For most Android owners, transferring data the old-fashioned way is fairly easy. The majority of devices are equipped with microSD card slots, and data can easily be moved to and from a smartphone or tablet. iPhone users don’t have this luxury, but we have, in recent times, seen a marked increase in the number of removable storage peripherals available from third parties. Now Hyper – a revered maker of iAccessories – has come through with the iStick, a MFi (Made for iPhone) gadget that features in-built USB and Lightning connectors.
The product itself is not only convenient for moving files around at will, but is also very easy on the eye, and is compact enough to be inconspicuously squirrelled away into the pocket when not in use.
The iStick features a neat sliding mechanism for flitting between the USB and the Lightning connector, and with 8GB, 16GB, 32GB and 64GB storage options, it has been designed so as to suit the casual user as well as those dealing with lots of files.
It connects directly with your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch thanks to the aforementioned Lightning dock connector, and syncs by means of a companion app.
Arguably the greatest aspect of the iStick is its ability not only to store all kinds of files, but in that it can stream video directly. You don’t need to transfer your video content to your iOS device in order to view it, and also, you can watch a number of different video formats.
Natively, iOS is notoriously stingy in what it will and won’t let you play, but the iStick will happily handle most of the common file types, including the ubiquitous .mkv, without so much as a hitch.
At the moment, it’s a mere Kickstarter project, which is strange given that Hyper is an established company, but nevertheless, taking the crowd-funding route will surely ramp up general interest in what looks a sure-fire winner.
Prices vary greatly depending on the size option you wish to go with. The bog-standard 8GB variant will set you back $129, while the largest, 64GB option commands a $299 price tag. If you get in on the early bird specials through Kickstarter, though, you could save yourself 50 per cent. So if you’re serious about acquiring an iStick, be sure to get in sooner rather than later.
(Source: Kickstarter)
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