Eye-Fi card makes cameras talk to phones

If you are old enough, you probably used to marvel that digital cameras could show a picture right after it was shot, eliminating the need for a trip to the photo store. Now, they look nearly as dated as fax machines, as smartphones allow instant sharing of photos through the magic of wireless uploads and Facebook.

But there is a way for the good old-fashioned digital camera to catch up a bit and remain relevant. A company called Eye-Fi Inc makes an SD memory card that fits most cameras. Through a nifty bit of engineering, it can send images directly to smartphones and Tablet computers as they are shot.

You get the benefits of a standalone camera - its zoom, its strong flash, its high-resolution sensor and other features that trump the smartphone - with the ability to post photos right away. It works with videos, too.

Well, you get all that under ideal circumstances. In testing the Eye-Fi card and its new Direct Mode, I encountered some problems.

It's still worth a look, though.


The Eye-Fi is designed to send photos to iPhones, iPads and devices that use Google Inc's Android software. Working with an iPhone and iPad proved cumbersome and unreliable. The process was much easier on an Android phone or Tablet, but I still had glitches.

The stamp-sized Eye-Fi card, which starts at US$50, works like a miniature Wi-Fi router, producing a "hotspot" that stretches about 10ft around the camera. The phone or Tablet then latches onto that hotspot, and the free Eye-Fi application starts pulling over the photos (or video).

Images end up in the phone's Gallery or Camera Roll, where photos shot with the built-in camera also go. From there, they can be e-mailed, picture messaged or posted to photo-sharing sites.

On the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy S 4G phone and Motorola Xoom Tablet, this mostly worked elegantly. The Eye-Fi app on the Android device stayed in the background, sensing when the camera was trying to communicate. It automatically made a wireless connection to the memory card's hotspot and notified me when the pictures had been transferred. In the meantime, I could use other apps.

However, the app on the Xoom often crashed, forcing me to wipe out my settings and start over.
Apple's devices are much less friendly to the Eye-Fi. Apple doesn't let apps do much in the background, while other apps are working. To start a transfer, you have to first make sure the device is connected to the hotspot, then start the Eye-Fi application. Only when the transfer is done can you close out of the app.

This gets extra fiddly if you're using another Wi-Fi hotspot for Internet access because you have to switch the connection back and forth between that hotspot and the camera's. Even when I went through this whole ritual, the Eye-Fi often failed to send photos to my iPad.

The reasons are unclear, but the problem highlighted another weakness in the system. The camera doesn't give you the slightest bit of help in figuring out what's going on because it was never designed to work with the Eye-Fi.

There are no camera controls and no screen indicators to tell you a transfer is ongoing, or if not, what the problem is. The most you can do is turn the camera on and off to see if that might fix it, which was about as effective as kicking a vending machine.

This lack of responsiveness is particularly galling when using the Eye-Fi in the way it originally launched.

The Eye-Fi has been on sale for a few years - it's just the Direct Mode that's new. In the original mode of operation, rather than create a hotspot, the cards connect to an existing one, such as your home WiFi router. It then transfers the images to a website or a folder on your computer. But the camera doesn't give you a clue whether this is happening or not.

Because Direct Mode frees the cards from being tied to particular hotspots, I expect it to be the default mode for users from now on. Older cards can be upgraded to Direct Mode capability as long as they have an "X2" designation.

I should point out that even if the Eye-Fi fails to transfer your photos wirelessly, they're not lost. The Eye-Fi works like a standard memory card too, storing every photo that's shot. The only caveat is that it may not work in your PC's built-in SD card slot because of differences in the electronics. You may need to use a card reader, which is included and sticks into a USB port.

There's another limitation to the Eye-Fi as well. Don't expect to be able to see every pixel in your high-resolution photos just because you've moved them over to a Tablet with a big screen. The photos are moved over in full resolution, but won't display on the phone or Tablet that way. This will disappoint photographers who want to check details and sharpness.

Despite its lack of reliability and some shortcomings, I think you'll find the Eye-Fi useful if you're a camera bug and have an Android phone.

