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Flash storage solutions specialist SanDisk has expanded its mobile storage portfolio with a wireless mobile flash drive, the Connect Wireless Stick, up to 128 GB of storage and a compact design.
The Connect Wireless Stick works with smartphones, tablets and computers, and allows users to wirelessly access media or transfer large files, save and share photos and videos, or stream HD videos and music to and from mobile devices, up to three at a time.
The drive is also capable of supporting a single stream for up to 4.5 hours on a single charge, and with its USB connector, users can also connect directly to a computer to save and transfer files.
The SanDisk Connect app enables management of content between devices, all through password-protected WiFi connectivity.
Available for download through the App Store, Google Play Store and Amazon Appstore for Android, the app also enables other features, such as auto-backup of photos and videos from the camera roll to the drive.
“The Stick was designed in-house by SanDisk’s industrial design team in Milpitas,” Ram Rajagopalan, product marketing manager for SanDisk, told eWEEK. “Based on feedback gathered surrounding our first wireless connect products, we aimed to design a slim, simple and elegant device that could be extremely portable and easily accessed when plugged into a computer, like not blocking additional USB ports. The drive’s cap is a distinct character and helps it stand out amongst its peers.”
Rajagopalan noted that the app was also designed at SanDisk and follows a minimalistic design similar to the device itself.
“Our goal was to make the experience akin to using a USB on a PC or Mac,” he explained. “Even though it’s simple, it’s feature packed and includes a movie player, photo browser, music player and document viewer—all inside the app. We also focused on efficiency and made transferring photos and videos from the mobile phone to the drive possible in less than two clicks.”
Rajagopalan said SanDisk considers ease of use very important when it comes to its consumer products, and noted that it has been a guiding principle since the beginning of this project.
“We believe simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, and examples of this can be found throughout the device— from the physical design to app functionality on Android and iOS devices,” he said. “We have tried to minimize the learning curve and provide users with full access to their content, so they are able to quickly offload or transfer content, and go back to enjoying the experience at hand.”
The Stick features a one-year warranty and is available at Amazon, BestBuy’s Website and SanDisk’s Website in capacities of 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB at prices ranging from $29.99 to $99.99.
“Wireless technology is rapidly evolving, and users are becoming more familiar with the tech, even expecting it in products,” Rajagopalan said. “Just as WiFi and streaming have become a mainstream part of user experiences, we believe wireless storage will follow a similar trajectory.”