The Legends of MIMOBOT line of drives is meant to commemorate the legends among us, whether they’re cultural icons, certified geniuses, or your friendly neighborhood superhero. In line with the series are the U.S. Presidential flash drives, one featuring the likeness of Abraham Lincoln, and the other of George Washington, both decked out with their most distinguishing characteristics, such as Washington’s suit and Lincoln’s bow tie.

Both drives are being released only in limited editions, and as with other drives in the series, they come loaded with content pertaining to which ever character you choose. Buying the George Washington drive, for example, will get you Washington-themed avatars, wallpapers, and icons, while the same applies with the Lincoln drive. The Washington MIMOBOT is hand-numbered and only 1,000 are being produced.

Both drives can be had in 8GB, 16GB, and 128GB varieties, priced $19.99, $29.99, and $129.99, respectively. Both drives are USB 2.0, and are compatible with Windows and OS X. The drives feature a one-year limited warranty, and measure in at a fairly large 2.5-inches high by 1-inch wide. You can grab your own now directly from Mimoco.

[via Mimoco]

1TB of storage just slightly bigger than the size of a thumb rocking USB 3.0 speeds. That’s just crazy. I want one already. Sadly as I’m sure many of you know, the price tag is pretty ridiculous. Now like mentioned above, we’ve seen 1000 GB flash drives before, so lets talk about the speed in this crazy fast thumb drive.

Kingston has added this to their HyperX Predator series for the simple fact that it’s blazing fast and they didn’t compromise on speed when building this device. Kingston’s Predator doesn’t skimp on speed, at all. Promising read/write speeds of up to 240MB/s and 160MB/s, respectively. Nice right?

It might not be as fast as many SSD’s available today, but then again this this is relatively small and fits in your shirt or pants pocket. Then as usual Kingston’s popular wireless storage WiDrive was updated and their new model features removable storage — instead of the integrated versions available today. Add this 1TB thumb drive to that and you’ll have your own 1TB of sweet sweet storage. Almost your own personal cloud as the storage is all accessible over WiFi. The 1TB HyperX Predator will be available later in Q1, and while the price hasn’t been disclosed yet, the 512GB version is available for a staggering $1,750. Tough pill to swallow right there. Expect a rather steep price when they reveal all the details later this month. Start saving those nickels.

The bust is constructed of ABS/PVC plastic and is about 10 cm tall. You can pop Batman’s head off and plug it into the USB port on your computer. Apparently, both the head and the chest have USB ports that connect to your computer. The flash storage is in the head, and the chest is a USB hub.

The eyes in the head glow when they have power from USB and the Batman chest symbol glows when the bust body is plugged into a USB port. The head flash drive has 16 GB of storage inside. This drive is officially licensed by Warner Bros. and the drive is limited edition.

The limited quantity drives each have a unique serial number. That serial number isn’t printed on the drive anywhere and can only be read using a smartphone that has NFC technology. The drive is far from cheap at $86.99, but that price includes shipping.

[via EverythingUSB]

The drive is made from 200-year-old African wood, and, depending on which version you get, silver or 18-karat gold, as well as “high-purity diamond.” There are also bits of 4.5-billion-year-old meteorite. The Apophis has a storage capacity of 64GB, and a read speed of 190MB per second. The metal runs down the outer edge of the drive, as well as in a band around its circumference.

The Apophis gets its name from a 390-meter wide asteroid that came near the Earth in 2004. It is expected to hit Earth in 2036, a nice warm and fuzzy thing to remember every time you’re looking at your pen drive. Perhaps not surprisingly given the price, the unit comes with a lifetime warranty in the event you ever manage to break it, or it stops working.

Perhaps surprisingly, this isn’t the most expensive USB drive you can get – not by a long shot. That honor goes to the Shawish Magic Mushroom drive, which is priced at $36,900. These drives are joined by the likes of the Pandora ($999), the Dunhill Bulldog ($300), and the DOK ($2000).

[via Wired]

The Cotton Candy has seen various delays, improvements, design changes and more. We’ve seen tons of lower quality and cheaper alternatives appear on the market in their absence, but they’re finally ready to start shipping. Originally it was set to hit the market in March, but later that turned into May for developers and now it looks like the public can get their hands on these little miniature devices.

The new and improved Cotton Candy is still the size of a pack of gum, only the design is seriously improved. You’ll get a dual-core ARM Cortex A9 CPU, ARM Mali-400MP GPU, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 and a micro-SD slot. On each side are the ports consisting of USB and HDMI-out for all types of use. Streaming movies, Android, Games and more to a display and hooking up wireless mice and more. The options are pretty limitless.

It currently runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and we might even see Jelly Bean, as well as other Linux-based operating systems. The device doesn’t support the Google Play Store either — so that’s a thing. FXI is alerting those two pre-ordered that devices are shipping now, and they’ll end the pre-order status for full store access starting October 1st. More details can be found at their website.

[via Liliputing]

There’s also data security in electronic form rather than just hardware, with 256-bit AES encryption to stop access to anybody bar those who have the right password. It’s also paired with Wuala Secure Cloud Storage, which automatically mirrors a locked-down copy of any data added to the RuggedKey in a cloud drive accessible from your browser.

LaCie claims the RuggedKey’s USB 3.0 connection is capable of transferring a 5GB file (or an HD movie, or 3,000 photos) in under a minute, with peak speeds of up to 150MB/s. That will obviously depend on your computer, of course.

The LaCie RuggedKey is priced from £34.95 ($54) and will be available in 16GB and 32GB capacities. The drive has just dropped onto the SlashGear test bench, and so we’ll have a review for you very soon.

This next-generation blockbuster game will be popping up on the 6th of November this year and will be the first person shooter to beat for the holiday season. The folks at the Xbox.com blog have suggested that you pick up an official Xbox 360 USB Flash Drive by SanDisk, but remind you that you’re also perfectly welcome to format one of your own USB flash drives for use with your Xbox 360 instead.

The folks responsible for this update have also shown off the Xbox 360 320GB Media Hard Drive, this also ready to rock for Halo 4. The hard drive spoken of also comes with LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (as a downloadable game from Xbox LIVE) as well – so get to swinging your light sticks!

Check out our Halo 4 timeline below as well for more Halo action all the way until Christmas!

The first of the new batch is the SanDisk Extreme USB flash drive, which is USB 3.0-enabled and can store and share large files up to 10 times faster at speeds of up to 190MB/s. A 3GB file can be transferred in 20 seconds, while a 40GB file can be transferred in just four minutes. The flash drive comes in 16GB to 64GB capacities, priced from $64.99 to $159.99.

The Cruzer Glide USB flash drive offers SanDisk’s highest-capacity USB drive, able to store up to 128GB worth of data. Considering that many ultra-thin notebooks these days sport flash drive limited to 128GB of storage, using the Cruzer Glide in tandem would essentially double your portable storage capacity. The Cruzer Glide is available now in 4GB to 64GB capacities starting at $19.99. The 128GB version will be available in Q3 of 2012 for $249.99.

The Cruzer Facet USB flash drive emphasizes personality and fashion, featuring a stainless steel casing along with a colorful faceted texture. It is available in 8GB to 32GB capacities priced from $32.99 to $84.99. Similarly geared towards style, is the Cruzer Pop USB flash drive, which is hoping to appeal to younger consumers. It has a unique “pop” open design and comes in rich colors and patterns. It is SanDisk’s thinnest USB drive and comes in 8GB to 32GB capacities, priced from $32.99 to $84.99.

This little monster might not seem all that fabulous to you if you’re not someone who uses such devices on the regular, but what it contains for those of us who need to transfer information back and forth quickly is the most massively awesome little bit of aluminum and contained board capable of holding all the music in the world ever! Think of how many movies you could hold on a 64GB USB stick, for goodness sake! Each drive also comes with a five-year warrantee so you never get fearful of the worst!

You can also download software for your Micro Vault MACH, downloads that include File Rescue and x – Pict Story. The latter app allows you to create automated photo presentations using the files stored on the Micro Vault, while the File Rescue app allows you to recover important data that you may have accidentally deleted – like magic! This device is set to be released sometime inside January 2012.

The drive ships with CyberLink TrueTheater software for playback of movies and the software will also test the ability of the PC to support 3D content. The player will play normal DVDs and Blu-ray flicks too. It can also read and write to CDs and DVDs. However, it only reads Blu-ray discs.

The SE-406A is designed to work with both Mac and Windows computers and it has Buffer Under Run technology to prevent any errors that may result from writing speeds that are faster than data transfer speed. The drive supports most DVD and CD formats and can read from multiple Blu-ray formats too. The drive will ship in April for $150. Samsung offered no images of the optical drive with the official announcement.

Other than the fact that these USB drives look like the light cycles you’ll find in the upcoming movie, there’s probably not a lot going for these small-sized drives. You can choose from the 4GB Sam Flynn model, or the 8GB Kevin Flynn version. If you choose the smaller version, you’ll have to drop $24.99 to make it yours, and $34.99 for the larger version. They’re available right now, though, at your local Toys ‘R’ Us. So, the next time you have your computer in the dark, you can plug one of these drives in, and experience TRON in your living room.

