So I got this a few weeks back and have used it daily on wildlife shoots, weddings, and family mini sessions. This might be my favorite piece of technology I have used in years! Seriously, I use every single day and edit from it on my iPad when I’m traveling using Adobe CC and LumaFusion
The only complaint that I now have, a few were taken care of with firmware, is the file system when importing to the drive. Multiple files and folders can get confusing. However, I’ve gotten used to it. I’m getting another one for the family to use as our travel entertainment server with Plex. It will be good for movies on the road for my kids and my wife can back up her photos as well.
Anyway, the only reason I posted this was bc these forums tend to only be for problems. I came here and was almost scared off from buying it. After using it, I recommend it to everybody. Not sure I need the new SSD version but I considering it simply for durability in my professional work. Thanks for listening to my rambling. Best wishes and thanks for a game changing product!
I think it is a great product too. Mainly used for photo storage and streaming vids when on holidays. I’m finding the unit seems to operate better with the new firmware. Plex is limited in that the unit cannot transcode. It also takes a while to build the library. If you want to use Plex where there is no internet available then don’t link the MPWP Plex to your main account as it then requires internet access to function. I like Plex on my home network but find Twonky does everything I need on the MPWP.
Lumafusion’s a great app for vid editing. I like Affinity Photo for photo editing (though it still has a few bugs being ironed out).
For professional use, how do you confirm all files have been copied across? In the previous firmware I found transferring bulk files from a USB stick a little hit and miss. Haven’t checked with the new firmware.
I do not use Plex or even Twonky to play my videos and nusic. The My Cloud app is not fancy but it sees samba shares and iOS devices like that not DLNA. I suggest if you have iOS phones and Pads you use a better app than the MC app. It is called FileBrowser.
Since the SSD version is very rugged; even has a rubber cover. Why not get that for work and give the earlier one you have to family.
Mike27, I use and recommend two main ios apps with the MPWP. First is Documents by Readdle and is free iOS app. It accesses the MPWP, works well with iOS Files app and the rest of the iPad, has a great file management system and network interface, as well as browser, player, reader etc etc. Really very versatile. For video streaming my favourite app for many years is NPlayer. Handles just about any combination of video and audio format on the fly. Good developer support too. Haven’t experienced any buffering issues. Also Interfaces well with Plex/Twonky on the MPWP.
I agree, if for professional use the SSD might be better insurance against the odd bump or three. Being retired, I shall have to make do with the hdd version for now. If the HDD ever dies though, I would look at installing a replacement drive.
Thanks for the info, I will consider these apps, although I have apps that do a lot of these tasks well. I only keep mp4/m4v video files on the MPW, so I have no need for apps that can play other formats, (which are on my WD My Cloud NAS to play on TV) and on my iOS music app, Music Streamer is great for local network content. All my music is mp3 format.
Can you tell me if Nplayer plays only local, and network or remote files? I need a good remote video and music player app other than My Cloud app.
Since Documents app is free, I will give it a try.
Here’s a link to nPlayer lite (free version) but looking at the features I can’t see much missing from paid version. Might be worth a look.
nPlayer Lite by Newin Inc.
I might get the SSD. But they aren’t cheap. This version serves me well. I have other hard drives and a system I used before I discovered the WDMP. I’m not sure I’ll jump into another $500 drive until it’s time to replace. I don’t really need it at all.
I agree, the SSD version is mighty expensive when compared to the hard drive models of same capacities. In a year or so the SSD models will drop, especially if there is more competition. If you need another drive for family, I’d get the HD version.
One of the original reasons I got into the WD Passport Wireless products was the SD card reader. I had (brief) visions of using it like bbarnett51. I also like the wireless access features for network files. . . .and streaming is a plus as well. For me, It could be a perfect product.
Reality:
For photography. . . It seems to work, but I just don’t trust it well enough. Not enough assurance that SD cards are being copied properly. Maybe I have not used it enough. . .I am making more of an effort with the lastest firmware this year to try it out and build confidence
It just seems. . . on trips I still bring a laptop and external drive for backup. And if I am limited on weight/space → I chose the laptop and leave the MPW home.
Wireless file access as a portable-NAS . . .works as advertised. VERY cool.
Portable streaming device. . . .yeah. . . it works. Mostly. Never any problem with 4 minute videos. . . full length movies can be a challenge. I tend to run PLEX to a Roku stick. The processor is just too limited, even when it doesn’t have to transcode. I have been sticking with plex because I have other servers running plex. SMB to android devices seems to work fine.
Of course . . .I should just dump plex as DM100 keeps suggesting . . .but what I have works. . .mostly . . …I am streaming a movie while I type this.
So overall. . .I like the drives. I give it a 85/100. I would recommend it to my Techie friends. Not the non-Techie significant other. I would buy another if mine died.
The SSD version appeals to me
. . .but in the same form factor as the MPWP?? That seems. . . wrong
. . .and the price. . .also wrong. When the SSD’s drop in price overall. . .we can talk more about it.
Anyone try the Sandisk 200gb wireless connect? That might be an alternate for streaming and wireless content. I have an older version (with a 64gb micro-SD card. . ). . . .ALSO very cool. A very good fit for airplane travel.
Yes, I have the Sandisk Connect in both 64GB and 200GB size. The 200GB size was on sale a few months ago, but I have not populated it fully so continue to put the 64GB in my pocket for airplane travel. I had real problems with it on my older iPhone 5c, but it worked fine on other devices like wife’s newer iPhone and our iPads; old and new. I figured the issue was only with the old iPhone, and I was correct after I got a new iPhone Plus in Oct. Connect worked fine right away.
I have an older MPW I also take along on trips, too, since it is a 2TB model. We play music and an occasional movie via apps from it. I can’t put Plex on the MPW, but then I do not want to. Everything plays fine without it. I have Plex on my WD NAS, and hardly ever use Plex. It also hogs a lot of disk space on NAS, too.
I just put the Sandisk 200gb on my shopping list (it’s not that expensive. . )
Here’s the real reason I keep fooling around with the MPW drives. . . .earlier today I was streaming from my MPW drive. . . . .because PLEX from my NAS (physically 150 miles away) was acting up. I thought it was an internet issue. Turns out the plex installation on the NAS went goofy . . and had to be reinstalled.
There was no way to fix THAT remotely. (well. . .not without leaving PC’s at home running and exposed to the internet. . .which is not what I want to do).
If I’m on a paid shoot, I always have enough cards to keep my work on them. So I dump it onto the drive but Also keep the photos on my card. If I’m out doing photography for myself, even if I plan to sell prints, I have no problem dumping it on the drive and reformatting my card. Before the firmware update this sometimes caused a mess but now it works fine… I think. I’ve done it enough to trust it.
I also always have my phone with me so I can see that the files have transferred. I’ve never had it not transfer but there’s always a first! I’ve had 2 SD cards, 1 CF card, 2 Dell hard drives and 1 Seagate drive fail. 1 of those cost me a freaking fortune to recover😱
The standard rule of thumb is have three back ups. 1) the original, 2) a copy on another drive and 3) another copy kept in another location (in case of house fire.)
It may work if your camera supports FTP wireless transfer, but you need to turn on FTP access in the settings of your MPWP (page 43 user guide).
Page 29 on the user guide provides the settings you need to set on your camera.
