Imation preps Wireless USB hard drive, more

Imation started its Thursday with a new set of Apollo hard drives that includes one of the first Wireless USB disks. Called the Apollo Pro WX, the device uses the near-wired speed of the ultra-wideband signal to duplicate the features of a normal USB hard drive without the need to string a cable for the roughly 30-foot range of the standard. The storage is as secure as physical USB, the company claims, and comes with a reportedly unique automatic backup utility that exploits the drive's ability to stay connected without necessarily using an extra USB port.

A swivel-out stand is built in to sit the drive vertically without needing an add-on cradle, as is a basic capacity gauge that warns when free drive space is running low.

Versions of the Pro series also include conventional wired models. Imation is unspecific with details but notes that top-end models will carry up to 1.5TB courtesy of Seagate drives. Pricing is unavailable, as is mention of whether the WX will include an adapter for computers that don't natively support Wireless USB; at least some Pro models support both Macs and Windows PCs. Drives should surface during the fall.

The Expert UX series switches to a notebook-sized 2.5-inch drive and is toughened against portable conditions, including scratch resistance. Connection details aren't provided by the company, although the drive is likely USB-based and is likely to be entirely powered by the computer's port. It promises Mac and Windows PC compatibility and should start with at least 250GB of storage when it appears in the fall for an unknown price.

Apollo Pro WX

Apollo Expert UX