Novatel is marching ever onward with the MiFi line of 3G W-Fi routers. The Verizon MiFi I’m using is still my gadget of the year, and we’re already in October. When Novatel first announced the HSPA version of the MiFi, I questioned the logic of adding features to a gadget that I felt had the benefit of being a simple-minded device. Today, Novatel has announced an agreement with Eye-Fi for applications preloaded on every MiFi except those on Verizon and Sprint. I must confess I’m still unsure if this application business is something that’s really needed.
The MiFi models 2352 and 2372 have an integrated application server that adds the ability to run programs, in addition to the MiFi core function of serving as a 3G router over Wi-Fi. Applications can be preloaded that add functionality to the MiFi to augment the usefulness of the gadget. The agreement announced today describes Eye-Fi software that will allow MiFi owners to upload photos to the MiFi from a camera, even when 3G isn’t available. Uploading to online services is then done automatically when connectivity is possible.
This is a limited scenario, and while those who need to free up space on a camera will appreciate this ability, it sort of duplicates the ability of the Eye-Fi itself. The Eye-Fi is an SD card with Wi-Fi ability integrated, allowing for cameras to tap right into Wi-Fi hotspots. As long as 3G connectivity is present, the MiFi taps into that network and creates a Wi-Fi hotspot. So if 3G is present, the camera with an Eye-Fi installed can connect directly to the web through the MiFi. Confused? It does add functionality to the Eye-Fi user, just not much more than they already have.
Novatel is also announcing enterprise-type software that will be preloaded on these MiFis, such as VPN and anti-virus software. This might add more value for MiFi owners.
I guess it’s convenient if you take a lot of pictures and need to offload images to the MiFi.
Too bad it won’t work with the MiFi 2200 since it doesn’t have a microSD slot.
As a semi-pro photographer, it would be much smarter just to carry extra storage cards right with you, the primary reason being time. You don’t always get time to offload images to xyz device during a shoot, and swapping out an SD card goes a lot quicker. When the day is done, then you can offload your storage cards onto a netbook or whatever.
well the eye-fi card needs the camera to be powered on to work, right? this will offload that to a device that will show much more use then a camera.
consider walking ces, a couple of camera cards on hand. snap one filled, swap them, and have one upload over 3g while you fill the other(s) or work on something else…
and if future mifi devices gets usb otg, or current ones already have, one can use this even on cameras that do not use SD format cards…
Re: your CES example, you can do that with the standard MiFi, no special application required. That’s my whole point as to how much value this adds. ;)
how so, James? maybe if your talking about someone that has a camera with a eye-fi card already, and uses it to connect to the mifi and then onto the net.
but if you have the one eye-fi card, you have to wait for the eye-fi card to fully upload before clearing and snapping again, but with 3-4 sd cards you can rotate them between camera and mifi.
still, its mostly a value add, perfect for someone that do not already own a eye-fi card but that own a mifi.
I’m disappointed that you left out a very obvious pun in the title!
As an Eye-Fi shooter, I have to say, this isn’t actually a bad idea at all. It takes no time at all to get photos from the Eye-Fi to another device on a WLAN, but the next step is a doozy.
It’s utterly trivial to kill a DSLR battery while you wait for the 3G network to let you finish uploading, you see. This would let me shoot, upload to the MiFi, and turn off my camera, or at least leave the power management to a more aggressive setting, something which my current Cradlepoint rig can’t do at all.