Kingston Adds 16GB/32GB to an iPhone or iPad with ‘Wi-Drive’

As expected, Kingston has announced its wireless storage solution for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch at Computex. Similar to Seagate’s recently launched GoFlex Satellite drive, Kingston’s Wi-Drive comes equipped with a wireless signal for syncing up with Apple’s i-devices for the sake of expanding the rather paltry default storage that any of them comes equipped with.

Available for public consumption later this month, Kingston will be offering both a 16GB model for $129.99 and a 32GB model for $174.99. For the sake of getting the best bang for the buck, the 16GB model seems a little needless ($8.12/GB vs. $5.47/GB), but at least the option is there. As flash prices continue to go down, it can be expected that we might soon see a 64GB model introduced to the line-up as well.

The goal of the Wi-Drive is to expand the storage space that a given i-device offers, and within that space more movies, music, photos and other documents can be stored. Because accessing the device requires an app (available for free at the Apple AppStore), not all file formats are supported, but those supported by an i-device should be. As an example, MP3 and WAV music formats are supported, but FLAC is not.

I saw the Wi-Drive in its original incarnation at CES this past January and was left impressed, but with Seagate’s GoFlex Satellite, a 500GB offering, selling for $200, what appeal is there in a 32GB device from Kingston? That will boil down to two things; the ease-of-use and also its durability. While mechanical storage has the tendency to corrupt data due to a bump (a fact I’ve learned once or twice, or four times), flash is much more durable. Unless a drop to the ground shatters the device, the data should remain in tact. A drop at a certain distance for a mechanical drive while being used… forget about it. It’s kaput.

Still, is that added durability worth the premium? I’m interested in hearing what you guys have to say. Personally, I think I’d be more apt to get the beefier storage, and just take the utmost care of it while on the go. The safer flash storage is tempting at the same time though.