G-Technology, a leader in delivering premium storage solutions for audio/video production, photography and the creative professional market, today announced the latest additions in its Evolution Series family - the G-DRIVE ev SSD and the 500 GB G-DRIVE ev external drive modules.

Inspired by creative pros, the Evolution Series is a flexible ecosystem of G-DOCK ev docking stations and interchangeable and expandable G-DRIVE ev external drive modules with USB 3.0 that makes transferring, editing and distributing content more efficient, scalable and reliable.

G-Technology, a leader in delivering premium storage solutions for audio/video production, photography and the creative professional market, today announced the first products in its new Studio line - the G-RAID Studio and G-SPEED Studio. Continuing G-Technology's popular design legacy, the Studio family comes in new high-quality, sleek black enclosure for today's high-performance computers and workstations.

The Studio line features multiple RAID options, removable enterprise-class 7,200 RPM drives, 20 gigabits per second (Gbps) Thunderbolt 2 interfaces, and the industry's highest capacity 6 TB hard disk drives (HDDs) for pre- and post-production workflows.

Other World Computing (OWC), a leading zero emissions Mac and PC upgrade and storage technology company has upgraded the OWC Mercury Pro External Blu-ray Optical Drive to professional grade 16X BD-R write speeds, 128 GB BDXL compatibility, and high-speed USB 3.0 connectivity.

Read and Write Double, Triple, Quad Layer BD-R Discs
In addition to single and double layer BD-R discs, the Mercury Pro External offers expanded support for up to 100 GB of data on triple layer BDXL-R/BDXL RE discs and up to 128 GB on quad layer BDXL-R discs. For comparison, 128 GBs of data on a single quad layer BDXL disc is the equivalent of 27 standard DVDs or five single layer Blu-ray discs.

LaCie, the premium brand from Seagate Technology, announced today the availability of the fastest portable storage solution ever - the new LaCie Little Big Disk, featuring Thunderbolt 2. It delivers speeds up to 1,375 MB/s and fits in a laptop bag. With these advances, professionals finally have a truly portable solution for editing 4K video in the field.

Storage for the 4K Era
To achieve the full potential of Thunderbolt 2 speeds, LaCie engineered the Little Big Disk with some of the best - performing solid state drives on the market - a pair of 500 GB PCIe Gen 2 SSDs. It's possible to push the boundaries of the technology even further by daisy chaining two LaCie Little Big Disks to achieve speeds faster than the maximum Thunderbolt 2 transfer rate. By connecting them in parallel to Apple's powerful new Mac Pro, they can deliver speeds up to 2,600 MB/s.

Delivering solutions designed for an increasingly mobile and connected lifestyle, HGST, a Western Digital company, today announced that it is expanding its family of external storage and backup solutions with its new line of Touro S mobile external hard drives.

Available in colorful metallic finishes such as gold, silver, ruby and platinum, the Touro S drive family delivers two levels of data protection - local backup and cloud storage - to help protect, transport, store and access photos, music, videos and documents from anywhere. With its thin, stylish design and an aluminum enclosure, the 7,200 RPM hard drive-based external drives moves files up to 23 percent faster than standard 5,400 RPM-based drives.

Today, LaCie announced the availability of 5 TB, 7200 rpm hard-drive capacities in its 5big Thunderbolt Series, 2big Thunderbolt Series and d2 Thunderbolt Series. Delivering external storage products that range from 5 TB single drive systems to 25 TB RAID solutions boosts storage capacity by 20 percent. This increase showcases the company's commitment to provide the fastest, highest capacity storage solutions on the market.

Increasingly larger file formats for film and photography have driven the demand for more storage capacity. The availability of 5 TB hard drives enables LaCie to deliver significantly more storage capacity in its same compact desktop designs. This saves professionals valuable desktop space.

G-Technology, a leader in delivering premium storage solutions for audio/video production, photography and the creative professional market, today announced that it is shipping its new G-DRIVE with Thunderbolt and G-DRIVE mobile with Thunderbolt external storage solutions. Supporting the growing base of Thunderbolt-enabled Mac and PC computers, the two new drives set the standard for consumers and professionals looking for one of the fastest desktop or mobile Thunderbolt or USB 3.0 storage solutions on the market. Both drives incorporate a high-performance 7,200 RPM hard drive, come with a sleek, durable aluminum enclosure, and are plug-and-play on Mac but can be easily reformatted for Windows.

