If you watched episode 17 of Techcast Focus you will have seen the problems I am having with a new Epiphan VGA2USB LR unit connected to an iPad. As the name implies this unit allows you to capture a VGA output as a USB video stream and either save it to disk using the Epiphan software or use it as a video source for programs such as BoinxTV. This neatly solves the physical problem of recording the output of an iPad for inclusion in pod/net/techcasts (choose your preferred name!).
The other problem of course is that the iPad VGA output is only enabled by certain applications so if you want to record the iOS interface the only solution today is to jailbreak the device and purchase an app called ‘Display Out’ from the Cydia store. This also allows finger presses on the screen to be captured. It’s a great app. But come on Apple this should be enabled by default!!
Here is an example of the problem with horizontal lines appearing on the capture. This also appears when scrolling between iPad screens so is not limited to video, it is related to movement on the screen:
Back to the VGA2USB….. Others are using the unit very successfully so after discussion with the UK distributor (OneVideo) it was sent back for replacement. Well nearly two weeks have passed now and no replacement is in sight and have two different stories – “it is with Epiphan for testing”, and “we are out of stock and waiting for another batch of units”. This unit is not cheap (around $900 in the UK with tax) so I would expect a slightly better service than this.
So apologies for the poor quality of the TF17, and that the next couple of episodes are delayed awaiting a working unit.
Mark
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