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.