 9:48pm

I agree there should be a camera I wanted to use it for on the job note taking for a skilled trades business a camera is a must for that!!

rlee (not verified) | January 28, 2010 - 11:43am

The Camera is needed for Skype & iChat

Stuvex (not verified) | January 29, 2010 - 7:26am

Camera can be a waste in some situation, for example my workplace Sam***ng restricts camera inside. I welcome no camera in iPad. I expect there will be a extra camera for Skype & iChat. Seperated one is better at least for my case.