[via OhGizmo!]

Like anyone else, the professor just assumed that the laptop, and all of the important data on it, was gone forever. But then, out of nowhere, a USB stick is mailed to the professor. It took a week, but the thief managed to get all of the data off of the laptop, including the 10 years of work, and mail it back to the professor. It may not be the laptop itself, but at least the data returned home.

The professor was quoted as saying, “I am very happy. This story makes me feel hope for humanity.” We can imagine that the professor is extremely happy, even if they still don’t have the laptop.

[via SlashDot]

The dual interfaces include SATA and USB 2.0. The USB 2.0 port can connect the SSD to a machine for duplication using software or it can act as an external storage device that doesn’t need a case to operate. The SSD promises read speed of 235MB/s and writes at 100MB/s.

The SSD has 64MB of DDR2 RAM built-in for increased performance. The drive uses the RAM to speed IOPS and makes writing up to 40% faster than other SSDs with similar features. Team Group doesn’t offer information on pricing or availability for the drive.

The other features are that the Clip-It USB drives come in either 2GB or 4GB sizes. And, as the name might suggest, you can even use the USB drive to clip together pages, while it’s not in use in your computer. They also come in a multitude of colors. However, it doesn’t get interesting until you look at how much these little guys weigh.

According to Verbatim’s Business Development Manager, Hans-Christopher Kaiser, “it weighs literally nothing, so it will not cause extra postal charges.” Literally nothing. So, Verbatim has managed to beat gravity. No word on when these will be made available in the United States, but they’ll be heading to Europe here soon. As far as pricing goes, that’s a mystery, too — but how much would you be willing to pay for a truly weightless object?

[via Wired]

Capacity wise, the Cruzer Blade comes in a range of 2GB to 16GB, and obviously the prices reflect what you’re getting. Starting at the bottom of the spectrum, you’ll be paying $14.99, all the way to the top of the list, where you’ll be smacking down $77.99. And just because it’s small, doesn’t mean that it can’t transfer your data in a reasonable amount of time, as SanDisk says it can handle it just fine. It comes with a two year warranty, and it’s available right now.

[via GearLog]

That’s how we see Edge Tech’s sales pitch working out, especially to prospective customers. Despite the fact that flash drives aren’t as “cool” or “in” as they used to be, that’s not stopping companies from making them. And, obviously, as technology progresses, these things that used to be as long as our finger now, remarkably enough, can be the size of a quarter. At least, that’s how big the new 32GB flash drive from Edge Tech is, and it even comes with a keyring already installed. How great is that?

While the small stature of the flash drive is worthy of attention in of itself, the DiskGo Backup also features Dmailer Backup software, which fully supports 128-bit AES encryption and auto-backup. It’s also got an extra 2GB of cloud-based storage, so you’re 32GB of storage just got a bit of an upgrade in the storage space market. Doesn’t seem to be any word on pricing quite yet, but hopefully they won’t be too nonsensical that we won’t want to actually buy one of them. So, here’s to hoping.

[via CrunchGear]

Amongst a whole list of other things its impervious to (yes, it is 10-ton truck resistant), it is also able to survive in environments heated up to 392 degrees Fahrenheit, or negative 122 degrees Fahrenheit. It can read at speeds upwards of 40MBs per second, and write at 30MBs per second. Oh, and if you go diving? It can survive completely submerged down to 333 feet. The USB drive is created from zamac alloy (which is a metal alloy created from zinc, aluminum, copper, and magnesium), which makes it possible that 10-ton truck.

The video itself is pretty interesting, so check that out below. If you’re interested in picking one up, you can check out one of LaCie’s many retail outlets, like their Online Store. You’ll have to drop £42.99 to get your hands on the 8GB model. We’re fans of the circular design for that metal alloy casing — what do you think?

Press Release:

LaCie XtremKey: The World’s Most Adventurous USB Flash Drive

• Thick metal pipe casing protects your data from the elements
• Resistant to pressure, water, high drops, and extreme hot and cold
• Up to 64GB of storage in a three-inch form factor

LONDON, UK (13th July, 2010) – LaCie announced today the LaCie XtremKey – offering industrial-strength protection for your data. With capacities up to 64GB and an impenetrable shell, the XtremKey is a truly rugged USB key that stands up to the elements.

LaCie, originator of the flat, award-winning key-shaped USB flash drives, shields the XtremKey’s premium flash memory modules inside a 2mm metal pipe casing. Sealed with wear-resistant screw threads and a rubber O-ring, it is watertight up to 100 metres. The LaCie XtremKey is also resistant to 5-metre drops, fierce heat and bitter cold – it holds up in any environment, no matter where you take it (+200°C / -50°).

XtremKey is constructed with zamac, a metal alloy composed of zinc, aluminium, magnesium and copper that’s so strong, it can withstand the pressure of a 10-ton truck. Less than three inches tall, this flash memory drive puts strength, security and storage right on your keyring.

“The XtremKey offers extreme durability and capacity in a convenient, well-protected and fun form factor,” said Alexis Kobassian, Product Manager, LaCie. “Despite the robust, industrial-strength protection we’ve added, it’s still a LaCie key that brings ease-of-use and reliability to customers looking to keep their data secure while on the go.”

Equipped with the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface, XtremKey offers instant compatibility, outstanding transfer speeds and cross-platform convenience to all PC and Mac® users. With writing speeds up to 30 MBp/s and reading up to 40 MBp/s, you don’t have to sacrifice performance for protection.

Designed by Constance Guisset exclusively for LaCie, XtremKey works relentlessly to keep your data protected, all while being portable, powerful and perfectly suited for your life’s adventures. The key, when placed on a desktop, even shows some playful personality with a perfectly balanced wobble effect.

Availability
The LaCie XtremKey starts in 8GB capacity through the LaCie Online Store, LaCie Corner, and LaCie Reseller+ starting at £42.99. For more product information, visit www.lacie.com/uk.

As for the detachable USB key, on the LifeStudio Plus drives there’s a dockable 4GB memory stick that users can set up with specific files from the main unit that they want to be able to take out and about with them.  The USB key always has the latest versions, and when you return it automatically syncs back any changes you’ve made.

There’s of course the usual backup functionality, with PC and Mac compatibility, and Hitachi are throwing in 3GB of cloud-based storage with every purchase (you can upgrade to 250GB for $49 per year).  The Hitachi LifeStudio Mobile drives kick off at $79.99 for a 250MB model, while the LifeStudio Plus Mobile drives start at $119.99 for 320GB; the desktop versions are obviously cheaper.

Press Release:

Hitachi GST Redefines External Storage with the LifeStudio™ Drive Family

Meet the Hard Drive Evolved: Going Beyond Simple Design Changes, Storage and Backup, Hitachi LifeStudio Drives are the First and Only All-in-One External Drives that Make it Easier to Organize, Protect and Relive Life’s Greatest Moments

Industry Firsts / Product Highlights

Automatic Organization and Easy Sharing: First drive in the industry that automatically pulls together and organizes your photos, videos, music and documents from your computer, any connected USB device or your social media outlets; making them easier to access, view and share. Easily upload, view and interact with photos on Facebook™, Flickr™ and Picasa Web Albums™ without leaving the app.
Stunning 3D Navigation: The only external drive that effortlessly displays all your favorite memories on a 3D wall so you no longer need to dig through folders and files to find them.
Backup Redefined: Hitachi LifeStudio drives take data protection to the next level, offering both local and online cloud backup in one integrated solution, within one interface – no more downloading and installing two separate programs. All online content is stored in its natural format, so files are available from any Internet browser anywhere in the world, and even from an iPhone® and iPad®.
Access to Favorite Premium Content: For the first time within an external drive, users can search, filter, watch or subscribe to millions of titles from online content providers. Catch the latest news, TV shows and music videos, or even play online games all from within the LifeStudio app.
Grab n’ Go Flexibility: Pushing design boundaries beyond a hard drive in a box, LifeStudio Plus external drives are the first in the industry that feature an integrated USB key for ultimate flexibility. The USB key easily syncs content for grab n’ go convenience.

SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Meet the hard drive evolved: the Hitachi LifeStudio external hard drive family. During the last decade, external hard drives have offered little beyond design changes and simple storage and backup. With the new LifeStudio family, launched today by Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi GST), the company is breaking through the long-established confines of the category and delivering an external drive that combines highly reliable storage and new levels of data protection with content organization, management, socialization and navigation for both local and online content.

