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AsheeshMathur

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External Devices on iPad

I am planning to create a solution wherein 4 external devices need to be connected to an iPad.
These devices will be accessed programmatically. Challenge is iPad has only 1 30 pin connector slot, I was planning to use a USB splitter attached to iPad via USB converter marketed  by Apple.

The devices could be:
1. Small Folio printer
2. Credit Card Swipe I/F
3. Bar Code Reader
4. Room Key Card Encoder

Is this technically possible, do we have to interface with Hardware Vendors and so on ?

Seems to be challenging embedded system application.


Avatar of Jason C. Levine
Jason C. Levine
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Most of that has been done via the iPhone so, in theory, the possibilities exist.  Square has a credit card swipe that works via the audio jack, so that one is pretty much solved.

If I were going about this, the first step I would do is go through the iPhone hardware vendors and partner
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AsheeshMathur

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The issue with Square is, it will grab the only available port. We have to use single port for 4 devices.
Though I have been searching, could not find a relevant product.
May be we can have, Bluetooth enabled devices to help.
Oh...

You want four devices simultaneously?  That's a tall order for the iPad given the architecture.
We could crack following
1. Printer - Wireless using AirPrint
2. Bar code Scanner - Bluetooth
3. Credit Card Swipe (Square) via Audio Jack port
4. Room Key Generator is the challenge. There are not many players in this arena, I suppose.
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Jason C. Levine
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