USB Streaming Issue Between RICOH THETA X and Z1 with iPad Pro M4

Hello everyone, I need some help about this things.
If you also know, pls comment.

  1. Overview

We are planning to develop an app using the “Support external cameras in your iPadOS app” feature introduced in iPadOS 17.

Before implementing this feature, it is necessary for the iPad to recognize external cameras. However, among the iPad models compatible with iPadOS 17, we have found that some of the iPads owned by our development team can recognize external cameras, while others cannot.

If you have any reports regarding compatibility issues or information on how to resolve these problems, please share them with us.

  1. Detailed Explanation:

The results of our investigation are as follows:

External Camera Used: A 360-degree camera

Devices Firmware
RICOH Theta X 2.61.0(2024/12/26Latest)
RICOH Theta Z1

Tested iPad

Devices Firmware Status
12.9インチiPad Pro(第3世代) IOS 17.5.1 OK
11インチiPad Pro(M4) IOS 18.2 NG

Verification Method

Step 1: Power on the iPad and the external camera, ensuring both are ready for connection.

Step 2: Connect the iPad and the external camera using a USB-C cable.

Step 3: Launch FaceTime on the iPad and check the displayed camera feed.

  • If the external camera is recognized, the feed from the external camera will be displayed.

Do you think the problem is related to the M4 CPU? Or, is it a problem related to iOS 18.x?

Do some of the iOS 17 devices not work with the THETA X/Z1 connected with a USB cable?

Have you tried putting a piece of tape on the cables that are known to work and then trying those working cables as the test cables?

Thanks for your answer.

  1. Im not sure proplem here about M4 CPU or IOS 18.x

2.NO, it doesn’t.
Because When i tried on ipad pro 12.9 gen3 (17.5.1), the external cam working good as like webcam but NG on IpadPro M4

  1. I were tried many cables type C to C, sir

@Japan_Do Newest version of X firmware is 2.63.0 - See info here: Download - Firmware | RICOH THETA X

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@jcasman suggest you add it to agenda.

@jcasman Thanks you sir, i were update on newest version but still not working on M4

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I have added this to the agenda.

We will try and help you either way. However, if this is for a commercial deployment, it would help us to include the use case in the report we submit to RICOH.

As you have multiple RICOH THETA cameras, I’m wondering if this is a for a tourism application? Things to do in Japan.

If you do not want to disclose the company publicly, you can also DM us.

This is difficult for us to test as we do not have an iPad Pro with an M4 chip.

@Japan_Do we got help from two technical people with iPads to help test the USB streaming. They got the following results:

  • Test #1: Pad Pro 11 inch 1st generation+iPadOS18.2.1 = OK
  • Test #2: iPad 10th gen + iPadOS 18.1.1= NG
  • Test #3 : iPad 10th gen + iPadOS 18.2.1= OK

Please update to IOS 18.2.1 and report back.

@craig thank you for reply.
i were update my Ipad pro M4chip 18.2 → 18.2.1 and it still doesn’t working.

Thanks for reporting back.

We will discuss with other people and see if we can come up with any other ideas.

It is a difficult problem since the problem only seems to be occur on specific hardware. Additionally, the iPads are pretty expensive, so it’s not so easy for us to buy test equipment.

@craig I appreciate it and thank you for supporting me.

@craig
I’m very sorry, but due to a non-disclosure agreement, I cannot tell you details about the application we are currently developing.
I cannot even answer whether it is a “tourism application”.

However, if this function can be used (if this problem is solved), the value of the application will increase.
Also, if this function can be used, there is a possibility that users who use this application will purchase THETA.
Since this application is for B2C, if many users use this application, the number of THETAs purchased may increase accordingly.

As a test this repository
can be used as reference to see further information like camera and resolution.

It may help with tracing the problem.

@craig
i would like to confirm the github pages you sent,
1.Instead of testing with FaceTime normally, now I test with the second link in that repo, is that correct?
2.After test, What would you want me to send?

The web page can be used as a baseline test instead of facetime. It may provide some insight on if the THETA X or Z1 is being detected as a video device. I do not have the THETA working with an iPad, but this is what it looks like on a Mac.

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I borrowed a relative’s iPad Pro and successfully used the application below with the RICOH THETA X and iOS 18.2.1

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@craig
I tried the two cases you recommended:

  • The GitHub repository
  • The USB Camera app

➞ Unfortunately, neither of them worked.


I’m running the same version of iPadOS (18.2.1), but I don’t have the same M4 CPU.

I’ll ask around, but we may be stuck.

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