Owners of iPhones and iPads will be better served by Apple's Camera Connection Kit, which costs US$29. It's simply a memory-card reader that attaches to the USB port, so there's no need to fiddle with a camera that has no idea it's been kicked into the future and is now a wireless device.

Eye-Fi card makes cameras talk to phones

If you are old enough, you probably used to marvel that digital cameras could show a picture right after it was shot, eliminating the need for a trip to the photo store. Now, they look nearly as dated as fax machines, as smartphones allow instant sharing of photos through the magic of wireless uploads and Facebook.

But there is a way for the good old-fashioned digital camera to catch up a bit and remain relevant. A company called Eye-Fi Inc makes an SD memory card that fits most cameras. Through a nifty bit of engineering, it can send images directly to smartphones and Tablet computers as they are shot.

You get the benefits of a standalone camera - its zoom, its strong flash, its high-resolution sensor and other features that trump the smartphone - with the ability to post photos right away. It works with videos, too.

Well, you get all that under ideal circumstances. In testing the Eye-Fi card and its new Direct Mode, I encountered some problems.

It's still worth a look, though.


The Eye-Fi is designed to send photos to iPhones, iPads and devices that use Google Inc's Android software. Working with an iPhone and iPad proved cumbersome and unreliable. The process was much easier on an Android phone or Tablet, but I still had glitches.

The stamp-sized Eye-Fi card, which starts at US$50, works like a miniature Wi-Fi router, producing a "hotspot" that stretches about 10ft around the camera. The phone or Tablet then latches onto that hotspot, and the free Eye-Fi application starts pulling over the photos (or video).

Images end up in the phone's Gallery or Camera Roll, where photos shot with the built-in camera also go. From there, they can be e-mailed, picture messaged or posted to photo-sharing sites.

On the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy S 4G phone and Motorola Xoom Tablet, this mostly worked elegantly. The Eye-Fi app on the Android device stayed in the background, sensing when the camera was trying to communicate. It automatically made a wireless connection to the memory card's hotspot and notified me when the pictures had been transferred. In the meantime, I could use other apps.

However, the app on the Xoom often crashed, forcing me to wipe out my settings and start over.
Apple's devices are much less friendly to the Eye-Fi. Apple doesn't let apps do much in the background, while other apps are working. To start a transfer, you have to first make sure the device is connected to the hotspot, then start the Eye-Fi application. Only when the transfer is done can you close out of the app.

This gets extra fiddly if you're using another Wi-Fi hotspot for Internet access because you have to switch the connection back and forth between that hotspot and the camera's. Even when I went through this whole ritual, the Eye-Fi often failed to send photos to my iPad.

The reasons are unclear, but the problem highlighted another weakness in the system. The camera doesn't give you the slightest bit of help in figuring out what's going on because it was never designed to work with the Eye-Fi.

There are no camera controls and no screen indicators to tell you a transfer is ongoing, or if not, what the problem is. The most you can do is turn the camera on and off to see if that might fix it, which was about as effective as kicking a vending machine.

This lack of responsiveness is particularly galling when using the Eye-Fi in the way it originally launched.

The Eye-Fi has been on sale for a few years - it's just the Direct Mode that's new. In the original mode of operation, rather than create a hotspot, the cards connect to an existing one, such as your home WiFi router. It then transfers the images to a website or a folder on your computer. But the camera doesn't give you a clue whether this is happening or not.

Because Direct Mode frees the cards from being tied to particular hotspots, I expect it to be the default mode for users from now on. Older cards can be upgraded to Direct Mode capability as long as they have an "X2" designation.

I should point out that even if the Eye-Fi fails to transfer your photos wirelessly, they're not lost. The Eye-Fi works like a standard memory card too, storing every photo that's shot. The only caveat is that it may not work in your PC's built-in SD card slot because of differences in the electronics. You may need to use a card reader, which is included and sticks into a USB port.

There's another limitation to the Eye-Fi as well. Don't expect to be able to see every pixel in your high-resolution photos just because you've moved them over to a Tablet with a big screen. The photos are moved over in full resolution, but won't display on the phone or Tablet that way. This will disappoint photographers who want to check details and sharpness.

