Citing the advent of technologies such as smartphones, drones, action cameras, and VR goggles, Western Digital has taken to CES 2018 with several solutions to the problems associated with the modern age of digital photography. More specifically, the company took the wraps off of a new voice-activated media streaming experience, the world’s smallest 1TB USB flash drive, and several new flash storage devices. Set to be marketed under both the SanDisk and WD brands, the company hasn’t provided any details about when, exactly, any of those will be made available or at what prices. However, each should go a long way toward making the management of media, in a world where everybody basically takes pictures or video of everything, a much less tasking experience.
The first new solution is tied in with Western Digital’s My Cloud family of devices. For those who aren’t already aware, these are internet-connected storage mediums that allow on-the-go access – effectively letting users set up their own Google Drive-like storage at home. The new My Cloud Home takes that concept even further, building on its previously available devices. The most notable new feature is that the new lineup incorporates voice-activated media streaming via other smart home devices and an associated application. For example, users will be able to send media through a Chromecast device or Chromecast-enabled TV with voice controls or via the app. Meanwhile, more traditionally-styled storage is getting an update as well. Western Digital is using CES 2018 to not only provide attendees with a preview of what will be the world’s smallest 1TB USB device – which will hook up via USB Type-C. The company also plans to show the smallest ever 256GB USB flash drive, which utilizes USB 3.1 and will be marketed under the SanDisk Ultra Fit branding.
Finally, the company is also releasing two new updates to its My Passport Wireless SSD lineup – each at a different storage capacity. Both will feature one-touch card copy, which the company says will allow for both easy editing and wireless sharing in addition to direct access from inside several third-party mobile apps. The SanDisk brand is getting its own version of that, as well, with the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD.