Western Digital intros four wireless routers, one with 2TB of storage

Western Digital, a company who is better known for its enduring legacy in storage solutions, announced that it will be dipping its toes into the consumer wireless network market. The companyunveiled four new home router products that will cover most bases for consumers, starting with the no-frills N600 and finishing with the N900 Central -- a router that is effectively a NAS with up to 2TB of included storage.

Probably emboldened by its past dabbling with TV boxes, MyBook Liveand its own line of powerline AV products, wireless routers seem to be a logical step for WD. However, it is safe to say WD's entry into the consumer networking space marks an uphill battle for the company. There are already a number of well-established players out there like Netgear, Linksys (i.e. Cisco), D-link and others.

In order to set itself apart from existing offerings, Western Digital calls its new products "My Net Entertainment Accelerators". Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, does it? Truthfully though, this gimmicky marketing phrase is WD's way of advertising its "advanced" QoS (quality of service) and FasTrack features, selling points which the company is trying to play up as major benefits.

WD's take on QoS automatically detects and prioritizes certain types of traffic, like streaming video from Hulu. Theoretically, this should help provide an interruption-free Netflix experience, for example, while that Windows 8 Release Preview ISO continues to download or while your laptop is performing a Wi-Fi backup to your NAS.

FasTrack offers users 21 available slots for QoS customization while FasTrack Plus offers an unlimited number and real-time traffic analysis. FasTrack Plus is only offered on the N900.

Here's what WD's wireless router line up looks like:

N600: 802.11n @ 2 x 300Mbps channels, 4 x 100Mbps network ports, 1 x USB 2.0 and FasTrack streaming ($79.00)

N750: 802.11n @ 1 x 300Mbps and 1 x 450Mbps channel, 4 x 1Gbps network ports, 2 x USB 2.0 and FasTrack streaming ($119)

N900: 802.11n @ 2 x 450Mbps channels, 7 x 1Gbps network ports, 2 x USB 2.0, FasTrack Plus video streaming ($179)

N900 Central: 802.11n @ 2 x 450Mbps channels, automated network backup, 4 x 1Gbps network ports, 1 x USB 2.0 and FasTrack Plus streaming (1TB model: $299; 2TB model: $349)

WD intros 4-6TB My Book Live Duo with RAID, remote access

Western Digital has launched a new external storage device that offers hassle-free backup while providing remote access to all your data. The My Book Live Duo comes in two dual-drive configurations (2x2TB for $400 or 2x3TB for $500) and maintains a real-time backup copy of your data. PC users can use the included WD SmartWare software for automatic backups, while Mac users can use Apple Time Machine.

By default, the drives run in RAID 1 for additional redundancy, so if one fails the other will come to your rescue. However, you can combine the capacity of both drives into one massive volume if you need the extra capacity. Unlike many external backup drives that connect via USB, the My Book Live Duo is more like a budget NAS. Data is handled swiftly courtesy of an integrated 800MHz processor and Gigabit Ethernet.

Along with pumping your bytes over a local network, the device serves as a "personal cloud storage system," providing remote access to all your files. Once your data is on the Live Duo, you'll be able to access it from any device with a Web browser via WD2go.com. There are also dedicated apps for Android and iOS devices. Additionally, the Live Duo's built-in media server streams pictures, music and movies to any DLNA-certified device, such as a Blu-ray player, game console, set-top box, mobile device or smart TV.

"My Book Live Duo is really the ideal, all-in-one storage and entertainment solution for today's ultra-connected consumer," said Chris Bull, director of marketing for Western Digital's Connected Home Solutions group. "The ability for consumers to safely backup all their digital content, as well as access and share content from anywhere in the world on their tablet, smartphone or any computer, truly provides a unique and rewarding experience for anyone who wants to enjoy, and needs to protect, valuable digital content."

Seagate and Western Digital announce reduced warranties for hard drives

Seagate and Western Digital have both announced that they are slashing warranty coverage on many of their consumer-grade hard drives. Seagate drives are taking the hardest hit with the company shaving as much as four years off select drives.

