Hasta La Gadget!

Say it with us now: “finally!” We’ve been yearning for a true Drobo NAS drive ever since Data Robotics first introduced its “intelligent” storage robot back in the heyday that was 2007, and after coming darn close with the DroboShare, the company has finally produced a bona fide networked storage solution. The Drobo FS (for ‘File Server’) utilizes the same chassis as the Drobo S, and in terms of features, it can do everything that box can, too. What differentiates it, however, is that astoundingly gorgeous gigabit Ethernet jack on the rear, not to mention a new dual-core CPU, increased RAM, a revised Linux kernel and enough overall tweaks to make it perform 4x faster than the DroboShare. We spoke with Mark Fuccio, Senior Director of Products and Markets, who obliged when we dug for even more details.

For starters, this device will boast five bays, and users can mix, match, upgrade and swap drives at will, just like any other Drobo. It’ll also support network backups of Macs and PCs, and while you won’t find a Time Machine stamp, the Time Tamer app available in the DroboApps portal will enable support for Mac loyalists who insist on using that over Data Robotic’s (likely superior) solution. It also ships with a BitTorrent client that keeps your transfers humming even when your PC is off, and it’ll handle iTunes, UPnP and DLNA streaming to boot. Firmware upgrades will be handled over the network, and users can poke around for even more applications by visiting the company’s website. One app that stood out to us, however, was one that’ll be thrown in by the recently renamed Oxygen Cloud; in essence, this will allow users to turn their Drobo FS into “the cloud,” enabling colleagues or kids to remotely access the Drobo as if it were some faraway, magical data drive connected to a mythical T3. Yeah, this definitely feels more like a corporate thing than anything else, but it’s certainly something that you won’t find on those “other” NAS drives. It should be noted, however, that the app will only support a single user for free — if you’re buying for a corporation or small business, you’ll need to hit up Oxygen Cloud to procure a multi-user license.

Aside from nabbing SMB and AFP support, Mark told us that users could reasonably expect to see file transfers between 30MB/sec and 40MB/sec, but that’s obviously subject to vary based on strain. As for pricing? Data Robotics told us that the new Drobo FS will be on sale globally today through the typical channels (Amazon, CDW, B&H Photo, Dell and NewEgg), with the empty unit selling for $699. A 4.5TB model (1.5TB x 3) will go for $999, while a 7.5TB version (5 x 1.5TB) lists for $1,149 and a 10TB edition (2TB x 5) for $1,449. Or you could just enter to win one here. Oh, and as for that DroboShare we mentioned earlier? It’s being phased out with the introduction of the Drobo FS, so if you’re jonesing for one, you might want to get that order placed.

Drobo FS: finally, Data Robotics releases a Drobo NAS drive originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Drobo FS Data Sheet [Massive PDF]  | Email this | Comments

It’s been a long and painful four months since Pogoplug introduced its second generation NAS-ifier, but those who’ve been holding out for additional functionality can finally buy in. In an effort to cater to these so-called “gamers,” the company has enabled its device to stream multimedia content directly to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 game consoles; users will be able to access, share and stream media directly to their console from any local or remotely located Pogoplug, and if all goes well, your console should actually see the drives connected to the Pogoplug and the contents of other shared Pogoplugs automatically. In related news, the unit is also now capable of pushing out offsite backups through a new version of Active Copy (shown above), so all that’s left to do is hop online and suck down that tasty firmware update that should be waiting. Enjoy!

Continue reading Pogoplug now streaming to Xbox 360 and PS3, handling offsite backups

Pogoplug now streaming to Xbox 360 and PS3, handling offsite backups originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Another month, another blockbuster trade show. CeBIT‘s show floor doesn’t open up until tomorrow (and yeah, we’ll be storming it like no other), but Netgear‘s wasting precisely no time in unveiling its latest wares. The two pieces that are nearest and dearest to our hearts are the WNHDB3004 and WNHDB3004, the former of which is an 802.11n HD Home Theater Kit and the latter of which is a universal WiFi adapter that adds wireless support to any AV product with an Ethernet jack. Users interested in streaming “multiple, simultaneous, jitter-free 1080p HD video streams wirelessly throughout the home” should certainly give the first a look, as it enables instant wireless streaming from your existing router to any component with an Ethernet port; think of this as the beautiful alternative to running a 50 foot patch cable through your living room and simultaneously eroding your relationship with Mr. / Mrs. Significant Other. The outfit also doled out a few SMB-centric ReadyNAS devices and a couple of HomePlug AV boxes with AC outlet passthroughs, all of which are detailed there in the source links.

Netgear brings the goods to CeBIT: HD streamers, HomePlug AV adapters originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Hot Hardware  |  Netgear 1, 2, 3  | Email this | Comments

MyDitto is the cloud-accessible NAS for people who don’t know what NAS stands for originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 10:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Chip Chick  |  myDitto  | Email this | Comments

CES just wouldn’t be CES without a few new introductions from LaCie, now would it? Nah. Up first from the sexiest name in storage is a fresh member of the LaCinema multimedia hard drive family, the Mini HD. Equipped with 802.11n WiFi and a penchant for serving up 1080p video, this DLNA media player boasts an HDMI output, internal hard drive, USB socket (for uploading media or playing files back from a USB drive) and an extensive list of supported codecs that includes MKV, AVC and DivX. This one should be filtering out now in the US and Europe for an undisclosed amount. Moving on, we’ve got the simply titled Network Server, which sports five drive bays, gigabit Ethernet and Windows Home Server running the show. LaCie also enables users to backup their backups via its own Wuala technology, though exact pricing and availability details won’t be revealed until later in Q1. Lastly, there’s a new trio of USB Keys, which look an awful lot like actual keys. Sadly, these aren’t ready to handle the beast that is SuperSpeed USB, but they do promise transfers as fast as 30MB/sec, and they’re also waterproof and available in sizes as large as 32GB. The company’s also throwing in 4GB of web-accessible Wuala storage for the first two years of ownership, with the CooKey and WhizKey available in 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB capacities for $19.99 and up, up, up. The full releases are just past the break.

Continue reading LaCie serves up LaCinema Mini HD, Network Server and Wuala-infused USB keys

LaCie serves up LaCinema Mini HD, Network Server and Wuala-infused USB keys originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments