Eye-Fi Adds Hotspot Coverage, Special Mac Version
The Eye-Fi is one of those simple yet incredibly useful gadgets. Pair an SD storage card, which is compatible with many cameras, with the ability to send images (and videos) over integrated Wi-Fi and you have the Eye-Fi. The Eye-Fi fits in compatible cameras and works as a typical SD card, but eliminates the need to pop the card out of the camera and plug it into the destination computer. You can shoot recorded images from the Eye-Fi to the destination without touching it.
The folks behind the Eye-Fi have let us know they’ve expanded the hotspot partnerships to include Devicescape. This means Eye-Fi owners can transfer images over thousands more hotspots globally. By the end of May, Eye-Fi owners will have more functionality, such as these features (per Eye-Fi):
- Eye-Fi users with a personal hotspot subscription to a Wi-Fi hotspot provider, such as Boingo, BT Openzone, T-Mobile, SFR, Orange and Vodafone, can add their existing credentials to their Eye-Fi account to upload in these supported locations, and potentially expand their hotspot upload coverage to millions of hotspots.
- Eye-Fi users at schools and universities across the world can now add their campus Wi-Fi network credentials to their Eye-Fi account.
- Eye-Fi users will be able to automatically upload through hundreds of thousands more open hotspots because the Eye-Fi card now navigates through splash screens.
Mac owners should note that a new model of the Eye-Fi is coming just for you. The Eye-Fi Geo X2 will be sold exclusively through Apple, and will work with the Macs like no other Eye-Fi. Images recorded on the Eye-Fi Geo X2 can upload photos directly into MobileMe and iPhoto. Direct uploading is supporting on over 20 other online sites, too.
The new Eye-Fi also supports geo-tagging photos, which is integrated with iPhoto ’09 to allow locating photos by places. The card also features auto-cleaning, freeing up storage space when photos are uploaded. It features Class 6 performance for fast uploads. The Eye-Fi Geo X2 will be available in a 4 GB capacity for $69.99 from Apple in May.
James I found also that there is a App for the iPad coming soon that will work with the Eye-Fi for those that would want to send pictures to their iPads. http://hggadgets.blogspot.com/2010/04/shutter-snitch-for-ipad.html
I prefer the Eye-Fi Pro X2 because it supports RAW. I only shoot RAW on my Nikon D40 DSLR to enable more flexibility in post processing. I think the Geo is aimed at the point-and-shoot and iPhoto consumer.
@HG is that app sees the light of day it will change the way many people, including myself, do photography. I can just imagine being out in the field with my camera and iPad shooting away. When I’m done finding my way to the nearest cafe to sit down and review my photos on the 3G iPad, uploading the ones I like straight to flickr.
To me this is the way to go for Photography. Sometimes I look with incredulity at people that continue to be “chained” down via a desire to hold on to wiring. My next camera will have an Eye-fi card and I will be geotagging and uploading to MobileMe all the time. This card is an excellent value ..the 4GB means nothing when you simply keep offloading your pictures easily. Love it.