Backups

Apologies if these are common knowledge and many are already using them but I've just discovered them, bought one and find it's the bees knees!

I've always wanted a way to backup my SD cards when away on holiday but I'm not one for lugging my laptop around with me.

I've always had a number of portable USB hard drives (I currently use Western Digital My Passport Ultras - I've a few in 1TB and 2TB size) but other than bringing my laptop I've never satisfactorily found a way to get the pics off the SD card to the USB drive. I did try transferring files via my Nexus 7 tablet but it was painfully slow,

Then I recently discovered this device; http://www.verbatim.com/prod/accessories/wireless-streaming/mediashare-wireless/

With that I can plug the SD card and the USB drive into the diveice at the same time and then transfer the files from one to the other - very quickly. The app that comes with device runs on my phone (and the tablet) and makes it very simple to move the files around (even view the files if they're jpegs - haven't found a way to view PEF RAW yet).

The Verbatim device is marketed as a media sharing / streaming device but I've found it very useful for backup up. Others make similar devices (and cheaper) but my research found the best reviews for this one.

Looks interesting. Do you need to go through a tablet to transfer - or do you transfer direct from car to disk? If you transfer it directly how do you do that?

I have found it for sale here for €43, so it is tempting, but I am still not sure on all the workings of the thing.

Kingston do a similar thing.

I think the transfer is card to card probably at USB2 speed.
Hopefully they will bring out a USB3 version.

Can it also be done from a laptop?

Not a new idea I've still got a Linksys NSLU2 from about
7 years ago that did a similar thing. People even put Linux
on them and ran it as as slow internet server.

http://downloads.linksys.com/downloads/datasheet/1224638865078/NSLU2-EU_V10_DS_N...

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As I said I did quite a bit of research before plumping for this solution. The alternative solutions were either very expensive (like the Epson P-3000) or they required me to bring my laptop.

This solution uses the Verbatim Android app which runs on my both my phone or my tablet and I'd always have one of these with me. There's also and iOS app for Apple iphones, etc.

It supports USB 2 and 3 and certainly my WD Passport drives are USB 3 and the transfer speeds from the SD card to that are very impressive. I've found it a very usable facility in the field.

It needs the app to select the files on the SD card and then initiate the transfer. In that respect I'm just suing the app as a File Explorer. The app connects to the MediaShare by WiFi.

There are a number of other companies that make them and cheaper but as I said the reviews for the Verbatim h/w and the app itself in my view were superior.

The MediaShare and the 1TB drive and the USB 3 cable all fit in this which makes it a very easily portable solution - especially if I'm already carrying my phone.

The WD Passport Drive also comes with Cloud backup which means I could also backup to that as well where connections / wifi allowed but I haven't tried this yet...

Please excuse my ignorance but how does it work? Do you stick the SD card into the device and then through your phone transfer the files to the device?
Cheers.

The Device has a SD card socket and a USB port. From what MSurgenor has said you insert the SD card, plug in a portable HD then connect to the device with your phone using WiFi to tell it what files to copy and where.

I see Western Digital has launched an even better solution with it's new Passport devices having an SD card slot allowing instant backup to a hard drive without the need for any other device. http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=1330

It's also wireless for viewing via smartphone, tablet or laptop if you want. Renders my Verbatim device redundant.

Thanks for the new link - that looks very interesting. A bit like our old image tank but then with so much more!

Thanks MSurgenor. That looks very interesting and seems to have a lot less complicated. Its on pre-order and the price seems to be a bit steep, which will come down with time, I am sure.

Naim

I'm not so sure now. The advertising blurb suggested it copy copy from SD to HDD automatically but reading the manual it seems like you need a WiFi connected device to initiate the copy via browser or app...