This ‘iStick’ USB flash drive has a built-in Lightning connector

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Folks looking for a way to move media and other data between their iOS devices and computers locally may want to check out the iStick. The newly-announced device may look like an ordinary USB flash drive, but it features a built-in Lightning connector.

The creators of the iStick, Hyper, say it’s the first of its kind, and the whole purpose behind it is to provide users with a way to quickly and safely move data between their computers, iPhones, iPads and iPod touches without the need for iTunes or the Internet…

The iStick itself measures 51.6 x 28.6 x 9.1mm, and is made up of either ABS plastic and aluminum, or all aluminum, depending on which model you choose. And it’s offered in various colors and storage capacities, including 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB.

Unfortunately, the USB side is only 2.0, so you’ll have to put up with slower read and write speeds. But the good news is that the Lightning connector has been Apple MFi-Certified, so compatibility shouldn’t be an issue (works with all Lightning-enabled devices).

And the hardware is just one half of the story. The iStick also comes with a free companion app that supports 1080p HD streaming and a number of media file types. It also features ‘Open In’ functionality, and a Viewer for looking at Office, PDF and iWork files.

As you’ve probably figured out by now, the iStick isn’t available for purchase yet. It’s currently on Kickstarter, where it’s already doubled its goal of $100,000 with 35 days left in the project. If you want one, a pledge of $65 or more gets you on the pre-order list.