First External USB 3.0 Hard Drive from Freecom
German company Freecom has announced, by its own reckoning, the first external USB 3.0 hard drive.
The 3.5" device with the name Hard Drive XS 3.0 is intended for desktop use for memory extension and backup media. It should be available on the European market in mid-November in 1-TByte, 1.5-TByte and 2-TByte versions, at around 120 Euro for the 1-TByte model.
The device should run at transfer rates of 130 MBytes per second. Freecom managing director Axel Lucassen uses an example to illustrate: "We now can transfer a 5GB movie in just 38 seconds iit is unbelievably fas.t" The XS 3.0 hard drive is backward-compatible and can run on USB 2.0 at a reduced transfer rate. As an add-on it features hardware encryption at a 256-bit AES. To further equip computers Freecom provides controller cards for USB 3.0 in desktop and notebook versions.
Linux can brag that, as of Kernel 2.6.31, it is the first platform to support USB 3.0. The new specification, also known as "SuperSpeed USB," theoretically allows transfer of 5 GBits per second. The USB Implementers Forum non-profit founded by USB developers lists the first USB 3.0 devices on its webpage, such as host controller models. Whether Freecom's controller cards run under Linux is currently unknown.
Comments
comments powered by DisqusSubscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Canonical Bumps LTS Support to 12 years
If you're worried that your Ubuntu LTS release won't be supported long enough to last, Canonical has a surprise for you in the form of 12 years of security coverage.
-
Fedora 40 Beta Released Soon
With the official release of Fedora 40 coming in April, it's almost time to download the beta and see what's new.
-
New Pentesting Distribution to Compete with Kali Linux
SnoopGod is now available for your testing needs
-
Juno Computers Launches Another Linux Laptop
If you're looking for a powerhouse laptop that runs Ubuntu, the Juno Computers Neptune 17 v6 should be on your radar.
-
ZorinOS 17.1 Released, Includes Improved Windows App Support
If you need or desire to run Windows applications on Linux, there's one distribution intent on making that easier for you and its new release further improves that feature.
-
Linux Market Share Surpasses 4% for the First Time
Look out Windows and macOS, Linux is on the rise and has even topped ChromeOS to become the fourth most widely used OS around the globe.
-
KDE’s Plasma 6 Officially Available
KDE’s Plasma 6.0 "Megarelease" has happened, and it's brimming with new features, polish, and performance.
-
Latest Version of Tails Unleashed
Tails 6.0 is based on Debian 12 and includes GNOME 43.
-
KDE Announces New Slimbook V with Plenty of Power and KDE’s Plasma 6
If you're a fan of KDE Plasma, you'll be thrilled to hear they've announced a new Slimbook with an AMD CPU and the latest version of KDE Plasma desktop.
-
Monthly Sponsorship Includes Early Access to elementary OS 8
If you want to get a glimpse of what's in the pipeline for elementary OS 8, just set up a monthly sponsorship to help fund its continued existence.
USB 3.0
Regards