External Storage For Tablet PCs Coming Online

By Doug Olenick On May 23 2011 - 4:01am

SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIF. – The need for additional storage capacity in iPads and Android tablets is opening a new niche for storage vendors.

Seagate recently released the latest edition of its GoFlex line, the Satellite geared toward the iPad/Android tablet PC market.

Hitachi GST, which was purchased by Western Digital, announced its intention of entering the market next month.

The 500GB GoFlex portable hard drive, $199, is designed as a carry-along device that will give iPad and tablet PC users extra storage capacity, said Greg Falgiano, Seagate’s senior product marketing manager.

The iPad version is available on Amazon.com and directly from Seagate. It will appear in Best Buy shortly. The Android version is expected to ship in late June, Falgiano said.

The Satellite connects to the portable computer via Wi-Fi or a USB 3.0 cable and to stream video and music.

“The 500GB allows you to take your whole library, with an iPad you only have 64GB of space so you have to choose what you want to take,” said Falgiano.

The Satellite automatically connects to the portable computer via a web page or directly through an app.

Seagate said that while the Satellite will compete against streaming media sources like Netflix it does offer much better video quality and is available anywhere, even on airplanes that allow Wi-Fi access.

The Satellite is powered by a lithium-ion battery that delivers five-hours of video viewing time. The Satellite comes with several outlet chargers and can be charged via a USB connection.

Hitachi did not release any details on its upcoming products, but Mike Williams, VP and general manager, Hitachi GST Branded Business said “In June, we’ll be announcing the first in a family of solutions, or personal access points, that enhance the experience and convenience of capacity-constrained tablets and smartphones. We’ll be bringing content closer to you, through intelligent caching devices, whether it’s stored locally or in the cloud.”

Another announcement is expected in June from a major accessories supplier. The company will bring to market two portable flash-based storage devices for Apple products that allow up to three devices to connect via Wi-Fi and access different content simultaneously. — Additional reporting by John Laposky