iPad3 - Storage management

1- Is there an SD card reader that can be connected to the iPAD3?

Apple's Camera Connection Kit:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC531ZM/A

2- What are the tranfere speeds limits?

Sorry, don't know.

3- Can the iPAD3 read from a wi-fi SD card using wi-fi mode directly? Or does it has to be via an existing wi-fi office network.

To the best of my knowledge, the iPad cannot read from a wi-fi SD card reader at all, unless the manufacturer of the reader provides an app.

4- Can we connect external hard drives to the iPAD3 and access files, open jpg files, doc, pdf, avi?

No, except for photos and when the drive is formatted and organized in very specific way. If you search the web, you'll find details.

5- Is there a size limit for the hard drive?

n/a

6- Can the iPad3 be connected as a USB-PEN drive to a PC and be used as a USB storage device for reading and writing?

No, except as in #4. The iPad cannot store to a USB flash drive at all, and again can read only photos organized in a very specific way.

Regards.

4- Can we connect external hard drives to the iPAD3 and access files, open jpg files, doc, pdf, avi?

Kingston Wi-Drive 16 GB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive

"Kingston’s revolutionary new Wi-Drive™ gives you added, Flash-based storage for Apple devices and Kindle Fire and lets you share photos, videos, music and more with two other users on their own iPad, iPhone, iPod touch or Kindle Fire. Share documents and other content, or stream media to break through the storage limitations of your iPad, iPod touch, iPhone or Kindle Fire.

With integrated Wi-Fi and four hours of battery life, Kingston's new Wi-Drive offers pocket-sized portable storage and easy file sharing for Apple devices and Kindle Fire. Accessing or sharing your personal media has never been easier. Take it anywhere, in your purse, backpack or briefcase, to share your files, music, photos, videos and more.

Expanding on what gyrhead suggested, such WiFi devices are available, but they're really media streamers that allow you to view content to your devices, not true file storage systems as an external drive on a computer would be, so read the capabilities and specifications carefully before you decide to purchase one. Such a device may fit some of your needs, but they're not like connecting a hard drive to a computer which seemed to me to be the sort of functionality you are looking for.

Regards.

Actually, items like the AirStash are like connecting a flash drive/SD card to your computer because that is exactly what you can do with the AirStash- connect it to a computer, upload a bunch of videos or pictures to it, disconnect it from your computer, and then stream those videos or pictures to any local networked devices that may want to access them. You can take on and off an unlimited number of SD cards with the Airstash. In addition to streaming, you can use the device for document transfer as well.

" But what about those iPads with their locked down operating system that doesn't allow you to browse network devices in a standard manner?"You can both download and upload to the AirStash using the free app. So, for example, if you want to get pictures off your iPad, you can upload them to the AirStash, then download them from the AirStash on another computer (either wirelessly, or by plugging in the AirStash as a thumb drive).

Actually, items like the AirStash ...stream those videos or pictures to any local networked devices that may want to access them.

Yes, and which is what I said they could do. What you can't do is store, upload and modify all types of documents from the iPad with complete transparency for all documents like a normal external hard drive can do (the Airstash is basically a portable WebDAV server), which seems to be what zuzillo wants, but it might be a workable solution for him/her.

Regards.

Is it the same if the AirStash is connected directly to the iPad via an USB adapter?

AirStash can't connect to an iPad via USB, to the best of my knowledge. The iPad does not support connection of any mass-storage device via USB except for photo import. If there's a third-party device that has a workaround for USB connectivity, I'm not aware of one, though something might exist that I haven't seen.

Reading the specs, though, they say that the AirStash also works as a WebDAV server, a feature I didn't know about, so it would seem to work for for saving to the AirStash for any app that supports saving to WebDAV. Many do not, but some do. Check the apps you wish to use to see if they offer such support, and if so then the AirStash might be a workable option for you. Here's a list of apps they've tested:

http://support.airstash.com/entries/468236-webdav-connect-various-apps-to-airsta sh-with-webdav

#C: BTW, does other "Pads" on the market allow browsing on an external storage more directly than the iPad?

No idea. Read the feature lists provided by the manufacturers of those devices or ask on forums for those other pads.

Regards.