Despite its lack of reliability and some shortcomings, I think you'll find the Eye-Fi useful if you're a camera bug and have an Android phone.

Owners of iPhones and iPads will be better served by Apple's Camera Connection Kit, which costs US$29. It's simply a memory-card reader that attaches to the USB port, so there's no need to fiddle with a camera that has no idea it's been kicked into the future and is now a wireless device.

Eye-Fi card makes cameras talk to phones

If you are old enough, you probably used to marvel that digital cameras could show a picture right after it was shot, eliminating the need for a trip to the photo store. Now, they look nearly as dated as fax machines, as smartphones allow instant sharing of photos through the magic of wireless uploads and Facebook.

But there is a way for the good old-fashioned digital camera to catch up a bit and remain relevant. A company called Eye-Fi Inc makes an SD memory card that fits most cameras. Through a nifty bit of engineering, it can send images directly to smartphones and Tablet computers as they are shot.

You get the benefits of a standalone camera - its zoom, its strong flash, its high-resolution sensor and other features that trump the smartphone - with the ability to post photos right away. It works with videos, too.

Well, you get all that under ideal circumstances. In testing the Eye-Fi card and its new Direct Mode, I encountered some problems.

It's still worth a look, though.


The Eye-Fi is designed to send photos to iPhones, iPads and devices that use Google Inc's Android software. Working with an iPhone and iPad proved cumbersome and unreliable. The process was much easier on an Android phone or Tablet, but I still had glitches.

The stamp-sized Eye-Fi card, which starts at US$50, works like a miniature Wi-Fi router, producing a "hotspot" that stretches about 10ft around the camera. The phone or Tablet then latches onto that hotspot, and the free Eye-Fi application starts pulling over the photos (or video).

Images end up in the phone's Gallery or Camera Roll, where photos shot with the built-in camera also go. From there, they can be e-mailed, picture messaged or posted to photo-sharing sites.

On the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy S 4G phone and Motorola Xoom Tablet, this mostly worked elegantly. The Eye-Fi app on the Android device stayed in the background, sensing when the camera was trying to communicate. It automatically made a wireless connection to the memory card's hotspot and notified me when the pictures had been transferred. In the meantime, I could use other apps.

However, the app on the Xoom often crashed, forcing me to wipe out my settings and start over.
Apple's devices are much less friendly to the Eye-Fi. Apple doesn't let apps do much in the background, while other apps are working. To start a transfer, you have to first make sure the device is connected to the hotspot, then start the Eye-Fi application. Only when the transfer is done can you close out of the app.

This gets extra fiddly if you're using another Wi-Fi hotspot for Internet access because you have to switch the connection back and forth between that hotspot and the camera's. Even when I went through this whole ritual, the Eye-Fi often failed to send photos to my iPad.

The reasons are unclear, but the problem highlighted another weakness in the system. The camera doesn't give you the slightest bit of help in figuring out what's going on because it was never designed to work with the Eye-Fi.

There are no camera controls and no screen indicators to tell you a transfer is ongoing, or if not, what the problem is. The most you can do is turn the camera on and off to see if that might fix it, which was about as effective as kicking a vending machine.

This lack of responsiveness is particularly galling when using the Eye-Fi in the way it originally launched.

The Eye-Fi has been on sale for a few years - it's just the Direct Mode that's new. In the original mode of operation, rather than create a hotspot, the cards connect to an existing one, such as your home WiFi router. It then transfers the images to a website or a folder on your computer. But the camera doesn't give you a clue whether this is happening or not.

Because Direct Mode frees the cards from being tied to particular hotspots, I expect it to be the default mode for users from now on. Older cards can be upgraded to Direct Mode capability as long as they have an "X2" designation.

I should point out that even if the Eye-Fi fails to transfer your photos wirelessly, they're not lost. The Eye-Fi works like a standard memory card too, storing every photo that's shot. The only caveat is that it may not work in your PC's built-in SD card slot because of differences in the electronics. You may need to use a card reader, which is included and sticks into a USB port.

There's another limitation to the Eye-Fi as well. Don't expect to be able to see every pixel in your high-resolution photos just because you've moved them over to a Tablet with a big screen. The photos are moved over in full resolution, but won't display on the phone or Tablet that way. This will disappoint photographers who want to check details and sharpness.

