One of the very attractive features in various smartphones with Android system is the ability to expand the storage of the device with the help of a microSD card. This certainly helps a lot when space for storing files (which are getting bigger) is scarce besides the card makes it possible to transfer and access files on other devices more quickly by simply placing the file on the microSD and accessing it on. computers and other devices that have the input.
On the iPhone, however, this kind of interaction is impossible (at least through microSD cards), since Apple devices don't have this input. However, accessing and transferring files has become a much easier task with the USB stick. iXpand Minifrom SanDisk.
Launched in Brazil by Western Digital, the new version of the iXpand Mini USB stick allows you to store and access any and all files, and play everything on multiple devices (via the USB 3.0 connector), and especially on your iPhone or iPad (via Lightning connector).
The iXpand Mini has versions of 16GB (which was tested by us), 32GB, 64GB and 128GB. It is compatible with iPhones 5 (or higher), iPad Air and mini (or higher), and fifth generation (or higher) iPods running minimally on iOS 8.2. On computers, it works fine from Windows Vista or macOS 10.8.
As soon as you first connect iXpand to an iPhone / iPad, a message popup appears asking you to allow use of the device; By allowing, you will be redirected to a page in the App Store with a list of all apps that support the USB stick. The way files are accessed from your iGadget SanDisk iXpand Drive app, which is very intuitive.
In the app's home screen, you will see several tips of what you can do with it: access folders and files from both your thumb drive and iPhone / iPad so you can transfer files from one to the other; It is also possible to play videos, images and even audio, with the right to browse music, album, artist and create playlists in the app itself.
In addition, you can also take photos or videos directly from the app and save them to the USB stick, without worrying about storing your great iPhone for plant photographers. Or, you can choose to automatically back up the Camera Roll directly to iXpand. The app also shows the storage of your device side by side with the USB stick right on the home screen, making it easy to monitor both.
Being a standard USB stick, it works well with the USB 3.0 connector on many computers, as well as on radios and TVs (however, media playback will depend on the type of format supported by the device). In iXpand connected to an iPhone / iPad, it can play videos in WMV, AVI, MKV, MP4, RMVB and MOV.
Both video and photos can be played on an Apple TV, AirPlay, and even Android-based devices such as Chromecast or Fire TV Stick from Amazon. However, in my tests, the videos crashed a few here and there. Among other supported files, the app allows you to view PDFs and even presentations of slides in PPT, but shown as a PDF (no animations).
Backup options don't just stop at Camera Roll, as I said above; You can also save all contacts on the device so that you have all the data in a safe place. The app also allows the user to connect to Facebook, Instagram and Picasa, and back up the photos / videos from the networks (requires good connection).
The highlight of the iXpand Mini, besides playing and accessing, is certainly the ability to copy files quite easily from iXpand to iGadget or vice versa. One hand on the wheel even to share files between iPhones / iPads (ie if everyone has the app installed). You can also upload information and files from other applications directly to iXpand, with a shortcut that exists on the iOS sharing tab.
Overall, iXpand Mini is a really great option for those looking for a convenient, fast and easy way to transfer files to and from iGadgets. It will also certainly assist those who care about the exacerbated storage of the handsets.
The caveats
Externally, as we can see from the image that illustrates the post, the flash drive has a beautiful design (plastic and aluminum in a compact unit).
A few minor caveats need to be made here, however: there is a small cover protecting the Lightning connector, which is great; But I need to be very careful not to lose her, since she is tiny. Something I noticed when testing the USB stick, that it also gets quite hot when being accessed by a computer. Therefore, prefer to hold it by the plastic side when removing it from the machine to avoid touching the (hot) part of aluminum.
The Lightning connector is very small and plastic coated. Then, any movement stronger than normal can end up damaging the drive, causing it to stop working. Therefore, care should be taken even if the product has a two-year warranty.
Where to buy?
The iXpand Mini is available for purchase from as low as R $ 159 at a variety of stores including Americanas, Casas Bahia, Extra, Pontofrio, Submarino and Walmart.
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