“Personal storage solutions have become an integral part of a consumer’s digital life in terms of providing simple storage and backup”
The LifeStudio family, offered in both portable and desktop models, creates an unprecedented solution that seamlessly pulls in, organizes and protects consumers’ priceless stored digital content – photos, videos, music and documents – and unifies them with online digital content from social networks such as Facebook and photo sites such as Flickr and Picasa Web Albums. These important digital memories are laid out on a stunning 3D visual wall, instead of in random and hard-to-find files and folders, creating a comprehensive and organized catalog of the user’s digital life. Redefining backup, consumers receive the benefits of both local and cloud backup within one single application, making it easy to view, download, and share protected cloud content from any web browser, anywhere.

“Our LifeStudio drive starts where others stop,” said Mike Williams, vice president and general manager, Branded Business for Hitachi GST. “These drives aren’t just about interfaces and capacity, or backup. While these elements are important in an external storage solution, the value comes in creating lifestyle solutions that become part of the way we organize and relive digital memories. Our LifeStudio solution connects consumers to their online and local content in a more intimate way than ever before. For the first time, consumers truly have an integrated experience – one solution to find, view, protect and relive their digital memories. This is a huge milestone for our category.”

“Personal storage solutions have become an integral part of a consumer’s digital life in terms of providing simple storage and backup,” says Liz Conner, senior research analyst at IDC. “Pushing these boundaries, Hitachi’s new LifeStudio drive brings an innovative approach to the market, addressing how consumers organize, navigate and relive digital memories, seamlessly across multiple digital devices and online sites. Coupled with Hitachi’s local and cloud backup strategy, end users truly have an all-in-one solution to help manage their digital life.”

Automatic Organization and Easy Sharing on a Stunning 3D Wall

Today it’s not just early adopters using external drives to store and protect their digital lives — it’s a huge segment of the population that are deeply connected to the content they create, collect and share. Hitachi research has shown that organization is one of the most frustrating components of a consumer’s digital life. Often hectic lifestyles lead to a lack of time spent organizing the growing amount of digital content received daily. What’s left is a random storage process, which multiplies a user’s frustration when trying to backup, share, find and relieve memories. Additionally, much of what consumers’ value from a content perspective is online and socialized on dozens or hundreds of sites. Hitachi is cleaning up the “digital mess” with the LifeStudio family of drives because, in the end, it’s about content – protecting it, reliving it and sharing it.

After a quick install of the software, the drive’s innovative technology instantly kicks in. Your content – photos, videos, music and documents stored on your computer, any connected USB storage device or online sites such as Facebook, Flickr and Picasa Web Albums – automatically begins to appear in chronological order on your stunning 3D wall. Music is organized by artist or album. Now all of your most precious digital content is easily available at your finger tips. No more searching through files and folders.

Breakthrough Backup

Revolutionizing the way consumers protect their content, the Hitachi LifeStudio drive is the first to provide local and online cloud backup integrated into one single solution, within one install process. The LifeStudio application gives users multiple ways to easily protect their digital content on site or in the cloud. Every customer receives 3GB of online storage for free and for more storage there is an option to upgrade to a quarter of a terabyte (250GB) for only $49 per year, which includes multiple computer protection.

Hitachi Backup™ is simple and easy-to-use with default options that cover virtually every Mac™ or PC™ users’ backup needs. When using Hitachi’s cloud service, all content is stored in its natural format (no proprietary formatting), so files are protected and easy to view, download and share from any web browser, anywhere, even from an iPhone® and iPad®. Backup runs every 30 minutes or can be scheduled at one’s convenience.

LifeStudio Plus Drives with Integrated USB Keys

Hitachi understands the need to fit into consumers’ fast-paced, increasingly digital lifestyles. The LifeStudio products move beyond a hard drive in a box, into a category all their own. The patent-pending design of the LifeStudio Plus family provides the ultimate in flexibility with an integrated 4GB USB key, which provides a quick way to sync important files and folders for grab n’ go ease.

With the LifeStudio Plus family, the drive’s content management software conveniently allows you to select specific files or folders to sync to the USB key. As a result, users can simply remove the key and take what they need, while leaving the rest of their content safely stored at home. On return, the key docks on the drive to automatically sync everything back together.

Pricing and Availability

Designed for both Mac and PC users, the LifeStudio USB 2.0 external drive family comes in both mobile and desktop solutions. Each comes preloaded with the Hitachi LifeStudio content management app and Hitachi Backup software. Hitachi LifeStudio external drives will be available at retail and online stores in mid-July.

Of course, you can use any USB stick with your console – all you need to do is allow the 360 to set up a partition (up to 16GB in size) that is then kept aside for gaming data – but SanDisk would much rather sell you their own.  Expect confusion in gaming stores as shoppers are invariably “accidentally” told that they need the “official” stick in order for it to work.

Press Release:

SANDISK SHIPS LICENSED XBOX 360 USB FLASH DRIVE

Pre-configured USB Drive Delivers Best Experience On Xbox 360 Console

Milpitas, Calif., May 5, 2010 – SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), the global leader in flash memory cards, today announced that it is shipping the Xbox 360® USB Flash Drive by SanDisk for the Microsoft Xbox 360 gaming and entertainment console. The new drive makes it easier than ever for gamers to take their gamertags, saved game progress, map packs, Arcade game downloads and bonus content with them for fast and convenient access on another Xbox 360 console† .

The Xbox 360 USB Flash Drive by SanDisk delivers the best experience on the Xbox 360 console. Pre-configured for seamless plug and play action, the drive eliminates the need to format storage or download an initial software update for an Xbox 360 console. For gamers looking to get in on the fun or for those with existing accounts who want to extend their play, a one-month Xbox LIVE Gold membership is included with purchase of the drive†† .

“Xbox LIVE contains a world of content for gamers to explore and download, including full-length games, movies and music,” said Shuki Nir, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Retail, SanDisk. “The Xbox 360 USB Flash Drive by SanDisk is specifically engineered to deliver a great user experience and maximum compatibility with the console, offering gamers greater freedom and flexibility in how they store, manage and enjoy their favorite files.”

“SanDisk has a proven track record of creating high-quality storage solutions,” said Ilan Spillinger, Vice President, Xbox Hardware and Technology, Microsoft. “The Xbox 360 USB Flash Drive by SanDisk provides a great solution for gamers who need portable storage for their Xbox 360 content. It’s plug and play simple.”

Pricing and Availability

The Xbox 360 USB Flash Drive by SanDisk is available now on SanDisk.com and at major retailers. The drive is available in 8 gigabyte (GB)1 and 16GB capacities, carrying suggested retail prices of $34.99 and $69.99, respectively.

Base drives range from 320GB to 2TB, and can be bought either as a starter pack complete with a USB 2.0 GoFlex adapter (from $99.99 for 320GB to $199.99 for 1TB), as the drive alone (from $89.99 for 320GB to $189.99 for 1TB) or as a Pro version offering a faster, 7,200rpm HDD and onboard encrypted backup functionality ($139.99 for 500GB; $189.99 for 750GB).  Meanwhile there’s a GoFlex Desk model ($129.99 for 1TB with USB 2.0; $199.99 for 2TB with USB 2.0; save $10 on each if bought adapter-free).  All the drives are Windows and OS X compatible out of the box.

As for the more advanced adapters, there’s USB 2.0 ($19.99), USB 3.0 ($29.99, or $79.99 with a bundled ExpressCard adapter for notebooks), FireWire 800 ($39.99), eSATA ($19.99) or auto-backup ($29.99).  There are two basic desktop docks, one with USB 3.0 ($39 or $79 with a bundled PCI Express USB 3.0 adapter) and one with FireWire 800/USB 2.0 ($49.99), and a GoFlex Intelligent Dock ($29.99) which has an easily visible “capacity gauge”.

Finally, there’s the GoFlex TV HD Media Player, for $129.99, which has a dock, two USB 2.0 ports, ethernet, an optional WiFi dongle and 1080p HDTV support, and can stream content from Netflix, YouTube, MediaFly and Picasa, the $99.99 GoFlex Net Media Sharing Device, which has a dock, a USB port and ethernet for streaming content locally and remotely (including to an iPhone, iPad or Android device) using the Pogoplug service.

Press Release:

SEAGATE INTRODUCES NEW ERA OF EXTERNAL STORAGE: A FLEXIBLE HARD DRIVE SOLUTION WITH MULTIPLE INTERFACE AND CONTENT SHARING OPTIONS

Protect. Store. Do More.…With the Seagate® GoFlex™ Storage System

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. — May 4, 2010 — Seagate (NASDAQ: STX), the worldwide leader in hard drives and storage solutions, today introduced the next evolution of the company’s award-winning FreeAgent® external hard drives—its new GoFlex™ storage solutions. This new family of external drives and accessories introduces a new level of flexibility to traditional USB 2.0 storage that will change the way people store, access, enjoy and share their digital content. The FreeAgent® GoFlex™ storage family includes easy, plug-and-play portable and desktop drives, with an array of cables and desktop adapters that allow each drive to adapt to the interface or device being used. The GoFlex family of hard disk drives is also specially designed to provide interoperability between operating systems in order to work with both Microsoft® Windows® and Mac® OS X computers.