Despite its lack of reliability and some shortcomings, I think you'll find the Eye-Fi useful if you're a camera bug and have an Android phone.

Owners of iPhones and iPads will be better served by Apple's Camera Connection Kit, which costs US$29. It's simply a memory-card reader that attaches to the USB port, so there's no need to fiddle with a camera that has no idea it's been kicked into the future and is now a wireless device.

Quick review of Nokia X7 and E6

Nokia Corp launched its first smartphones to run on the updated Symbian software with new icons, enhancements and a faster browser.

Nokia X7

It said the two models - the E6 and X7 - have longer battery life, better text input and new Ovi Maps applications with improved search and public transport routes.

The Nokia E6, with a standard Qwerty keypad and high resolution touch display, is aimed at corporate customers, while the Nokia X7 is an entertainment-focused handset with a 4in (10cm) display made for games.

The world's largest cellphone maker did not price the handsets.

Markets seemed unimpressed by the announcement, which comes as Nokia continues to struggle against stiff competition, especially from Apple Inc and Research in Motion Ltd.



More than 200 million phones, with 150 million more expected on the market, use Symbian technology, seen by some developers as clumsy and dated. At the end of last year, it was surpassed by Android as the world's No 1 smartphone software.

Nokia said the new, faster Symbian software, known as Symbian Anna, will be available for previously released top models, including the N8, E7, C7 and C6-01 devices "in coming months."

In February, Nokia and Microsoft surprised the industry by announcing they were joining forces to challenge major rivals.

Nokia said it will use Microsoft Corp's Windows Phone software as the main platform for its smartphones but will continue to develop and use the new Symbian software.

But they have a tough battle ahead.

The iPhone has set the standard for today's smartphones and Research In Motion Ltd's BlackBerrys have become the favourite of the corporate set.

More recently, Google Inc's Android software has emerged as the choice for phone makers that want to challenge the iPhone.

In trail
A key challenge will be to produce quality devices with a hip factor that helps position Windows Phone as an attractive alternative in a market where image plays a central role.

Nokia E6

Windows Phone 7, launched last year, has a lot of catching up to do both in the number of users and "apps" available for the phones.

Nokia, which claims 1.3 billion daily users of its devices, said it hopes the partnership with Microsoft will lead to capturing the next billion users to join the Internet in developing growth markets.

Last year, the Finnish firm retained its No 1 spot as the world's top mobile phone maker - a position it has held since 1998, selling 432 million devices - more than its three closest rivals combined.

But market share has continued on a downward spiral - from a high of 41% in 2008 to 31% in the last quarter of 2010.

Also, its share in smartphones has plunged - to 30% at the end of 2010 from 40% a year earlier.

And, at the end of last year Nokia and the Symbian platform was surpassed by Android as the world's No 1 smartphone software, according to Canalys research firm.

Nokia, an Espoo-based company, near Helsinki, employs 132,500 people.

Quick review of Nokia X7 and E6

Nokia Corp launched its first smartphones to run on the updated Symbian software with new icons, enhancements and a faster browser.

Nokia X7

It said the two models - the E6 and X7 - have longer battery life, better text input and new Ovi Maps applications with improved search and public transport routes.

The Nokia E6, with a standard Qwerty keypad and high resolution touch display, is aimed at corporate customers, while the Nokia X7 is an entertainment-focused handset with a 4in (10cm) display made for games.

The world's largest cellphone maker did not price the handsets.

Markets seemed unimpressed by the announcement, which comes as Nokia continues to struggle against stiff competition, especially from Apple Inc and Research in Motion Ltd.



More than 200 million phones, with 150 million more expected on the market, use Symbian technology, seen by some developers as clumsy and dated. At the end of last year, it was surpassed by Android as the world's No 1 smartphone software.

Nokia said the new, faster Symbian software, known as Symbian Anna, will be available for previously released top models, including the N8, E7, C7 and C6-01 devices "in coming months."

In February, Nokia and Microsoft surprised the industry by announcing they were joining forces to challenge major rivals.

