14 DAY TRIAL // When it comes to portable storage drives, one usually thinks of a 2.5-inch or 1.8-inch HDD or SSD that connects to a laptops or tablet via the USB connection, but it looks like Seagate had something extra in mind for its GoFlex Satellite.
Being the second greatest supplier of hard disk drives worldwide, Seagate is no stranger to the concept of portable hard disk drives.
Indeed, when laptops and, later, tablets began to proliferate, it made sense that it would offer some easy to carry units.
What it created ended up being not much different from what its rivals Toshiba and Western Digital came up with, but it looks like Seagate took a leap into the real of wireless connectivity.
More specifically, the newest portable HDD it made is not just compact and light, but also capable of communicating via not just USB 3.0, but also WiFi.
Indeed, the newcomer can send and receive data wirelessly, while a battery can keep it running for up to 25 hours on a single charge, on standby at least (continuous use reduces that length to 5 hours).
Priced at $199.99, the newcomer will start shipping in July, 2011, along with syncing software for Mac systems and PCs. Those that want a first-hand view at all available information need only drop by this page.
"With the GoFlex Satellite mobile wireless storage, we wished to create an elegant solution that provides real value to the multitude of iPad users out there by delivering a seamless connection to local storage," said Patrick Connolly, vice president and general manager of Seagate’s retail group.
"No longer will a consumer feel as though it is a compromise to purchase a lower capacity tablet or iPad. With GoFlex Satellite, people will be able to carry their entire media library with them without the need for wires or the web at a fraction of the cost of adding 3G or purchasing or a higher capacity tablet."