Raspberry Pi iPad Pro Setup Explained 

It worked !!!

The earlier versions of the images used a different mechanism for setting up the OTG ethernet. That mechanism allows for more OTG features to be enabled but I found that pretty pointless in this setup, so I've switched this simpler setup. I'm going to change all the pre-built images to use this approach too.

The technical term for it is USB gadget mode. It's a core linux feature, so it could be possible, but I imagine the kernel would need to have it implemented.

@@Andreasytac Understood. I know that the Wifi chip is currently not support in FreeBSD so I am using an external Wifi device to have network access (the router is sitting behind the TV so it makes it awkward to connect a hardwire)

There's a few options for Android - I just got my Android tablet and I'm working through the different options. I'll drop a video soon.

@@tech_craft thanks mate

I'm not super familiar with tkinter, but I think this should work. You don't even really need code-server. You can trigger the script over SSH, either from an SSH client or from the Shortcuts app. You'll need to tell tkinter which virtual display to use, but I imagine it will work just fine.

You'll need to use USB-C to be able deliver power reliably. There are some configurations for using the Pi as the access point with RaspAp

I've been using the 11" iPad Pro for years now. For me it's absolutely the right size. My wife has the 12.9" which is an excellent device - she's an illustrator - but I prefer the compact setup.

I'm using tigervnc with Jump Desktop - video on that very soon.

just search vor a vnc toutorial. the usb-c is now just a normal network interface.

Makes perfect sense - you can absolutely connect with both options without having a separate Pi. My Pi is configured for Wifi, USB ethernet and standard ethernet. Depending on where I'm I'll use the most appropriate config.

@@tech_craft Thanks! Also as a follow-up, if I'm connected to the Pi via the usb c ethernet connection, can I also be connected to wifi on the ipad or does the ipad require one or the other? So i could be working with the pi via a ssh client or vnc client but then maybe try searching the web for something in safari?

I'm using Blink Shell - blink.sh/

Check his previous videos

If the board supports USB OTG you’ll be able to get this working. If not, you can use a USB Ethernet adapter to get a similar setup.

The same setup works on my MacBook Pro without any changes.

I didn't, just plain 4K30fps

@@tech_craft interesting, this was the only video of yours I saw it also

I have the keyboard for my Samsung S8 turning up in a few days so I plan to put some effort into getting this set up.

it works to. the pi just acts as a usb network adapter.

Your biggest problem will be Android not having any support for zeroconf, so hostname variants won't work. You'll have to use a static IP. Even then, Android is so fragmented that it will be hit or miss

@@Andreasytac hm? Author clearly used in this video dhcp server, Andoid is perfectly fine with that.

Certainly. Ubuntu Server has a different networking setup - it uses Netplan. I have a dedicated video on that topic here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RPBnyAFJ6gQ.html

Mine very first test didn't work. I was able to get physically connected and powered, but I couldn't actually get a route from the tablet to the Pi. That said, I spent about ten minutes trying and have yet to find the real time needed to sit down and do a thorough test.

Not sure where that's come from - will double check my settings.

@@tech_craft Good. :) Interlacing is a relic I'd like to not make a comeback like vinyl has had.

I'm having the same issue

Which image have you downloaded? I’ll check it today and see if there’s an issue that needs fixing.

@@tech_craft Hi i downloadd the arm64 lite

I’ll check today. Out of interest, did you customise the image with hostname, user and password?

@@tech_craft Yeah I set the hostname to padpi, user to padpi and a password. I selected AU as the LAN country which I'm not sure about - I live in Australia.

You'll need VNC to access the GUI. I have a video coming up on that exact topic very soon.

@@tech_craft Can one do a similar thing with Jetson Nano connected to the 5V micro USB by a USBC to micro USB cable and VNC into it as in a headless mode?

That's how I have in configured to work. Is it not working for you?

@@tech_craft Hi thx for responding. I’ve still been trying to figure it out but it’s the same. When I turn off Wi-Fi on my iPad and try to access a raspberry folder using blink in the files app I get an error “you’re offline. Check your internet connection, then try again.” But if I connect to any network “it doesn’t have to be the same one as raspberry, it works. FYI if I switch off Wi-Fi on either or both devices everything else works fine over usbc (ssh jumpd etc). Am I missing something ? Is there a way to copy files from raspberry to iPad using the terminal ? I feel like I saw you doing it in one of your vids but I watched all so many times and can’t find it.

Will you keep the GUI enabled? Or Ubuntu Server?

