HTG Wrapped Dec 20


HTG Wrapped 2025: 24 days of tech

24 days of our favourite {hardware}, devices, and tech

Cloud storage companies like Google Images and Dropbox drive you to overpay for storage. And might you actually belief these companies to respect your privateness? For many who wish to escape from cloud storage, Synology’s BeeStation is the best, most user-friendly resolution.

The BeeStation is a network-attached storage (NAS) device, successfully a 4TB exhausting drive that connects to your web router. You may add recordsdata, images, and movies to the BeeStation out of your smartphone, PC, or pill, no matter whether or not you are inside or exterior of your property. In fact, you can too retrieve these recordsdata at any time, or share them with others by way of non-public hyperlinks.

Extra importantly, the BeeStation comes with a set of extraordinarily user-friendly companion apps. There’s BeeFiles, which has similarities to Dropbox or Google Drive, and BeePhotos, which is formatted equally to Apple Images and Google Images. BeeFiles even presents superior performance like AI search—you may seek for images based mostly on the place they had been shot, who’s within the photograph, or what’s within the photograph (like a cat or a raccoon, for instance). File and photograph backups may be carried out routinely via these apps, and you’ll even sync particular recordsdata or folders between your BeeStation and your PC.

In fact, the BeeStation is only one of many NAS gadgets obtainable right now. And any NAS machine you purchase (or build) can act as a Google Photos or Dropbox replacement. However Synology’s BeeStation is specifically designed for ease of use. The setup course of takes minutes and requires zero experience, and since BeeStation is laser-focused on file and photograph storage (versus sophisticated “homelab” stuff), it is fairly exhausting to screw issues up.

The Synology BeeStation next to a computer monitor.


Synology BeeStation Review: Say Goodbye to Dropbox and Google Photos

An excellent-simple NAS machine that mimics your cloud storage subscriptions.

However there are some caveats right here. The BeeStation is technically much less succesful than a do-it-yourself NAS machine, as it could possibly’t set up or run any further apps. And since it solely accommodates a single exhausting drive, there is no built-in knowledge redundancy. If the interior drive fails, you lose your knowledge. Fortunately, you can carry out computerized backups to an exterior drive over USB. There’s additionally an choice to carry out routine backups to cloud storage suppliers like Dropbox, however then you definately miss out on the cost-saving and privateness advantages provided by BeeStation, so I counsel utilizing an exterior drive if that is necessary to you.

The Synology BeeStation prices $220, which is about $100 greater than you’d pay for a standalone 4TB HDD. I would argue that the software program and ease of setup are price the additional $100, however should you disagree, you possibly can all the time strive using your desktop PC as a NAS. There’s additionally an upgraded 8TB mannequin, the BeeStation Plus, which sells for $410 and presents Plex capabilities on prime of the essential file and photograph storage options.

Synology BeeStation thumbnail.

7/10

Model

Synology

CPU

Realtek RTD1619B

Reminiscence

1GB DDR4

Drive Bays

1 x 4TB HDD

Retailer, entry, and share recordsdata over the net, or out of your desktop or cellular gadgets with the BeeStation. 
Share storage with household and buddies so everybody has their very own personalised space for storing. Again up recordsdata from Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, and exterior drives to 1 central place.


The Keychron K4 HE on a desk.


Finally, a high-performance gaming keyboard that doesn’t look like a toy

A sexy design turned me right into a Corridor-effect fan.


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