“GoFlex™ interface cables are about providing the speed, performance and connectivity people need to support their interaction with their digital content. The explosive growth of video capture options and multimedia collecting is expanding personal digital libraries to terabytes worth of content within the home,” said Dave Mosley, executive vice president, Sales, Marketing and Product Line Management at Seagate. “These trends are driving demand for high-capacity, high-performance storage. The GoFlex™ family of storage products meets this need by delivering simple, USB 2.0 storage and backup devices, with the flexibility to adapt as interface technology advances by using the various GoFlex™ cables and accessories to access content stored on the same drive.”

Protect, store and access files through the interface of your choice
Recent survey results by the Yankee Group indicate that more than half of people planning to purchase a new hard drive consider the interface connection an important factor in their selection. GoFlex drives address this concern by providing a flexible, plug-and-play way to adapt to the most popular available interfaces or devices. The seamless GoFlex™ cable system enables the GoFlex™ and GoFlex™ Pro ultra-portable USB 2.0 drives to be upgraded to USB 3.0, eSATA or FireWire 800 connections simply by switching out the cable adapter. Additionally, specially-designed GoFlex upgrade cables provide even more applications of how each drive can be used. For example, the GoFlexTM Upgrade cable – Auto Backup transforms the drive into a continuous full-system backup, giving consumers the peace of mind that their files and system settings are backed up, while leaving the remaining capacity for basic drag-and-drop file transfer

“As consumer’s lives become increasingly connected, people will demand capabilities beyond the traditional hard drive,” said Carl Howe, director, Anywhere Consumer Research, Yankee Group. “Consumers are looking not only for storage, but for new ways to use their digital content. Connecting, sharing, and repurposing content is part of the purchasing decision process for today’s ‘Anywhere Consumer’®.”

Do More with the GoFlex Storage System
Within the GoFlex family, Seagate has created a special ecosystem wherein people experience easy backup and enhanced protection of all their data—the same way they would expect a traditional hard drive to perform—only now their interaction with that content is not wholly dependent on the drive. In addition to several cable options, people can pair a GoFlex or GoFlex Pro ultra-portable drive with a GoFlex™ TV HD media player or the GoFlex™ Net media sharing device to enhance their experience of the drive’s content.

Using the GoFlex™ TV HD media player consumers can easily enjoy their personal digital media library on their television screen by inserting a GoFlex ultra-portable drive or GoFlex Pro ultra-portable drive directly into the media dock, or connecting a another storage device, digital or Flip camera to the two additional USB ports on the back of the device. Using the intuitive remote, owners of GoFlex TV HD media players can view movies, photos, and music from the comfort of their couch in 1080p high-definition and surround sound. Connect your GoFlex TV HD media player to the internet using the Ethernet or optional Wi-Fi adapter and stream digital content from a home network or popular online service providers such as Netflix, YouTube, MediaFly, Picasa and more

The GoFlex™ Net media sharing device transforms a GoFlex ultra-portable drive, GoFlex Pro ultra-portable drive, or any USB mass storage, into a media sharing device, allowing consumers to enjoy their digital content outside their home using a PC, iPad, iPod Touch, Android or phone or any other internet-connected computer. The GoFlex Net media sharing device also integrates with social media websites, such as Facebook and Twitter, and publishes RSS feeds allowing people to keep friends and family updatedGoFlex media sharing device owners can also stream content to other devices on a home network, including the GoFlex TV HD media player, to enjoy movies, photos and music on their TV.

Bridging the Gap between PC and Mac
For the first time, Seagate will include an NTFS driver for Mac® OS X on all GoFlex portable and desktop offerings, enabling storage and access of files from both Windows® and Mac computers. The NTFS driver is simply installed once on your Mac computer, and allows access and storage of files on a Windows formatted[1] drive.

With capacities ranging from 320GB to 2TB, FreeAgent GoFlex ultra-portable and desktop drives group high-capacity, adaptability and ease-of-use with all the backup and protection people have come to expect from Seagate. Available immediately through Seagate.com and select online retailers, the GoFlex storage family includes:

GoFlex Drives:
o GoFlexTM ultra portable drive—The core of the GoFlexTM Storage System. Available in 14.5mm and 22mm versions and includes a USB 2.0 cable. MSRP $99.99 for 320GB [silver, black]; $129.99 for 500GB (silver, black, red, blue); $169.99 for 750GB [silver and black]; $199.99 for 1TB [silver, black].
o GoFlexTM ultra portable drive, drive-only version. MSRP $89.99 for 320GB [silver, black]; $119.99 for 500GB [silver, black, red, blue]; $159.99 for 750GB [silver and black]; $189.99 for 1TB [silver, black].
o GoFlexTM Pro ultra portable drive kit—A 7200RPM, 2.5” drive that delivers premium backup with encryption and includes a USB 2.0 cable. MSRP $139.99 for 500GB; $189.99 for 750GB [black].
o GoFlexTM Pro ultra portable drive, drive-only version—MSRP $129.99 for 500GB; $179.99 for 750GB [black].
o GoFlexTM Desk external drive kit—Delivers high-capacity storage and automatic, continuous backup with encryption for all your files and includes a USB 2.0 cable. MSRP $129.99 for 1TB [black]; $199.99 for 2TB [black].
o GoFlexTM Desk external drive, drive-only version—MSRP $119.99 for 1TB [black]; $189.99 for 2TB [black].
GoFlex Cables and Adapters:
o GoFlexTM Cable – USB 2.0—The baseline interface for your GoFlexTM and GoFlexTM Pro ultra-portable drives. MSRP $19.99.
o GoFlexTM Upgrade cable – USB 3.0—Equips your GoFlexTM and GoFlexTM Pro ultra-portable drives to deliver up to 10x faster transfer of files vs USB 2.0, while being backwards compatible. MSRP $29.99.
o GoFlexTM Upgrade cable kit – USB 3.0—Includes ExpressCard adapter to update a laptop and GoFlexTM ultra-portable drives from USB 2.0 to USB 3.0 and deliver up to 10x faster transfer of files than USB 2.0, MSRP $79.99.
o GoFlexTM Upgrade cable – FireWire® 800—Upgrades your GoFlexTM and GoFlexTM Pro ultra-portable drives to deliver 2x faster transfer speed over USB 2.0. MSRP $39.99.
o GoFlexTM Upgrade cable kit – eSATA—Empowers your GoFlexTM and GoFlexTM Pro ultra-portable drives to deliver up to 6x faster performance over USB 2.0. MSRP $19.99.
o GoFlexTM Upgrade cable – Auto Backup—Delivers continuous backup and protection of data giving consumers the peace of mind that their data is backed up, while leaving capacity for basic drag-and-drop file transfer. MSRP $29.99.

o GoFlexTM Desk Desktop adapter—USB 3.0—Allows the GoFlexTM Desk to deliver up to 10x faster transfer speed over USB 2.0 for your desktop PC. MSRP $39.00.
o GoFlexTM Desk Desktop adapter kit—USB 3.0—Includes PCI Express adapter to upgrade a desktop PC and GoFlexTM Desk external drive for USB 3.0 performance, MSRP $79.00.
o GoFlexTM Desk Desktop adapter—FireWire® 800/USB 2.0—Upgrades your GoFlex™ Desk external drive to deliver 2x faster performance over USB 2.0 with FireWire® 800/USB 2.0 for your desktop PC. MSRP $49.99.

GoFlex Storage System Devices:
o GoFlexTM TV HD media player—Allows for enjoyment of digital content on a TV. MSRP $129.99 for media player only.
o GoFlexTM Net media sharing device—Enables instant, easy access and sharing of content over a network. MSRP $99.99.
o GoFlexTM Intelligent dock—Transforms the GoFlex ultra portable drive into the perfect desktop solution that delivers convenient file access and backup with an easy-to-view capacity gauge. MSRP $29.99.

