Motorola Xoom + EyeFi + Nikon D300s = Android Tethering Heaven

Last year, November 2010, I had wrote up a quick blog on how to tether from Nikon D300s to the Apple iPad using EyeFi card (see blog link). The finding was an awesome first step for professional photographers and hobbyist a like. We no longer have to carry a large heavy laptop and long USB cable or expensive WIFI attachment for our camera. We can just carry a simple Apple iPad, take the picture we want, and immediately being able to show our client a sample image in under a minute.

This year, Android users can also join in the fun. With the recent release of Motorola Xoom, using Google's Honeycomb Android OS, we can now have similar functionality as Apple folks. This method should work on other upcoming Honeycomb devices and current Android Phones (i.e.: HTC EVO and Samsung Galaxy S).

Requirements:

• Google's Android Honeycomb Tablet (i.e.: Motorola Xoom)
• Eye-Fi Pro X2 8GB Card
• A portable WiFi Router (i.e.: Android Phone w/ Tethering Software or Verizon MiFi Card)
• MoPhotos App (http://www.mophotosapp.com/)

Before we start, make sure you have your portable WiFi is up and running. If you have a Verizon MiFi Card, make sure it is on and ready to accept new connections. If you are using your Android Phone, make sure the tethering software is installed (note: Tethering Software requires the phone to be unlocked. See XDA forum on how to unlock your phone. Unlock at your own risk)
 

Step One - Setup Eye-Fi Pro X2 Card

• Connect the Eye-Fi device to your PC or Mac and setup the WIFI SSID you will be connecting with on your Camera. This will be the SSID of the portable WIFI devices you have setup above. Once you have it setup, plug in the Eye-Fi to your camera (Nikon D300s, Nikon D90, or any camera compatible with Eye-Fi).
• You can leave the rest as default setting. We only care that the Eye-Fi is set up to detect the SSID of the WiFi tethering device. 

Step Two - Setup MoPhoto App

• Purchase the inexpensive MoPhoto app from Google's App Store
• Install it on your tablet
• Launch the application, it will ask for UPLOAD key. Follow the step on their website (HERE)
• Now disconnect the tablet from whatever connection it is on and connect to the WiFi (same WiFi Eye-Fi is on) device. 
• Make sure the MoPhoto App is still on, click on "My Photo". 
• If you had photo already on the Eye-Fi card, it will attempt to download those images first. So make sure the card is empty.

Now for the test. Start taking a few pictures. If it was setup correctly, you will start seeing message at the bottom right of the device and the image in 20 seconds. I recommend stick with JPG on the transfer vs raw file (i.e. Nikon NEF). The file are smaller and quicker to transfer. On the Nikon D300s where it accepts both CF and SD, you could set it to store NEF on CF and basic JPG on SD. This could be used as your proof pictures while you are on a photo shooting.

If you are planning to buy from Amazon, support the site by using the Amazon links on here.

Have fun!