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how toHow To: Expand Storage on iOS Products

For decades, teachers have used a variety of software options to create classroom materials. For many educators, that has meant using a suite of programs for desktop computers. Now that mobile apps have evolved to the point where they can offer similar functionality at a fraction of the price, educators may want to explore alternate technology for accomplishing classroom tasks.

The EducationWorld How To series offers simple instructions that help educators use app technology to simplify life in the classroom. See more How To articles.

Mobile lite

iOS devices are popular in the K-12 education market; some districts have equipped entire schools with hardware such as iPads. A drawback to iOS devices is, however, their fixed storage capacity. Once a 16-gig iPad or iPhone is full, there is no expanding on that capacity because the device does not possess any ports to accommodate a flash drive or SD card.

To combat this lack of expandable storage, several third-party manufacturers are producing devices aimed squarely at Apple’s fixed storage mandate. These “media hubs” can wirelessly expand an iPad or iPhone’s storage capacity. Users can fill them with a variety of content, from music and films to documents and contacts, which they then can access wirelessly via an iOS device.

To begin, a user must first purchase a media hub. Prices vary depending on available features, with an average price starting around $50. Some models contain a single SD slot in addition to a single USB slot, while other possess multiple slots for multiple media types. Two devices of note are the Kingston Digital MobileLite Wireless Flash Reader for Smartphones and Tablets and the RAVPower FileHub. The Kingston MobileLite sports one port each for a USB drive and an SD card. It supports all iOS devices running iOS 5.1 or higher and retails for about $40. The RAVPower FileHub also contains a single USB and SD slot, with support for iOS devices running iOS 5.1 or higher.

Regardless of the type of hub, users must download an accompanying app. These free apps, developed by the companies that produce the media hubs, can be found in the App Store by searching for the product’s name. For example, if you have purchased the MobileLite, you would search for Kingston MobileLite in the App Store.

With the app on your iOS device, make sure the media hub’s battery is charged and power it on. Next, launch the app. Depending on the app, you will either be promoted to search for the media hub, or it will find it automatically. The connection is made via a WiFi signal produced by the media hub. Once connected, you may insert an SD card or Flash drive into the media hub, and all of the content on the card or drive will be available on the iOS device. The only limitation to the amount of additional storage you can add is the size of your portable media. For example, if you purchase a flash drive with a capacity of 64 gigs, adding this to an iPad with 64 gigs of native storage would result in 128 gigs of available storage space..

Because media hubs like the MobileLite and FileHub are fairly sleek and operate wirelessly, they do not add any bulk or heft to the streamlined iPad or iPhone. The media hub can even be stored in a bag or coat pocket.

 

Related resources

Don’t miss EducationWorld’s Tech in the Classroom and iPad App Review features.

 


Article by Jason Tomaszewski, EducationWorld Associate Editor
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