Michal Ždanský Due to the absence of a USB connector and Mass Storage, iOS devices with data transfer have always been at a disadvantage. Officially, only photos and videos in a certain format can be transferred to iPad from memory cards, users can forget about transferring other data. During that time, several solutions have appeared on the market to circumvent these limits, for example iFlashDrive or Kingston Wi-Drive, however, they were a storage medium in themselves.
Kingston recently launched a new MobileLite Wireless device that has no memory itself, but can mediate data transfer between an external drive, USB stick or memory stick and an iOS device, all while also serving as a charger.
Construction and processing
The MobileLite Wireless is not a particularly robust design, as the all-plastic chassis combining dark gray and black suggests. Fortunately, however, it is a matte plastic surface, which keeps the device quite elegant. MobileLite is not quite the smallest, its dimensions (124,8 mm x 59,9 mm x 16,65 mm) resemble the thicker iPhone 5. No wonder, because it contains, among other things, a Li-Pol battery with a capacity of 1800 mAh, which on the one hand supplies Wi-Fi transmitter and connected disks, and on the one hand, it can fully charge the iPhone after connecting the synchronization cable.
On one of the sides we find two USB connectors. One classic USB 2.0 for connecting flash drives or external drives, the other microUSB is used to charge the device (USB cable is included in the package). At the opposite end is the SD card reader. If your camera uses a different format, you will have to solve the situation with a reduction. At least you will find a MicroSD adapter in the package. On the upper part there are three LEDs indicating the battery status, connection via Wi-Fi and reception of a Wi-Fi signal for Internet access (more on that later in the review).
MobileLite application
For MobileLite Wireless to work, it's not enough just to connect the device via Wi-Fi. As with Wi-Drive, you must first download the appropriate application, which is located in the App Store. After the first launch, you will be prompted to search for a Wi-Fi network MobileLiteWireless and then run the app again. Even with this connection, however, you will not lose access to the Internet, in the application it is possible to set bridging so that you can access the Internet from your home network.
When the connection is successful, you will see two folders in the left column of the application, MobileLiteWireless, which contains the contents of the connected memory card or USB stick, and MobileLite App is the storage of the application in the iPad, which serves as a temporary storage for transferring files in both directions. It may seem complicated, but such are the limitations of iOS. The transfer works as follows:
- From MobileLite to iPad: Open the MobileLiteWireless folder, press the Edit button in the list and select the files you want to move. You can copy or move them to the app's internal storage, or open the files directly in the appropriate app, such as a video player. This is done by the share button and the option Open In. Files can then be moved from the internal storage in the same way.
- From iPad to MobileLite: In the respective application, the file must be opened in the MobileLite application, i.e. by sharing and selecting Open In. The files are then saved in the app's internal storage. From there they can then be marked in the mode Edit move to any folder on a USB stick or memory card.
záver
MobileLite Wireless is the largest of the files, but also the most versatile. You don't have to always use a special iFlashDrive or have special storage just for transferring with an iOS device like Wi-Drive. MobileLite is versatile and will connect almost any storage with a USB connector or any memory card, if you have an SD adapter handy.
In addition, the possibility of recharging the phone is a great argument for carrying the device with you at all times, even if you don't expect to transfer files. For the price of approx 1 600 $ so you get not only a wireless memory media reader, but also an external battery in one more compact package
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advantages:
[Checklist]
- Charging the phone
- Any storage media can be connected
- Wi-Fi bridging
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Disadvantages:
[bad list]
- Larger dimensions
- More complex settings and moving files
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Surely another application cannot be used for this? It's not such a big limitation, but still - I have a similar device - CloudFTP, and there I work with files on a flash drive with any other file manager, for example iFiles, which suits me. In addition, several different devices can be connected to the flash at the same time and they do not need a special application for this.
I also own CloudFTP and the great thing about it is that it also supports 2,5″ HDD and there is no need to copy the content, but it is possible to stream it directly to the iDevice!
Yes, that's exactly why I haven't bought this device yet. Can't do direct streaming. In contrast, it works much better with Android. The review didn't say that this can be used with practically anything, not just iOS. 2,5″ drives should handle it too.
Again, CloudFTP is outrageously expensive. 1500 would be an acceptable price.
I was unable to connect other than through the native application. I am a new owner. I find it perfectly fine to have it in my bag next to the iPad and I take it with me everywhere.
It just seems to me that copying a movie takes quite a long time.
It's a great device for documents, photos, etc.
The purchase price is approx. 1200 CZK (for example at Alfa Computers).
For me, this is the solution to a long-standing problem of transferring files without iTunes and the Cloud (just when I'm not on wifi)
Compared to CloudFTP, it is almost half the price, the possibility of using an SD card and charging the iPhone
For almost the same money, you can buy Macally Wi-Fi SD - the same functionality, small dimensions, 2600mAh battery...
Mobilelite supports the SMB protocol, so it is not necessary to use only the native application. Mobilelite can handle multiple clients (declared number is 3).
In my opinion, streaming (e.g. playing a movie) should be fine too.
For me, complete satisfaction - it even works for about two hours on the battery with a 1TB 2,5″ HDD. It can also be accessed using a web browser, so another application should also work
How about the music? Is that okay too? But I mean not just the stream
Mr. Žďánský, do you know what "doing a disservice" really means? Kingston would probably not praise you.