EOS 20D connection to PDA

[Studmaster]

Is there any way that the EOS 20D can be connected to a PDA? The reason I ask is that the EOS utility programs could be put on a PDA. The EOS capture utility allows you to set parameters on your camera and take pictures remotely. It also allows you to save the photos on the camera as well as the PDA. The new PalmOne LifeDrive has 4 gigs of space. I could kill two birds with one stone with this setup. I'd have my PDA and a remote control device for my camera.

[pierrot]

Err... as long as you have a handheld computer
- running Windows CE
- featuring a USB2 port

Otherwise, forget it! ;)

[Jon]

Do the EVU and DPP utilities run on WinCE? I thought they required a full-blown Windows.

[wibbly]

... and USB alone in the PDA isn't enough. It would need to be USB *host* port (like a PC) or some direct print printers. All PDAs I know of are USB clients only (like most or all? cameras)

J

[Jesper]

The software that you get with your camera on a CD from Canon requires at least Windows 98, and Digital Photo Professional even officially doesn't work on Windows 98, it needs Windows 2000 or XP at least.

There is no PDA that runs Windows 98, 2000 or XP, so you're not going to be able to run the Canon software on a PDA.

[lancea]

Is there any way that the EOS 20D can be connected to a PDA?
I've no doubt this could be done by a competent programmer using the information contained in the Canon SDK. You could try and interest someone who's already written Windows programs that perform the kind of functions you want - remote control and downloading. For example Breeze Systems. Or you could contact someone who develops Palm photo software and try and persuade them that there would be a market for these utilities. I suspect that later would have more chance of success as programming for the Palm platform is something of a specialist area still.

[leo11877]

Check this out.

http://www.astromist.com/palmdslr.html

[robertwgross]

There is no PDA that runs Windows 98, 2000 or XP, so you're not going to be able to run the Canon software on a PDA.

How about a really, really, big PDA?

---Bob Gross---

[aam1234]

How about a really, really, big PDA?

---Bob Gross---

You mean like a notebook :D

[Jon]

Check this out.

http://www.astromist.com/palmdslr.html

If I'm reading it correctly, what that does is replace the remote control cable. It doesn't look like it allows you to download/view photos on your Palm. I infer this from the cable he recommends for use with the app.

[Dew]

Well this may well do the trick (http://www.palmzone.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=514)....


News (http://modules.php?name=News&file=categories&catid=1): LifeDrive USB Camera Adapter
PDAMexico.net has posted information and pictures on a USB adapter that lets you use a digitial camera to store pictures directly on the LifeDrive's internal storage.



http://www.palmzone.net/images/articles/ld_camera_usb1.jpg

http://www.palmzone.net/images/articles/ld_camera_usb2.jpg

They are reporting that this new accessory for the LifeDrive will be available in June 2005. This device connects to the LifeDrive using USB through its MultiConnector. The other end attaches to a digital camera (most likely through a mini-USB connector). It then allows you to take pictures and save the images directly on the LifeDrive.

No details are available as to exactly when it will be released or how much it will cost. We will certainly keep you posted as information becomes available.

Thanks to PDAMexico.net (link translated to English (http://216.239.39.104/translate_c?hl=en&u=http://www.pdamexico.net/content/view/1342/1/)) for posting these pictures and breaking the story.

About the palmOne LifeDrive

With a 4 GB(1) hard drive and built-in Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® wireless support, the LifeDrive™ mobile manager from palmOne lets you easily carry all the essentials of your busy life. Files and folders from your desktop computer, 300 songs, 2.5 hours of video, 1000 vacation photos, and more are right there with you. Even files you may have left behind are within easy reach with WiFile software,2 whether you're in the airport lounge or a hallway between meetings.

With support for POP, IMAP and built-in Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync,®(3) you can stay on top of email at your Wi-Fi enabled office, home or any the thousands of hotspots.(4) You can even download important web pages and view them later offline. Plus, an onboard voice recorder, MP3 player, and photo viewer keep your precious few moments of free time both interesting and productive.

The palmOne LifeDrive (http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-1416575-10375384) can be purchased from our palmOne Online Store for $499. The palmOne LifeDrive (http://www.palmzone.net/modules.php?name=Amazon&asin=B0009JMT38) is also listed in our Amazon eStore and should be available soon for a discounted price.

You can view all of the details on the palmOne LifeDrive in our PDA Guide (http://www.palmzone.net/modules.php?name=Pda_Guide&id=130). You can also view our My LifeDrive page (http://www.palmzone.net/modules.php?name=Pda_Guide&rop=myhandheld&id=130) for more information. In addition, we have created a special LifeDrive Forum (http://www.palmzone.net/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewforum&f=33).

[KennyG]

Absolutely no use to Canon 1 series owners then.

[Bob_A]

Absolutely no use to Canon 1 series owners then.

You might be right, but at this time PalmOne hasn't announced any details about the adaptor that connects the Lifedrive to a camera (i.e., they haven't said what kind of connectors will definitely be used at the camera end, which cameras it will have software to support, etc.).

If you are in the market for a PDA, then the Lifedrive might be a cool device to carry around and offload some pictures onto it's 4 GB hard drive. Not much storage if you are shooting Raw, but it might be OK for some that shoot a bunch of jpegs when out with the family. I definitely wouldn't dream of this thing as being an image storage device for going on vacation (way too limited). Also I'm sure that PalmOne tried to keep the cost down by going with the 4 GB microdrive instead of the 6 GB one, but I would have preferred the 6.

However, without the upcoming USB camera adapter the Lifedrive itself definitely can only accept SD cards ... and can only handle jpegs. The jpeg only thing doesn't bother me since I'm certain that a good hobbyist programmer with a Canon DSLR will come up with a way to offload Raw files to the Lifedrive and be able to view them. If there is a need, someone will find a way.


Bob