NetGear brings DropBox-like utility to ReadyNAS machines

New firmware update gives personal storage device cloud-like features.

NetGear's RAIDiator 5.3.6 firmware has been updated to simplify the user interface for ReadyNAS storage machines.

ReadyDrop is a new feature for the RAIDiator 5.3.6 firmware that brings DropBox's drag-and-drop interface to ReadyNAS Duo and NV+ storage systems. The firmware update looks to give users a simple to use personal storage solution.

"ReadyDrop is essentially DropBox without having to store your data in the cloud," NetGear senior product manager of storage devices Matt Pahnke told V3.

Network-attached storage (NAS) machines work as a personal storage system that users can use to store and serve files from a variety of devices. Data on NetGear's ReadyNAS appliances can be accessed on Android devices, iOS devices, and computers.

ReadyDrop's drag-and-drop interface works in the same way as DropBox. The feature makes it so any changes made to data stored on a ReadyNAS machine gets synchronised and saved across all the devices that use the storage platform.

The firmware update also includes the ability to use Apple's Time Machine feature as a remote target for a NAS based backup. Using a ReadyNAS machine with the latest firmware users can save their Time Machine backup to their NAS appliance instead of Apple's cloud.

"This is the first time that any NAS device, NetGear or a competitors, can be used as a remote target for Time Machine," continued Pahnke.

Pahnke says ReadyNAS devices have a leg up on cloud storage services like DropBox because of the amount of storage they offer and the security a user receives by housing data locally.

"The only limitation on the device is the amount of space on your NAS," continued Pahnke.

NetGear compares the monthly costs for cloud storage to the free storage you get when using ReadyNAS devices. Pahnke points out that when storing data on a NAS machine a user only has to buy the appliance once and the storage offered from then on is free.

The NetGear product manager also says that by using a local NAS machine users don't have to worry about outages or large scale hacks.

DropBox was recently hacked and a number of user account details were compromised. The attack led to a users being spammed early last month.

RAIDiator 5.3.6 firmware update is available now for ReadyNAS DUO and NV+ machines.