The Best of R3 Media

Orange Calls its First Android Phone Boston, We Approve: Android is an open source mobile Operating System, and it’s specifically designed for anyone who wants to take a crack at it, to, well, take a crack at it. And with that in mind, take the Orange-branded Boston for what it’s worth. It’s not necessarily a low-end device, as it features a 3.2-inch 480×320 touchscreen, 600MHz processor, 5MP camera on the back, and it has 802.11 b/g WiFI. However, the real appalling feature is the fact that it’s going to ship with Android 1.6. That just doesn’t cut it in our books. [via Android Community]

Citrix Receiver Brings a Virtual Windows Desktop to Your iPad: While we brought you a different kind of way to multitask last night, this method may be a far safer, and much more rational way to go about bringing multitasking to your iPad. With the Citrix Receiver iPad application, you connect that with the XenDesktop application you download to your Mac or PC, and have at it with the virtual goodness. You’ll be able to utilize multiple applications running in the virtual PC, and what makes it all worth it, is the fact that the company created an iPad-like User Interface, so you still get that ease of use you’re accustomed to, even if you are running Windows 7. [via Everything iPad]

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 Gets Reviewed: Even if you can’t go pick up your very own X10, with its Rachael User Interface, at least you can head over to SlashPhone and check out their in depth review of the handset. Much like every other cell phone (or gadget, for that matter), it’s not going to be for everyone, but we know that someone out there will like the X10. With its Timescape and Mediascape applications, and the fact that the Rachael UI brings a whole new level of custom skinning to a mobile Operating System, the X10 certainly stands out. But, does it do it in a good way? Go read and find out. [via SlashPhone]

The Dredge Net

Intel Suggests Dual-Core Atom Chip is Coming to Netbooks: As it stands right now, most netbooks out there are running a single core Atom chip (if they’re running an Atom chip at all, mind you), but it looks like Intel wants to change that, and soon. By the second quarter, Intel CEO Paul Otellini wants to have a dual-core Atom chip running in netbooks and other small form factors. And while the Atom chip may not be anything to write home about, at least not in its single core iteration, we’re pretty confident that a dual-core chip could definitely be something to get excited about. [via CNET]

Iron Man 2 Saves Your Data: Who better to store your data than Iron Man, right? That whole JARVIS system should do wonders for your spreadsheets and word documents. If you’re a fan of the Iron Man movie franchise, and you want to see the new movie, maybe you should show your excitement by picking up this USB drive. It comes in a 4GB capacity, and it will cost you $39.50, so we’re assuming you’re paying a little bit of overhead due to the fact it’s Iron Man related. But hey, it’s cute, right? [via Chip Chick]

The Skôn is a Hoodie With a Light: Skôn means nice, in Swedish and Dutch, and we’re pretty sure that title fits this piece of tech really well. You have what looks to be a normal hoodie, but then bam, there’s a light that outlines the hood. There’s a knitted variable resistor within the fabric of the hood, so the more you play with it, the brighter the light will become. So, if you find yourself in a dark tunnel, the more you nervously knead the rim of your hood, the brighter your path will be lit. [via Yanko Design]

Alice eBook Makes All Other eBooks Want to be More: While the iBooks application brings a sense of realism to reading your electronic book, with that whole slow page turning and what not, just watching this video demonstration of this Alice in Wonderland eBook blows our minds. It’s so interactive, with its pop-up 2.0 features, that we can’t wait to get our hands on it. And, in point of fact, we really can’t wait to see what comes next. Just watch the video and see how you can literally interact with the story, and make certain set pieces within each page move, or shake, or tumble around. We can see how this will make millions of kids out there want to read. [via The Daily What]

To get you in the mood, a copy of the latest Star Trek movie is included in the sticker price of the drive, and the media files themselves are licensed for playback on multiple platforms.  They’re not DRM-free, however, and Seagate will be pushing out a firmware update for their FreeAgent Theater+ media player later in April so that you can watch the movies on your HDTV simply by docking in the hard-drive.

The full list of pre-loaded titles is in the press release below, but it includes a range of classics like The Hunt for Red October up to newer releases.  You can also delete them if you’d rather have the backup space, of course.  The Seagate FreeAgent Go 500GB HDD is available now.

Press Release:

AN INDUSTRY FIRST: SEAGATE OFFERS FREEAGENT GO™ HARD DRIVES PRE-LOADED WITH PARAMOUNT PICTURES’ FEATURE FILMS

Ultra Portable Drive Comes Pre-loaded with One Movie for Activation and Twenty Other Films for Purchase to Help Jump Start Consumers’ Digital Movie Collections

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. — April 12, 2010 — Today, Seagate (NASDAQ: STX), the worldwide leader in hard drives, and Paramount Digital Entertainment, a division of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, announced their agreement to pre-load a selection of 500GB FreeAgent Go™ ultra-portable hard drives with Paramount movies. Beginning immediately, United States’ customers who purchase specially marked packages of the award-winning FreeAgent Go ultra-portable hard drive will be able to activate Paramount Pictures’ popular film, Star Trek (2009), for no additional fee. This collaboration between two industry leaders underscores a new era in digital movie collecting by enabling people to build, store and enjoy their personal libraries of favorite films in their preferred medium—whether on the computer or the TV—at home and on the go.

In addition to Star Trek (2009), those who have purchased the specially marked hard drives also receive an assortment of 20 Paramount Pictures movies pre-loaded on the FreeAgent Go 500GB ultra-portable drives that can be easily and securely unlocked through the online purchase of a license key. The films will be licensed for multiple devices to allow for portability and enjoyment of them on a desktop computer, laptop computer, or widescreen television, using the FreeAgent Theater+™ HD media player[1].

“Seagate and Paramount Pictures are delivering major motion pictures to consumers in a unique and innovative solution. For years Seagate hard drives have been powering the devices that allow consumers to enjoy their digital libraries. Today, we are simplifying content delivery by giving consumers the ultimate flexibility in how they enjoy their movies all in a convenient package,” said Dave Mosley, executive vice president, Sales, Marketing and Product Line Management, Seagate.

To take advantage of this special offer, simply purchase a specially marked 500GB FreeAgent Go ultra-portable drive from Seagate.com, or wherever Seagate FreeAgent Go portable hard drives are sold. After online registration of the drive, a promotional code will be provided for redemption at http://seagate.paramountshop.com. Redeeming the offer code provides the license key to unlock Star Trek (2009) and the option to purchase additional keys to unlock the remaining film titles that are pre-loaded on the drive.

A choice of up to 20 popular Paramount titles can be unlocked for a fee[2] including:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
GI Joe
Shooter
The Hunt for Red October
The Italian Job (2003)
Ghost
Patriot Games
Beowulf
Enemy at the Gates
The Spiderwick Chronicles
The Love Guru
Coach Carter
The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
Nacho Libre
Jackass 2.5
A Plumm Summer
Carriers
Dance Flick
Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
“Collaborating with Seagate on this massive movie pre-load reinforces our commitment to embrace technologies that give consumers choice and flexibility in how they access and purchase their digital entertainment. Paramount Digital Entertainment has created a powerful solution that allows companies like Seagate to offer a seamless experience for consumers to access and securely activate pre-loaded movies, ensuring that exciting films are available everywhere they wish to enjoy them,” said Malik Ducard, senior vice president, Digital Distribution, The Americas, Paramount Digital Entertainment.
“And with over 38 hours of movie viewing enjoyment pre-loaded onto the portable device, we are offering consumers a great opportunity to jump start their digital libraries.”

About Paramount Digital Entertainment
Paramount Digital Entertainment (PDE) is a division of Paramount Pictures Corporation. PDE develops and distributes filmed entertainment across worldwide digital distribution platforms including online, mobile and portable devices, videogames, and emerging technologies.

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. The company’s labels include Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., Paramount Studio Group, and Worldwide Television Distribution.

Any stick will work, and the 360 will allow you to choose the size of the partition.  Of course, Microsoft would also like the opportunity to get its hands into your wallet, and so they’ll be offering a range of branded USB sticks for the “bargain” price of $70 for a 16GB unit next month.

The EncryptStick is like a digital safe that users can store images, video, or any other digital file on and secure the content with 512-bit polymorphic encryption. According to the manufacturer, the encryption is resistant to all known cryptanalytic attacks.

The drive supports Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 as well as Mac OXS 10.4 and up. The EncryptStick flash drive has 4GB of storage space and can be ordered for $119.99. Users who want more storage space can grab the software alone for $39.99 and use it on any serial numbered USB drive.

Any changes made to files, settings, media or anything else are then re-synchronized back to the original PC when the drive is plugged back in, and no data is left on the temporary host.  Iomega reckon it’ll be useful for netbook users wanting more storage than their budget ultraportables can offer, together with those upgrading a machine and cautious about losing data, as well as people bringing work home from the office.

Iomega v.Clone will be available for free download to the company’s eGo, eGo BlackBelt, eGo Encrypt Plus, and Prestige Compact Edition USB portable hard-drives, together with their eGo Desktop and Prestige Desktop Hard Drives.

In comparison to the previous version, Sugar on a Stick v.2 Blueberry cleans up the OS’ navigation, improves networking support, streamlines Activities updates and boosts Gnash and Flash support.  Sugar Labs have also loaded in some new applications, alongside the existing apps for text-to-speech and other functionality.

Any 1GB flash drive can be used, with Sugar on a Stick running directly from that drive rather than requiring installation.  Meanwhile there’s a new site – RecycleUSB – that allows people to donate their unwanted USB drives to be repurposed into “portable learning centers” for 5-12 year olds.

Update: NewGadgets.de were on hand this morning to catch the official launch of v.2 Blueberry on video:

[via Electronista]

Connectivity is via USB 2.0 and eSATA, and it can also be set to show up as a regular external drive for copying over those ISOs (and other data) in the first place.  It looks to be reasonably compact, too, only a little longer than the 2.5-inch drive it contains.

