A little over a year ago, we took a look at the Western Digital My Cloud Mirror. This was a simple network connected storage device that came with a suite of software and mobile apps to give remote access to the data stored at home.

Today Western Digital announced a refresh to the My Cloud Mirror. Available for pre-order today and in stores at the end of this month, the new Mirror is essentially just a speed boosted version of the original version (which was no slouch really). Something the added speed may help with is the functionality being added to WD's My Cloud OS software:

The new 'OS3' version adds some requested features, such as using the My Cloud as a hub for syncing across multiple systems (similar to Dropbox, but with your own storage being used instead of their servers).

Another requested feature was the ability to backup and/or offload pictures and videos from mobile devices. This can be done only when connected to WiFi or over cellular data if the user has the GB/month to spare on their data plan.

Another interesting feature is My Cloud Albums. This feature lets you invite your friends/family to share *their* photos / videos from an event. You send them a link and they can then upload their content directly to your My Cloud via their mobile browser or via the My Cloud app (if they have it installed). This sounds like a great idea for collecting photos taken at group events like birthday parties or weddings.

My Cloud OS3 is slated for a 21 September release. We will take a look another look at its features once released.

Western Digital's full press blast appears after the break.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

WD MAKES CLOUD STORAGE MORE PERSONAL (AND PRIVATE)

New My Cloud OS 3 Puts Control of Content into the Hands of Consumers with Greater Photo Sharing, Backup and Synchronization

IFA – BERLIN, Germany – Sept. 1, 2015 – WD®, a Western Digital (NASDAQ:WDC) company, and world leader in storage solutions, today introduced significant enhancements to WD’s family of My Cloud® personal storage devices, including a new, redesigned My Cloud OS 3 operating system, Software Developer Kit (SDK) enabling enhanced app integration and a dual-drive My Cloud Mirror personal cloud storage offering increased memory and faster processing performance than previous generations.

WD’s My Cloud OS 3 features an intuitive user interface delivering a rich content sharing experience, and back-up and sync capabilities that elevate the personal cloud NAS offering while retaining the privacy and control unique to personal cloud devices physically located in the home or office.

“We know our personal cloud customers place the highest value on their personal content and enjoy the peace of mind from backing up PCs, smart phones and tablets to and centralizing content on their My Cloud systems. They tell us they are confident in the privacy, control and anywhere access we provide them with the My Cloud OS,” said Jim Welsh, senior vice president and general manager of Content Solutions at WD. “Now, with My Cloud OS 3, we’ve made users’ management of their digital lives easier than ever before.”

My Cloud OS 3 features powerful new photo and video capabilities via two new user experiences: MyCloud.com and My Cloud Albums app. MyCloud.com provides users global access to their My Cloud via an intuitive web browser based user interface and enables file collaboration, comprehensive access management and a photos and videos gallery view. My Cloud Albums, available for download late September on iTunes and Google Play stores, allows a My Cloud OS 3 user to send a link to a common location, or “album”, on the My Cloud to all their friends and family.

My Cloud OS 3’s new WD Sync™ feature syncs data across multiple PCs and notebooks, ensuring that important files are up to date and available to users from almost any device. The new OS also allows users to set up automatic camera-roll backup of photos from smartphones and tablets and offers a new transfer tool that enables users to easily and quickly move their files to My Cloud devices. The OS also includes Chromebook and Chromecast support.

As part of the My Cloud OS 3 launch, WD has introduced My Cloud Device SDK and My Cloud API enabling developers to build new extensions, features and capabilities within the My Cloud ecosystem of personal cloud storage devices. The My Cloud Device SDK, based on the Docker™ open platform technology, ensures developers can easily access and collaborate to create customized experiences. Partners already developing extensions and new features based on the new SDK include Plex and Milestone.

In addition to new software upgrades, WD has also introduced a new version of My Cloud Mirror personal cloud storage devices, featuring two hard drives set to Mirror Mode (RAID 1), ensuring content is stored on one drive and automatically duplicated to a second drive. My Cloud Mirror personal cloud storage includes the new features announced for My Cloud OS 3 and an improved processor and 1 GB RAM for faster file transfers and application support

Attendees of the annual IFA Consumer Electronics Unlimited show in Berlin September 4-9, 2015 can visit the WD booth (#103) in Hall 11.2 of the Berlin ExpoCenter for a demo and hands-on experience with the new My Cloud OS 3, My Cloud Device SDK and My Cloud API.

Pricing and Availability

WD My Cloud OS 3 will be available at the end of the month as a free download on current My Cloud personal cloud storage devices. My Cloud devices supporting the new OS 3 include: My Cloud, My Cloud Mirror, My Cloud Expert Series EX2/EX4, My Cloud Expert Series EX2100/EX4100 and My Cloud Business Series DL2100/DL4100. Customers can also download the new WD My Cloud mobile apps, which are now available on the iTunes and Google Play stores. All WD My Cloud devices are available today in the WD store at wdstore.com and at select retailers and distributors. Access to My Cloud Device SDK and My Cloud API will be available to interested developers late September.

My Cloud Mirror will have a Manufactured Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of 4 TB $309.99, 6 TB $379.99, 8 TB $429.99 and is available for pre-orders today in the WD store at wdstore.com and at select retailers and distributors beginning on September 30th.