14 DAY TRIAL // Wireless access to the Internet usually relies on dedicated chips and a router, but there is a tendency to combine features together, and this led to the FlashAir line of memory cards from Toshiba, which has just struck the 32 GB capacity threshold.
In a nutshell, FlashAir are memory cards with integrated WLAN connectivity, or Wi-Fi as it is more commonly known.
These cards allow any cameras, tablets, laptops, desktops or other consumer electronics to wirelessly connect with each other, or whatever network is nearby. Even Internet access is supported.
Internet access is actually one of the main assets of the newest 32 GB FlashAir card from Toshiba, thanks to "Internet pass thru mode."
Even when, say, a smartphone is connected to FlashAir through other access points, like a home WLAN router, the technology still allows it to access the web.
Sure, technically, this could be done anyway, but the new feature makes it all easier, and ease of use is always important.
After all, while Toshiba may not have much competition in this area yet, that's not about to last for overly long.
Anyway, thanks to "Internet pass thru mode," you don't have to manually change the wireless network settings of phones when downloading photos, or uploading to a social networking service (Facebook, Twitter, Google+, etc.), or sending e-mails.
As for the storage part, the FlashAir 32 GB SDHC complies with Class 10 specifications, which means that the minimum performance is of 10 MB/s.
You don't need to buy it if you just want the new Internet mode though. If you own the 8 GB or 16 GB FlashAir cards (SD-WC008G or SD-WC016G), you can get it via a firmware update.
Or, rather, you will be able to get it once November 16, 2013 rolls around, which is also when shipments of the 32 GB card will begin, in Japan at least.