In the negative column right now are a frustrating limitation to XP, Vista and Windows 7 and the fact that it costs 9,980 yen ($112) without a drive inside.  Still, if you admin plenty of Windows machines and you’re sick and tired of carrying around a bag full of installation discs, the UMA-ISO is still likely to appeal.

[via Akihabara]

What dissuades most users from setting up remote access is the hassle of network settings. Home broadband connections often charge extra for static IP addresses, meaning the string of digits you have to remember in order to access your home network can change without you necessarily realising it. That, together with NAT firewall confusion and concern over just who has access to your shared files, is often enough to scupper any half-hearted intention to open up a NAS.

Seagate get round this by using Pogoplug‘s technology, or more accurately by squeezing a Pogoplug adapter into the dock itself. Pogoplug, first announced back at CES in January, is a combination hardware/software system that makes sharing USB drives over the internet straightforward through an online interface. The basic Pogoplug adapter looks like an overgrown wall-wart, with a single USB port (for the hard-drive) and an ethernet port. Register the adapter at their site and, by tapping in your account details from any internet-connected computer, you can access the files on the drive and even stream audio/video content.

To that basic system Seagate add a far more streamlined dock design, which takes a standard Seagate FreeAgent Go drive slotted in almost perpendicularly, together with an extra three USB 2.0 ports (two on the rear, by the ethernet port, and a third on the side) to add extra external storage. Setup is incredibly simple – at least for the basic functionality – requiring only that power and ethernet connections be made, a FreeAgent Go drive docked, and then stopping by the online registration site to create a user account. A single green LED lights up to show that the dock is online.

From that point on, when you remember you want a copy of the presentation you were working on at home, would like to show your parents a slideshow of holiday snaps, or fancy listening to the new album you’ve downloaded, it’s a simple case of visiting the site and logging in to remotely access your content. You can share directories, too, either by automatically emailing out links – with read or read/write permissions – or via an RSS feed. There’s also an iPhone application, and various levels of integration with social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

The $99.99 sticker price of the DockStar includes a year’s worth of Pogoplug service (though no FreeAgent Go drive, which start at $89.99 for 250GB); after that period you’re looking at a further yearly subscription of $29.99, and that’s where we can’t quite follow Seagate’s thinking. A basic Pogoplug adapter is also $99 and demands no subscription fee; the DockStar throws extra USB connections into the mixture, but that’s nothing you couldn’t add to the Pogoplug by virtue of a USB hub. The user experience for both is the same.

Our second headache came with trying to access the FreeAgent across the home network, rather than through the Pogoplug interface. While you can certainly log into the drive via Pogoplug from one of your home computers, gaining file access that way, it would make far more sense to connect directly via the dock. Unfortunately Seagate’s documentation is less than comprehensive in explaining how this is set up (though the outer packaging does refer to it); in short, Samba SMB shares are established and managed via the DockStar account page online, rather than via a local interface. After you’ve done that, machines on the same local network will be able to access the DockStar-docked drives as if they were a traditional NAS; moreover, you’ll be able to do that without an active subscription.

It’s arguably something that home users – at whom the DockStar is so obviously targeted – wouldn’t especially want to do, but it’s a hiccup in what was otherwise a relatively streamlined setup process. When you’re selling your product on the virtue of simplicity (and if you’re demanding a service fee then we reckon that’s exactly what you should be delivering) then every aspect of it should be so obvious. You could give your tech-naive parents the DockStar to set up and they’d probably have only minor difficulties getting the Pogoplug service activated, but local network sharing would likely be beyond them. A default active Samba share for the whole volume, shared with the same password as used for the remote access, would be one obvious way around the situation.

In the end, though, it’s the subscription charge that sticks in our craw, not least because it’s so obviously been added by Seagate rather than demanded by Pogoplug. Given Seagate’s visibility in retail stores most buyers of the DockStar are unlikely to ever discover that they could have had pretty much the same user experience without tying themselves into a yearly fee, and that feels unfair. If you’re desperate to avoid the wiring required by plugging a USB hub into a Pogoplug then the Seagate is the neater solution, but we reckon most people – like us – would decide that $30 saved each year was enough to forgive it that.

That includes data migration tools, including a one-click transfer of files from, say, Windows Vista to Windows 7, or from OS X (10.5 onwards) to a PC or vice-versa.  It’s also possible to schedule backups; previous Clickfree drives automatically started the backup process when you initially plugged them in, but the C2 can be set to do that at regular occasions.  The company will even sell you a docking station which makes semi-permanent connections more streamlined.

Data on the drive itself is easier to deal with, too, with a new attachments category that collates email attachments, the ability to burn files direct from the C2 to a CD/DVD (obviously your host system will need an optical drive) and media imports from iPods and iPhones.  There’s also 256-bit encryption with hardware acceleration so that it doesn’t slow down backups or future file access.

250GB and 500GB C2 versions (in black or white) are available now, priced at $139.99 and $189.99 respectively; a 320GB version will hit QVC on October 28th, priced at $159.99.  The optional dock is $20.

Press Release:

Clickfree Redefines Consumer Backup Again with the Launch of C2

Clickfree continues to innovate and deliver the ultimate backup experience

TORONTO – Oct. 13, 2009 – Clickfree, the inventors of effortless backup, today announced the launch of C2, its new flagship portable hard drive. With C2, Clickfree once again redefines consumer backup by bringing together an amazing set of features that have never before been available in a single backup product. Without adding complexity to Clickfree’s signature approach to effortless backup, consumers will now be able to automatically import music from iPods and iPhones, burn backed up files to CDs and DVDs, extract and organize all email attachments and protect files with encryption. All these new features in a beautiful high-gloss unit with a built-in USB cable makes it the most portable drive on the market.

New product features include:

• Redesigned Interface: Clickfree has reworked automatic backup and restore into an even simpler process, designed so that even the least technically savvy will be totally comfortable backing up their computer. Included in the many new features is a search page that shows a summary of new and changed files as it finds them.

• Built-in USB Cable: Snapping securely into place, there’s no cable to lose and no tangled mess in a briefcase. The ultimate convenience for quickly sharing content, just plug the C2 into any computer to simply view and share files from the C2. There’s even an optional docking station available to keep desks tidy.

• iPod Music and Playlist Import: Clickfree has included this great feature from its popular Transformer for iPod. When C2 is connected, users will be able to plug any iPod or iPhone into another USB port on the computer and the C2 will import music and playlists from the device right into iTunes.

• Migration: Clickfree is the only backup solution for simple, hassle free migration between computers or when upgrading operating systems. With the launch of Windows 7, many people will need a simple and efficient way to transfer files. Clickfree’s intuitive software will transfer your files to exactly where they need to be – even if it’s a new computer with a new operating system and the file structure has changed. This means applications will find digital content without additional confusing work.

• Encryption: C2 customers can be confident their data is secured with powerful encryption technology by simply entering a password. The C2 uses 256-bit hardware-based encryption – a very high grade of security to ensure that no one will be able to access data files without the password. By using a hardware-based solution – a chip inside the hard drive itself – the C2 handles all of this without slowing down the computer or backup.

• Use it for Backup or Storage: Free space on the C2 drive can be used as portable storage, just like any other external hard drive.

• DVD burning capability: Customers wanting to create an additional DVD backup for another location like a safety deposit box can now do so easily with the built in DVD backup solution included in the C2. It is ideal for users who want the added comfort of having an additional snapshot of their files without having to install or learn complex archiving software. Clickfree recommends two backups for the ultimate data protection, and makes both effortless.

• Sharing: Easily share photos and other digital media. With the software built right-in, users can simply plug the drive into any computer to view or transfer photos quickly and easily. From the rich photo viewer, users can see their photos. And with built-in software tools, they can effortlessly set these photos as wallpaper, print, email, or share onto facebook or myspace.

• Scheduled backup: Leave the C2 plugged in, and it will continue to backup all day.

“We already had a great backup solution that had superior user-friendly features; we wanted to go beyond that. We listened to the needs of our consumers and added features that would add to the Clickfree ultimate backup experience without straying from our core simplicity. With C2 we found a way to enhance our award winning back-up technology while preserving our heritage of super simple backup,” said Bryan McLeod, Clickfree CEO. “It’s still as simple as connecting your C2 to a computer and watching as the technology starts itself without any installation or setup. We continue to stand above our completion in terms of features combined with simplicity – this is why our highly rated Clickfree solutions continue to win over consumers — by making computer backup effortless.”

After being connected to a computer, Clickfree technology shows a simple countdown then proceeds to search, organize, and copy precious data onto the C2 backup drive. Files are organized into categories: photos, videos and email attachments – and each category can be individually viewed to confirm the backup is complete.

For those who would like to dig a little deeper, Clickfree provides an option to configure the backup. Simply connect the USB cable and let C2 automatically begin or easily select what to back up by choosing Options. The simple interface allows consumers to determine which content they would like saved. Like other Clickfree products, the Clickfree C2 can easily backup multiple computers, with each backup identified clearly by computer name within the Clickfree software.

