The iPad 2 has some great new accessories you can get such as the Smart Cover and the new Apple iPad dock. But none of these is as impressive as the new iPad 2 Digital AV Adapter. This was a welcome addition to the line of iPad accessories and was one of the most requested features of the current iPad. Here’s what it is and some great ways to use it.
The iPad 2 Digital AV Adapter
Before we dive into the usage of the iPad 2 digital AV adapter, lets first define what this thing is and how to use it. The new Apple AV Digital Adapter for the iPad allows you to do something called video mirroring. What’s that, you say? Video mirroring is really simple actually. It means that anything you see and do on your iPad screen can be seen on a large screen TV or via a projector. Just one plug and you are projecting your iPad 2′s screen for everyone to see.
This works for every app, web page, presentation, video, movie, or photo you want to to off to a big or small audience. If it’s on the screen of your iPad, then it can be seen by everyone.
You could use this for the following situations:
- Training Seminar
- School Lessons
- Keynote Presentation
- iPad 2 Training
- Showing off iMovies
- Showing off your Photos
- Games
- Watching Movies
The Digital AV Adapter plugs into your iPad 2 30-pin dock connector and has two ports. One is for keeping your iPad 2 charged and the other is an HDMI-out port. The HDMI-out port is what you will plug into your TV or an HDMI-supported projector. There are no settings to tinker with or configurations to figure out. And the adapter even works with audio. So it’s easy to focus on what you’re about to show the room. One end plugs into the 30-pin connector on iPad, the other end plugs into your HDMI cable. And the cable plugs into your HDTV, projector, or other HDMI-friendly screens you use. There’s also a second 30-pin connector to USB cable so you can charge your iPad.
This is different than the current AV connector being sold. That adapter only sends video out from supported apps and it will not work to show your actual iPad screen. The new adapter literally projects you entire iPad 2 screen and thus anything you launch (apps, music, movies, photos, etc.) will be seen by everyone.
Home Video Conferencing
Now imagine this. You could use this with the new Facetime app and see your friends or family on the large screen.
Killer Presentations
Or imagine you are doing some training and you want to have an expert lend some advice. You open Facetime and ring him/her up and voila – there’s your expert right there talking and everyone can see it!
School Projects
How about a school project? Have your kids shoot a bunch of video with the iPad 2. Now have them edit that video with the iMovie app on the iPad 2. Give them the iPad 2 and the AV Digital Adapter to take to school and they give one of the best presentations ever seen.
There are so many great ways you can think outside the box and use the new iPad 2 AV Digital Adapter. This is going to be one amazing accessory that will get a ton of use nearly immediately.
There has also been some question as to weather this adapter will work with the current iPad and it should work with it since it does also work with the iPhone 4.
So how could you use the new iPad 2 Digital AV Adapter?
I thought I read on the Apple site that it does work with the original iPad just like you suggest, but that it will only work like the current A/V Out so that its only some apps (ie, not mirroring).
Really? Ohhhhh now that might make sense actually…..ok…I gotta find this out…..
Oh, I think this adapter will be a great accessory. My sister was asking me if there was some way to send info from the Ipad to a tv screen with an HDMI cable. I think this might just push her over the edge to get an Ipad2. Hope so then we can face time, we live a good distance apart and only see each other a couple times a year. I sent her this link.
Hi Kathy!
Exactly…..I don’t think a lot of people thought of this yet but if you can see your iPad screen and then do facetime – it makes the perfect video conference system on your TV…and I know for me that’s a really great bonus!
If you have family across the miles…then the ipad 2 is going to be very important because I’ve used facetime and it’s as simple as tapping on a name of someone and that’s it
Confirmed that mirroring will only work with iPad 2. The cable can be used on either but the output will be limited to the same as the previous external adapter for iPad 1 ( certain apps). The new digital adapter will output 1080 for the iPad 2 and 720 for iPad 1.
Looks like I’m upgrading.
geez..guess I should have read all the comments before answering…ok…so…that confirms my confirmation! lol. well…here’s one good thing Robert – you get a new iPad outta the deal!
I’m holding out for the iPad 3 (but not by choice)
you are probably the wise one here eric….we will all spend our money and then hear apple comes out with the iPad 3 next fall
OK, I have a very simple, but somewhat stupid question. How many USB connections does the IPad2 have built in? I transfer lots of files and live way out in the woods where there is very little connectivity.
none…IPAD2 has one data cable which has USB connection on hte end. but built in – none!
I am new to iPad. I have an iPad 2 and have been trying to find a word processing program that will work. I tried Pages but the message I get is that it isn’t compatible with my de vice. When trying to watch a video I am always prompted to upgrade to Adobe Flash Player … I know iPad 2 doesn’t use this . Can’ figure out what apps to try. Any help would be appreciated.
Cheryl
hi i have ipad 2 and i connect it all up but im only getting it in smll screen on my tv can you please help me
Hi Shane
was looking out for a solution
we got a ipad2 with apple digital av (hdmi) connetor.
now we realized that most of places we go have vga projectors
so i brought hdmi to vga cable and connected to apple digital av (hdmi) connetor.
but it is not working , can you tell if the above setup can work or is there a app that can make it work
thanks
sanjay
Hey,
Thank you so much for this information! I recieved my Digital AV converter in the mail and not being very Apple/IPad or indeed IT savvy I looked at it somewhat baffled.
Now after reading this information and understanding it in all its simplicity, I’m so excited to try it out on the TV and in presentations on the projector for work!
Thanks Danie
I can’t get the AV adapter to work with my iPad2. I get the “ipad does not support this accessory” warning on my iPad when I hook it up. Any ideas?