With smartphones getting smarter and tablets getting more portable and powerful, consumers have started consuming content on these portable devices more than on a PC, HDTV or any other multimedia device. However, these devices are restricted by one major barrier – storage space. Kingston tried to solve it by releasing the Wi-Drive but let’s face it; in the age of HD movies 32GB isn’t enough. That is why Seagate has come up with GoFlex Satellite which works similarly to Wi-Drive but boasts a storage space of half terabyte (500GB).
Design:
Seagate’s GoFlex Satellite may look like a conventional external hard drive but is a bit wider due to the integration of Wi-Fi and battery. However, unlike Wi-Drive, GoFlex Satellite does not sport a pocketable design. Of course, you could argue as to what constitutes a “pocketable design” but let’s just say it ain’t small like Wi-Drive to slide through the pocket easily. One simple reason we would say is that Seagate’s offering is based on a hard disk whereas Wi-Drive is based on a NAND flash based memory.
On the design front, the Seagate GoFlex Satellite sports a glossy black design which makes it susceptible to fingerprint smudges but apart from that it has a clean design. The Power button is located on the right hand side, Wi-Fi and Power LEDs on the top, an AC adapter slot on the other side and the detachable GoFlex adapters for different interfaces.
Performance:
Apart from the big storage, another differentiating factor from Wi-Drive is the support for USB 3.0. This means users can transfer the content onto the drive quickly as compared to transferring data via USB 2.0 interface. Needless to say, the drive will still work if you’re without a USB 3.0 port but will be limited to USB 2.0 speeds. Additionally, the drive supports other interfaces like eSATA and FireWire 800 which can be bought separately.
Before we start, let me explain how it works. The GoFlex Satellite connects with the device via Wi-Fi and it wirelessly streams content to the target device. To make it work, just copy the multimedia content onto the drive, download the app on your device (supports iOS and Android) and play.
The app sports a clean and clutter-free design and is very easy-to-use. The content is segregated automatically under videos, music, images and documents. But if you’re more comfortable with conventional style of file navigation, the app also offers navigation in a folder view.
As for its Wi-Fi prowess, Seagate claims GoFlex Satellite’s range up to 30 feet and can play different content to three different devices at the same time. Streaming content to different devices will obviously decrease the battery life but it allowed us uninterrupted viewing for about 3.5-4 hours when streamed to a single device.
Conclusion:
The GoFlex Satellite is priced at around Rs. 11,000 and may sound a bit steep but considering the features it brings to the table and comparing it with its direct competitor – Kingston Wi-Drive, Seagate’s offering gives good bang for a buck.
Rating: 
Pros: Ample Storage, USB 3.0
Cons: Bulky
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