StarTech.com, a leading manufacturer of hard-to-find connectivity parts has announced the availability of their new 2-Bay Thunderbolt Hard Drive Enclosure (SKU: S252SMTB3), which lets users add reliable, high-speed external storage to a Mac or PC computer through a Thunderbolt port. The Thunderbolt enclosure is the first external drive enclosure from StarTech.com to feature a Thunderbolt host connection, and features two drive bays which allows users to maximize external storage capacity while ensuring the best possible data transfer rates with the host system.

The Thunderbolt enclosure offers features to help prevent heat build-up within the case, for a cooler operating environment, including a built-in fan and a solid aluminum chassis for maximum airflow and heat dissipation. The enclosure also includes a 1-meter Thunderbolt cable that provides an out-of-the-box storage solution and saves users the added expense of a cable to connect their external drives to the host computer.

Silicon Power, the world's leading provider of memory storage solutions, announces the revolutionary Thunderbolt solid state drive- Thunder T11. As the pioneer of storage technology advance, Silicon Power's endeavors to optimize professionals' user experience and is honored to present the brand new SSD- Thunder T11. The revolutionary palm drive utilizes Intel's Thunderbolt technology and is now officially certified by Intel and Apple. With the adoption of advanced Thunderbolt technology, Thunder T11 symbolizes the new age of storage solutions and assures users of absolute reliability, capability and compatibility for both MAC and PC users.

"Thunderbolt technology can come in small palm size packages for true mobility", said Jason Ziller, Intel's Director of Thunderbolt Marketing, "We are pleased with Silicon Power's support for Thunderbolt technology and bringing Thunderbolt mobile storage to the next level for professional consumers."

In addition to readying the RUF3-PW Series flash drives, Buffalo is also set to introduce a speedy new external drive that uses Thunderbolt connectivity, the SSD-WAT Series. Suited for video editing and other intensive work, the upcoming drive measures 154 x 102 x 45 mm, it weighs 540 grams, has an aluminum chassis, active cooling, and it packs two solid state drives set in RAID0 which enable speeds of up to 763 MB/s. The drive includes two Thunderbolt (10 Gbps) ports to allow daisy chaining of up to six devices.

The SSD-WAT Series drive will ship in 256 GB (78,015 yen / ~ 790 USD), 512 GB (111,615 yen / ~ 1,131 USD) and 1 TB (189,000 yen / ~ 1,916 USD) capacities.

ADATA Technology, a leading manufacturer of high-performance DRAM modules and NAND Flash application products, has added another attractive storage gadget to the company's popular DashDrive Choice family. With a USB 3.0 interface, the HC630 also boasts a gorgeous metal surface with sparkling etched patterns that reflect users' outgoing style.

Weighing in at just 160 grams (5.6 ounces), the fashionable, lightweight design of the HC630 is a welcome change from the dark and drab colors that are most often seen on this kind of device. Complementing the eye-catching exterior is an LED indicator that shows the transfer status of the drive. Furthermore, a raised lip around the edges helps protect the surface from scratching when the drive is placed on a flat surface.

Buffalo has today announced the HD-LCU3 Series a new line of external hard drives that goes up to 4 TB in terms of capacity. Coming in black and white (the white models top 3 TB, while the black ones reach 4 TB), the fresh drives measure 187 x 120 x 39 mm, they weigh about 1 kg, and feature USB 3.0 connectivity, an internal anti-vibration system, no active cooling, and a casing that allows both vertical and horizontal installation. Moreover, using the TurboPC EX2 software, users can activate the HDD's 'Save Mode' which compresses the data transferred to it so as to fit in more content.

The 1 TB, 2 TB, 3 TB and 4 TB HD-LCU3 Series drives will arrive at the end of this month priced at 13,125 yen (~ 134 USD), 16,485 yen (~ 169 USD), 22,050 yen (~ 225 USD) and 38,850 yen (~ 397 USD), respectively.

WD, a Western Digital company, has redesigned its popular My Book and My Book for Mac lines of external desktop drives to provide as much as 4 TB storage capacity and enhanced data protection for those who create and collect large volumes of data, video, music and photos.

With USB 3.0 for speed, the new My Book lines are available in 2 TB, 3 TB and 4 TB capacities for the largest content collections. At any point in time, anything can happen to one's data. Whether it's a lost notebook or destructive virus, it's critical to keep data safe and maintain a backup of important documents and valued content.

