Daniel Eran Dilger
Apple's configuration profile tools for iOS devices include a variety of settings and restrictions that companies can impose to regulate how the devices are used and to configure services such as VPN and wireless networking access or email, calendar and directory services.
Policies can also force strong passwords and set security features such as the number of times a password attempt can fail before the device wipes its data. Similar to parental controls, the policy settings can also be used to block access to features such as the iTunes Store, Safari, YouTube, or the use of its camera.
While iPhones do have cameras to disable, no iPad models currently do. However, among the profiles specifically included in its iPad documentation, Apple notes the ability to restrict camera use on the iPad.
iPad camera potential
Prior to launch, it was widely rumored that Apple's upcoming tablet might include a camera. When it shipped, Apple only provided the ability to connect to external cameras through its Dock connector, either via USB or using an SD Card reader adapter.
API support for camera, flash, and zoom functions were discovered in developer builds of the iPad-only iOS 3.2 in February.
While those APIs may have been added as part of software development work performed to support iPhone 4, Apple also posted job listings for a "Performance QA Engineer, iPad Media" which stated, "Build on your QA experience and knowledge of digital camera technology (still and video) to develop and maintain testing frameworks for both capture and playback pipelines."
Taken together, it appears likely that future versions of iPad will incorporate a camera, most likely a front-facing unit intended to support FaceTime. That video conferencing feature is currently limited to iPhone 4, but Apple plans to make it a widespread standard among mobile devices.
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Wesley Hilliard
AppleInsider Staff
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
William Gallagher
27 Comments
Yes, of course there will be a camera in the iPad.
BUT, look for it next year after they sell a boat-load of this version for Christmas.
while i'm sure everyone here agrees that a camera is inevitable for an iPad refresh, it's still nice to see hints of evidence. [so thanks for that AI]
...or this could have been someone being too lazy proofreading their copy/paste from the iPhone policies to the iPad policies document
Of course there is going to be a camera, the question is whether 1 or 2. I'm thinking just front facing for facetime, but I could be wrong...
I still say a new iPad with a front-facing camera is coming in November.
Actually I was surprised that there was no camera in the initial version. It's a very logical feature to include.
The one thought I had was that Apple might wait until their Billion Dollar server farm is ready and deliver some of the iPad features through it.
As far as importance, right now that tis the primary reason why I don't have one already.