Just got an Eye-Fi SD card today with built in wi-fi. I have always wanted to try one out and sprung for the 4gb model. It comes with the Mac software right on the card and has a USB SD card reader in the package to allow easy install. It took about 10 minutes to load the software and get it all setup. With the MBA not having an SD card reader and limited USB, this is simply perfect for a digital camera. Pop the SD card into your camera, take a picture, and it appears magically within seconds on your screen and copies it to your pictures folder (or movies folder if you take a video)! No wires, card readers or anything.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Eye-Fi with the MBA, simply perfect!
- Thread starter Gadgetman99
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Looks it just transfers the originals into your folder and lets you do what you want with them.
A few seconds after taking the picture, a thumbnail slides down from the task bar in the right hand top corner. It stays there for a moment (so you can preview it), then slides back up and away. At the same time, the actual file shows up in your picture folder (or anywhere you choose when you set it up). It also stores thumbnails and history on your personal website for future reference. You can also set it up to auto upload to Facebook, Twitter and any photo storing or processing sites. Very well done. You can even set it up so if your Mac is not on, it will transfer the photos through your wirless router to a temp storage on Eye-Fi servers, and when you turn your Mac on, it will automatically transfer then to your picture folder! I would highly recommend this to anyone. The best part, is if you get a new camera that uses SD cards, you just insert this card from your old camera and go. No setup, no cables and no hassle.
Not sure yet. I have not tried to use it away from my router. I will try later today or tomorrow.
According to their website, only $150 "Pro" version supports ad-hoc wi-fi. Which is kind of a shame if you can't do it on a base $50 card. $150 is certainly an overkill.. For that price I may as well carry a cable.
Keep in mind, most of us take our camera out and shoot pictures, then come home to load them into the computer. But with this card, all you have to do is turn the camera on when you get home and it does the rest, no need to start up the mac until you want to since it will upload them to a website and wait for you to turn the PC on. No cables, no fuss.
That is really cool. I will have to look into getting one. Thanks for the info
I understand all that.. but I also want to be able to do direct wireless transfer between my camera & laptop when I am on the road. Simple ad-hoc Wifi networking.. I don't care about geotagging, uploading to Facebook, or any of that other stuff.
Seems kind of ridiculous that they charge $150 for the card that allows Ad-Hoc networking.. but that's just me.
Can't upload RAW unless you buy the PRO card either. It would be sweet if there was just one simple version that uploads anything and everything from the card to your computer.
Wow... talk about an shameless Ad
Sounds like you work for Eye-Fi and are using this forum to generate sales.
But I'll play along.....
Well the truth seems to be that many reviewers are saying the Pro version ($150) is expensive for a 4GB card. And the Ad-Hoc wi-fi isn't all that easy to setup... its not a simple bluetooth connection setup. you have to configure the laptop and disconnect whatever wifi connection you are currently on to connect to this pro card. This is not a "my mom can do it" solution. Plus.. $150 for 4GB??? So if I'm shooting HD video with my camera I get to record a whole 15mins?? Wow thanks. BTW, did I mention I'm on VACATION and don't want to bring all that extra stuff with me?? I'll buy a 16GB SD card for $35 bucks.. thanks.
Sounds like you work for Eye-Fi and are using this forum to generate sales.
But I'll play along.....
Well the truth seems to be that many reviewers are saying the Pro version ($150) is expensive for a 4GB card. And the Ad-Hoc wi-fi isn't all that easy to setup... its not a simple bluetooth connection setup. you have to configure the laptop and disconnect whatever wifi connection you are currently on to connect to this pro card. This is not a "my mom can do it" solution. Plus.. $150 for 4GB??? So if I'm shooting HD video with my camera I get to record a whole 15mins?? Wow thanks. BTW, did I mention I'm on VACATION and don't want to bring all that extra stuff with me?? I'll buy a 16GB SD card for $35 bucks.. thanks.
I think one should be able to easily "fool" the base-flavor $49 card into Ad-Hoc networking.. You would need to simply name the Ad-Hoc network the same as the "home" WiFi access-point.. and share it out via Mac Internet sharing, so that the laptop also acts as DHCP server.
