cloud engines

Cloud Engines, makers of the Pogoplug series of products, announced a recall of its most recent Pogoplug Video--a device we've been testing here at CNET. According to an e-mail sent last night, all Pogoplug Video units (Pogo-11, -12, -13, and -14) are susceptible to overheating and, in at least one reported case, erupting in actual flames.

Owners of the Pogoplug Video are urged to unplug any hard drives and turn off the devices immediately. (Update/correction: Cloud Engines is currently asking that owners collect proof of purchase and await further instructions on the return process.)

The recall is only … Read more

We've reviewed several iterations of the Pogoplug, a unique and pretty easy-to-set-up device that turns any available home hard drive or USB flash drive into cloud-sharable networked storage. While Pogoplug's features are extensive--existing versions can stream music, movies, and photos to computers, mobile devices, and even the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360--we found the performance of video streaming to be a mixed bag. Some video files required lengthy transcoding, and others got pretty choppy when played back.

The $199 Pogoplug Video, now available, clearly aims to fix those problems. While it looks the same as any other Pogoplug, … Read more

Sometimes names can be deceiving. In the case of the Pogoplug Pro, "Pro" really means a very useful added feature for no extra money at all. Cloud Engines' plug-and-play device turns any form of USB storage into a networked drive; it previously required hardwiring via Ethernet, but the Pro version adds 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi for even easier use in a home or office. As before, the Pogoplug Pro retains 4 USB ports for hard drives/flash drives as well as an Ethernet port for those who prefer speed.

Available exclusively at Best Buy, the $99 … Read more

If you've been looking for a way to print from your iPad or iPhone without too many headaches, your prayers might have been answered--provided you've already invested in a Cloud Engines Pogoplug.

The plug-and-play device, which we've already reviewed in two different iterations, is a versatile box. It already turns USB hard drives into online-sharable volumes; streams music and photos to phones and the iPad; and can send video, music, and photos to an Xbox 360 or PS3.

Pogoplug cloud printing, available in a software update that hits later this summer, should work with all HP and … Read more

Just recently we reviewed Cloud Engines' Pogoplug, a very affordable $99 solution that effortlessly turns any USB hard drive or memory stick into an online-connected makeshift server. We really enjoyed playing with the original, although its blocky white look wasn't exactly eyecatching. We take that back--and perhaps even long for the minimalism--with Cloud Engines' new Pogoplug, available in December.

Full of funky curves and lots of pink, the new Pogoplug is clearly designed to be more of a desktop or shelf-based companion as opposed to its predecessor, which adopted more of an Airport Express plug-in brick solution. Now, it … Read more

LAS VEGAS--Network-attached storage for the home has been around for a while. It typically consists of an external disk drive surrounded by technology to connect it to a router so it can be accessed anywhere on your network or, via the Internet, from anywhere in the world. At the Consumer Electronics Show here, Daniel Putterman of Cloud Engines showed off a new device that allows you to inexpensively turn any external drive into a network-attached drive.

The $79 Pogoplug is a small plastic box with an Ethernet plug for your router and a USB plug for an external drive. With … Read more