Iomega announces EZ Media & Backup Center and StorCenter ix2 network storage drives

Not long after Pogoplug announced its Series 4, Iomega has responded with a cloud storage solution of its own: the EZ Media & Backup Center.

The drive works similarly to Pogoplug's device in that it allow owners to create their own personal clouds and media hubs. Accessible via the web or Iomega's Link app, the drive's contents can be reached from nearly anywhere.

Iomega is praising EZ Media & Backup Center's ease-of-use (that's the logic behind the EZ part of its name). There's no set up disc for the drive; instead Iomega's online setup guides users though the set up process in a way that is simple and easy, Iomega says. There's also native Time Machine and Torrent support.

The 1 TB model will run for $219, with 2 TB and 3 TB versions selling for $299 and $399, respectively.

Also announced was the StorCenter ix2, a device that Iomega says is ideal for the video surveillance needs of small businesses. Capable of housing up two 6 TB of data in its two bays, the device can connect to up to five network cameras.

The drive is compatible with cloud back up services like Mozy and Amazon S3, but Iomega is strongly pushing its own Personal Cloud technology as well.

The StorCenter ix2 comes in two primary configurations - a single drive or double. Consumers opting for the latter can even choose to mirror the first drive onto the second - and added level of data security that's well-appreciated.

Iomega offers three single disc models: 1 TB ($250), 2 TB ($350), and 3 TB ($450). Dual-drive models are predictably a bit more pricy and start at $420 for the 2 TB model. Also available is a disk-less version, which runs for $200.

Both the EZ Media & Backup Center and StorCenter ix2 will be available next month.