Home iPadia iPad Accessories ,,,,, Of USB-Lightning sticks, this year, we have tried several. The recent Aukey CB-UD1 test put us in front of a device that is very similar in functions to the others, but which impresses with its extreme ease of use, combined with a practical and pocket-sized product.
It is actually very small, measuring just 6.2 x 2.1 x 0.6 cm and weighs 10 grams including the small lace, included in the package, which allows it to be easily attached to a set of keys. The whole body is made of smooth plastic and beveled at the corners and edges. The two sockets are well protected by the same number of plugs, which we did not particularly like for the ease with which they can be released – and consequently lost – with a small bend.
On the one hand we find the USB-A 3.0 plug, to connect it to any computer and access files as with a common key, on the other the classic Lightning connector accompanied by a slight protrusion that ensures the connection with most of the cases. for iPhone and iPad, even those slightly thicker and bulky than others.
Inside there are 32 GB of space, an interesting cut if combined with the new iPhones which, in the cheaper version, offer as many GB of disk space, but which really make the difference with all those other iPhones and iPads equipped with 16 GB of memory that, especially with the iPhone 6s and Plus, is easily saturated with a few tens of minutes of video in 4K.
Test on iOS
The operation of these products, including Aukey CB-UD1, is strictly connected to the use with the attached application. In this specific case, let's start immediately by saying that it was not easy for us to find the app: at the first connection on the iPhone a pop-up message warned us of the presence of a software to download but, when we accepted, there was showing an empty tab on the App Store. In the user manual there is no mention about the name of the app, which is instead mentioned in the product description within the purchase form on Amazon.
This is AGP File, a free application localized also in the Italian language, even if the translation of some functions is not the best.
Apart from that, what struck us is the speed with which the software works with the stick. In fact, a few seconds were enough to make a quick backup of the entire camera roll which contained 42 photographs. The contact backup is also excellent: with a click, the application instantly made a copy on a vCard file of our entire address book (716 contacts).
Less practical even if sometimes it may be necessary to use the Camera mode which basically allows you to capture photos and videos directly on the key itself, without taking up precious space on the device. The function is quite basic as it only allows you to take photos (or start / stop video recording), activate or deactivate the flash and lock focus and exposure in one point while maintaining pressure in a specific area of the screen.
Convenient then the mode of audio recording as the acquired files (.caf) are stored directly on the key itself and therefore easier to manage for a possible backup copy on the computer.
The subdivision of the files on the phone with those stored on the key is well managed by two panels on the main screen: on the left you can access all the files locally, transforming the free space on the iPhone into a sort of USB key, while on the right you can it will easily access all the folders stored in the Aukey CB-UD1 as usual via the computer.
Test on Mac
We connected the dongle to our MacBook (Pro Retina 15 '' mid 2014 model) to measure performance. As can be seen from the test accompanying this contact, we arrive at 33 MB / s in writing and 87 MB / s in reading.
In addition to the checks with the Speed Test, we made a test by copying files. Using a folder with 138 elements for about 928 MB it took 51 seconds, to copy the same folder from the stick to the desktop (therefore reading) it took almost 11 seconds. A single 470MB file from the desktop to the stick was copied in 32 seconds, we then took 5 seconds to copy it back to the desktop.
Conclusions
Apart from the fact that the app should certainly be improved from the point of view of translation into our language (at worst you could certainly be satisfied with being able to select the English language) and traceability (a QRcode or a link on the small user manual included in the package), Aukey CB-UD1 performed well and we liked it much more than others because of the software with which it is managed from iOS, very intuitive in the user interface as well as quick in execution of the various modes.
The device itself is very small, light, you almost forget you have it in your pocket and if you use it in combination with the lace by hooking it to a bunch of keys you will be sure to always have it with you and be able to pull it out when needed.
Pro
Against
Retail price
Aukey CB-UD1 (32 GB) is on sale on Amazon for 36.99 euros, basically just 1.56 euros per GB.
,,
