Iodyne's Pro Mini Smart Drive could be an iPhone filmmaker's dream storage solution

Filmmakers and other creatives often have to deal with the issue of storing data securely while on location. This often takes the form of external SSDs that aren't usually protected and have the potential to be misplaced.

Introduced on Tuesday, the iodyne Pro Mini is a smart drive that's about the size of an iPhone. Made from an aluminum chassis, it's a device that aims to solve most videographer issues when it comes to storing data.

Offered in 4TB and 8TB capacities, the Pro Mini connects over Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4, with sustained data transfer speeds in excess of 3 gigabytes per second. Bus-powered, it's also backward-compatible with USB, USB 2, and USB 3 connections.

This speed is achieved even with the use of XTS-AES-256 encryption in hardware, which also uses a Secure Enclave for keys. Rather than using passwords or PIN keypads, the drive uses secure Passkeys for users to gain access to stored data.

The device also operates using hardware-accelerated RAID-6 to balance redundancy and speed.

Manageable and trackable

The device also uses Containers for storage, allowing for complex workflows across macOS as well as Windows and Linux. A Fleet Management service offered by iodyne allows IT managers to manage and provision groups of devices for use in projects.

Just in case the drive is misplaced, it includes support for Apple's Find My network and Google's Find My Device to help track it down.

The physical enclosure is advanced for a portable storage device, with it the first to use AirJet modules in a solid-state cooling system that runs silently. The system is also self-cleaning, protecting components from particles as small as 0.3 microns.

The anodized aluminum chassis also uses an industry-first digital label. It describes the drive and can be electronically updated, without users resorting to using tape and pens.

The iodyne Pro mini is being beta-tested at the end of 2024, with the final product shipping in the first calendar quarter of 2025. Pricing has yet to be disclosed by the company.