While this isn't something most people would think they would use or even need for photography, I discovered a great use for it after playing around with it and seeing it's an incredibly cheaper version with other everyday uses. First, let's get down to numbers. (Photography Applications Skip to End)
CPU: Ralink RT 5350 MIPS24KEc 350 MHz
WiFi Frequency : 2.4 GHZ Speed: 72Mbps at 20Mhz / 150 Mbps at 40MHZ
External Battery Pack : 3000 mah 1.5A Max Input 1A Output
Power: SD Card Read/Write 2W HDD Sleep Mode 1.5W
SD Card Speed : Read: 3MB/S Write: 3.5MB/S
USB Interface: Micro USB 2.0
- Transfer files (photos, movies or videos) between your SD card/USB Portable Hard Disk Drive and your Android/iOS smartphones and tablets
- Transfer files between your iOS and android devices
- Move files (photos/Movies/Music) from your mobile device to SD card / USB HDD / Flash Disk
- 3000 mah for charging
- Portable WLAN Hot Spot (5 devices)
So yeah, at first this just seems like a portable charger for your phone or tablet but it's quite more. First, you do need the app/program to access the device from which ever device you use whether it be a phone, tablet, or computer. Easy to install, get it from the stores or the site it self and all very easy. Once in, change the settings to your pleasure, I do have my WiFi running through it so when it comes on and my phone connects, internet is still available. My first spit of excitement came from its ability to to be essential WiFi drive with either its own SD or a hard drive plugged in. So I immediately throw some movies on a SD card, plug it in, and BAM! Streaming movies right to my phone and since I have the S3, I made a window for the movie to play and proceeded to check FB, ya know, for science. Worked like a champ and continue to stream.
With Test 1 down, I needed to get multiple devices but I didn't just want to use some controlled environment so I waited for work Monday. During lunch I talked about my new gift and people wanted to give it a go, since I had a few good movies. So, I installed the app, enter my password (Yes, like most routers, disks, etc you can setup a password) and we proceeded to browse the files (threw some photos on there as well) and watch movies. We did this all through lunch without a hitch, battery good, and no lagging what-so-ever. This was awesome and everyone thought it was great, snagged some movies, and any case of the Mondays was lost.
This is all hunky dory and all, but what does this have to do with photography? Glad you inquired because I'm about to tell. AS I explained, insert an SD card and you can instantly read it on a phone or tablet (computer is rather pointless in that you can just plug whatever into it for it to read) and go through whatever files. Doh! We still use CF...A LOT. While my CF reader is big and comes with a cord, there are the smaller ones that plug straight into a USB port with no long cords or any cord at all. But you can also plug your camera into anything with a USB cord. That's not what I did though, not this time at least. I got my setup, used a CF card I had in conjunction with cr2-Thumbnailer app on Android, and proceeded to see how easy it is to view my files from a card out in the field on my 4.7" phone. Yes people, screen size is what matters so if you have a tablet or even better, wireless connection...instant viewing awesomeness for clients.
Voila! I like it, it's awesome, and now is a ride along in my bag if for nothing else, charge my phone when out. All this works for Mac as well, I just don't own any such products. So there you have, great little device for so much and best of all, it's around $50.
http://www.amazon.com …ing-RP-WD01/dp/B00AQUMZRA
