In the last decade, external hard drives have offered little beyond design changes and simple storage and backup. Recently, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, “Hitachi GST (News - Alert),” rolled out its LifeStudio external hard drive family, which combines not only highly reliable storage, but also new levels of data protection along with content organization, management, socialization and navigation for both local and online content.

 

Available in both portable and desktop models, the new multi-functioned LifeStudio external hard drive family can seamlessly pull in, organize as well as protect consumers' stored digital content such as photos, videos, music and documents, and can also unify them with online digital content from social networks such as Facebook (News - Alert) and photo sites such as Flickr and Picasa Web Albums.

 

Designed for both Mac and PC users, the LifeStudio USB 2.0 external drive family is available in both mobile and desktop solutions. Each comes preloaded with the Hitachi (News - Alert) LifeStudio content management app and Hitachi Backup software. Currently, four options are available in the family, namely the LifeStudio Mobile, the LifeStudio Mobile Plus, the LifeStudio Desk, and LifeStudio Desk Plus.

 

Apart from facilitating for easy uploading, viewing and interacting of files stored on the drives, the new LifeStudio family also features 3D navigation that helps in displaying user’s files. The old method of navigating files through folders is gone!

 

Company officials with Hitachi GST said in a press release that the company’s latest drives take data protection to the next level by offering both local and online cloud backup in one integrated solution, within one interface. This eliminates downloading and installing two separate programs.

 

All online contents are stored in its natural format and are available from any Internet browser anywhere in the world, and even from an iPhone (News - Alert) and iPad. In addition, the LifeStudio application provides users with multiple ways to easily protect their digital content on site or in the cloud. Every customer receives 3GB of online storage for free.

 

Users who want more storage can opt to upgrade to a quarter of a terabyte (250GB) for $49 per year, which includes multiple computer protection.

 

Apart from extended data protection, the LifeStudio family of hard drives also provides users with access to their favorite premium content: Users can search, filter, watch or subscribe to millions of titles from online content, such as latest news, TV shows and music videos, or even play online games, using these hard drives.

 

Furthermore, the LifeStudio Plus external drives also feature an integrated USB key for ultimate flexibility. The USB key easily syncs content for grab n' go convenience.

 

Mike Williams, vice president and general manager, Branded Business for Hitachi GST, said, "These drives aren't just about interfaces and capacity, or backup. While these elements are important in an external storage solution, the value comes in creating lifestyle solutions that become part of the way we organize and relive digital memories.”

 

Williams added, “Our LifeStudio solution connects consumers to their online and local content in a more intimate way than ever before. For the first time, consumers truly have an integrated experience -- one solution to find, view, protect and relive their digital memories. This is a huge milestone for our category."