Planex DigiJuke 1TB

Japanese electronics maker Planex today launched a pair of networked hard drives it says streamline loading web video on portable players. The DigiJuke 500GB and 1TB both include facilities to download clips from YouTube or similar Flash videos directly to the drive and convert them into "universal" video. Although the conversion software is built for Windows, clips are saved in MPEG-4 and will play properly on video-capable iPods as well as the PSP, PS3, and the Wii.

The DigiJukes also promise more OS-independent features with automatic servers to feed media to DLNA-based media hubs (such as the PS3) and iTunes content to Apple TVs or any Macs and PCs on the local network. A web-based interface also lets the drives operate even when no computers at home: a BitTorrent client and an FTP server let the storage queue up downloads of its own as well as give users access to their home content.

Both disks come with a gigabit Ethernet jack and an easily-accessible drive bay to swap out as newer storage comes into play. Planex ships the DigiJuke offerings on May 1st in Japan and is expected to sell them for the equivalent of $333 (500GB) and $524 (1TB). Planex hasn't revealed international releases. [via Impress]

by MacNN Staff