With that, the Eye-Fi card won't be able to tell the difference whether it's connecting to a "real" AP or an Ad-Hoc network.
I guess I will spring up for the base card and give this theory a try..
With that, the Eye-Fi card won't be able to tell the difference whether it's connecting to a "real" AP or an Ad-Hoc network.
I guess I will spring up for the base card and give this theory a try..
Sounds somewhat plausible, BUT... The card connects to the servers (I believe) and transfers to them, then to the client on your mac. Unless you can spoof the servers on your mac, I think you will be out of luck. I could be wrong, I was once....
Hmm.. So you're saying even when Eye-Fi & you home computer are on the same wireless network, you need Internet connectivity to transfer the photos? If true, this would be very poor design..
Since you already have Eye-Fi - why don't you test it for us?
Hmm.. So you're saying even when Eye-Fi & you home computer are on the same wireless network, you need Internet connectivity to transfer the photos? If true, this would be very poor design..
Since you already have Eye-Fi - why don't you test it for us?
Ok, I tried it. Basically I just turned off my DSL modem, but left my wifi network running. I snapped a picture and within a few seconds, the picture appears as usual! I did get a message that said "INternet connectivity is not available, so geotaging info is not available. Still save the photo? Yes, no. I clicked yes, and the picture appears in my photo folder. So it does work without internet, to my surprise.
In the interest of passing on more info, today I was at work and decided to remove the memory card to copy pictures over the normal way (with a card reader) and the eye-fi software poped up and said something like "Eye-fi card detected, loading settings". I then noticed there was a way to add additional networks above and beyond your home network. There was even a setting for hotspots. So I added the work network and bam!, my eye-fi card works wirelessly at work too! So even though it does not do ad-hoc, it at least allows adding multiple networks.
Well, if anyone still cares.. this is what I went with instead:
This is a standard SD card that also plugs in straight into your USB port. No need to worry about Wifi, Ad-Hoc networks and all such nonsense
This is a standard SD card that also plugs in straight into your USB port. No need to worry about Wifi, Ad-Hoc networks and all such nonsense
Well, if anyone still cares.. this is what I went with instead:
This is a standard SD card that also plugs in straight into your USB port. No need to worry about Wifi, Ad-Hoc networks and all such nonsense
Those are nice too, but you still have to take it out of the camera and plug it in. You would not believe how nice it is to snap pictures and have them just "appear" on your computer, ready to use. I have notice how nice it is to snap pics (maybe several days worth) and just turn on my camera and have the pictures ready to use. No cable, no card readers, no fuss.
I missed this one back when posting about this card. I can assure you I don't work for Eyefi, but I would LOVE to! Such a break-through product! Having worked in the bearing industry and windows/doors, it is refreshing to see such creative thinking, and practical use of technology. If you use your camera once or twice a week, you would LOVE how convenient and easy this thing is. One day at work, I had a CAD tech ask me to snap a picture of an issue with a product, and he was talking when he saw the picture wirelessly appear on my screen. He was quite amazed and thought I had some new high end wireless camera. Of course I just have a cheap GE camera, but now it has a real high end feature.
So basically, this saves you the trouble of connecting your camera to your computer via USB cable? Yes, it is "cool" technology, but I don't see why is it such a time-saver. Why is the USB cable so much of a hassle, especially since on a Mac, plugging the camera in and turning it on automatically launches iPhoto and uploads the pictures from the camera? I just want to understand the appeal.
Think of snapping a picture in the studio, at work et. (Portraiture, Macro photos, etc.) and having it pop-up on your laptop so you can check your exposure, focus, and make sure you got the shot with out changing anything...
I agree it's mostly a "cool factor".. Especially when you can plug the SD card directly into your computer, no cables needed. This company also nickel and dimes you for every feature. For example, the "Pro" card with AdHoc WiFi support is a whopping $150 bucks.. nuts. For that price, I will stick with my old fashioned $10 SD card, thank you very much
MiFi as in portable 3G modem? That's what my iPhone already is