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Brando's SATA HDD dock makes the obligatory leap to USB 3.0
It had to happen at some point, so why not now? After a startling -- almost terrifying -- year-long gap between Brando SATA HDD docks, the company is finally outing another. For those who've been camped out under the nearest boulder for the past few years, these external HDD docks allow users to plug any 2.5- or 3.5-inch SATA hard drive in, and then have said drive mount on the desktop of a connected computer. It's pretty handy for those running diagnostic tests or looking to clone a drive without a dedicated machine, and now it's taken the expected leap to USB 3.0 -- a move that rival Sharkoon made back in 2009. You'll also find a trifecta of SuperSpeed USB ports on the rear, though this gem will set you back a full $140 if you buy in today. Yikes.
Screen Grabs: Simon Campos forgets how to install an HDD in his FlashForward
While the majority of the world is busy forgetting all about ABC's FlashForward, that conniving Simon Campos has been busying forgetting which end is up on a modern day hard drive. Utilizing one of those all-too-useful SATA HDD docks on the latest episode, he proceeds to jam his hard drive into the dock upside-down, though a later shot of the device shows that some producer went in and made things right while the cast was off munching on hors d'œuvres. Imagine that -- the guys and gals behind the camera making the ones in front look good. Ah, Hollywood. [Thanks, Yoav]
Sharkoon's USB 3.0 SATA HDD dock doubles up, now handles two drives
We tell ya, these HDD docks... they sure know how to keep pace with the latest and greatest of technological innovations. Shortly after Sharkoon busted out a USB 3.0-enabled version, along comes this fellow: a dual-drive version of the same device. Packing a pair of SuperSpeed USB sockets and room for two 2.5- or 3.5-inch hard drives (or a combination, if you prefer), this device makes it dead simple to clone drives and ready a new one to supplant your existing platter. It's available now for €59.90 ($81), but if you wait a fortnight or so, we're almost certain the next iteration will be out to take its place.
Buffalo Dualie dock hits Apple Store shelves
The Buffalo Dualie takes two of the most ubiquitous items around -- namely iPod and HDD docks -- and does the inevitable by splicing them into one device. You should already be familiar with it from our CES coverage, but just to refresh your memory this is a dual-purpose docking station, accepting hard drives and iDevices of most colors and creeds. It comes bundled with a swish-looking 500GB storage drive, and we hear Buffalo is pretty cheerful about satisfying Apple's stringent standards to make this an Apple Store exclusive. Yep, that means you can only buy this direct from Apple, but if you've already tasted the forbidden fruit once to get your iPod or iPhone, another bite shouldn't really hurt, should it?
Buffalo teases Dualie dock, LinkStation NAS and MediaStation 6x portable BluRay writer
Dropping by Buffalo's booth at CES today was a surprisingly fruitful affair. The company is keen is to promote its first US-designed product, called the Dualie, which serves as a simultaneous HDD and iPhone/iPod dock. Priced at $250, it'll come with a rather handsome 500GB external drive, and it'll even let your iPod Nano take a ride. Moving to more serious modes of storage, we snapped a couple of pictures of the Linkstation Duo NAS, which comes with two drives and will be priced at $500 for a 3TB set, $340 for 2TB, and $230 for a pair of 500GB drives. Finally, the as yet unannounced MediaStation 6x portable BluRay writer will be making its debut in March at around $250. %Gallery-81877%
Sharkoon SATA QuickPort adds USB 3.0 support, doesn't forget its roots
Sharkoon decided to dive into the blossoming SATA HDD Dock game just over a year ago, and now it's making the biggest leap ever for the cult classic-of-a-device. The latest and greatest SATA QuickPort now has USB 3.0 support, meaning that whatever SATA hard drive you slam down into it can be connected to your PC at USB 3.0 speeds. 'Course, you'll need a PC that's actually up to that very task, so it makes sense that the company is simultaneously launching a PCI expansion card that adds USB 3.0 capabilities to any desktop made in the last decade. Best of all, both of these are making their way out across the pond for €49.99 ($75) and €39.99 ($60), respectively, so you folks who make Malta your home can now brag about one more thing you've got going for you.
Brando churns out new HDD dock, all is well with the world
We've decided to start using Brando's tireless refreshes as a sort of economic barometer -- if an entire calendar month passes without a brand spanking new HDD dock, we'll know we are in trouble. Seemingly content with its high-end offering, Brando has gone back to basics with the SATA Dual HDD Docking Station, which has space for a pair of 2.5- or 3.5-inch drives, but eschews the usual multicard reader. You get an eSATA extension kit in the package for suckling power and data from your computer, but that's pretty much it. Is it convenient? Sure. But at $63 we'd expect a little bit more -- like maybe bundling the hard drives for free.
Brando HD Media Player Docking Station does multi-format 1080p
It seems that Brando can't go a month without bringing out yet another slightly-improved domicile for your orphaned SATA HDDs. Following in the footsteps of the very recent Multimedia Dock, the latest unit adds H.264 decoding to the already present DivX, Xvid and MPEG-4, while output graduates to full 1080p. Featuring HDMI and a plethora of supported media formats, the humble docking station has certainly grown up, but is it enough to compete with standalone media players? Input flexibility would suggest so -- the new device accepts 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch hard drives, alongside USB flash memory, SD, MMC, and MS cards -- but alas, Brando loses the plot at the final hurdle, asking for an astronomical $199. With prettier alternatives available at half the price, this is unlikely to sell like hotcakes, but Brando's breakneck refresh cycle give us the feeling it won't be long before we see that perfect do-it-all dock.