In a letter to an authorized Seagate distributor, the company announced that they will begin new warranty policies effective December 31, 2011. In summary, Barracuda and Barracuda Green 3.5-inch drives and Momentus 2.5-inch drives will now ship with a one year warranty. SV35, Pipeline HD Mini and Pipeline HD products will come with a two year warranty and Momentus XT, Barracuda XT and Constellation 2 and ES.2 drives will have a three year warranty.

On the Western Digital front, the company is cutting the warranty period for Caviar Blue, Caviar Green and Scorpio Blue drives from three years to two years. Caviar Black and Scorpio Black drives will retain the same five year warranties as before. WD’s new policy goes into effect for drives shipped after January 1, 2012.

Seagate claims their warranty reduction is being implemented to be more consistent with other companies in the consumer electronics and technology industry. Reducing warranty overhead will effectively give them more money to funnel into future product development. Western Digital didn’t provide a specific reason for the reduction but explained that they will be unveiling an extended warranty offering with special pricing in the near future.

Hard drive prices in general have shot through the roof as a result of the catastrophic flooding that plagued Thailand earlier this year. Given the high prices that available drives are commanding and the reduced warranties on the horizon, now might be as good a time as any to consider a switch to a solid state drive – at least for an OS drive.

Seagate completes acquisition of Samsung's hard drive division

In April, Seagate agreed to purchase Samsung's hard drive division in a transaction valued at $1.4 billion. Technically speaking, the acquisition is complete and Seagate has launched a web pagededicated to the purchase for customers. Logistically speaking though, the companies have their work cut out for them as they restructure and combine their products, resources and talent.

Currently, Seagate is providing mechanical hard drives for Samsung PCs while Samsung is returning the favor with flash chips used in Seagate's enterprise SSDs and consumer hybrids (ie. Momentus XT).

As a result of the deal, both companies have extended and improved an existing patent agreement allowing them to dip into each other's R&D efforts. Also, Seagate will be gaining significant inroads to customers in China, South East Asia, Brazil, Germany and Russia. In addition to patents and distribution, Samsung will also be appointing a nominee who will join Seagate's executive board of directors.

Samsung's current HDD product line-up will also be Seagate's property. This includes Spinpoint M8, MP4 and S3 portable products. While it is uncertain if Seagate will choose to retain any products from Samsung's meager production portfolio, the Samsung brand name will live on for the next 12 months as per the agreement.

This latest acquisition seems to be yet another nail in the coffin for mechanical hard drive manufacturers as they continue to reduce down into just a handful of companies. Incidentally, Western Digital is still working on its own acquisition of Hitachi Global Storage Technologies. If the merger completes next year like WD believes, there will be only three major HDD manufacturers left in the world: Western Digital, Seagate and Toshiba.

Western Digital partially restores Thailand operations

Western Digital has partially restored production at one of its HDD manufacturing plants in Thailand one week ahead of schedule, according to a press release issued yesterday. The company also raised its revenue outlook for the current quarter as a result, and now expects to make around $1.8 billion in revenue instead of the $1.05 billion to $1.25 billion it previously estimated due to the recent floods in the country.

"Much work remains to be done, but we couldn't be more pleased with the effort and results thus far, including tremendous support from our supply partners and customers," said Western Digital CEO John Coyne. "The passion, perseverance, ingenuity and execution exhibited by the Western Digital team has been extraordinary and enabled us to make substantial progress in partially restoring our operations in Thailand."

Other operations remain under about two feet of water but are expected to be pumped dry within 10 days, after which they must be decontaminated and refurbished. The whole cleanup operation is expected to cost Western Digital somewhere in the region of $50 million, according to The Register. That's on top of other charges related to the flood expected to be between $225 million and $275 million.

Despite the ongoing troubles in Thailand, where the firm makes about 60% of its products, investors were apparently very enthusiastic about the raised outlook as shared jumped 12% to $32.76 in early trading.

