mac.iLounge

We only rarely cover Kickstarter projects, but we couldn’t resist Nifty’s fully-funded, smart MiniDrive and MiniDrive Pro ($30+). The company has created removable MicroSD card sleds that fit into the SD slots on the MacBook Air and Pro, respectively. Unlike a standard SD card, they sit flush with the edge of your computer, adding the ability to carry a spare hard drive around without any bulk. They’ll be available in a variety of colors including Mac-matching silver, with shipments starting in November.

Just slide a MicroSD card into MiniDrive, pop it into your computer, and it’s mounted like any other external storage. With capacities up to 64GB currently available, Nifty recommends using the space for daily backups that’ll survive even if something happens to the Mac. The MicroSD standard supports up to 2TB, so MiniDrive has the potential to become more valuable with time. With all its extra funding, we hope Nifty designs its own removal tool, though. Just like Apple in the early days of the iPhone, it recommends using a bent paperclip.