Available in a high gloss black or white finish, the Clickfree C2 comes in 250GB and 500GB storage capacity and retails for $139.99 and $189.99 respectively. An optional dock is sold separately for quick and tidy computer connection. A 320GB capacity drive will be available exclusively through QVC for 30 days starting October 28, 2009 and will sell for $159.99.

Automatic Clickfree products can be found at www.clickfree.com and leading retail outlets such as Brandsmart, Dell.com, OfficeMax, hhgregg, Bernies, CDW, QVC, Kmart, Electronic Express as well as many other local and online retailers.

About Clickfree
Storage Appliance Corporation, operating under the Clickfree(TM) brand makes technology easy for consumers. As the inventor of effortless consumer backup, the Clickfree(TM) software makes backing up a PC or Mac as easy as plugging it in to the USB port — no software to install or configure. Recognized as the market leader in consumer backup, Clickfree has received numerous awards from CNET(TM), PCMag(TM), and Laptop(TM) magazine. Clickfree’s software is not just easier – it’s smarter. With 23 patents pending, this exclusive technology is only available to Clickfree(TM) customers. Visit www.Clickfree.com for additional information.

Thanks to USB 3.0, the new SSDs can boast transfer speeds of up to 4.8Gbits/sec, though of course that’s theoretical rather than what you’ll likely see in practice.  Still, Active Media say it’s good enough to offer 240Mb/s read speeds and 160Mb/s write speeds; that’ll shuffle a 25GB high-definition movie from your PC to the drive in about two minutes.

The drives themselves are less than 3-inches long and 0.2-inches thick, are USB bus powered, and backward compatible with USB 1.1 and USB 2.0.  They’ll begin shipping this quarter, at $89 for the 16GB, $119 for the 32GB and $209 for the 64GB.

Press Release:

Active Media Products Announces Aviator 312 Line of SuperSpeed USB 3.0 External SSDs

Ultra-Small 16GB, 32GB and 64GB SSDs Support up to 240MB/sec Read Speeds and up to 160MB/sec Write Speeds

Fremont, California – October 5, 2009 – Active Media Products, manufacturer of SSDs and innovative USB drives, today announced the Aviator 312 line of SuperSpeed USB 3.0 external SSDs.

SuperSpeed USB 3.0 supports transfer speeds up to 4.8Gbits/sec — ten times faster than USB 2.0. A312 SuperSpeed USB 3.0 external SSDs take advantage of USB 3.0′s massive bandwidth, delivering unprecedented transfer speeds in an extremely compact mobile flash storage device. Measuring less than 3 inches long and only 0.2 inches thin, the A312 is smaller than a credit card and is designed to fit in a pocket. A312 SSDs can save a 25GB full-length HD movie in about two minutes. What used to take an hour to save will take only seconds with the A312 thanks to its scorching write speeds of up to 160MB/s and read speeds up to 240MB/s..

Aviator 312 SSDs are designed for external use, and include a carrying pouch and a USB 3.0 Micro-B cable for connection to any USB port. The 312 is fully backward compatible; it works in any USB 2.0 or 1.1 port, but requires a SuperSpeed port to reach its full performance capabilities. Unlike many other high speed external storage devices, the A312 does not require a separate power source. It draws all the power it needs directly from the USB bus. The A312 will be offered in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities.

Jerry Thomson, vice president of sales at Active Media Products commented, “Aviator 312 SSDs are a ground-breaking product with performance that is eight to ten times faster than today’s fastest USB 2.0 flash drives. For anyone who doesn’t have hours to waste copying large files there’s nothing that comes close to the Aviator 312′s speed”. Aviator 312 SSDs will begin shipping this quarter through Amazon at expected retail prices of $89, $119 and $209 for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models respectively.

Verbatim seem to expect users to pick up several of the drives and use them to differentiate between, say, work backups, photos of your kids and your AV library; in that sense, the name on the display would likely be useful.  Normal people, though, probably won’t be doing that, and as such it’s the capacity indicator which will be the most useful.  The company provide a copy of Nero BackItUp Essentials to handle backups.

Otherwise you’re looking at a pretty ordinary external hard-drive, with 320GB or 500GB on offer – which seems on the low side to us – and no separate PSU required.  On sale now, priced at $119.99 for the 320GB and $149.99 for the 500GB.

Press Release:

Verbatim Launches InSight™ Portable USB Hard Drives with an Always On Display

InSight™ Hard Drive Displays Drive Name and Available Free Space, Even when Disconnected

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—With the announcement today of its new InSight(TM) Portable USB Hard Drives, Verbatim(R) Americas, LLC, the world’s leader in storage media technology, takes hard drive design to a new dimension. The sleek, durable enclosure is enhanced with a premium piano black finish that will appeal to professional as well as home users. Additionally, the InSight Portable Hard Drive features an Always On display, which automatically calculates and continuously displays the customizable drive name and available free space, even when the drive is disconnected from the computer. Shipping now, the palm-sized external hard drive will enable Windows(R) and Mac(R) users to instantly add 320GB or 500GB of stylish, removable capacity to their notebook or desktop systems.

“The new enclosure design for InSight Portable Hard Drives adds a touch of elegance to the external hard drive product category,” says Charles Klinker, Verbatim’s Director of Marketing, HDD Products. “Users have the option to personalize their drive’s name, e.g., TUNES&PICS, which, along with the free space, shows on the 32 x 128-pixel display even when the drive is unplugged from the user’s computer. The ability to quickly glance at several drives and identify the one that has pictures of the kids, your music collection or video library, for example, adds a level of convenience not previously available in portable hard drives.”

Both 320GB and 500GB-capacity drives include Nero BackItUp Essentials, a complete data protection solution, allowing full, automatic system backup and restore functions. Easy-to-use, the software guides the user to set up scheduled backups by date and/or time. Nero BackItUp Essentials also features data encryption with password control options, providing data security and peace of mind when traveling or storing the drive.

Designed to fit easily on a desktop or to be taken on-the-go, Verbatim’s new InSight Portable Hard Drives weigh less than 6 ounces (164 g), and measure 6 in. X 3.4 in. X 0.63 in. (153 mm x 87 mm x 16 mm).

The 2.5″ drives have a 5400rpm spindle speed and 8MB of cache memory to optimize performance. Equipped with a USB 2.0 port, the bus-powered drives achieve high-speed transfer rates of up to 480MB/sec.

Backed by a 5-year limited warranty, InSight Portable Hard Drives deliver unique functionality, safety, security, and reliability to all computer users.

Availability and Pricing

Designed for Windows Vista, XP or 2000 and Mac OS 9.x or higher systems, Verbatim InSight Portable Hard Drives are available through Verbatim retail partners such as Best Buy. Suggested retail prices are US$119.99 for the 320GB drive and US$149.99 for the 500GB drive. Backed by a 5-year limited warranty, the complete package includes the InSight Portable Hard Drive, a USB cable, Nero BackItUp Essentials Software for Windows, and a Quick Start Guide.

Other characters set to be included in the line up are My Melody, Keroppi, TuxedoSam, Badtz-Maru, Chocolate and Kuromi. The drives will be available in sizes that span from 2GB to 16GB.

Also included is a mimoDesk package that has numerous Sanrio extras like icons, avatars, wallpapers, screensavers and more. You’ll be able to get the new USB drives starting next month, though pricing has not yet been announced.

Of course, they didn’t, and so we have a compact memory stick that boasts transfer speeds of up to 32MB/s reads or 25.6MB/s writes.  That, Corsair tell us, is nearly twice the speed of rival high-performance drives, and pretty much at the point where OS overhead and the USB 2.0 bus become the stumbling block.

It’s also rubber-clad for durability, water-resistant and comes with a ten-year warranty.  The Corsair 128GB Flash Voyager GT is available now, apparently, though it’s proving difficult to find retailers offering it; the few that do are asking a not-inconsiderable $390 or therabouts.

Press Release:

Corsair® Launches World’s Fastest High Capacity USB Flash Drive

- 128GB Voyager GT performance limited only by speed of USB 2.0 bus -

Fremont, CA. August 13th, 2009 — Corsair®, a worldwide leader in high-performance computer memory, power supplies and flash memory products, including solid-state drives, today announced the 128GB Flash Voyager GT, the world’s fastest 128GB USB flash drive.

The newest Flash Voyager GT is based upon a revolutionary design that employs a unique dual-controller architecture to achieve SLC-levels of performance using MLC NAND flash memory. The 128GB Flash Voyager GT is able to achieve read speeds of up to 32MB/sec and write speeds of up to 25.6MB/sec, with the limiting factor effectively being the speed of the USB 2.0 bus and operating system overhead.

“High performance is a key requirement for super-high capacity flash drives, such as the 128GB Voyager GT, simply because it is able to store such a large volume of data,” said John Beekley, the VP of Applications at Corsair. “The 128GB Voyager GT is nearly twice as fast as other high-capacity flash drives, which means less time waiting for your music, video or office files to copy to and from the drive.”