Nokia said it will use Microsoft Corp's Windows Phone software as the main platform for its smartphones but will continue to develop and use the new Symbian software.

But they have a tough battle ahead.

The iPhone has set the standard for today's smartphones and Research In Motion Ltd's BlackBerrys have become the favourite of the corporate set.

More recently, Google Inc's Android software has emerged as the choice for phone makers that want to challenge the iPhone.

In trail
A key challenge will be to produce quality devices with a hip factor that helps position Windows Phone as an attractive alternative in a market where image plays a central role.

Nokia E6

Windows Phone 7, launched last year, has a lot of catching up to do both in the number of users and "apps" available for the phones.

Nokia, which claims 1.3 billion daily users of its devices, said it hopes the partnership with Microsoft will lead to capturing the next billion users to join the Internet in developing growth markets.

Last year, the Finnish firm retained its No 1 spot as the world's top mobile phone maker - a position it has held since 1998, selling 432 million devices - more than its three closest rivals combined.

But market share has continued on a downward spiral - from a high of 41% in 2008 to 31% in the last quarter of 2010.

Also, its share in smartphones has plunged - to 30% at the end of 2010 from 40% a year earlier.

And, at the end of last year Nokia and the Symbian platform was surpassed by Android as the world's No 1 smartphone software, according to Canalys research firm.

Nokia, an Espoo-based company, near Helsinki, employs 132,500 people.

Quick review of Nokia X7 and E6

Nokia Corp launched its first smartphones to run on the updated Symbian software with new icons, enhancements and a faster browser.

Nokia X7

It said the two models - the E6 and X7 - have longer battery life, better text input and new Ovi Maps applications with improved search and public transport routes.

The Nokia E6, with a standard Qwerty keypad and high resolution touch display, is aimed at corporate customers, while the Nokia X7 is an entertainment-focused handset with a 4in (10cm) display made for games.

The world's largest cellphone maker did not price the handsets.

Markets seemed unimpressed by the announcement, which comes as Nokia continues to struggle against stiff competition, especially from Apple Inc and Research in Motion Ltd.



More than 200 million phones, with 150 million more expected on the market, use Symbian technology, seen by some developers as clumsy and dated. At the end of last year, it was surpassed by Android as the world's No 1 smartphone software.

Nokia said the new, faster Symbian software, known as Symbian Anna, will be available for previously released top models, including the N8, E7, C7 and C6-01 devices "in coming months."

In February, Nokia and Microsoft surprised the industry by announcing they were joining forces to challenge major rivals.

Nokia said it will use Microsoft Corp's Windows Phone software as the main platform for its smartphones but will continue to develop and use the new Symbian software.

But they have a tough battle ahead.

The iPhone has set the standard for today's smartphones and Research In Motion Ltd's BlackBerrys have become the favourite of the corporate set.

More recently, Google Inc's Android software has emerged as the choice for phone makers that want to challenge the iPhone.

In trail
A key challenge will be to produce quality devices with a hip factor that helps position Windows Phone as an attractive alternative in a market where image plays a central role.

Nokia E6

Windows Phone 7, launched last year, has a lot of catching up to do both in the number of users and "apps" available for the phones.

Nokia, which claims 1.3 billion daily users of its devices, said it hopes the partnership with Microsoft will lead to capturing the next billion users to join the Internet in developing growth markets.

Last year, the Finnish firm retained its No 1 spot as the world's top mobile phone maker - a position it has held since 1998, selling 432 million devices - more than its three closest rivals combined.

But market share has continued on a downward spiral - from a high of 41% in 2008 to 31% in the last quarter of 2010.

Also, its share in smartphones has plunged - to 30% at the end of 2010 from 40% a year earlier.

And, at the end of last year Nokia and the Symbian platform was surpassed by Android as the world's No 1 smartphone software, according to Canalys research firm.

Nokia, an Espoo-based company, near Helsinki, employs 132,500 people.

iPads take a place in kindergarten

Kindergarten classes are supplementing crayons, finger paints and flashcards with iPads, a development that excites supporters but that detractors worry is wasted on pupils too young to appreciate the expense.

