


In retrospect, that makes sense, but I’m a computer scientist, and *I* didn’t intuitively get that at first.
Ixpand app for mac install#
I don’t think it’s necessarily intuitive that the app’s install location should be on the drive itself. Well… first, it doesn’t say that that app *will be* located in the root directory of the iXpand drive and second, it completely skips the part about running the app’s package installer and selecting the iXpand drive as the install destination.
Ixpand app for mac mac#
Their instructions on accessing secure files on your Mac computer *start* with (to paraphrase) “Launch the SecureAccess… app and click next”.

The app must be installed on the iXpand drive itself, not the Macintosh Hard Disk. In fact, none of the documentation on the iXpand drive contains anything about the installation of the secureaccess application on a Mac. There are steps missing from the documentation about installing the SecureAccess app. I have figured it out, with the help of a chat guy. You can buy the iXpand Drive now direct from SanDisk for the 16GB ($49.99), 32GB ($69.99), and 64GB ($89.99) models, and the 128GB ($119) model is available through BestBuy.OK. The storage and pricing options stack up fairly against the competitors, USB 3.0 is a welcomed addition, and with a decent companion app with no major flaws, I’d recommend it as the best option out there as far as Lightning to USB drives for your iPhone and iPad go. They didn’t innovate much as far as the design goes, but they borrowed what I think is the best design for this product and perfected it in the process. You can get slightly less expensive alternatives like this one from Transcend, also with USB 3, but you won’t get the slick wraparound design and the app isn’t nearly as nice as SanDisk’s, making it not worth the minimal savings in my opinion. But Hyper’s USB 3 Lighting drive, for instance, comes in a 256GB option ($399), something SanDisk doesn’t offer. How does that compare? That pricing is comparable and in many cases beats out its competitors, especially anything with USB 3.0. On the other end (the USB 3.0 end), the drive acts as a normal thumb drive in Finder when connecting to your Mac. The app doesn’t get creative beyond these basic features that most apps for other Lightning drives also offer, but it’s fast and I didn’t experience any hiccups with transferring or playing content to and from the drive.
Ixpand app for mac password#
There is also an option for password protected files if you happen to be storing files for work or other sensitive material. With the app you’ll be able to easily play all of your music and videos as well as view photos you have stored on the drive, and you can share through the usual iOS share sheet options. You can also choose to backup your contacts and have them auto-backup just like with your photos. Another feature lets you backup photos from social accounts by connecting to Facebook, Instagram, or Picasa. You can alternatively choose to manually transfer selected photos, videos and other files between the drive and your connected device.

When you open the app for the first time it will prompt you to setup auto backup of your photos and videos when the drive is connected (but you can do that later in the app if you choose). SanDisk has one of the best with the new app it released for the iXpand drive. The companion apps for these products make all the difference. USB 3.0 is the other big difference with the new iXpand, giving you faster speeds when plugged into your Mac compared to SanDisk’s previous model, although there are other USB 3.0 competitors on the market already. Take a look at the design pictured below (middle, front) next to its competitors: They might not be first to come up with the wraparound design, but comparing it to the other guys, SanDisk comes out on top by being more compact and overall feeling more solid as far as build quality goes. That’s the part that allows the USB portion of the drive to stay tucked behind the iPhone and out of the way when the drive is connected with the Lightning connector (as pictured above). The drive’s wraparound design is the biggest advancement in the new iXpand. But this time around, it’s completely changed the design to address that issue and added faster USB 3.0 in the process. When I reviewed SanDisk’s previous generation Lightning to USB drive last year, I noted the clunky design as a downside versus its competitors. I’ve been testing it out to see if it’s worth a recommendation over the many competitors. SanDisk’s new iXpand Lightning to USB drive introduces a new design, faster USB 3.0, and a brand new app, making it one of the most attractive offerings as far as thumb drives for your iPhone or iPad go.
