LaCie isn’t known for releasing knew an innovative products, but let’s be honest, they’re a hard drive manufacturer.  We’ve seen a variety of Internet connected hard drives from the company before, but most of those cost a pretty penny. Now the company has released the LaPlug.  It’s a NAS (Network Area Storage device), but instead of including built-in storage you’ll need to bring your own.

So in effect, the LaPlug isn’t anything more than a sleeker looking PoGo Plug.  You can plug any USB device into one of the 4 USB ports and share whatever media or data you have stored.  It’s compatible with iTunes and DLNA device, so streaming movies from the LaPlug to your Xbox 360, PS3 or DLNA compatible TV should be a sinch. It’s also Time Machine compatible, so Mac users should probably take a close look at this $75 box if they don’t wanna to splurge for Apple’s wireless Time Machine drives.  Lacie has outfitted the front of the device to accommodate USB sticks, while the back features 3 USB 2.0 ports for USB drives you want to leave plugged in for the long term.

Accessing the drive is as simple as dialing up a web URL and Lacie has built an interface that allows you to share links with friends so you don’t have to email pics, music or any files.  Simple, clean and efficient.

While the LaPlug can be accessed via WiFi, you’ll need to plug it into your home’s router using an Ethernet plug.  A small caveat but a normal one for a NAS.

The Lacie LaPlug is available now.

Coming this fall, Apple will offer a cloud storage system for all your files.  However, the Cupertino company will require a monthly or yearly subscription to access the service, that is assuming 5GB isn’t enough to satiate your ever expanding library of photos, documents, email and more.  It’s ideal in many aspects, especially if you’re an iPhone owner since the integration should be seamless and as we already alluded to, 5GB is free to all users.   However, a major caveat is that there is a reoccuring fee if you exceed the allotted amount of space and your files are stored on a server located in the nether regions of the webosphere.

Pogoplug, one of the first entrants into consumer based cloud storage, is now pitching a new version of their device, and unlike previous iterations this one ditches the yearly fee.  It’s called the Pogoplug Mobile and despite the name, it’s designed to remain at home, wired to your router via an Ethernet connection.  Truth be told, the Mobile part really refers to their target audience – in other words smartphone users.

Much like Apple’s iCloud service, Pogoplug is promising to automatically back up all of your photos, music and more.  They say this action happens in the background, but since we haven’t got a hands on and our skeptical sensor is tingling, something tells us it won’t be as seamless as they promise.  Our skepticism is largely derived from that fact that Apple doesn’t allow apps, such as iTunes or the camera, to interact with 3rd party devices, so we’re really not sure how the backup can happen automatically if you snap a new photo or download a song on your handset. Unless of course their smartphone app can some how suck these from your device’s storage. We reread the press release more thoroughly, and the auto backup feature seems to be only compatible with Android handsets.  Sorry iPhone users.

Backup concerns aside, the hardware is a small black box that installs in a few minutes time.  Just connect it to your router via Ethernet cord, head to a designated web address and you can access any content (docs, music, movies, etc) connected to it.  There is a built-in SD card slot, which is a nice feature for those who want to share their photos with friends, and a USB port for adding a hard drive.  With a USB hub you could add additional USB devices, though it’s a bit difficult to tell how well it will play with the Pogoplug Mobile, but our assumptions are it should be a none issue.

At the end of the day the PogoPlug Mobile isn’t a massive evolutionary step over their previous products.  Clearly the winners here are Android users since they can automatically backup all of their content acquired on their smartphone, while iPhone users are better off waiting for Apple’s iCloud service to release later this fall.

You can preorder the PogoPlug Mobile for $79.99.

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When someone mentions hard drives I usually start to nod off.  But surprise, surprise, Seagate’s latest batch of hard drives are a cool and noteworthy product that shouldn’t be over looked by anyone in search of a storage solution that will scale for the years to come.

Unlike most hard drives, which feature a fixed interface, Seagate GoFlex line can be upgraded in to insure future compatibility.  The idea is so simple it’s one of those “why didn’t I think of it” moments.  Each hard drive is pretty much your standard storage array, except the interface, where the USB plug inserts, it can be removed and replaced with a new one.

