14 DAY TRIAL // LaCie (owned by Seagate Technology) has announced plans to release its upgraded LaCie Fuel wireless hard drive this April with an expanded capacity of 2TB as a portable solution for videophiles and photographers who take their entertainment and work on the go.
Apple currently sells iPads with storage capacities from 16GB to 128GB, providing a wide range of choices for customers of any kind. A 128GB iPad is more than enough for most users, but some require additional storage for things like high-definition movies.
LaCie says, “HD movies can monopolize storage space on mobile devices, requiring users to make compromises on what content to synchronize to their device. With the 2TB LaCie Fuel, users can go from 20 movies on a 32GB iPad to over 1,000 movies on the Fuel. This allows users to store entire movie collections without sacrificing any of the content they need.”
Creatives in general require tons of storage, such as those working with 3D design solutions, but also developers, engineers, and pretty much anyone who takes their work on the go. Whatever the purpose, LaCie believes the 2TB Fuel is ideal for keeping a vast digital library handy.
LaCie says journalism is a good example of when the built-in storage capacity of any iPhone or iPad might not be enough to get things done in the field, touting the portable drive’s wireless functions too.
“Professionals will also benefit from the larger capacity of the new 2TB LaCie Fuel. As the number of journalists, bloggers and photographers using iPhones to cover events increases, so does the need for higher capacity storage that allows them to collaborate with colleagues and offload content on the go. When they return to the workplace, LaCie Fuel makes it convenient to wirelessly access photos and videos directly from the computer.”
The wireless data transfer function doesn’t require an Internet connection, but the drive can create its own Wi-Fi network and act as a hotspot when connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi. Other features touted by LaCie include Airplay compatibility for mirroring content on a larger screen and a 10-hour battery life, which matches that of the iPad itself.
Using the Seagate Media app, the LaCie Fuel “offers easy navigation of media libraries and documents on iPad or iPhone, Android devices and the Amazon Kindle,” according to its creators.
A specific launch date hasn’t been set, but U.S. customers can pre-order the Fuel through the LaCie online store for $249.99 / €181.24.