If uploading digital photos to computer or photo sharing services like Flickr or Snapfish is hassle for you! There is good news for you! Eye-Fi Inc., a California-based company today unveiled the Eye-Fi Card, the first SD memory card for digital cameras that uses Wi-Fi networks to send photographs directly from digital cameras to PCs, Macs and online photo and social networking sites.

The Eye-Fi Card does not need cables, card readers or software plug-ins which are often required for uploading photos. Users simply turn on their camera and the pictures are wirelessly uploaded. The card is equipped with software that automatically starts the upload process as soon as your camera is in range of a Wi-Fi network. However, It has a range of 90 feet outdoors and 45 feet indoors. The Eye-Fi Card works with existing and new SD-compatible digital cameras and stores photos just like a conventional SD memory card.

The only shortcoming is that it is incompatible with commercial Wi-Fi hotspots like those in Starbucks, airports or most hotels. Secondly, it drains out the battery of the digital camera.

During the set-up process, users select from among 17 online photo sharing, printing, social networking and blogging sites like KODAK Gallery, Shutterfly, Wal-Mart, Snapfish, Photobucket, Facebook, Webshots, Picasa Web Albums, SmugMug, Flickr, Fotki, TypePad, VOX, dotPhoto, Phanfare, Sharpcast and Gallery to share their photographs, or otherwise can select where on their PC or Mac, they want to store their images. Once set-up is complete, users directly upload photos from their camera. Since photos can be sent on the top online photo destinations, users have the greatest choice and flexibility to do what they want with their photos - from posting to a blog, printing them for relatives, or sharing them online with friends.

In addition, the greatest advantage is that the free upload service allows users to transfer an unlimited number of full-resolution JPEG photos, it will resize images if it is required by the selected online destination.

The 2GB Eye-Fi Card holds approximately 1,000 images and is available at major online retailers including Amazon.com, Buy.com and Walmart.com for $99.99 USD (Rs. 4000/-).

Written by Mahesh Chawla in Memory cards