An example you ask?  You bought your computer 3 years ago, well before USB 3.0 emerged on the scene.  During that time you purchased an external hard drive, which in all likelihood sported a USB 2.0 connection.  A year later you destroy your computer and decided to upgrade to a new machine, which has the latest in connectivity.  All of sudden you’re hard drive, though still compatible, isn’t taking advantage of  your new computer’s hardware.  So what’s your resolve?  Purchase a new hard drive.  But if you had a Seagate GoFlex hard drive you could simply buy a new interface, save some money and not go through the hassle of copying your contents from drive to drive.

In terms of usage it’s pretty cut and dry.  Read and write times are right on par with any other set of hard drives and although we didn’t test the heat output with either drive we had no problem holding them in our hand while in use after or during an extended period of time.

Changing the hard drive’s interface is as simple as using a universal charger; just pop off the old adapter and plug in the new one (eSATA, Firewiree 800 or USB 3.0).

GoFlex doesn’t mean you can just change the interface on the hard drive.  Once the adapter is removed the hard drive (portable version only) has a unique and proprietary interface that works specifically with Seagate’s FreeAgent TV HD media player and Net Media Sharing Dock.   That means you can copy your movies and music to the drive and pop it in the compatible media player and never again worry about the hassle of lost USB cords.

It’s also compatible with Seagate’s Net Media Sharing dock, a dual docking device (there is also a USB port for adding other storage devices) that connects any attached hard drive to your home’s network, enabling you to access your drive’s contents from any where you’ve got an Internet connection.  Seagate has tapped Poguplug for this tech, so checkout our review on that for more info regarding UI and ease of use.

To setup the Net Media Dock, all you need to do is plug the power in and connect it to your home’s router using the included Ethernet cord.  Assuming you’ve docked a compatible FreeAgent Portable hard drive, and the light has turned a steady green, you just head to Seagate’s website (www.seagate.com/ activatemygoflexnet) to setup and access the drive’s content.  Yes, the URL is god awful, but once registration is complete, which they do in a simple step-by-step process, the worst is over. After that you can access the drive’s contents by heading to http://goflexnet.pogoplug.com/view.html.  For those on your phone you can just download one of their mobile apps.   On another positive note, Pogoplug is now free for the lifetime of the product, which wasn’t the case when we reviewed their previous Pogoplug compatible device, the Free Agent Go Dock.

So what’s the catch?  If anything the price.  Some of the upgrade interface cables cost as much as $40, while the Net Media Sharing Dock is $99.99.  A 320GB FreeAgent GoFlex Ultra-portable drive starts at $89.99 and a 1TB GoFlex Desk External Drive is $129.99 (they come packed with USB 2.o cords, you’ll have to spend more for the USB 3.0).  Of note, Seagate just added a new capacity of 1.5TB to their portable GoFlex drives.

Seagate’s GoFlex Hard Drives are nothing short of excellent.  The removable and replaceable interfaces make them a fantastic solution for anyone debating a computer upgrade, but don’t know what external hard drive to get with in the meantime.  USB 3.0 is backwards compatible with USB 2.0, but don’t forget that the interfaces can be swapped out for Firewire 800 or eSATA, great if you change hard ware or work with someone with more advanced hardware.

Amazon sells the GoFlex line of products.

Pros:

• Modular interface means future compatibility
• Portable drives have a pocket friendly form factor
• PogoPlug is now a free service

Cons:

• Slightly expensive
• New interfaces aren’t cheap

[starreviewmulti id=5 tpl=20 style='starrating' size='30']

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Lacie, which we’ve largely criticized in recent time for minor product iterations, has just blown us away with the LaCie Wireless Space.  Yes, it’s another hard drive that comes in 1TB and 2TB capacities, but what makes this sucker different is the built-in WiFi.

Much like Apple’s Time Capsule, which is a wireless hard drive, the LaCie Wireless Space is fully compatible with Apple’s Time Machine backup system.  That means no more snaking cords or dragging your hard drive to your computer(s) to back up its contents.

Got content to share? No problem, because the Lacie Wireless Space is UPnP/DLNA compatible and syncs with iTunes.  That means you can play music, movie and photos on any computer in the home or office. 

The Wireless Space can also serve as a Gigabit router, a WiFi Extender (you’ll already need a wireless router) and access point for printers, meaning you can put just about make everything wireless.

The LaCie Wireless Space arrives this October and will start at $229.99.

Read

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