Synology USB Station 2 NAS: Storage Bargain of the Year

Synology Inc. launched the new USB Station 2, a NAS server featuring plug-and-play file sharing, multimedia content streaming, download without a PC, and low power consumption of only 4W in operation, for home to small office networks running multiplatform.

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"USB Station 2 is the most affordable Synology’s NAS server ever. Almost everyone can afford it and experience the rich features of file sharing and multimedia enjoyment delivered by its legendary Synology DiskStation Manager 3.0 (DSM 3.0) operating system," said Chad Cheng, product manager of Synology Inc.

By plugging in any USB storage devices, USB Station 2 is ready to share files and multimedia content among Windows, Mac, and Linux, vastly increasing users’ work efficiency, yet decreasing IT administration cost. Synology’s File Browser feature delivers file sharing with the ease of file navigation in a web browser. The USB printer sharing capability further minimizes users’ expenses by sharing printing resources throughout the working environment.

USB Station 2 boasts versatile multimedia features that are available right out of the box. One of them is Audio Station 2 application that supports music, Internet radio stations, and iPod playback with optional speakers. Streaming mode allows music to be shared with multiple users over the Intranet or Internet. Furthermore, DS audio smartphone application allows users to stream terabyte of music stored on USB Station 2 to iPhone, iPod touch or Android phone whenever Internet access is available.

Other key multimedia applications are Download Station 2 that functions as a 24/7 download center without a PC; iTunes Server that allows users to share music and video with other iTunes clients over the network; and the DLNA certified media server that allows users to stream multimedia files to a DLNA/UPnP compatible devices, including digital media adapter (DMA), TV-set, Sony PS3 or Microsoft Xbox360.

"USB Station 2 lives up to our principle of being environmental friendly. It consumes only 4W in operation and enables the connected external hard drives hibernate," added Cheng. "Together with its fan-less design, USB Station 2 not only reduces users’ carbon footprints but also brings them noiseless environments."

Availability
Synology USB Station 2 is now shipping globally.

Comments

For a 22-year veteran storage journalist, it's more difficult to be excited by new products. Here we are: Synology USB Station 2 could be named the home storage product of the year; it's the lower-priced NAS hardware never seen with the most complete NAS software never seen.

For €75, you get a complete NAS server of only 147g with its 1GbE Ethernet port and the possibility to connect two USB HDDs as well as a mass of functionalities thanks to built-in Internet file sharing and recent DiskStation Manager 3.0.

The number of possibilities is so vast that we cannot find what could be added. Maybe a toaster...

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They include:

Compatibility with Windows (from 2000), Mac OS X (from 10.3) and Ubuntu (from 9.04)

Support of about all audio, image, video, sub-title and browser formats

Download Station functions as a 24x7 BitTorrent, FTP, HTTP, eMule, and NZB download center without a PC

eMule download engine allowing search-n-download capability with a web-browser without installing additional desktop applications

Audio Station for the support of music, Internet radio stations, and iPod playback with optional speakers

DS audio allowing to stream music stored on DiskStation to iPhone, iPod touch or Android phone

DLNA/UPnP certified.

Connection to two USB printers for simultaneously sharing.

Backup using Synology Data Replicator 3 or Apple Time Machine backup application.

Etc.