Western Digital leapt into mobile access for remote storage on Tuesday by putting out mobile iOS and Android apps to connect to its MyBook Live networked hard drives. Both the free WD 2go (iOS App Store, Android Market) and $3 WD 2go Pro (iOS App Store, Android Market) let users get at music, photos, videos, and general files from a My Book Live at home. The move provides a way to stream content that wouldn’t fit on a phone or tablet.
All versions have the same core remote access. Paying for the Pro version adds the option of downloading a permanent copy for offline use as well as automatic syncing to streamline this when room allows. Content also isn’t locked into the app and can be e-mailed out, linked directly, printed when possible, and loaded through third-party apps. A basic PIN code can layer on top of the existing login to prevent unwanted access while already signed in.
Using the 2go apps doesn’t cost extra beyond the Pro app and the My Book Live itself, which varies in price and storage from $160 for a 1TB disk to $250 for 3TB. iPad, iPhone, and iPod owners need at least iOS 4, while Android users either need at least Android 2.1 or 3.0.
