HP today announced the immediate availability of a new add-in for HP MediaSmart Server and Data Vault owners. The new add-in, Easy USB Transfer, will allow the contents from a connected USB drive to be copied directly over to the MediaSmart Server or Data Vault. The add-in is predominately designed for users that create a large number of files, for example, photographers who can shoot hundreds of photos throughout the day, and then easily transfer the files over to the server when they return.
Once installed, you simply plug your USB hard drive or flash drive directly into any USB port on the HP MediaSmart Server or the HP Data Vault. Open up the server’s website, and select the USB Easy Transfer button.
Once you’ve logged in, a file explorer interface opens where you can drag a single or multiple folders or files from the USB drive to any folder on the Server, or from Server folder to the USB drive to initiate the Copy. Hold the shift key to Move the file or folder.
New folders can be created on the server, courtesy of the right mouse button. You can also right click on a file or folder and Cut/Copy, Paste. All activities are logged in a Status pane at the top of the window, whilst file information is presented in the bottom pane.
Whilst it’s good to see HP continuing to invest in new features for the MediaSmart Server and Data Vault, the lack of any automation in this add-in is puzzling. As delivered, it replicates the functionality already available on any PC using Windows Explorer – excepting the ability to keep transfers in progress when a PC is switched off. Indeed, using Windows Explorer is actually easier as there’s no need to login to the home server to perform the transfer. Acer already provide a similar One Touch USB Transfer feature on the Aspire easyStore Home Server, although this is more easily activated via a push button transfer on the server itself.
I would expect to see a future version of the add-in enable the configuration of a folder into which files will be automatically transferred from the USB drive as soon as its plugged in – or better still, automatic folder creation on the home server into the relevant shared folder based on file type.
Easy USB transfer is now available for all HP MediaSmart Servers and Data Vaults running HP’s 3.0 software, including the EX490, EX495, X300, and X500 series and previous generations which have been upgraded.
Download: Easy USB Transfer
