Home CasaVerdeSmart ,,,,,
Duo-Link 3.0 is a USB 3.0 type A key that also features a Lightning connector, allowing it to interface with a Mac or PC as well as with an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.
This type of memory is spreading very quickly among users, who see a practical and relatively cheap way to increase the space available to their device without having to change it ( and invest significantly more sums).
Duo-Link 3.0 simple but sincere idea
The mechanics are simple: in the case of the Duo-Link 3.0 a USB-A connector connects to the Mac (in our case) and through this allows you to store various types of documents (especially videos and photos).
Then just act on the appropriate slide and extract the Lightning connector (and at the same time make the USB-A one disappear) and connect it to a compatible iOS device which, through the appropriate App gives access.
From within this it is possible to both view files directly (such as music, movies or photos) and also copy them to and from the device, sharing the documents with other Apps.
Obviously, the App also allows you to do other things, such as creating a backup copy of iPad photos and videos in an external drive without having to go through a computer, which is very convenient if you are traveling and you want to secure all your shots (avoiding consuming all the 3G / 4G cloud credit).
Inside the key there are some folders that divide the contents into Music, Videos, Pictures and Contacts, but you can obviously create other folders as you like.
The peculiarity of the App is to present itself in a simple and clear way: placed in the hands of several people, some of whom i on the verge of computer illiteracy, we can say that they had no problem using it.
Only note, the localization of some voices of the App is very hasty, and we have often relied to the experience with iOS than to the actual meaning of the commands (perhaps it was better to leave it in English).
Nice interaction: touching the left side of the display while playing a movie You can adjust the brightness, as in the right part the volume.
Cylon appearance
The external appearance of the stick reminded us a little of the lines of the famous cult TV show Battlestar Galactica (in the 1978 version) due to the curved corners and the slide central in cylon look (which lights up during use) and allows one connector to come out and the other to disappear at the same time.
The external metal shell is sturdy and tests the hand connected ease and to iPhones and iPads even with very different cases: the shape, however, is not small and once connected to an iPad, especially, it protrudes a little and you have to be careful (and you have to remove it before putting it in your bag or pocket).
We would have liked that the key, once connected to an iPhone / iPad, retained an additional Lightning connector for charging or headphones (since iPhone 7 no longer has an analog jack ) but this defect is shared with all the other similar devices on the market, so it comes to think that perhaps this is not possible at the moment or makes everything too complex.
The writing speed is low, and is lower than that of a normal USB 3.0 key, while in reading (which is the main task here) the access times are much better and in line with expectations.
The simplest way
A fairly simple device that delivers what it promises: a cheap way to increase the space on your iOS device, an easy way to share even large documents from Mac and iPhone (and vice versa) and obviously a way for a quick backup when away from your computer.
The App it is simple, intuitive and basic and does what it has to do with very few taps: some indecision about the location could still be easily fixed with updates.
The robustness of the shell (pay attention anyway), together with the comfort to have a double connector makes it a hardware device that you can easily get used to and, indeed, which after a while it is practically impossible to give up.
You can find the PNY Duo-Link 3.0 key at the chains PNY agreements (here the complete list), but it is also available online on Amazon.it in the sizes of 32, 64 and 128 GB starting from the suggested price of 79.99 Euro
Pro :
Against:
Price: € 79.99 (32 GB subject to this test), € 119.99 (64 GB) and € 159.99 (128 GB)
,,
