14 DAY TRIAL // Personal data clouds usually take the form of servers or NAS devices, which are just another type of server only smaller and cheaper, but some storage devices can play the part as well if you know what you're doing. The ADATA Choice HC500 HDD is an example.
Portable storage devices are usually just that: portable storage devices. Other than their small size and light weight, they don't have much going for them. Not counting whatever visual embellishments are added to the case anyhow.
Occasionally, however, a storage product emerges that has a few abilities besides the usual ones. The Choice HC500 from ADATA is one of them.
Although that's a bit much to say, since the drive doesn't contain any PC-like processing hardware of its own. It's still the PC that has to do the legwork.
The HC500 Hard Drive in CLOUD mode
First, you need to connect the thing to your personal computer, which is easily done via the USB 3.0 interface. At this stage, the drive is just another random removable storage device in the computer's eyes.
Then you install the software bundled with the drive, which performs smart backup operations for personal business files, pictures, movies and whatever else you can think of.
You should also be able to do this with your smartphone, but PCs remain the primary resources since the NTI Backup Now EZ & MiST personal backup and cloud software is made for them.
Fortunately, MiST is compatible with Android, as well as iOS and Mac OS, so you can still do the important backup stuff on Apple Macs and most smartphones too.
Either way, once you have either program installed, the Choice HC500 HDD will be recognized as a personal cloud next time you connect it.
The technical details of the HDD
The ADATA Choice HC500 2.5-inch hard disk drive has TV recording support and provides 500 GB, 1 TB or 2 TB capacity, depending on the model. You can play movies, rewind, fast-forward and record shows you can't be home for during normal airing hours.
Furthermore, an integrated G Shock sensor will activate a specialized mode which flashes a red light when the drive is jostled or struck too badly, and thus, is in a state where you shouldn't do anything with it. Once the shock has passed, the flashing light turns blue, saying normal operation is back.
Finally, the sandblasted case of the ADATA storage device is colored titanium or gold. Unfortunately, an ETA and price were not included in the announcement.
