Internals, Setup, and usage via My Cloud app

Internals:

We don't normally get to completely disassembly Hard Drives, but this one has more than just a HDD to it, so here we go. Disassemble!:

With the lid off we see some WiFi logic and a rather beefy battery.

Battery removed we can see the 1TB HDD hidden underneath.

Fully disassembled, we find a standard WD 2.5" HDD, which is actually an AV series SKU (designed for handling simultaneous media streams while consuming very low power). We also find some SK Hynix flash memory, which likely stores the units firmware as well as acting as a read-ahead cache, which allows the HDD to intermittently spin down to save power even while streaming video to connected hosts.

Setup:

While this unit can be connected to and configured by mobile devices via the WD My Cloud app, that app update had not launched as we reviewed conducted these tests prior to official release. For those interested, the experience will be similar to that seen in our My Cloud review here, with some added photo, music, and video streaming that has been added to the iOS and Android apps, which let you play back media right through the WD app itself.

We were able to connect to it via PC, which you might think is more complicated, but watch carefully, because this is super easy:

1. Turn on the My Passport Wireless by pressing the power button.

2. Wait a minute or so for the device to boot (WiFi light turns on at the end of the process).

3. Search for a 'My Passport' WiFi network and connect to it:

4. Open Windows Explorer – Network and access your files and media!:

The My Passport Wireless behaves exactly like any other file share on your network, except you're on its private network instead. In case you're about to ask how you can access the internet while connected to the My Passport Wireless, we'll solve that one for you on the next page.

*Update* Usage via My Cloud app:

Upon launch, Western Digital updated their My Cloud to include support for the My Passport Wireless:

Credentials are selectable at login:

File browsing:

Photos (with thumbnails):

Music:

Videos:

Settings intro page, showing usage:

SD card options (and 'Import' to initiate it manually from your phone):

Virtually all features from the web GUI are available through the app:

WiFi and pass through configuration:

I also tested background music playback, which does in fact work within the app:

…as well as outside of the app (just like any other bacngroundable music / streaming playback app under iOS):

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