Brando's latest SATA HDD Multimedia Dock does HDMI, the ancestors proud
If you haven't been following this phenomenon in geek culture, you've truly been doing yourself a grave disservice. Not quite an Obama-level disservice, but we digress. Just a few months after refreshing its SATA HDD dock to bring along multicard support, the outfit has done the multimedia crowd one better by offering up an HDMI-equipped version. As expected, the device supports 2.5- and 3.5-inch SATA hard drives and can connect to one's PC via USB 2.0; from there, just hook up your component jacks or HDMI cable and enjoy crystal clear playback of whatever content you've got slammed in there. Too bad all this fun will set you back $79, but we suppose it's still a wee bit cheaper than an unadulterated media streamer.
Brando's latest HDD dock adds HDMI into the mix
There are apparently an awful, awful lot of people out there with shoe boxes full of spare SATA drives. Somebody is buying all these new HDD docks, and while most surpass the previous editions by adding support for another obscure format of memory card, Brando's latest seems like an actually useful update, adding HDMI and component ports through which it can output video at either 1080i or the always popular 576p. Standard resolutions may not be its strong point, and sadly there's no mention of which video codecs it can unravel, but it does at least support the major flavors of audio files (MP3, WMA, AAC, etc.) and of course will read memory cards and thumb drives to boot. No, a bare drive may not look particularly appealing while rattling away on your entertainment center, and at $69 you're not far from the price of a Windows Media extender or the like, but don't let such practical concerns dissuade you from adding this unique focal point to your home theater.
Multicard-lovin' dual SATA HDD dock keeps the dream alive
It's funny, really. Years back, we figured this SATA HDD dock was a one-off device that would get swept under the rug as quickly as it reached prominence. And yet, here we are in May of 2009 looking at the latest iteration of a product that won't ever stop reinventing itself. Brando's Dual SATA HDD Multi-Function Dock with One Touch Backup (yeah, seriously) doubles up on elder models by holding two 2.5- or 3.5-inch hard drives, and it also accepts a litany of flash cards. Lastly, this adds an eSATA connector to the traditional USB 2.0 socket for a bit more flexibility, but we still can't justify the $89 price if you already own a predecessor (or three).
Unitek's 3.5-inch SATA HDD bay / MicroSD card reader is more fun than it looks
Aside from his stunning portrayal as Col. Kurtz ("I swallowed a bug"), Brando is our go-to guy for drive bays and memory card readers. If you're not holding out for a dock that plays DivX movies (or tells the temperature in your cube) this device should be right up your proverbial alley. The Unitek 3.5-inch USB Multi-Functional Bay sports a 2.5-inch SATA HDD enclosure, SD(HC) and MicroSD(HC) card readers, and a four pin power port -- 'cos you can't have too many four pin power ports. Since this is Brando, we were hoping to see something with a little more kitsch appeal, but we suppose that we'll just have to hold out for something from the Happy-Kid line. If a sane and sober-looking approach to portable storage is what you're after, be sure to size this guy up in the gallery below.
Brando's fun lovin' SATA HDD dock / stereo speaker / USB hub
Brando, known for its zany USB gadgets (and for playing Superman's father Jor-El) is back on the scene with a combination SATA HDD dock / stereo speaker / USB hub. This might not come with the laugh appeal of, say, the Buffalo USB speakers -- and it may not tell you the temperature at your desk -- but if you don't mind one of these ugmos cluttering up your workstation we're sure you'll be able to put it to good use. Features include: compatibility with both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch SATA hard disks, two USB 2.0 ports, USB audio, three watt stereo speakers (with "rich timbre"), and volume control.Yours for a smooth $59.
NewerTech's Voyager Q converts SATA HDDs into hot-swappable external drives
Man, talk about a hasty refresh cycle. NewerTech just unleashed its original Voyager in early December, and barely a month later we're being treated to the Voyager Q. Delivered at Macworld today, the quad interface device (USB 2.0, eSATA, FireWire 400 and FireWire 800) sports a sleek, glossy exterior, hinged flaps to cover the gaps when your internal HDDs are being used internally and support for hot-swapping, too. Both 2.5- and 3.5-inch SATA I / II drives are supported, and yes, both OS X and Windows platforms are fully supported. If you've finally lost the inability to avoid procuring one of these type units, you can get the Voyager Q on its way to you this moment for $99.95.
Unitek's SATA HDD Dock throws in multicard reader, one-touch backup
If you've managed to blink over the past few weeks, you may have missed it. Missed what, you ask? The war between no name HDD racks, that's what. After numerous evolutions of the HDD Stage Rack managed to capture the hearts of at least a few storage junkies out there, we've seen a barrage of competitors surface over at Brando. The latest is Unitek's SATA HDD Multi-Function Dock with One Touch Backup, which -- to be totally frank -- does a phenomenal job of explaining itself. For those a touch slow on the uptake, this unit enables any internal 2.5- / 3.5-inch SATA drive to be accessed externally, and furthermore, it packs a couple of USB 2.0 ports and supports a whole slew of memory cards. You could grab this one now for $53, but then again, you never know what will leapfrog it next week.[Via The Red Ferret Journal]
