Direct Mode

Eye-Fi just launched a new wireless memory card, the 8GB Mobile X2, which combines Eye-Fi's just released Direct Mode technology and free Eye-fi mobile apps to allow smartphone and tablet users to transfer pictures and videos from a digital camera to an Android or iOS mobile device – even when there's no wireless network available.

The new Direct Mode firmware upgrade and accompanying iOS and Android apps are now available to all Eye-Fi X2 cards. Direct Mode allows the Eye-Fi card to establish a direct connection to a mobile device by creating its own Wi-Fi network anywhere, even if it's far away from a Wi-Fi hotspot. So no matter where you are, you can send photos from your digital camera directly to the Eye-Fi app on your smartphone or tablet.

The Mobile X2 is now available at Best Buy for $79.99. Find out more information at www.eye.fi

The 2011 Consumer Electronics Show ramps up on Thursday but (as usual) many companies are already releasing information on new products and technologies hitting the marketplace later this year. Such is the case with Eye-Fi; they just announced Direct Mode - a combination of new technology in Eye-Fi cards and new Eye-Fi mobile apps which wirelessly connects the camera to a mobile device so that photos taken with your digital camera can immediately be sent to your smartphone or tablet. Photos can be viewed, used with apps on the device, or uploaded and shared.

Also, photos and videos can automatically and wirelessly be backed up and organized in a private Eye-Fi View account, where they are accessible for viewing and sharing from any Internet connected device – regardless of which camera they were taken with. Read more