Seagate unveils "D.A.V.E." drive with Bluetooth and WiFi

The storage junkies over at Seagate are branching out a bit. Instead of just seeing how many terabytes they can cram into increasingly smaller hard drive platters, they're getting a little creative with this new "D.A.V.E." (Digital Audio Video Experience) device. The little unit, which we assume is holding a 1.8-inch drive within its belly, manages a 10GB or 20GB capacity, but ain't your plain vanilla portable hard drive. Along with the traditional USB port, the little guy sports Bluetooth and WiFi wireless connections, and is designed for helping you access and transfer your media on the go. The primary interface for doing this is over Bluetooth. D.A.V.E. includes a built-in battery, so you just switch the drive on, and then pair it with your phone. From there the phone can browse and view the files being stored on the HDD, and even communicate with other Bluetooth devices to push D.A.V.E. files to another D.A.V.E. via WiFi. The drive includes a microprocessor to run such operations, so it isn't just relying on your phone for the capabilities. At 12mm thick, with 10 hours continuous use battery life, and hefty drop protection, D.A.V.E. definitely seems portable enough to get the job done. Seagate is planning on getting this thing out in May or early June, but instead of self-branding the unit, it will be licensing the product to phone manufacturers and service providers such as Verizon, Cingular, Nokia and Motorola. The price should be around $200. Peep a video explaining the little guy after the break.

[Mrfreezie @ Jan 30th 2007 2:32PM]

Hmm, wonder if that would work on the Wii. that is if nintendo allows us to use the Wii's bluetooth capabilities.

Other than that, that is pretty amazing.

[Matt B @ Jan 30th 2007 2:38PM]

Interesting how the price could be so low considering that other "Portable audio and video" equipment charges alot more for the same space. Granted, there is no LCD.

[steve @ Jan 30th 2007 2:42PM]

why the hell would anyone want yet another small, needs-to-be-recharged lump in their pocket, especially with integrated flash memory muscling into the 10-20 gig turf more every day?

[Brad @ Jan 30th 2007 2:43PM]

Can you say "iPhone expansion"?

[morcheeba @ Jan 30th 2007 3:10PM]

Wow, the perfect dead drop!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_drop

[Ben @ Jan 30th 2007 3:12PM]

Sounds and looks very much like the BluOnyx from Agere... http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/18/ageres-bluonyx-portable-bluetooth-media-streamer-for-your-phone/

[PEZ @ Jan 30th 2007 3:19PM]

A rotating hard drive with a CPU, BT and WiFi.. how long does that built in battery last? 14 minutes?

[Brian @ Jan 30th 2007 3:38PM]

Dude, the article says "with 10 hours continuous use battery life".

[Faisal @ Jan 30th 2007 3:37PM]

-_-

read the article...it says 10 hours...

[Ayle @ Jan 30th 2007 3:43PM]

If I've read this article correctly Dave will allow me to acces prOn wirelessly.....Mhhh interesting....

[Lita @ Jan 30th 2007 3:48PM]

Wireless sharing of media files? With the MPAA and RIAA around? How long will that last?

"Just what do you think you're doing D.A.V.E.?"

"I'm sorry, D.A.V.E., but I cannot allow that to happen."

[Richard Lai @ Jan 30th 2007 4:07PM]

802.11n by any chance? Oh, and wireless porno! (share the fun wirelessly, oh yeah)

[Ominx @ Jan 30th 2007 6:15PM]

Cool device...but that guy running the show had the worst interviewing skills. The Seagate guy had to repeat his answers multiple times.

Seagate: "This device has BT, WiFi, USB, a HD, and a microprocessor."
Interviewer: "So this device has a HD and...what's inside?"

Jackass.

[Dull @ Jan 30th 2007 7:14PM]

For those named Hal.

[Sean @ Jan 30th 2007 7:45PM]

Sounds like this would be perfect in conjunction with a Nokia 770.

http://vikinghammer.com/blog/?p=5

Hopefully it works with more than just cell phones.

[Falkenad @ Jan 31st 2007 12:20AM]

10 or 20 gigabytes for a 1.8 inch drive.. seems a little bit small these days, no?

[Eduardo @ Feb 7th 2007 3:01PM]

I guess I can use it as a offsite backup (hidden in the car)

[TomYam @ Mar 4th 2007 7:41AM]

I really, really and honestly love this idea of product.

But my concern at the moment is that if I have a HD full of images that could fit in my palm or even be hidden in rectum. Would I be considered a spy.

No I would not shove it up my ass, but I want to know what if my little tiny 100gb HD suddenly get's stolen...

It will definetly contain a lot of 100kb pictures, as well of maybe dubious pictures of my happy family trips around the world and even might give me a divorce suite of a multi million dollar class, if some of those happy family pictures got out.

But I would like capture the moment when we all have our little buddy D.A.V.E in the middle and when the whole family is wearing all their new sun-glasses, and suddenly sees video-clips and photos from the recent trip to Africa. To hear the lions roar and to see them so close up.

It will be like reliving the moment.

Just a few thoughts of a possible application.

[Vic Lee @ Apr 24th 2007 4:00AM]

I can't wait to get one of the D.A.V.E.s myself. I don't see how it can't supplement every wifi/bluetooth device out there.

http://t1-t3-dsl.com