Wireless-shareable 16-32G Drive and App ready for KFire

I tweeted the following just now and thought others here will be interested too.

A pocket-sized external wireless 16 or 32GB DRIVE for Kindle Fire. APP is also ready! Concurrent use by 3 people.

I've included user manual info, a how-to video, and info on a converter that supports converting videos to mp4 in preset sizes, etc., to suit the Kindle Fire.

http://kindleworld.blogspot.com/2012/01/kingston-wi-drive-app-for-kindle-fire.html

Shortcut: http://bit.ly/kw-widrv

They say a 64G one is coming but not until mid-year.

- Andrys

You will need to download this to use it with the Kindle Fire.

Wi-Drive

[Edited to add more info]
Sure, that's why I said the app was ready. Thanks for the quick link for those who already have the device especially.

I was trying to get more info on the built-in wireless and how independent, or not, it is...

The unit itself provides the WiFi -- one drawback is that with two or more people using it at a time, it lasts only 3 hours and you have to recharge -- the miniUSB adapter can't be recharged while using the unit. The reviewer came back to say it was still working great, about 3.5 to 4 hours (but he didn't say whether with two or more sharing it as before). The original use of this unit was for Apple devices, and the new Kindle Fire app is an add-on.

Will read the rest of the customer reviews... pretty nice not to have to worry about wires and hookups though, especially when sharing.

- Andrys

I mentioned Miro Converter, but their free download link goes to a no-longer existing page if you choose the link with no donation, and I don't donate until I've tried a tool.

Does anyone know of any easy-to-use, reliable tool that converts video to mp4 (a format the Kindle Fire requires) and is either free or low-cost ? I saw one for $35 that has all kinds of editing tools besides, but I'm still looking. Thanks for any help.

- Andrys

Andrys - Here's a copy of a post I kept for when I want to start converting DVD's. It may have some useful info for you.

"If you have the physical DVDs you can rip them into an MP4 file that'll work on any device that will support that format, including all Apple products and the Fire. Handbrake or Freemake are both great, free, video converters

I just downloaded the trial version of this : http://www.softatoz.com/how-to-dvd-ripper/rip-convert-dvd-to-kindle-fire/
and being the trial version, it only ripped the first 3 minutes of my Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVD, but once ripped to my computer hd I copied the folder it had created into the video folder on the the Kindle F. I then browsed to files through the gallery app. The video it made looks and sounds great and the xilisoft really easy to use (it seems to block/bypass the DRM protection) . But it was slow AND the full version is 40 bucks...

You might give DVD Cloner (software) a good look - it works very well and will get by the protection encryption. Then use Handbrake to put the movie into MP4 format for the Kindle to read........

I converted a DVD and copied it to the KF using DVD Catalyst. Not free, but reasonably priced at $9.95. The video played fine, picture was great on the Fire and was full size. I copied it into the video directory, but you must use the gallery option to view it.

Read about it here .. http://www.tools4movies.com/ "

I was told about DVD Catalyst on here a while back. I had tried the free version, but it's only 9.99 for the paid full version. IT now has new Fire upgrades that do some amazing things. It can eliminate the gray bar and make it a full screen video among other things. I tried it again yesterday on teh Liam Neeson Unknown movie. I stuck the dvd in the drive and selected kindle fire as the device and selected go. It was done in a matter of minutes and was great.

Thanks, L., that sounds promising.

I second this... I've been using DVD Catalyst 4 for about a year now and it is awesome. Plus the CS rivals that of Kindle CS; I emailed several times with different questions and the developer emailed me back within an hour!

They were showing a new Movie Gallery app that was 2.00 also. I showed it to my son.

L., Pineapple, and Tink-erbell
Wow, Great info from you folks, as usual. Thanks. Have used it and asked readers to keep up on your info here.

Will add Movie Gallery app as a possibility too then.

