While it's a good all-around portable drive, the 500GB Seagate GoFlex Satellite Mobile Wireless's raison d'être is serving up files and multimedia via Wi-Fi. The drive creates its own local hotspot that you can log onto with just about any device sporting a Web browser to view the documents, video, music and photos stored on the drive. Seagate also provides dedicated GoFlex Media clients for Android and iOS devices. See all Storage reviews.
The Seagate GoFlex Satellite Mobile Wireless will run off its internal battery for about seven hours, according to Seagate. You can use the included USB wall charger or cigarette lighter adapter to either power the unit or charge its battery via the unit's DC jack. As a GoFlex USM (Universal Storage Module), there's also a USB 3.0 bridge adapter that attaches to the bottom of the Satellite to allow direct connection to a PC.
The Seagate GoFlex Satellite Mobile Wireless is an average performer: It wrote our 10GB mix of files and folders at 38.5MBps and read them at 60.8. That's about the same as the Seagate Slim, but it's around 9MBps slower than the WD and Rocstor drives. Where the Satellite lost ground was in reading and writing our single large 10GB file, a task it performed at 79.5MBps and 71.8MBps—that's fast compared to USB 2.0 drives, but it's about 20- to 30MBps slower than the other four drives in the roundup.
The Satellite's software is the aforementioned Web portal, plus a PC-based utility that lets you register the drive across the Internet. The Web portal is nicely rendered, automatically catalogs the files on the drive, and is easy to use.The Satellite does not connect to the Internet, however, so there's no surfing while you're logged on to its network.
In addition to providing access to music, video, photos, and documents, the Satellite also lets you define a password, reset the drive, and more. Seagate's Media Sync application is available for download and will transfer files to the Satellite for you as well as optionally filter out those not playable on Apple products. You may of course copy using normal operating system methods, e.g., cut and paste or drag and drop.
Comments
trimedx.john said: I have just purchased the Seagate GoFlex Satellite 3 days ago This has been the most frustrating piece of crap that I have ever encounted Nothing that I have downloaded to the GoFlex drive will play or work on my iPad2 or iPhone 4 On the iPhone 4 the font is so incredible small that I can use the GoFlex at all on it Dont waste your time trying to figure this out it will drive you crazy Im returning my before I start throwing it against the wall Im able to repair some of the most complicated devices in the hospital yet I cant get this easy to setup and use piece of crap to work at all And I dont give up easy Useless waste of time and money
Mark Landry said: same here this isnt a wireless external hard drive Its a normal wired hard drive that you can access via wireless but you cant upload unless youre connected via wire Who needs this Waste of time in my opinion
Robert Turgeon said: I bought the Goflex sattellite few days ago thinking it was a brillant product After resolving configuation problems and getting the APP for my Ipad II the product work fine but a realize it is worthless for me My main goal was using it as a backup device for my Ipad when travelling streaming is only one way you can read the Goflex from the Ipad but you cant upload files to the Goflex you need your PC to use the program to manage the files on your hardrive device There is no way to add files on this device using a memory card or a usb cable you need a PC Since few ears when travelling I use only a Ipad it is more lighter and smaller and a take a lot of pictures but the Ipad have a memory limitation and I needed a backup to onload it I am realy deceive with this product and hope Seagate will work to upgrade the possibilities for users Thank you
investeast said: A multi platform wifi storage resource connecting your PCs Laptops Apple or Windows Telephones and Tablets Apple or Android To hell with iTunes or Google Drive these become back-up to the mobile data serverThis product is not comparable to USB External drives - It establishes an entirely new market segmentWho needs an SD Card or expandable memory of any kindWhy pay more for a 32GB Tablet when you have 500GB storage available at home in the office in the planeWhat fool wrote this article - he has not got a clue about game changing technology- You are writing about a data server NOT a traditional external hard drive