With effortless syncing and a wide range of cloud services, manual file transfer is not as popular as it once was, but this hasn’t stopped companies from trying to innovate in creating new products in this field. Having already checked out PhotoFast’s i-FlashDrive just yesterday, which allows iOS and Android devices to exchange various different kinds of files, Sony has now come up with a stylish, Android smartphone/tablet-compatible USB flash drive.
Not only does it boast a sleek, compact form factor, but the flash drive also includes dual micro USB and USB 2.0 connectors. Unfortunately, if you’re running on older software, you might not be able to take advantage of the versatile gadget, because it’s inly compatible with devices running Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.3 through 4.3 Jelly Bean. There isn’t, as per Sony’s announcement, current support for Android 4.4 KitKat, but this is due to the fact that it’s relatively new, and we’d hazard that compatibility is forthcoming.
It’s easy enough to back things up using a PC or the cloud, but if you don’t have immediate access to a computer or any kind of data connection, then any new data you may have added to your smartphone is potentially in jeopardy.
As well as backing up, it serves as an easy way for an Android user to share a photo, video, or any other type of video with friends. These instances can usually be handled via a simple app combined with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, but again, if these luxuries aren’t possible for whatever reason, the Sony USB flash drive will surely come in handy.
Let’s be honest, for most folks, these flash drives are just a little behind the times, but if you’re the sort of person who likes to ensure all files are safe and secure at any given time, this is definitely a purchase you should consider making.
It’s a novel way of saving bandwidth, if nothing else. Prices start at $19.99 for the 8GB model and peak at $62 for the 32GB variant. The mid-point 16GB edition, meanwhile, is strangely priced at $29.99, meaning that you could essentially purchase two for less than the cost of a 32GB, with the same amount of total storage space.
We really wish the next offering brings forth Wi-Fi support. That would be really cool!
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