There's a customer review that talks about the possibility of many people using this WiFi unit in an airplane and what to do about it. :-) I realize that iPads are now used by some pilots in the cockpit and that at least one study has shown that the Kindle Reader WiFi, at least, is of no real significance there, though we'd turn that off.

What was interesting is that the effect, they said, is no greater if you have 100 people using WiFi than if you have 1 person using it, due to how that works. I can't say that I understood it, but...

Thanks again for such quick and good info.

- A

Hi Andrys!
I second and third this great program for converting DVD's to MP4's: DVD Catalyst 4 for only $10

I've been using it about 2-3 weeks and it has performed flawlessly, as others have said. Many good menus to tweak. Four different Kindle Fire templates for use (various quality levels & sizes). Excellent manual and online help.

I can't say one negative thing about this app.

BTW, I use ES File Explorer app to launch a video from my /video folder. Easier to see the name for me then from the Gallery app.

I am also a "convert" for the DVD Catalyst 4 (located at http://www.tools4movies.com ) for all of the reasons stated above - plus the MovieGallery and he has a free MP4 Streaming Server program for a PC where you can put your mp4 movies and stream them to your Kindle Fire! For this function, all you need is a browser.

For best results with the MovieGallery - put all of you movies in a single directory. In his documentation he also tells where you can find suitable .jpgs if you also create mp4s for your TV shows.

L or anyone else,
Any idea how to get the Movie Gallery for $2? I'd gladly buy it but I have no devices on the Android Market and so am not allowed to purchase it!

Perhaps if I write him directly...

Give it a try, you can never tell :-)

I did.

Back to the original topic, has anyone tried the Air Stash for their Fire? I like the idea of having to put everything on an SD card and change out rather than being stuck with a set size. Just curious.

Also has anyone tried Handbrake for their videos?

Wow. AirStash's $179 for 16GB or $149 for 8GB is *really* expensive.

I most certainly will vouch for both the Kingston WiFi Drive as well as the DVD Catalyst. I have both, they work wonderfully and glad to see the needed app for the Wifi Drive is now available here. I have the 32GB Drive and initially had to sideload the app on my Fire. Super apps!

the 16 or 8GB is the Air stash's built in memory. Your actual data goes onto SD cards which are interchangable. I did noticed that the Kingston does not have an sd card slot so the 32GB is all the memory it has right? Also it is $179 with Amazon current price of $89. Am thinking the Stash is a better deal because you are not limited to space just the number of cards you carry.

I've seen the 16 GB Wi-Drive on Ebay and Amazon for about $55.. And the 32 GB for about $90-100.

An SD slot is a nice touch on the Stash though.

[Deleted by the author on Jan 17, 2012 6:30:36 PM PST]

Oh. I didn't see the $89 sale deal.

kwajkat,
Thanks for this.
I looked at the features and have added some thoughts on the two, at the blog.
Mainly, the following -- please let me know if I have anything wrong on this so I can correct it if I'm offbase on anything.

To use the AirStash, you need to switch to its network and turn off the Kindle Fire's Internet access.

The Air Stash's access when the Air Stash is itself connected to your WiFi router, is limited (I linked to a post about that) but there are utilities that can improve that.

Essentially, you can't do the Net while it's attached unless the AirStash is itself connected to a WiFi network.

The Wi-Drive has a 2nd wireless built in that allows your connected Kindle Fire to work with the drive while the KFire is connected to the Internet

Also, the Air Stash uses WEP security only, not WPA, so is considered less-secure in public places. The SD card switching is a great feature though. So I guess it's all in how you plan to use it. The size is a boon too.

- Andrys

Anyone know how to get their amazon movies onto the kingston wifi drive? I must be missing something as I can't find out how to do the amazon movies. I have downloaded itunes movies to my seagate wifi drive by drag and drop so have that down. But doing the same with the movies fromt he amazon store has me puzzled. Would like to beable to use them on both my fire and galazy note,

Did you ever find an answer to this, kwajkat? I'm considering getting this drive.