Early next month Buffalo is planning to release a new external optical drive, a DVD writer called DVSM-PTS58U3. Coming in three color versions - black, silver and white, the drive measures 138 x 152 x 14.44 mm, it weighs 220 grams, and is capable of burn speeds of 8x for DVD-R/+R/+RW, 6x for DVD-R(DL)/+R(DL)/-RW, 5x for DVD-RAM, and 24x for CD-R/-RW.

The DVSM-PTS58U3 also features two attached USB cables, a USB 3.0-supporting cable for data transfer and power, and a USB 2.0 'Boost' cable to provide extra power when needed (there's a notification light that will turn red, signaling the user to plug in the Boost cable). Buffalo's writer is set to cost 7,245 yen (~ 73 USD).

SP/Silicon Power, the world's leading provider of memory storage solutions today is proud to announce a capacity upgrade on its Ultra-Slim portable hard drive - Diamond D20. With the capacity boost to one terabyte, Diamond D20 does not compromise on its size and still retains its compact design. With the built-in 7 mm slim hard drive, D20 is able to keep its slender style while having more storage spaces for data and files.

Featuring a solid aluminum metal structure and the anti-scratch surface, SP Diamond D20 provides sturdy protection against fingerprints and scratches from day to day use, and it also creates a new sense of digital revolution for the portable storage experience. D20's exquisite design has won the award of "Computex d&i Awards 2013", organized by TAITRA (Taiwan External Trade Development Council) and iF (International Forum Design GmbH), and was immediately recognized by users from all over the world.

ADATA Technology, a leading manufacturer of high-performance DRAM modules and NAND Flash application products, has launched an ultra-thin external solid state drive (SSD) with a SuperSpeed USB interface. Named the DashDrive Elite SE720, it combines the slim stainless steel chassis of the company's award-winning DashDrive Elite HE720 portable hard drive, with the performance of ADATA's market-proven NAND Flash storage solutions.

The advantages of SSDs include high shock resistance, noiseless operation, and low-power consumption. When these features are implemented in a portable USB 3.0 device, the result is a remarkably durable storage option with speeds that far outpace those of mechanical HDDs. The SE720 has read speeds up to 400 MB/sec, and write speeds of up to 300 MB/sec.

mLogic announced today that it is now shipping its innovative mBack external hard drives to customers worldwide. mBack is the industry's first zero-footprint hard drive designed specifically for the iMac and Apple Displays.

mBack Highlights:

• Unique zero-footprint design - mounts to iMac or Apple Display stand
• 500 GB, 1 TB & 2 TB models
• SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface
• Bus powered - No AC adapter required
• Built-in cable management minimizes cable clutter
• Time Machine Ready

Toshiba's Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced the Canvio Slim II Portable Hard Drive. With a capacity of up to 1 TB and measuring only 12.5 mm thick, the Canvio Slim II remains one of the thinnest and smallest portable hard drives available on the market-now with the ability to access and share data straight from the device. This complete external backup and storage solution is ideal for customers that carry an Ultrabook or other super-mobile PC.

"The original Canvio Slim was extremely popular- especially with Ultrabooks users due to its incredibly sleek design. This time around, we challenged ourselves with making a great product even better," said Maciek Brzeski, vice president of product marketing and development of branded storage products, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. "We were able to increase the capacity to 1 TB without compromising much on size and added features that allow you to access and share your data from anywhere at any time via internet - making the Canvio Slim II the ultimate mobile storage solution."

ASUS today announced the Xonar Essence STU USB external digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and headphone amplifier, based on the acclaimed design and quality of Xonar Essence ST/STX internal sound cards and going beyond their already high standards. Offering audiophile-grade performance, Xonar Essence STU delivers USB connectivity and accessible external controls.

It offers clear sound with a 120dB signal to noise ratio (SNR), strong 600ohm headphone amplifier, asynchronous USB audio and swappable Op-Amps for DIY sound modification. Precision clock tuning technology further enhances audio fidelity, making Xonar Essence STU a great choice for discerning music lovers who need a quality DAC and headphone amplifier to drive the full capabilities of high-end headphones.

ASUS today announced the SDRW-08U5S-U external DVD writer, a highly portable optical drive with the thinnest form factor in its class at just 13mm. Its design includes a built-in hidden stand that saves space and reduces clutter while enabling dual-stance horizontal and vertical placement. For data protection, ASUS integrates multiple security measures, with password controls and encryption alongside encoded file name functionality. The SDRW-08U5S-U ships in Mellow Metallic, Dusty Rose, and Bright Berry color options.