The 128GB Flash Voyager GT also utilizes a durable and water-resistant rubber housing to protect the drive against accidental damage, and sports the racing-red ‘GT’ styling that is a trademark of Corsair’s ultra high-performance products.

“The 128GB Flash Voyager GT is ideal for those who need access to a huge volume of data in a format that’s convenient, durable and extremely fast,” said Jim Carlton, VP of Marketing for Corsair. “The 128GB Flash Voyager GT can store massive video, photo and music libraries, yet it’s less than half the size of a solid-state drive, effectively obsoleting less-reliable, portable mechanical hard disk drives.”

The 128GB Flash Voyager GT is available immediately from Corsair’s authorized distributors and resellers worldwide, and is backed by a 10-Year Limited Warranty. Complete customer support via telephone, email, forum and Tech Support Express is also available.

For more information on Corsair USB flash drives, please visit http://www.corsair.com/products/voyagergt_128

When we reviewed the original Transformer back in March, we described it as “getting close to foolproof”. The new Transformer for iPod is similar in setup if not in appearance, a small white plastic dongle with a short USB cord and a USB port on the side. Unlike the Transformer, though, you plug in your iPod or iPhone – using the standard USB cable that comes with the PMP – rather than a normal external hard-drive; the Transformer for iPod then hooks up to your Mac or PC and the Clickfree magic starts.

That magic is the company’s homegrown backup software, which is stored on the dongle itself and requires no installation on the host computer. The name of the app is simplicity, and left to its own devices it can manage an entire backup regime with no user input. A countdown timer starts ticking as soon as it boots up, and if left untouched it automatically scans the commonly backed-up directories and files – documents, photos and the like – and shuffles any new or changed data onto the iPod or iPhone’s spare capacity. Clickfree insist that no existing data on your iPod – such as music or video – will be over-written.

Alternatively, you can select which specific directories are scanned so as to accommodate any non-standard filing structure you may have. Once the Transformer has identified any new or changed files since its last scan, it copies just those over. Obviously your initial backup takes the longest; after that, the speed is proportional to how often you plug in, though as it’s a USB 2.0 connection you won’t see as speedy a transfer as with faster FireWire drives. Still, we didn’t notice much difference between backing up to an iPod and using the original Transformer with a standard USB 2.0 hard-drive.

Where the products differ is in the Transformer for iPod’s new musical abilities. The device also allows you to bring back any music or playlists from your iPhone or iPod to the host computer at a single click, or indeed any iPod you may have to hand. Obviously DRM-encrypted tracks won’t play, unless you can authorize them to the new machine, but standard files will be fine. Should you need to restore your files, that’s a case of interrupting the Transformer for iPod before it starts automatically scanning your system and then choosing which documents you’d like to copy back from a regular explorer interface.

There’s a lot to be said for taking advantage of extra storage capacity that you’re already carrying around with you, especially if you’re using an iPod classic which only the most avid music collectors have likely filled. On smaller capacity devices, however, it’s a balance between usability for the PMP’s core purpose – a portable music device – and the potential for ever-increasing backup sizes. A 4GB iPod nano, for instance, is unlikely to be much of a backup companion for all but the most spartan of off-device storage.

Still, there are plenty of people with a few important documents, bookmarks and photos that they’d like to safeguard, and a chunk of spare iPhone or iPod space crying out to be better used, and for them the Clickfree Transformer for iPod makes perfect sense. At $49.99 it’s reasonably priced, too – $10 cheaper than the original Transformer – though ironically its biggest competitor will be another Clickfree device. Next month, the company will release the Transformer SE, an update to the original model, that for $89.99 includes both iPod/iPhone backup and the ability to use a regular hard-drive. That appeals to our forward-thinking nature, though many users will certainly find the Transformer for iPod sufficient for their everyday backup needs.

The tiny drive sports super dense memory, allowing for the slim and trim form factor. It’s also resistant to water and dust due to a sealed design, offering up extra durability. You can carry it on an included lanyard as well.

You can get the new drives in several sizes include 2GB, 4GB and 8GB models. However, only one color each is available, which are orange, green and purple, respectively. All are supported on Windows, Mac and Linux machines. You can get them now with the 4GB costing $30 and the 8GB costing $50. The 2GB model will be released at a later date.

These new USB drives are targeted toward the outdoor crowd who need a more rugged sort of device. Included on the drives is a carabiner clip that allows you attach them to your belt loop or backpack.

The 4GB model is available in turquoise while the 8GB is available in black. Both come with a password-protected folder, and work with Windows, Mac and Linux. You can get these drives now for $30 and $50, respectively.

In fact the icons – which include a camera, USB thumb-drive, radio, door and coffee mug – are pretty confusing.  The most obvious explanation is that they suggest the iAudio E2 works as a USB memory stick as well as a media player, ideal for storing files and other information.

That’s all speculation, though, and we may have to wait and see exactly what Cowon have up their sleeves whenever they finally announce the curious DAP.  Click on the image below for the full-sized version of the teaser.

[via Generation MP3]

Both single- and dual-layer DVDs are supported, at up to 8x read/write speeds.  CDs read at 24x, and the DVR-XD09 will begin shipping in August with an MRSP of $79.99.

[via GottaBeMobile]

The first tier of models are the Pico C Gold, Pico C Nickel and Pico E Gold, with the former two having either nickel- or 24K gold-plated steel casings, and the latter having a 24K gold-plated sliding lid.  As for the second tier, those 32GB drives are available in the same finishes but include AES-256 hardware encryption.

All six will begin shipping this week, priced at $85 for the normal Pico drives and $99 for those with hardware encryption.  At their smallest they measure just 31 x 12 3 mm and weigh around 5g.

Active Media’s VP of sales, Jerry Thomson, is particularly enthusiastic about the drive; you can tell this man loves polar bears.  According to Thomson, ”the WWF Polar Bear drive is an awesome drive” and the company “strived to make every detail physically consistent with a real polar bear.”  That doesn’t, sadly, extend to scale; the USB-bear is in fact a 40:1 model with silicone rubber “hair texture”.

The 2.6-inch long bear is available in 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB and 16GB capacities, and unlike a real polar bear (as far as I’m aware) has a keyring hole in its tail.  Pricing starts at $9.95 for the smallest, rising to $42.95 for the 16GB drive, with 5-percent of the retail price going to the WWF.

Press Release:

Active Media Products Unveils Windows 7 Compatible Polar Bear USB Drive

Silicone Rubber USB Drive is Lead- and PVC-Free and Benefits World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

Fremont, California, July 21, 2009 – Active Media Products (AMP), manufacturer of SSDs and unique USB drives including the Obama drive, today began shipping a WWF Polar Bear USB flash drive that is compatible with Windows® 7 and benefits WWF. Under its licensing agreement with WWF AMP develops and sells a series of portable USB flash drives in the likeness of endangered species, and contributes five percent of the retail price of this product line to WWF.
The Polar Bear drive is a fun way to carry all your important data. Offered in capacities up to 16GB, the Polar Bear drive can store thousands of MP3 songs, photos and presentations and still have space for your favorite video clips. This precision crafted drive is an accurate 40:1 scale model of a real polar bear, and even has ‘hair texture’. The non-toxic silicone rubber casing is completely free of PVC, lead and mercury – toxic materials commonly found in USB drives. The keychain hole in the tail is perfect for attaching the Polar Bear drive to a keyring, backpack or briefcase. The drive can stand on all fours or, at only 2.6 inches long and 1.5 inches tall, is small enough to carry in your pocket.

Part NumberDescriptionRetail Price
R1G-POLAR-W1GB WWF Polar Bear USB Drive$9.95
R2G-POLAR-W2GB WWF Polar Bear USB Drive$12.95
R4G-POLAR-W4GB WWF Polar Bear USB Drive$18.95
R8G-POLAR-W8GB WWF Polar Bear USB Drive$24.95
R16G-POLAR-W16GB WWF Polar Bear USB Drive$42.95

According to Jerry Thomson, VP of Sales, “The WWF Polar Bear drive is an awesome drive. We strived to make every detail physically consistent with a real polar bear. It’s more than just a square USB drive, it’s a storage device that computer users will love to own and enjoy using, and every purchase benefits WWF.” The Polar Bear drive joins the Panda and Penguin drives as the third product in AMP’s WWF series. The WWF Polar Bear drive is available now through Amazon, Tiger Direct and other online retailers.
About Active Media Products
Based in the heart of Silicon Valley, Active Media Products LLC is dedicated to developing creative new media products that improve performance and enhance the user’s experience. Our products include the Obama USB drives and the World Wildlife Fund series of endangered species USB drives and a range of solid state drives.
About World Wildlife Fund
WWF is the world’s leading conservation organization, working in 100 countries for nearly half a century. With the support of almost 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment and combat climate change. Visit www.worldwildlife.org to learn more.
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. WWF is a registered trademark of World Wildlife Fund. Usable storage may be less than specified after formatting.