Data is quickly becoming the digital thorn in our sides. As technology continues to integrate itself into our day-to-day lives, it’s becoming increasingly important to have a sequence of fail safes in place should something go wrong. But while the art of backing up is now a common practice in the office and home, it’s less commonly associated with the games console. And yet, losing that 500 hour save file in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is likely to hurt more than those home videos that you’ve been bitterly hoarding as ammunition against your ex-girlfriend.
Fortunately, the storage wizards at Oyen Digital have concocted a slender solution for keeping your PlayStation 3’s contents safe in this digital age. While the introduction of cloud saves as part of PlayStation Plus has mitigated many concerns in this department, it always helps to have a physical copy – and that’s where the flamboyantly named U32 Shadow 500GB External Hard Drive comes in particularly handy.
The slender piece of machinery – which is slimmer than Kate Moss on the Atkins diet – is a portable piece of equipment designed to keep the contents of your PS3 secure, while also allowing you to transport photos, videos, music, and more between machines. Powered by USB 3.0 technology, the device makes transferring data between your console and computer (Windows or Mac) a painless endeavour, supporting hassle free plug-and-play functionality.
Unlike some older external hard drives, the U32 Shadow is entirely bus-powered, meaning that there’s no need for irritating power adapters. That dramatically increases its portability, augmenting the device with a truly pocketable size that makes it perfect for on-the-go performance. It even comes with a snug padded pouch, allowing you to protect the product from bumps or scrapes. That’s not to say that it doesn’t feel durable in the hand, though – it definitely has a sturdy feel to it.
The unit comes with easy-to-understand instructions, explaining in a concise manner how to backup both your PS3’s entire contents, as well as individual files. Data transfer is snappy, though this is somewhat hampered by the limitations of the console’s USB 2.0 slots. Fortunately, the device can support USB 3.0 speeds on a computer, allowing files to move at up to 4.8Gbps – or faster than Usain Bolt on a skateboard for those without a technical bone in their body.
Retailing at $74.95 from Amazon, the Oyen Digital U32 Shadow is not the cheapest option on the market – but it is still a good one. Promoted and pre-prepared for PS3 use, the device is actually a solid general purpose solution, capable of storing an enormous amount of data in its petite, well-built chassis. Treat yourself to a little peace of mind, and keep those Skyrim saves stashed away in your trouser pocket.
You can learn a little more about the U32 Shadow on Oyen Digital's official website. How are you keeping your PS3's data safe? Let us know in the comments section below.
Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.
Comments 8
lol but what happens when you have over 500 gb of Skyrim files? : )
$80 isn't bad either. That's how much my 1 tb internal cost, which is cheaper than the WD 1 tb external I bought too. It'd work with a Vita too, especially at 32 gb max.
I have a 1TB toshiba drive atm but it needs an external source of power.........the reason why i see the $80 price justifiable is because its usb 3.0 with usb powering meaning it truly is a portable dream......
Can you download PS plus games on to a hard drive? i'm running out of space on my launch 60gb!
@Dambuster An external one? I don't think so, no. It would be amazing if you could, though.
I have this one: http://www.amazon.com/Passport-Portable-External-Drive-Storage/dp/B006Y5UV4A. I am incredibly satisfied with it.
Should work with the PS3 too I assume?
i already have a 500gb External HDD on my PS3 and it only cost me £25, it's just a normal seagate one that i reformatted from NTFS to FAT32 and with my 500gb HDD in my PS3 i think that's plenty
still it's a shame you can't put games on them but i guess that's to stop game sharing and the risk of the HDD shutting down while playing the game
There sadly is some files you can't copy to Harddrive, duo to Copyright protection, so PS+ is still the best idea.
Or for $5-10 less you could get the 1TB version from Segate (As I did when I upgraded).
http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Expansion-Portable-External-STBX1000101/dp/B008R7FC74/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1373495345&sr=8-5&keywords=seagate+1tbcatargetid=1402860417&cadevice={device}
Tap here to load 8 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...