Pogoplug NAS Device Review
A Linux Computer Under The Hood
While the Pogoplug is designed primarily to be a simple and inexpensive NAS and remote file-access solution, let's not forget that the device is actually a functional Linux-based computer. What this means is that anyone who has the wherewithal and means to expand the functionality of the Pogoplug, can add additional features to the device. In response to a query we had about the Pogoplug's ability to also act a print server, CloudEngine's CTO, Brad Dietrich, told us: "Many of our customers have added CUPS and SAMBA to the Pogoplug using either pre-built packages for other ARM distributions or from the source code to fully enable USB print serving."
USB printing is a feature that we wish the Pogoplug included natively; we also wish the Pogoplug included a built-in iTunes server. According to Dietrich, some users have also successfully installed DAAP (Digital Audio Access Protocol) servers to add iTunes server functionality to the Pogoplug. In fact, an entire open-source community has popped up to do exactly this. One such community, OpenPogo, provides instructions and downloads so that users can add features to their Pogoplug via Linux SSH shell access, such as making the Pogoplug a SAMBA server, BitTorrent client, or Web server.
|
|
|
|
The OpenPogo community site provides |
There are many apps available for |
;)
;)
The vast majority of users, however, are not likely to want to hack their Pogoplug--at least not the user base that CloudEngines is targeting. As to what sort of functionality we might see added over time to the Pogoplug, this is what Dietrich had to say:
"We are focusing most of our time on differentiating our product with remote access and ease-of-use features. Saying that, we will continue to innovate and add features even to existing Pogpolugs in the field. We listen to our users and add the features that are in high demand with automatic firmware upgrades in the field."
