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[on:]

I want to understand what is coming our way...
The Leonardo will act as an HID Slave?
But not an HID Master like CircuitsAtHome USB host shield?
What can we use this for? 
Besides automating a mouse and keyboard to a PC?

[Reply #1 on:]

Or making something that looks like a MIDI controller, of a very fancy joystick or games controller. Or a graphics input tablet or an RFID reader, or almost anything else you can think of with a low data rate to plug into your computer.
I don't know why they are bothering.

[Reply #2 on:]

Someone would want to emulate an RFID reader?  Instead of plugging it in directly to the PC?
We agree then, there is not much practical use for it...

Not anything.  It has to be an HID?

[Reply #3 on:]

Someone would want to emulate an RFID reader?  Instead of plugging it in directly to the PC?

Because PCs don't have serial ports any more.

Are you American, your irony detector seems to be on the blink?

Not anything. It has to be an HID?

Yes a HID can be anything.

[Reply #4 on:]

I gotcha.  If the Leonardo only comes with HID drivers, then you cannot attach it to a mobile phone or a GPS or a scanner or even an HID slave device.  AFAICT you can only use it with a PC.  Which of course must be nearby.  For me personally I don't see the point.  I hope someone will start building other drivers soon!

[Reply #5 on:]

For me personally I don't see the point.

Just because it is not a USB Host (which is what you seem to want in all those examples) you brand it as useless.
You can already get a USB Host shield if that is what you want, but this sort of processor is not well suited to host applications, much better to use the new Due.

The point about being a USB slave is that you make the arduino a peripheral to your computer to interact with it without extra drivers or intervening middle where programs. It will not be limited to the class of USB device known as HID but deviating from this will require you to write a host side driver unless you are emulating an existing device that already has a USB driver.