Part of breaking free from using a dedicated computer is work out out a memory solution . Apple ’s made it a tad easier by double over the 2nd and third tier storage levels of late iOS devices to 64 GB and 128 GB respectively . That ’s better than the paltry 16 GB unveiling - level models , but when you seem at using an iPad as your only computer , even 128 GB might not be enough .
Luckily , there are add-on and storage solutions for iOS machine that make increasing storage gentle and inexpensive . I take a flavor at a few unlike selection , fuse wireless storage with devices that touch base to Apple ’s Lightning interface .
Having never used a portable storage resolution in any capacity , I was n’t sure what to ask . But at the oddment of it all , I was agreeably surprised .
Seagate Wireless and Wireless Plus
Seagate sent me a pair of wireless heavy drives . TheWirelessis the new of the two . When power on , it creates a Wi - Fi web . Through this connection you’re able to join any of your computers and mobile devices to the drive and reach the files stored within .
The Seagate Wireless is easy to employ .
Initial apparatus is comparatively painless , requiring you to connect to the drive ’s meshing and establish the Seagate Media Manager app on your iOS twist . Within the app you may connect the drive to another Wi - Fi meshing , which will permit you keep the mobile equipment connected to the Internet while it also get to the hard drive .
Once you ’ve given your Seagate drive admittance to your home WI - Fi web , anytime it ’s powered on it will automatically colligate to your web . you could then reach the driving force without a direct connection , as you would a connection campaign ( include from any computers on the same connection ) .
The Seagate Wireless Plus has a openhanded battery and comes in different storage capacity .
Beyond the promise ( of which Seagate delivers ) accessing and pour medium files to multiple equipment at the same time , Seagate offers an auto - upload characteristic to back up your iPhone or iPad ’s photos and videos automatically . Unfortunately I ’ve yet to get the lineament to actually act upon . I see a dialogue within the app that an upload is in progress , I ’ve enabled background memory access , and yet nothing is plump for up . I ’ve tried this both with Apple ’s iCloud Photo Library enabled and disabled , to no avail .
The Wireless is price at $ 130 for 500 GB of storage , and available in five colors . TheWireless Plusworks about the same , but romp a expectant battery and has DNLA and AirPlay support , and three warehousing options : 500 GB ( $ 150 ) , 1 TB ( $ 160 ) , and 2 TB ( $ 200 ) .
Kingston MobileLite Wireless G2
TheKingston MobileLite Wireless G2takes a unlike approach to wireless storage . It does n’t have a arduous drive within the unit itself — or else , you add your own storage through USB driving force and SD cards .
fundamentally , what you ’re paying for when you buy this unit of measurement is a gadget up to of creating its own wireless meshwork , providing you with an access period to any attached drives . This can be accomplished via the ethernet port on the gimmick , or by connect it to a wireless connection through its companion app .
Kingston ’s MobileLite Wireless G2 work sort of like a wireless card reader , streaming content from USB drive and South Dakota cards to your iPhone and iPad .
be active content between devices , include back up photos from my iPhone to memory board attached to the MobileLite worked without issue , as did streaming cognitive content from the gadget to my iPad . I was capable to determine an HD picture without any stuttering or arrest . The app could use a bit of work when it come to make and managing folder , but overall the experience is n’t risky .
The obvious downside is the need to care two different gadget ( both the MobileLite and a USB driveway or SD lineup ) , but that ’s not such a big gist if you already have extra drives and cards laying around . The MobileLite even makes it easygoing to transfer pic from a GoPro or other camera to your iPhone or iPad , using the SD card one-armed bandit on the MobileLite .
I have read various report card , and evenwatched a video recording , concern the power to tie a larger - content portable operose drive to the MobileLite — Kingston says you may use up to 2TB — but I did n’t have any circumstances in my examination . I mistrust this was due to the OS X data format of the external drives I have admission to .
The twist also double as a external barrage with a capability of 4,640mAh for load your iPhone or iPad on the go — just BYO agitate cable’s length . That ’s courteous , but the most sympathetic thing about the MobileLite Wireless G2 is its monetary value , currently $ 31 on Kingston ’s site .
Leef iBridge
Let ’s step away from wireless memory board devices and take a flavour at accouterment designed to plug into the Lightning port of your iOS gadget . First up is theLeef iBridge , a small-scale accessory that more closely resembles a climbing carabiner than a storage twist .
Only after removing what amounts to be a protective cap from the equipment do you realize what it is . On one remnant is a Lightning connecter , with a full - sized USB 2.0 port on the other side .
Leef ’s iBridge resemble a carabiner when closed . open up it up to find a USB connector to grab content from your Mac , and a Lightning connecter to attach to your iPhone .
plug the iBridge into your iPhone or iPad will prompt you to either add the Leef app , or launch it . Upon opening the app , your photo are automatically backed up to the effort . you may then manage other content , be it picture , documents , or music .
The Leef app make it light to secernate between what ’s stash away natively on your twist , what ’s salt away within the app , and what ’s stored on the iBridge . Furthermore , it ’s efficient at moving files between those three options .
Out of the solutions I tested , I preferred the Leef app . really , I would have it away to see the company use the same app and expand its Cartesian product lineup to admit a wireless store solution alike to the Wireless Plus or MobileLite Wireless G2 .
Since the USB port is work up - in , you’re able to connect the iBridge to your Mac to load it up with moving picture for view within the Leef app on road trip .
TheiBridgeis uncommitted in storage capacities ranging from 16 GB ( $ 60 ) all the style up to 256 GB for $ 400 .
SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive
SanDisk ’s offeringis similar to Leef ’s , with Lightning and USB 2.0 connectors for transferring depicted object to and from your computer and iOS gimmick .
SanDisk ’s iXpand has the same connectors as Leef ’s iBridge , but good luck not losing that piddling plastic cap that break down over the USB connector .
The ability to back up photos automatically , rain buckets movies from the drive , regard written document , and listen to music is there , but so is another feature I greatly appreciate . That lineament is inter-group communication reliever . Sure , most of us live and rely on the cloud to back up of import information for us , but there ’s something about having a backup of our contact list we can lay in wherever we like that I love .
Another lineament found in the iXpand app is alternative to expect a passcode or Touch ID to get at the app .
The app is on par with Leef ’s , mean it ’s both aesthetically appealing and easy to navigate . I was capable to create folders , transport content , and move items around within a few minutes of launching it for the first time without struggling to figure it out ( as I did with both the solutions from Kingston and Seagate ) .
TheiXpandis available in storage capacities from 16 GB ( $ 60 ) to 128 GB ( $ 150 ) .
Picking a favorite
After using storage machine in tandem with an iOS machine for the last few month , it ’s clear to me there ’s not a perfect solution just yet . There are , however , quality solution useable . Each one gets its promised job done , and once you see the various nuances of using the product , its downside just become achievable quirk .
Ideally , I ’d like to see the easy - to - usage Leef app , combined with the storage size of the Seagate Wireless Plus , mixed with the exploiter - expandable features of the MobileLite G2 , with the add up security of the SanDisk iXpand .
