iPad 1 VGA connector - no image on external monitor

Question

Level 1

8 points

iPad 1 VGA connector - no image on external monitor

Gentlefolk;

Have an iPad1 for which I also have the Dock to VGA adapter cable. I had not tried it before, so thought I would. I connected the cable to the iPad then to the VGA connector on the monitor, and waited for magic to happen.

No image appeared on the monitor.

I looked in the Settings area for some type of toggle that would "turn on" VGA output, but didn't find anything that indicated any type of video toggle.

Suggestions? What am I missing?

Thx!

Don

Windows 7

Posted on Mar 24, 2011 6:26 AM

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Answer 1

lllaass

Level 10

210,459 points

Mar 24, 2011 6:32 AM in response to Fabrique

What were you trying to view via the TV out? The iPad1 does not mirror and it only displays TV out with specific apps like the Video app.

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Answer 2

Daphoid

Level 1

9 points

Mar 24, 2011 6:38 AM in response to Fabrique

^^ ++.

What you're missing is an iPad 2 🙂.

The iPad 1 can only output video from iPod.app, Keynote, Youtube, Netflix, etc. It does not mirror everything.

- D

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Answer 3

Fabrique Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 24, 2011 6:47 AM in response to Daphoid

Thanks all... of course after I posted the query, I decided to do a forum search and found that this was not a unique question...in fact the VGA connector for the iPad1 is about useless. I did do a Slideshow and the images DID display on the external monitor. So the system does work, albeit with some decided limitations.

Well, not a reason to get an iPad2 yet, this was an experiment and not a regular requirement for me.

Still.... an odd decision by Apple to be so selective about what it allows to clone. And while they are at it, next time around, an extended desktop option would be really, really neat.

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Answer 4

dhaun

Level 2

367 points

Mar 24, 2011 8:20 AM in response to Fabrique

Fabrique wrote:
in fact the VGA connector for the iPad1 is about useless.

Depends on your use case. I really only need the VGA adapter to do presentations (mostly Keynote, sometimes using a browser). That's the only reason I bought it - I can't really think of any other situation where I wanted to display something from an iPad on an external display or projector. YMMV.

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Answer 5

/iz

Level 1

0 points

Mar 30, 2011 3:05 AM in response to dhaun

Well, if you have the feature and you do not use it, it is fine. If you do not have the feature because Apple apply a non technical limitation, it is annoying.

I use my iPad for presentations too. Sometimes I need to jump to a web page to show a real example of what I am presenting, but no, I cannot show Safari on an external monitor!

For me, all the limitations around the iPad have seriously damaged the reputation of a great company like Apple.

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Answer 6

dhaun

Level 2

367 points

Mar 30, 2011 8:05 AM in response to /iz

/iz wrote:

I use my iPad for presentations too. Sometimes I need to jump to a web page to show a real example of what I am presenting, but no, I cannot show Safari on an external monitor!

Use an alternative browser, iCab Mobile and a few others can do it.

(yeah, I know, that wasn't your point)

The iPad 2 now mirrors everything, so Apple changed their minds. And the limitations were known in advance for the original iPad. So I'm not sure I understand your complaints.

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