Storage vendor Seagate has opened up its GoFlex Satellite mobile wireless storage to the Android world, introducing a native Android app that enables smartphones, tablets, and other devices to tap into media and other content on the drive—including streaming video—via Wi-Fi. Seagate’s GoFlex Satellite drives are battery powered and connect to devices using 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi rather than USB, Firewire, or other cables—and can handle streaming to three different Wi-Fi devices at the same time.
Android users had been able to get at content on GoFlex Satellite drives using a browser, but the native Android application enables users to browse the drive’s media library and stream content immediately, without using a Web browser as an intermediary.
“Seagate’s line of GoFlex external storage has always been about enabling flexibility and part of this flexibility is being OS agnostic,” said Seagate retail product group VP and general manager Patrick Connolly, in a statement. “An Android supported app had been part of our development plans for the product from the very start.”
The GoFlex Satellite drives launched back in May with native support for Apple iOS devices like iPhones and iPads. The drive packs its own rechargeable battery that can support up to five hours of streaming media to nearby Wi-Fi devices, and offers a 25-hour standby time. The drive conserves power by downloading content in bursts to nearby clients, enabling the drive to spin down and go into a stand-by mode while media devices churn through the data at a slower rate.
The GoFlex Satellite drives are available with a 500 GB capacity for a suggested price of $199.99.