Next fall, nearly 300 kindergartners in the central Maine city of Auburn will become the latest batch of youngsters around the country to get iPad2 touchpad Tablets to learn the basics about ABCs, 1-2-3s, drawing and even music.



"It's definitely an adventure, and it'll be a journey of learning for teachers and students," said Auburn kindergarten teacher Amy Heimerl, who received an iPad ahead of the full deployment in the fall. "I'm looking forward to seeing where this can take us and our students."

But the US$200,000 that Superintendent Tom Morrill is proposing to spend on iPads - which retail for around US$500 each - might be better spent on some other school programme, said Sue Millard of Auburn, who has children in the fourth grade and high school.

She also questions whether kindergartners are old enough to appreciate the effort. "I understand you have to keep up with technology, but I think a five-year old is a little too young to understand," she said.

Maine was the first state to equip students statewide with computers when it distributed Apple laptops to all seventh- and eighth-graders in 2002 and 2003. The programme has since expanded, with laptops parcelled out to about 50% of high school students.

The state Department of Education says it believes Auburn is the first school district in Maine that will give iPads to kindergartners. The school board has unanimously approved the plan to give all kindergartners iPads next fall.

iDea
The iPad is a powerful education tool with hundreds of teaching applications, Morrill said. With its touchpad screen, it's simple to use and can bring learning to life with imagery and sounds, he said.

"It's a revolution in education," Morrill said.

Apple spokesman Trudy Muller declined to comment on how iPads are being used in schools, but dozens of school districts around the country have been giving iPads to students.

Schools in Omaha, Nebraska; Columbiana, Ohio; Huntington, West Virginia; Paducah, Kentucky; Charleston, South Carolina; and Scottsdale, Arizona, are among the places where kindergarten pupils are using them.

Angus King, the former Maine governor who launched the state's laptop programme, said the idea of iPads in kindergarten wows him. Anything that holds the attention of pupils will help in the learning process, he said.

TESTING IT: A kindergarten teacher trying out a program for learning letters
on an iPad in Auburn, Maine. Five kindergarten teachers were given iPads to
try out in preparation for next year when nearly 300 kindergarteners will be
given their own iPad2s.

 "If your students are engaged, you can teach them anything," King said. "If they're bored and looking out the window, you can be Socrates and you're not going to teach them anything. These devices are engaging."

Morrill is convinced that in the end, using iPads to teach kindergarten will lead to improved student proficiency scores.

Heimerl, one of five kindergarten teachers in the district who got the iPads early, was impressed as she checked out apps for phonics, building words, letter recognition and letter formation.

"The more education teachers have using these tools the better we can enhance children's learning and take them to that next level," said Heimerl, a teacher at Park Avenue Elementary School.

Not convinced

Not everyone is sold. Larry Cuban, professor emeritus of education at Stanford University and the author of Oversold and Underused: Computers in Schools, said there's no proof that computers bring learning benefits to pupils that young.

"There's no evidence in research literature that giving iPads to five-year-olds will improve their reading scores," he said.

Peter Pizzolongo of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, based in Washington, said iPads can be an effective supplement to 3D objects, whether they be books or building blocks.

"We can't say whether what the school district in Maine or anywhere else is doing is good or not good, but what we can say is when the iPad or any other technological tool is used appropriately, then it's a good thing for children's learning," he said.

The best use of iPads is probably in elementary and special education classes because the devices are so easy to use, said Nick Sauers of Iowa State University's Centre for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education. There are hundreds of education apps to choose from with a touch to the screen.

Sauers expects a boom soon, with most current iPad initiatives being billed as pilot or experimental programmes.

"I think next year is when we'll see our first big bubble," Sauers said. "There will be districts next year that implement it school-wide, whether it be at the high school level or elementary level."

Morrill said most of the criticism has been about the costs during tough economic times - not about whether Tablet computers are age-appropriate.

He said he plans to raise the money needed for about 325 iPads and teacher training from foundations, the federal government, the local school department and other sources.
As bullish as he is on the kindergarten iPad, he cautions that it needs to be properly supervised and isn't a panacea.

"I'm not saying they should be on this 24-7," he said. "The students still need to move, get up, dance, socialise."