I’ve done a bit of a mix so far. Adding the GUI on top of server. I’m also playing with the direct Ubuntu Desktop but I’ve had a few issues getting Network Manager to play nicely.

@Tech Craft Awesome! I like using my Pi for more wireless work… and I’ve just found that easier with Ubuntu. Cheers.

the same: android support usb network adapter since many years

I bought an Android tablet recently to start exploring the setup. Will report back when I have more information.

It should be `usb0`.

I’ve been trying a few Kali options myself. Somebody in another comment suggested that the config might be simplified quite a bit and that might work on Kali. I’ll try and report back.

There's no return network path over the USB-C, but you can connect the Pi to the hotspot on a cellular iPad. For Wifi-only iPads there's no mechanism for sharing the connection that I'm aware of.

@@tech_craft That's another area of frustration. While I love my iPad, a second hand M1 MacBook can be had at a lower price than an iPad Pro. Apple silicon laptops run all MacOS and iOS software side by side, battery is literally 3-4x longer for many tasks (like dev). it's also lighter than the iPad + Magic Keyboard and you don't need to bring the RPi.

@@DigiDriftZone If you have a 5G iPad anyways, running a separate hotspot to it isn't a big issue. You can also power the Pi externally and run a USB A to C cable from the Pi's normal USB A ports to the iPad, and enable tethering for a wired tether. You do need to install something on the Pi for this to work - it's a while since I did it, but I think it was "sudo apt-get install usbmuxd". This will work on both iPhones and 5G iPads using whatever USB cable fits between them (A-C or A-Lightning). All the normal stuff like SSH, VNC will still work as well - but connect using hostname.local instead of IP (replace hostname with your actual hostname for the Pi).

@@Andreasytac None of these things are a "big deal" in isolation but when looking at the whole setup, yes, you can do all that... or.. you can get a device that's lighter, has 3-4x the battery, larger/brighter screen, nicer keyboard and has none of these external dependencies, setup, wire spaghetti, many bugs, glitches and frustrating workarounds like... no escape key... APPLE! :) - I mean it's cool you can do this with the iPad, but M1 Macbook seems like an infinitely more practical, pleasant and even cheaper solution (amazing second hand deals at the moment). With all this said, all of this information is useful to use the iPad alongside the Macbook for sure.

@@DigiDriftZone Depends what profession you're in. For me, the Macbook would be a no-go for a number of reasons ranging from the lack of a touch screen and pen to even the lack of a LiDAR that I use at work all the time. I can add a Pi to an iPad easier than I can add all of that to a Mac.

The best option I have for now is to track RPi Locator: rpilocator.com/

Are you sure? Just enabling the ethernet OTG doesn't create any network on that adapter so the iPad and the Pi are not on the same network. Are you sure you're not just picking up the Pi by being on the same wifi network?

@@tech_craft RU-vid blocked my original response for including a URL it seems. In any case, yes I'm sure. I've done this dozens of times, including on Pi Zeros, including ones without wifi. I know exact what error you're making because I made the same one originally. Those changes to config and cmdline are all you need to enable Linux's bog standard USB gadget mode. At that point, it will work. You need to either use the dynamic IP you can find in the iPad's settings (under ethernet once connected) or just use the hostname. Everything else you're doing in this video is to give the connection a static IP, which is not necessary on iOS since they can resolve the hostname. A bonus is that you can use the same SSH, VNC, whatever bookmarks and it will work no matter if the Pi is connected via USB C, Ethernet (also works BTW, just use an ethernet adapter on the iPad), wifi on the same network, or hotspot - both wired and wireless. This is also why USB C is not necessary here. It allows you to power the Pi, but if you scrap that requirement, you can connect to any iOS device. Just tried on an iPhone to double check a response to another comment.

I’ll give this a try as soon as I can. Would certainly be a big improvement to the process.

@@tech_craft I found your video a year-ish back when I first ventured into this area, which is why I'm subscribed - but have had to chart 98% of what I'm currently doing with this setup myself. I have no interest in being a content creator, but I've always felt a bit bad for all the info I'm current sitting on about Pi-iPads that would blow people's minds. If you want to chat about it, let me know how to hit you up privately. I probably have enough stuff for you to make videos on for the next couple of years, and you're welcome to it.

Sounds great. You can get me on rob@techcraft.co

I explained it in the linked videos. Starting from scratch in every single video would lead to a lot of duplication.

@@tech_craft let me suggest that in the beginning you say "In my last video I showed you guys how to XYZ - check it out linked up here and in the description". not start from scratch!

A fair point!

@@tech_craft A LIKE FOR YOU