The SDRW-08U5S-U employs intricate engineering to achieve a very slender 13mm side profile. In addition to making it highly attractive, the form factor contributes to easy mobility and greater usability as the SDRW-08U5S-U can be effortlessly transported and placed, making it a perfect companion for Ultrabooks and other mobile devices.

Century Japan announced the CSS25U3 line of external drive enclosures. Capable of holding 9.5 mm-thick HDDs and SSDs in the 2.5-inch SATA form-factor, the enclosure supports SATA 6 Gb/s interface internally, and connects to the host over USB 3.0 SuperSpeed. A single cable handles both power and host-connectivity. Measuring 85 x 134 x 12.5 mm (WxDxH), its dry-weight is 60 g. It is available in four color options: black (CSS25U3BK6G), silver (CSS25U3SV6G), green (CSS25U3GR6G), and red (CSS25U3RD6G). To stay in shape, the enclosure avoids using a square type-B receptacle, and instead uses a rectangular type-A one. Slated for the end of this month, it is expected to be priced at 2,480 JPY (US $25.7).

In addition to the Stackable 3.5-inch SATA enclosures, Japanese company Logitec introduced the LBD-PMF6U3HBKW slim-line external Blu-ray writer drive. Taking advantage of USB 3.0 SuperSpeed, with a single cable for both power and host connectivity, the LBD-PMF6U3HBKW supports streamed digital broadcast recording, which writes Blu-ray discs much in the same was as VCRs would, given of course, if it's configured with the right kind of TVs or PCs with the required software (DiXiM BD Burner 2013).

The LBD-PMF6U3HBKW otherwise supports Blu-ray XL 4-layer and 3-layer writing at 4X, BD-RE XL at 2X, double- and single-layer BD-R discs at 6X, DVDs at up to 8X, and CDs at up to 24X. Measuring 136 x 142 x 19 mm (WxDxH), it weighs 300 g. TotalMediaRecord 2 and TotalMediaTheater 2 come bungled. It is priced around 9,800¥ (US $117).

Worldwide external disk storage systems factory revenues posted year-over-year growth of 3.3%, totaling just over $5.9 billion, in the third quarter of 2012 (3Q12), according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Disk Storage Systems Tracker. For the quarter, the total disk storage systems market posted just under $7.9 billion in revenues, representing 3.7% growth from the prior year's third quarter. Total disk storage systems capacity shipped reach 7,104 petabytes, growing 24.4% year over year.

"The external disk storage system market continues to exhibit steady growth, posting solid third quarter factory revenues of just over $5.9 billion," said Liz Conner, senior research analyst, Storage Systems. "End users continue to invest in storage infrastructures despite persistent concerns surrounding global and regional economies. Helping to drive the worldwide market in the third quarter was the double-digit growth in multi-protocol storage architecture and strong demand for upper mid-range and high-end storage."

Buffalo has today announced a new external storage solution, the HD-LXV4.0TU3C drive featuring a 4 TB capacity and a USB 3.0 interface. This HDD measures 39 x 123 x 189 mm, it weights 1 kg and has a design enabling both vertical and horizontal use, a built-in fan, internal rubber mounts that lower vibration, AES 256-bit hardware encryption, and an eco mode that reduces power consumption by up to 97% (Buffalo claims a power draw of only 0.15 W when the drive is idle).

The HD-LXV4.0TU3C comes bundled with the Turbo PC EX2 data transfer software and costs about $458.

WD, a Western Digital company, and a world leader in external storage and connected life solutions, today announced a new version of the My Book Studio external hard drive. USB 3.0 capability is now extended to this family of My Book Studio hard drives and provides data transfer speeds up to three times faster than USB 2.0. WD has also introduced the addition of a massive 4 TB capacity in a single-drive configuration making it a perfect solution for backing up large amounts of digital content. The My Book Studio drive is designed with a premium aluminum enclosure and will be available in 1 TB, 2 TB, 3 TB and 4 TB capacities.

The My Book Studio drive's features and benefits have made it a favorite among creative professionals and Mac computer enthusiasts, including working seamlessly with Apple Time Machine, for protecting and backing up their valuable professional and personal content. The My Book Studio external hard drive includes WD Security, which allows users to password protect their drive along with 256-bit hardware-based encryption for added security against unauthorized access to the drive and its contents.