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WD launches net-connected MyCloud storage family

by Mark Tyson on 3 October 2013, 10:18

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Western Digital (WD) has launched a new range of easy to use NAS drives aiming to make cloud storage simpler and more personal. The new range of WD MyCloud drives will facilitate access to your files from any of your devices, anywhere you can find an internet connection. All your files will be on the MyCloud drive “safe at home” rather than on some company’s server. The newly announced MyCloud drives are now available in 2TB, 3TB and, from next month, 4TB capacities.

“We believe that there’s no place like home for the cloud,” said Jim Welsh, executive vice president and general manager of WD's branded products and consumer electronics groups. “Everyone is inundated with thousands of digital files scattered across multiple computers and mobile devices, and controlling that chaos is a challenge. WD’s personal cloud is the easiest, most secure and most affordable way for customers to control that chaos, with access to all of their files anywhere, anytime.”

The highlights of the WD MyCloud product are as follows;

  • Your own high capacity cloud storage, no monthly fees
  • Centralise your family’s media collection
  • DLNA for wireless streaming capability
  • Access for a wide range of devices and platforms using WD’s free apps
  • Expand the storage available on your tablet or smartphone
  • Flexible automatic backup options on PC and Mac
  • Connect and transfer files between Dropbox and other providers of cloud storage
  • Your cloud is password protected and uses 128-bit AES encryption
  • Cloud files can be double-backed-up on your home network
  • USB 3.0 port allows direct uploads from many cameras
  • The MyCloud drive uses a dual-core processor and gigabit Ethernet for responsiveness
  • MyCloud can be set up in minutes via a simple but rich web-based interface

One of the key benefits of the MyCloud drive, WD wish to emphasise, is how easy the device is to set up and use. WD says that you can get your “personal cloud up and running in minutes with WD’s rich web-based user interface for seamless web-guided setup”.

The MyCloud drive is sized 170 x 140 x 49mm and weighs just under a kilo. To access the web interface to set it up requires the use of one of the following browsers; Internet Explorer 8.0 or higher, Safari 5.0 or higher, Firefox 12 or higher, Google Chrome 14.0 and later on supported Windows (XP SP3 or newer) and Mac OS (Snow Leopard or newer) platforms.

The single drive WD MyCloud has a suggested price of $150 for 2TB, $180 for 3TB, and $250 for 4TB capacities. We have been told the UK prices are £129.00 for 2 TB and £159.00 for 3 TB, with the 4TB drive being made available and priced-up next month. The drive comes with a 2 year worldwide guarantee. WD also says that a two-drive and four-drive MyCloud boxes will be available sometime in the future.



HEXUS Forums :: 7 Comments

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Um… this isn't exactly what I'd think of as ‘Cloud’, more like a simplified home server or internet-enabled NAS. I was hoping this would be more like the ‘plug’ device on kickstarter - set up multiple ones of these (e.g. one at your house, one at your parents/friends/sister's cousin's former room mate's…) to create a mini-private cloud with multiple backups.

EDIT ADDED - In fact in the description it even says ‘centralize your family’s…', which seems completely at odds with the idea of cloud computing in general.
Tis a buzzword….but this does still seem a half decent effort if it's that easy
I must admit, my reaction was exactly as tpyo, it seems to be a net-connected, remotely-accessible USB drive, not “cloud” device.

But personally, for me to be even marginally interested in something where easy remote access is designed in, I'd need to be 100% confident that security was not just bullet-proof reliable, but nuke-proof. My more sensitive personal data is nuke-proof against net-hackers - it's not on a net-connected PC.
I would have been more impressed if there was a way that you could setup an (encrypted!) group of these that would automatically mirror each other. Then you could have one, your brother another, parents a third and have a REAL “cloud” solution (imho of course). Or be able to setup multiple units to give RAID style protected storage (with data held on more than one unit).

Looking at what's given and I come to the conclusion that they've just used “cloud” as a marketing term (“Cloudy, cloud, cloud” to use Linux Outlaws speak), and perhaps they should have called it an “iNAS” (Internet & Network Attached Storage) device?

Prices look reasonable, and the Memeo software that came with my current WD NAS is actually pretty reasonable. I just need basic NAS functionality myself - no need for fancy media sharing or anything like that.
This is NAS storage. They may call it cloud but is it. You have to be networked to use if I'm correct.