SanDisk Announces 128GB iXpand Flash Drive and Updated Sync App With Touch ID

[MacRumors]

This week at mobile-focused technology show Mobile World Congress, SanDisk plans to announce a several updates to its line of iXpand Flash Drives and companion app, mainly focused on expanding storage space and enabling quicker and more secure data decryption with the help of Touch ID.

The iXpand flash drive includes both USB and Lightning connectors to allow users the ability to easily transfer files, photos, and videos from an iOS device to a desktop or notebook with a traditional USB port. Currently available in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB sizes, the company will be announcing its first addition to the iXpand line with the introduction of a 128GB model for even more file storage.

SanDisk also promises new iOS 8-inspired updates to the iXpand Sync app, notably implementing Touch ID to let users encrypt and decrypt their most sensitive files while transferring data to and from the drive. The company also notes that the update will allow users to interact and open files from the iXpand drive with various other "popular apps", as well as save content inside of the third-party apps directly onto the drive.

No official pricing has been given for the 128GB drive yet, but seeing as the current highest capacity version of the iXpand flash drive at 64GB retails for $109.99, those interested in the new high-end model can expect to pay a substantial premium over that for double the storage.

The company says the extensive update to the iXpand app will be going live this week during Mobile World Congress, taking place in Barcelona from March 2-5. The SanDisk iXpand Sync app is a free download from the App Store. [Direct Link]

Update: SanDisk has issued a press release regarding the announcement, noting that the new 128GB iXpand drive will be priced at $149.99

Article Link: SanDisk Announces 128GB iXpand Flash Drive and Updated Sync App With Touch ID

 

[macs4nw]

So this not only frees-up storage space on your iDevice, but with its "Play Videos and Music Directly From the Drive" iXpand Sync app, you could effectively double, or even triple your on-the-go storage.... Nice.

The TouchID encryption is icing on the cake.

 

[Mr. Gates]

If only Apple would let people install Apps on this. Maybe a Jailbreak tweak could do it but I'm not crossing my fingers

 

[Harmonious Zen]

So this not only frees-up storage space on your iDevice, but with its "Play Videos and Music Directly From the Drive" iXpand Sync app, you could effectively double, or even triple your on-the-go storage.... Nice.

The TouchID encryption is icing on the cake.

This is exactly what I've wanted. None of that stupid wifi streaming hard drive stuff. Hopefully this is literally plug and play.

Edit: the Amazon reviews look horrible. It appears you can't watch Itunes movies on it. That's probably a software limitation, but still limits the utility of something like this.

 

[r-m]

I'd love to see a tear down of one of these, to see if all that extra width is necessary.
I dislike products that take up so much space on a USB port, covering the one next to it on my MacBook.

 

[FrankieTDouglas]

So much money for something I'm going to lose within 2 months...

 

[noraa]

Charging iPhone

I really like the idea of this, but from what I can tell (and if anyone owns the device let me know if I'm wrong) with the iXpand plugged into the iPhone/iPad/iPod lightning, you won't be able to charge your device simultaneously. I could see this become a major issue if, say, you're on a road trip, and have loaded a whole bunch of music onto the iXpand - normally while I'm driving I like to keep my phone plugged and charging using a cigarette lighter adapter - but wouldn't be able to do this with the iXpand. Thus, at some point, I'd have to unplug the iXpand to re-charge the iPhone...and bam no more music! I suppose this is a somewhat minor issue, but an issue nonetheless. While the wireless hard drives are far from ideal (and are a bit of a pain in the butt to use), they at least don't have this problem.

Unless, of course, I'm missing something. I.e. you can plug the USB side of the iXpander into a charging port, and that will also allow charging of your iDevice - but I don't see that mentioned anywhere.

 

[teslo]

I really like the idea of this, but from what I can tell (and if anyone owns the device let me know if I'm wrong) with the iXpand plugged into the iPhone/iPad/iPod lightning, you won't be able to charge your device simultaneously. I could see this become a major issue if, say, you're on a road trip, and have loaded a whole bunch of music onto the iXpand - normally while I'm driving I like to keep my phone plugged and charging using a cigarette lighter adapter - but wouldn't be able to do this with the iXpand. Thus, at some point, I'd have to unplug the iXpand to re-charge the iPhone...and bam no more music! I suppose this is a somewhat minor issue, but an issue nonetheless. While the wireless hard drives are far from ideal (and are a bit of a pain in the butt to use), they at least don't have this problem.

Unless, of course, I'm missing something. I.e. you can plug the USB side of the iXpander into a charging port, and that will also allow charging of your iDevice - but I don't see that mentioned anywhere.

look into this: http://www.technobuffalo.com/reviews/sandisk-connect-wireless-media-drive-64gb-review/

i find it extremely useful

 

[2457282]

So this not only frees-up storage space on your iDevice, but with its "Play Videos and Music Directly From the Drive" iXpand Sync app, you could effectively double, or even triple your on-the-go storage.... Nice.

The TouchID encryption is icing on the cake.

Yes, but with iCloud or Dropbox, I can do the same thing without have yet another device to carry around. I bought the 64gig iPhone 6 and the 128 gig iPad Air 2. Using iCloud and Dropbox, I find I don't use even half of the storage on my iDevices, so I am missing the need for this.

 

[i5pro]

i wonder if this could be used to "backup" an iOS device?

 

[nutmac]

I'd love to see a tear down of one of these, to see if all that extra width is necessary.
I dislike products that take up so much space on a USB port, covering the one next to it on my MacBook.

Biggest issue for me is it using FAT32 file system, limiting the largest file size to 4GB. And would it have hurt SanDisk to update the disk to USB 3.0 and faster memory? It's still stuck in 2.0 land with whopping $50 premium over SanDisk's fastest USB 3.0-based flash drive.

 

[macs4nw]

Yes, but with iCloud or Dropbox, I can do the same thing without have yet another device to carry around. I bought the 64gig iPhone 6 and the 128 gig iPad Air 2. Using iCloud and Dropbox, I find I don't use even half of the storage on my iDevices, so I am missing the need for this.

True, but the beauty of the SanDisk iXpand Flash Drives (and Updated Sync App) is that you don't need to be in a WiFi zone, or heaven forbid, chew thru your cell data, to access all that extra content, unlike what you need to do to access your iCloud or Dropbox content.

 

[iYiy-yiy-uh]

I'd love to see a tear down of one of these, to see if all that extra width is necessary.
I dislike products that take up so much space on a USB port, covering the one next to it on my MacBook.

I doubt a tear down would tell anyone much without a schematic, layout, etc available to analyze the circuit design.

 

[AppDiggity]

I don't know if I would feel comfortable carrying this thing around lol