Eye-Fi Adds Hotspot Support, Geotagging to WiFi SD Cards

[Plex]

The new Explore card automatically geocodes photos saved on it and can upload them directly from a camera to the Web and the photographer's computer from WiFi hotspots.



Eye-Fi has added geocoding and the ability to upload photos via WiFi hotspots to its line of WiFi SD cards. The new Explore card that offers the added features comes with a year of service at Wayport hotspots. When in range of a hotspot or the photographer's home wireless network, the Explore card will automatically upload full-resolution photos from the card to a designated online gallery site, and will also send them to the photographer's Internet-connected computer.

Eye-Fi formed a partnership with Skyhook Wireless to implement the geocoding function. When a photographer takes a picture in range of any WiFi access point, the access point is detected and identified by the Explore card, and the identifying information is attached to the image file. When the photo is later uploaded through Eye-Fi's system, the access point identifier is matched with information about its location in Skyhook's database in order to attach location metadata to the image file. This type of WiFi-based geocoding isn't as precise as GPS-based systems, and it isn't available in areas where there are no WiFi access points catalogued by Skyhook. However, the location information is accurate enough for many photographic geocoding purposes, and the system can work indoors, where GPS is often unavailable. Skyhook claims its system can determine the position of a WiFi device such as the Eye-Fi Explore card with an accuracy within about 65 feet. More information about Skyhook's coverage and technology is available on the company's Web site.

The original Eye-Fi card has been renamed the Eye-Fi Share. It automatically transfers photos to a computer on a wireless home network and also uploads full-resolution copies of them to designated Web sites, but it does not offer geocoding or hotspot support. A more affordable version of the card, the Eye-Fi Home, has also been added to the line. That card transfers photos to a computer on a wireless network, but does not upload them to the Web.

All three of the cards will be available in 2GB capacities starting on June 6, 2008. The Home card is priced at $80, the Share at $100, and the Explore at $130.

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