Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)
This is really a fantastic product and something that I had been waiting for a long time. I just got this on April 30, 2010, and have had a few days now to play around with it.
The Good:
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1. Technology
This device is just fantastic and the engineers at Eye-Fi really deserve to be commended! Basically, what this device does (for those who are not quite clear on the concept), is it turns your camera (check compatibility on their website) into a wifi-enabled device that can upload photos directly (via wifi, not ad hoc -- you need Eye Fi Pro X2 for that) from your camera to your computer and/or favorite internet photo hosting site (picasa, snapfish, fotki, photobucket, etc.).
This is how it works: you first connect the card to your computer using the supplied USB SD card reader and install/download the software (require internet connection obviously). Then you configure the software (including login info for your online photo hosting site), which is fairly simple. Then, when prompted, you remove the Eye Fi card and put it into you camera and take a test picture which is then uploaded to your computer (PC or Mac) and internet photo hosting site. After this test photo, you are ready to use it anywhere! You can 'add' up to 32 wifi networks via configuration (through the computer).
2. 'Configurability'
You can set the card (via the software) to upload photos in several configurations. First, is automatic uploading of ALL photos on your camera to your computer AND internet photo hosting site. Second, is uploading of ALL photos on your camera to you computer and SELECTED photos to your internet photo hosting site. Third, is uploading SELECTED photos to your computer and SELECTED photos to your internet photo hosting site. The way you select which photos to selectively upload is by using 'protect' (or similar function) on your camera to select each photo you wish to upload.
For automatic uploading settings, the camera (after turned on, or after taking a picture) will automatically connect to the wifi/hotspot network and start uploading. If you turn off your camera or leave the network area, the upload stops of course but will resume automatically when you return to a wifi/hotspot network area. Awesome!
I should also note that the engineers have really thought this product out well, so that when you are out of the house (and your home wifi network) and upload some new photos to your internet photo hosting site, when you go home your camera will upload those photos to your computer (but will not 're-upload' any of those photos to the internet). So, it does keep track of which photos you uploaded to your computer and internet photo hosting site and upload just those that have not been uploaded yet.
3. Integrated Features on Certain Cameras
My recently released camera (Canon SX210is) has Eye Fi integrated into the interface (under the 'tools' section), which lets you check if Eye Fi is connected to your wifi or a hotspot wireless network, and if it is uploading or not. On the LCD display it also has a wifi icon that shows if you are connected and when it is uploading (the wifi icon's waves animate to indicate active photo uploading). Also awesome is that the camera will not turn off until all photos are uploaded (but the camera lens will close and the LCD will turn off while uploading if it is battery save setting).
We tested the card on our older Canon SD870is and it does work just as well, but it does not have the wifi icon or network connection info so you don't know if it's connected and/or uploading photos, but it worked just fine uploading photos automatically to the internet.
I would say that the integrated menu/LCD features are very beneficial and to be honest would not really enjoy using the Eye Fi on a non-integrated camera.
4. Hotspots
This is a really cool feature, because your camera will automatically upload photos to your internet photo hosting site when you are in one of the Hotspots used by Eye Fi (Starbucks, McDonalds, Barnes and Noble, etc.), and there is no need to log in to these networks, it just automatically connects and starts uploading (based on your upload configuration settings). It's great! Note, the Eye Fi X2 Geo/Connect to do not have Hotspot access, but this one (Explore X2) and the Pro X2 do have it. There is one year of Hotspot access included with the Explore/Pro X2. Afterwards, it is something like thirty-five bucks a year (for Hotspot access). Non-Hotspot access to wifi networks is for lifetime I believe.
5. Geotagging
It's cool to geotag your photos automatically using this camera. The Pro X2 and the Geo X2 also can do this. The Connect X2 cannot.
6. Flexibility
The Eye Fi computer software configures each Eye Fi card, so that you can take out the card and use it in another compatible camera without having to do any sort of reconfiguration. This is very convenient and allows you to use one card with multiple cameras.
The card also has a feature (which I have not tried out yet) where it can automatically delete photos from your card that you have already uploaded to your computer and/or internet photo hosting site so that you never have to delete photos yourself from the card. Seems like a useful feature.
7. Organization/Convenience
You can configure the Eye Fi card to automatically create date-based folders on your computer and internet photo hosting site for uploaded photos, which is extremely convenient.
8. 8GB Storage Capacity
Nice 8GB of storage is a decent amount. The Connect X2 has 4GB and the Pro X2 also has 8GB.
9. Upload Speeds
I should mention that the uploading speed that I've tested at home (802.11G) and at Hotspots (McDonalds) has been speedy considering that it is wifi uploading. When I used it at home and at Hotspots, it took about 15-30 seconds for a 2-3MB photo to upload. Not tremendously fast, but fast enough given the wireless network constraints. With the Pro X2 you can upload directly and wirelessly (via ad hoc) to your computer.
The Could Be Better:
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There is almost nothing about this card that I can complain about. One thing that I have not checked yet is if this card can be used with public wifi networks that are not part of the 'Eye Fi-compatible Hotspots' without adding that network to your card (which requires configuring the card in the card reader connected to your computer), say at a library, school, etc.
For 'Eye Fi integrated cameras' it would be great if you could detect networks and actually use the camera's buttons (eg. type passwords) to log on to non-Hotspot public or private networks so that you can basically use it on the go on even more wifi networks.
Summary:
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This product (Eye Fi X2) is incredible, and unless you need RAW photo uploading or ad hoc transferring capabilities, the Explore X2 should suit your needs. I plan to buy a couple more for my family!
Click Here to see more reviews about: Eye-Fi Explore X2 8 GB Class 6 SDHC Wireless Photo & Memory Uploads EYE-FI-8EX
Product Description
Eye-Fi Explore X2. The 8GB Eye-Fi Explore X2 wirelessly uploads photos & videos directly to your computer or favorite sharing site. Get Class 6 speed enhanced by 802.11n wireless capabilities. Map your adventures with automatic geotagging, plus upload on the go with hotspot access. Get the 8GB Eye-Fi Explore X2 Class 6 SDHC memory card.
Product Details
- Color: Orange
- Brand: Eye-Fi
- Model: EYE-FI-8EX
- Released on: 2010-05-15
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: .70" h x 5.50" w x 6.90" l, .15 pounds
- Memory: 8000MB SDRAM
- Networking: SDHC Memory Card
Features
- Store up to 4,000 photos or 3h of video with 8GB SDHC capacity supercharged with class 6 read & write speeds.
- Upload photos & videos from your camera through your Wi-Fi network with unprecedented wireless performance thanks
- Get the only card that can free-up space for you after pictures are safely delivered. Never worry about running out of space again.
- Photos and videos can automatically land in date-based folders, so memories are organized effortlessly by date.
- Wirelessly send your JPEG photos and videos to a popular website.
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