Whether you're running Windows or Mac OS X you simply insert the reader and card bundle into a spare USB slot and install the included Eye-Fi Manager software (this should happen fairly automatically). The Eye-Fi card comes in some very nice packaging which slides open to reveal the card and its USB reader on one side and a fold-out quick start guide on the other. Retailing at $99 it's not massively expensive either. As you can see from the image above the Eye-Fi card is the same size as any other SD card but contains not just a WiFi unit but also 2 GB of flash storage (an impressive enough feat alone). That said this isn't any ordinary SD card and it does offer something fairly unique WiFi connectivity and automated image transfer for any camera which takes SD.
And be prepared to spend some time reading and rereading manuals and combing through Eye-Fi’s support and help pages.It's not often we review accessories, and we've never really reviewed an SD card, certainly not on its own. Although Eye-Fi's flagship service-allowing your camera or camcorder to work with a wireless network-works well, its new Direct Mode feature needs some work. When it did work, I could upload only photos, not video.īottom line. One problem was that my iPhone seemed to lose the Wi-Fi connection with the Eye-Fi card. This was more complicated then the previous setup, but it appeared to be straightforward.īut I was able to upload photos through my iPhone only a few times out of more than a dozen attempts. To upload media through my phone (the card works with iPhones and Android smart phones, as well as iPads), I downloaded the Eye-Fi app and paired it with the Eye-Fi card, which I needed to plug back into my computer. Next, I tested the card's Direct Mode with my Apple iPhone 3GS. Videos took longer, but they were eventually uploaded to my YouTube account with no changes to file size or quality. Since photos are smaller files, they took mere seconds to appear in my Flickr account. Both were quickly uploaded to the Eye-Fi View cloud service on the Web, then added automatically to the social networks I chose. After inserting the card into the camera, I shot a photo and a video clip. I first tested uploading via a Wi-Fi network. The software worked well, but the setup requires lots of steps.
Setting up for use with Wi-Fi networks was easy, but I needed to search for the instructions on how to set up the card in Direct Mode I did find them on the company’s website. Next, I selected social networks for my photos and videos. I then set up the card, which was pretty easy to do: Simply insert the card and card reader in your computer's USB port, make sure you have an Internet connection, launch the software, and follow the onscreen instructions.
First, I checked Eye-Fi’s website to make sure my camera was compatible. Eye-Fi’s newest wireless memory card for cameras, the X2 Mobile ($80) claims you can upload photos and video from your camera to the Web via smart devices, using its Direct Mode-no computer needed.