Upgrade Your iPhone or iPad’s Storage With Seagate GoFlex Satellite

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Seagate GoFlex Satellite with iPad

Seagate is set to launch a new addition to its GoFlex range called the Satellite – a battery-powered hard drive that connects to any device equipped with Wi-Fi, including your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

The device was revealed through an FCC filing which details a cable-free, battery-operated external hard disk, accessible via a local network with 802.11n Wi-Fi. The device can also be hooked up via USB 3.0 for tethered access when the battery gives up.

To accompany the drive is GoFlex Access – an iOS application that allows you to remotely access all the photos, movies, music and documents stored on your GoFlex drive, essentially increasing your iOS device’s storage by up to 500GB. A similar application for Android devices will be available shortly, but until then, Android users can access their data through their device’s web browser.

The GoFlex Satellite boasts a standby battery life of up to 25 hours, or 4 hours of continuous video streaming. It’s probably best, then, to store music, TV shows and movies locally on your device and access the hard disk minimally for photos and files. Otherwise you won’t be too far into that long trip before the thing gives up on you.

Patrick Connelly, Vice President and General Manager of Seagate’s retail group, believes the drive will allow customers to purchase a low-end tablet with minimal storage and use the GoFlex Satellite to boost its storage:

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.

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.

An additional 500GB of wireless storage comes at a cost, however – a whopping $200. Despite its price tag and relatively skimpy battery life, the GoFlex Satellite looks like the perfect companion for your iOS device.

While no official release date has been announced, Seagate has asked the FCC to keep the device a secret until June 30th, so we’re expecting the device to be announced on or before that date.

[via TechRadar]

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