The company also said it is working on meeting the European Commission's requirements for its Hitachi GST acquisition but provided no specific details on that topic. Lastly, regarding the hefty $525 million in damages it was recently ordered to pay Seagate, Western Digital said it would be vigorously contesting the decision.

Western Digital partially restores Thailand operations

Western Digital has partially restored production at one of its HDD manufacturing plants in Thailand one week ahead of schedule, according to a press release issued yesterday. The company also raised its revenue outlook for the current quarter as a result, and now expects to make around $1.8 billion in revenue instead of the $1.05 billion to $1.25 billion it previously estimated due to the recent floods in the country.

"Much work remains to be done, but we couldn't be more pleased with the effort and results thus far, including tremendous support from our supply partners and customers," said Western Digital CEO John Coyne. "The passion, perseverance, ingenuity and execution exhibited by the Western Digital team has been extraordinary and enabled us to make substantial progress in partially restoring our operations in Thailand."

Other operations remain under about two feet of water but are expected to be pumped dry within 10 days, after which they must be decontaminated and refurbished. The whole cleanup operation is expected to cost Western Digital somewhere in the region of $50 million, according to The Register. That's on top of other charges related to the flood expected to be between $225 million and $275 million.

Despite the ongoing troubles in Thailand, where the firm makes about 60% of its products, investors were apparently very enthusiastic about the raised outlook as shared jumped 12% to $32.76 in early trading.

The company also said it is working on meeting the European Commission's requirements for its Hitachi GST acquisition but provided no specific details on that topic. Lastly, regarding the hefty $525 million in damages it was recently ordered to pay Seagate, Western Digital said it would be vigorously contesting the decision

Western Digital must pay Seagate $525 million

An arbitrator has ordered Western Digital to pay Seagate a hefty $525 million in damages this week. The feuding drive manufacturers sought private arbitration in Minnesota after Seagate accused Western Digital of coaxing "confidential information and trade secrets" from a former Seagate employee. Unfortunately for inquiring minds, further details are unavailable, but Western Digital has denied those allegations and it plans to contest the ruling.

"We do not believe there is any basis in law or fact for the damage award of the arbitrator," said chief executive John Coyne. "We believe the company acted properly at all times and we will vigorously challenge the award." Coyne went on to mention that the $525 million penalty won't affect Western Digital's operations, nor will it prevent the company's planned acquisition of Hitachi GST, a $4.3 billion deal that's expected to close in the near future.

This news comes at an inopportune time for Western Digital, which is experiencing significant production setbacks after the flooding in Thailand. Whereas Seagate is only being affected by resulting supply constraints, Western Digital actually has factories in the flood zones. Overall, the industry is expected to ship 50 million drives less than its target of 180 million. Nonetheless, Western Digital says the arbitration won't affect its recovery process.

Competition between the rivals could get interesting in the coming years as the hard drive segment becomes more consolidated and less relevant. Along with Western Digital's purchase of Hitachi GST, Seagate recently agreed to buy Samsung's hard drive division. Meanwhile, flash storage is growing more affordable in desktop and notebook form factors, while consumers are increasingly reliant on smartphones and tablets for basic computing tasks.

Western Digital adds 6TB My Book Studio Edition II

Western Digital introduced a My Book Studio Edition II with 3TB drives for professionals who deal with hefty video and photo files. The WDH2Q60000 offers up to 6TB of space courtesy of two 3TB Caviar Green drives, which can be configured in your preferred RAID mode including RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10. It the same footprint as less capacious models (6.54 H x 3.87 W x 6.06 D inches). There's no sign of USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt, but it comes with USB 2.0, FireWire 800 and eSATA connectivity.


The front of My Book Studio Edition II has a slick capacity gauge and the device supports automatic backups via WD's supplied software as well as Apple's Time Machine utility. The unit's product page says it comes formatted for Macs, so Windows users will have to reformat it straight out of the box. You'll also need Windows Vista/7 or Mac OS X 10.5.2+/10.6.x to take advantage of the full 6TB. Pricing is set at $550 or about $200 more than buying two of WD's 3TB drives separately.